Day 4 : Ugab River Valley
It rained during the night and this morning the sky is still very cloudy. Before breakfast, we want to enjoy the view of the waterhole in the middle of the forest. There are 13 giraffes on the property, who come to walk around the edge of the waterhole every day, usually in the late morning.
Family breakfast is prepared in the dining room, decorated with numerous African masks. As friendly as ever, Gerald has fun joking around. Speaking of beehives, José, who is interested in beekeeping, asks him if he has any bees. Yes,” replies Gerald, “just one! And with that he snatches his wife’s sandwich…
Nous prenons congé de nos hôtes, sans manquer de les remercier pour leur accueil sympathique.
The path that crosses the property intersects with sand and stone tracks leading into the forest. Having been given permission to go to the waterhole to try and see the giraffes, we decide to take one of the tracks. The adventure is a little treacherous in places, but we continue to the edge of the property. No such luck! We set off in the opposite direction. Suddenly, José spots one of the tall ladies peering at us through the trees.
Happy and satisfied with this wonderful encounter, we leave Bambatsi for another day. We plan to follow the course of the Ugab River along the D2757. Afterwards, we’ll visit the Petrified Forest.
The track along the river is so undulating it’s like being at sea. You go down into a hollow and come back up without knowing what’s happening on the other side. It’s very impressive every time. As we reach one of these peaks, we notice a truck lying in a scissor shape in the middle of the dip, which it has no doubt been unable to negotiate. Very carefully, José manages to get around the obstacle and we can continue on our way.
The sky is still as grey, but the scenery remains fabulous. A few dozen metres ahead of us, a troop of monkeys crosses the track. We look for them, but they’ve disappeared. They’re certainly watching us, well hidden in the bushes.
Distances are long in Namibia and covering them takes longer than expected. Khorixas is still a long way off, we need to refuel there and it will be too late to visit the Petrified Forest with its silicified trees.
We booked a camping pitch at the Hais-Ra Tented & campsite, as well as breakfast. The site is managed by a community that also owns a small part of the Petrified Forest. The setting is majestic. The ochre-colored rocks give the impression of being illuminated by the sun. The campsites are well equipped, with private sanitary facilities, hot water, a barbecue and even a stainless steel sink for washing up. For our dinner, we’ll be having rib eye steak with pepper sauce and mushrooms, with a bottle of wine and the company of swallows.
ROAD TRIP IN NORTH_WEST NAMIBIA
Day 1 : Windhoek – Waterberg Wilderness
Day 2 : Hiking
Day 3 : Ugab Terraces
Day 4 : Ugab River Valley
Day 5 : Damaraland and Skeleton Coast
Day 6 : Cape Cross and the Spitzkoppe
Day 7 : Walvis Bay and Sandwich Harbour
Day 8 : Moon Landscape and Welwitschia Drive
Day 9 : The Kuiseb and Solitaire
Day 10 : Back to Windhoek via the Spreetshoogte Pass
