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TRAVELTIME- Previous Outings |
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NAMIBIA
2010
Days 3 & 4
Saturday 28th / Sunday 29th
Swakopmund to Okaukuejo |
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DAY 3:
Here we are on our first game
drive at Okaukuejo camp - this is really
what Etosha is all about.! The game drives
with their knowledgeable guides, who
constantly stop and point out interesting
things about the park and its animals! |
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We had
an engine change at Swakopmund. "Now we
have a red engine" said Brian - "Pity they
didn't try to clean it!
Exit and entry to the train was by way of the
steps precariously perched on a brick, Note the
handrail to the left of the door. It is suitably
placed to pierce your Adams apple should you
stumble on the way up!
Having enjoyed breakfast onboard we boarded the
bus for a guided tour of downtown Swakopmund,
including the informal settlements. This
whistle-stop tour saw us back on the train and
ready for departure by 10am.
Much of the next 12 hours (380km) was spent at
30km per hour, with lunch and dinner being
served on the train. We did have some excitement
over dinner when the train had to stop for a
fire on either side of the tracks.
Our arrival in Otjiwarongo was heralded by
multiple shunting (forward and backward) and
changing of points to get us against the
platform, ready for our exit in the morning. |
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DAY 4:
After our night at Otjiwarongo station, imagine
our surprise on waking to see our view - bags of
cement and slabs of copper concentrate - talk
about being 'hemmed in' . Carol, suffering from "cabin
fever", anxious to get on the road to Etosha
- "LET ME OUT" |
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Bidding the catering staff farewell, for
3 days, we board a 44-seater coach,
destination Etosha National Park,
Okaukuejo camp. Brian looks like he
might perhaps prefer to stay on board
with the staff! Our coach is
colorful and comfortable. |
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A "piddle stop" was made at
Outjo
where women from the
Himba tribe
were selling their wares on the
pavement...."Hello"& "Money" seem
to be the only two words they
knew. Brian and JoJo each paid R5
for the privilege of a photograph.
A short while later there was great excitement at the sight of
The Etosha National Park entrance.
First stop was the toilets, then on to
the first waterhole. |
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Once in the park we still had a drive of
about 30km to reach
Okaukeujo.
Our
very first water hole had us all gasping
- "Wow there is such a lot of game in Etosha" .
On arrival at the camp we had a short
wait for the room keys to be sorted out
which allowed us to unwind at the
restaurant. |
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Waiting for the rooms to be released, Trix,
Janet and Dudley (Ex Ballito) enjoyed their
first taste of a Namibian beer. The
rooms at Okaukeujo have recently been
refurbished and are indeed very comfortable. |
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Lunch was soon over and at 2.30 pm we were
ready for our first
game drive. "There is not much time to
rest on this tour!" "Oh well who wants
to rest!!" is the general consensus.
Here our guide gives us an overview of what
we should see on our 3 hour game
drive. |
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This herd of elephant was encountered at one of the waterholes.
We learnt that the little baby elephant was
about one year old - any older and he would
not fit under his moms stomach! At the second waterhole a
"brainless" Freestate woman got out of her vehicle
- our game driver immediately chastised her
and she gave him an "if looks could kill"
stare! AND she
had children in the car with her - what a
lesson to teach them. Dawn and Ian are
pictured against the setting sun on our
drive back to the camp, prior to dinner, |
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The Okaukuejo waterhole has an abundance
of game during the day and in the
evening. A baby elephant had been killed
earlier and jackals were stripping the
carcass. Carol and Trixie enjoying the
early morning "traffic" at the
waterhole. The air was permeated with
rotting flesh. |
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After
breakfast we head to Halali on a slow
game drive, scheduled to arrive before
lunch. |
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The true traveler is he who goes
on foot, and even then, he sits down a lot of the time
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DAY 5:
Halali
(Click Here) |
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