Namibia Pics
 

Haven't seen a bunch of Namibia pics on here but we went a few years back and loved it. The most dramatic landscapes in Africa...and enough large mammals/wildlife to keep us animal lovers thrilled...in fact, the possibility of seeing a lion on the coast was such a rush...our experience (to end the suspense, we didn't see them) however they were hidden in dense brush and had killed an oryx...in the river bed of the Hourasib River...animals with an amazing backdrop....perhaps not an Africaphiles first trip but it should definitely be high on the list...our itinerary was all Wilderness Safari camps:

Flew into Cape Town to JoBurg

Sossusvlei Wilderness Lodge 2 nights

Skeleton Coast Camp 3 nights

Palmwag Rhino Camp 2 nights

Serra Cafema (on the Kunene River far north) 2 nights

Etosha Pan (Ongava Tented Camp) 2 nights

give or take an extra night here or there...the pictures:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...9&id=610038487

loved your pics
aerials are great
please upload some more
& even camps pics
aby

Wonderful pictures! Seeing the ostriches with the oryx and impala really shows how big they are. Being charged (or mock charged) by a rhino has to be very scary. The landscapes are beautiful.

Thanks...added some Great White pics at the end of the album. This was the excursion off Simonstown which is quite a different experience than off Gaansbai. The Simonstown/Seal Island area is famous for the breaching "Air Jaws" which we saw a few spectacular "predations" as they are called...about 10 or so in all...some are over before they hardly begin...the Gaansbai experience is more for the going down in the cage which is also a cool experience.

gatoratlarge, I really enjoyed your shots of Namibia! Glad you posted them.

I just got back from Namibia myself. I divided my time among the Namib-Naukluft area, Swakopmund (for Sandwich Harbour) and Etosha. I've posted some shots beginning at: http://thesafariadvisor.com/thesafariadvisor_006.htm

Steve

Thanks Steve...enjoyed looking at your pics. Great shot of the wildebeest/oryx battling at the waterhole! : ) It's certainly some of the most dramatic scenery in Africa!

Wonderful photos. There was a real "High Def" quality about some of them that is quite exciting. Namibia is on my list for a self-drive trip in the future.

Nice pics!

I think I recognise "OMA" - of the village close to Serra Cafema. Have you also met with CROCODILE?

I like the pic where the gent is sitting on top of the rock above the Kunene. But you certainly knew the Kunene is croc infested ;-)

Great trip - Thx for the dejâ vu!

SV

Too bad they are in Facebook....

Re: all the Namibia photos. These are all outstanding--the landscapes, the animals, everything. Brilliant colors. Hi Def is right.

Re: Facebook. I'm on just for photos of relatives and situations like these. It might be worth it to join for all you non-Facers. I don't ever do anything else on it.

i think a non-facebooker can see the album too---as a link I think it works...thanks for the comments. I think Namibia is a fantastic destination...amazing scenery and wildlife in these stark surroundings... Those were the Himba people near Serra Cafema (not sure of their names) which is a great Wilderness Safari Camp on the Namib-Angolan border...yes I was aware of the crocs and wasn't about to take a dip in there...was a recent US student that was killed swimming in the Kunene River...don't know if a croc got him but he never turned up after his swim as far as I know.

GOSH - but that the Kunene is infested by crocs is well know..........That's a scary thought. Family and friends won't here what happened to him - all uncertainty.

Yes we loved the camp and particularly the quad rides up and down the dunes. Scenery is out of this world.

Corocodile was a young lady which got her name froma croc incident.She was taken by a croc while getting water but could escape. Then she was taken by aircraft to Windhoek to the hospital. As that was the first human who was flown out of that area she got that name CROCODILE.

Is Serra Cafema still ferrying Himba back and forth to/from Angola relatives of that village?

SV

Fabulous photos, thanks.

Steve excellent photos, trip report coming soon?

Thanks, sallysaab, and yes, I'll do a report soon. Steve

yes they do ferry folks across the river when it is convenient---we gave two ladies a lift to the Angolan side --- not a real strict border there : )

thanks for sharing the wonderful pics. I'm planning a trip for next fall and wanted your thoughts regarding Serra Cafema - We too will be going to Sossusvlei (wildeerness camp) and the Skeleton Coast Camp - is Serra Cafema duplicative or did you find it worth the time and money - We also will be in Botswana for the traditional game viewing. thanks to all who have an opinion.

kathy
Despite you did not ask me personally I'll give you our experiences:

Serra Cafema is in a location which is rarely - if at all! - visited by self drive because it's so remote, you can't get it any remoter.
The landscape is so outragously different. You won't find it on earth anywhere else. I think you have to fly up to the Moon to get an equivalent.

It's not for game drives. You do quad biking up there and visit an isolated Himba village.

The biking up and down the sand dunes/hills in between mountains is extraordinary.

If you ask me - a 2 to 3 max night visit it worth the financial effort to have that experience which have not too many people as the lodge is small and the whole adventure is expensive.

The airstrip and the approaching by plane as such is worth every $.

If you have got the extra buck - go for it.

I have been there and I would do it again in a heart beat.

I have also been to Skeleton Coast camp and if I had to make a choice (money wise) I would opt for Serra Cafema instead of Skeleton Coast camp.
SCC is also great for the dunes and the seals. And they have the "roaring dunes" where you are able to "play the didgeridoo by getting on your butt down the dunes" - unique as well and an awesome experience.

Doing both is even better! Both camps are the only ones in their location and therefore you belong to the lucky few who visit. And that has got a price tag :-( But nonetheless: Do it!

SV

SP - thanks for your advice - its exactly the input I was searching for.

looks like sooo much fun! thanks for sharing.

anita