August 1st Namibia

We leave Twee Rivieren today for the sandy drive to Mariental, Namibia. We checked out at the South African border post and entered into Namibia at Mata Mata.

The first 3 hours was driving through the national park, but didn't see much game. But we did find out about the sand and started to really experience sand driving .

These guys were park staff and locals should have known better

Into Namibia we go... Now these guys know how to make dirt roads! Good enough to do

120 kph... but there is a major hazard:

Great dirt roads in Namibia..but.. This guy is fast approaching

Just about to go by...

Then dust and more dust

Until you can't see a thing.

These roads have few and or no side fences, so goats, sheep, cattle and wild animals can cross at any time.

Mariental is a typical small farming town with a large irrigation scheme, but they are in a pretty severe drought. Rains are only expected in Feb/March and the water will run out in November. We stayed at a lodge 35km from town, which had its own private game park.

Sun rise in Namibia

We saw Rhino and Eland:

Big boys.. a very threatened species.

Rhinos like these are endangered because some Asians believe that the horn (made from keratin - the same material as human nails) is an aphrodisiac (not, as many think, for erectile dysfunction but endurance as the male can keep 'mating' for over 2 hours! Whew!!) A horn to poachers is worth US$50,000, which for many Africans is 15 years pay.