After one crossing although the front cab filled up with water coming in the through the doors we did make it to the other side. With the situation only worsening we see a sign for Xaragu Campsite, I couldn’t believe it but as we entered we crossed a large but dry river bed. Between Charlie and I we had just enough rand for two outside tent chalets, and whilst a member of staff showed us in the pouring rain these tents we heard a roar as the water reached our dry river bed and our instant river several metres deep appeared. If we had arrived even ten minutes later we wouldn’t have made it to the campsite.
Incidentally, anyone reading this that was part of the 2005/6 tour will remember this camp. Geoff towed a broken down Toyota to this site one morning. A monkey in the garden and a puff adder in the bar. Goats walking through the restaurant, and of course all sorts of animals wandering through the campsite.
Chris, Martins, Charlie, George, Harry and Henny two evenings later at Swakopmund Brauhaus, a good recommendation for good food and beer.
Monday the 9th February you could expect a quiet evening, but no here it was full.
We went to the bar for some stew and a local Farmer from Windhoek who also did Namibian Tours greeted us and bought us all a beer. These Africans boys very friendly but enormous made us all feel very small. During the day they had helped recover a Toyota that had died due to the rain. The owners, had a motor bike and had tried to get help, but the bike got washed away in a flash river they tried to cross. This was found later as the river subsided, further down stream.
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( 3 / 98 )Charlie Martins and George left a wet campsite at Nematouni and headed to Halali Camp.
In the evening we caught up with an English Couple, Janice and Ian and they very kindly asked us for supper.
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( 2.9 / 97 )The last time we had a dry, cool, sleep in a hotel, with hot and cold running water. That we haven’t had to wash out of a bucket, or be eaten alive by small insects, either crawling up your leg, or flying and landing in the attack position. The last time we haven’t had to chop and cook our onions and add some of Sam’s curry powder to disguise the taste. Wash clothes in Mick’s bucket. Well the last time we didn’t have to do any of this, wasn’t long after part of the team returned home, twenty four days ago on the 12th of January 2009. What a pleasure it was to spend last night in a Hotel, in Namibia and not in a wet smelly tent, mouldy tent, and here the critics of you say well you could have returned home at any time. Your right, why didn’t we…..
But what a blast the last days have been, some of the sights, and to comprehend and try and understand some of the political situations that have effected the countries we have been through. The changes the Chinese are making in the two Congo’s and in Angola. The diary will take some time to update, but over the next few weeks I will try to do this.
We arrived at Etosha, Fort Namutoni entrance, after a few hours game watching we found plenty to see, including the Girrafes.
These two had funny enlish names, Bells and Oliver...
After returning to the Camp area, we put up Martins ground tent and the heavens opend.
Plenty of overlanders booked in and also getting very wet.
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( 3 / 81 )Just below Chibia was where we were camped last night in a borrow pit, apart from ants there were no real aggravations’.
Today we achieved the Angolan / Namibian border at Oshikango. The easiest border post so far. No hassle, one immigration and customs on each side, quick police vehicle contents check both sides and we were on our way in a record 40 minutes.
Arrived in Ondangwa and booked into the first Hotel since Abuja, picked Charlie up from the airport, we thought early enough to see him land, but surprised to see him greet us. He lets us know that Namibia is 2 hrs ahead of the UK. We are still working on Angola time one hour ahead.
On the way out of Angola a few reminders of more unpleasant times.
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( 3 / 88 )We achieved 377 miles, with a mixture of fresh, and pot holed tarmac, dusty tracks.
The effect the Chinese are having in Angola is enormous, new bridges roads are all being engineered and developed by them. At any construction areas, the Chinese have the plans and pens, measuring tapes and wheels and the locals are helping. Most of the 360 and truck drivers appear to be Chinese. The compounds we pass are massive, you might have up to 50 new trucks, dozers and plant in any of the dozens of compounds we passed. The roads to and from the main ports in the middle of Angola were the best maintained and fresh laid tarmac was common. New bridges and railways for shifting ore to the ports were being created.
The road blocks were far less common and I my belief is that for things to move forward in Angola, the government want the foreigners to feel safe and without being hassled, after all they are instrumental to the future of the country and carrying out most of the work. What do the Chinese take in return, I obviously don’t know the politics, but the country is rich in resources, and the ports haven’t been developed purely for bringing equipment in.
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