Hi, One Post, 4 photos

20th August. Norotshama, Aussenkehr
A lovely camp site on the banks of the Orange River. South Africa lies across the water, some 70 metres away. We will stay here a couple of days then cross into the Republic. It’s a shame to be leaving Namibia; it has been a great place to spend a few weeks. Last night we camped amongst a forest of Quiver trees. They grow on outcrops of rock and resemble upside down florets of broccoli. They would be up to 5 metres in height and spread widely over a 100 hectare area. There were also other strange plants we haven’t seen elsewhere as well.
We left mid morning and drove south through the Fish River Canyon that, again, is a highlight of this country. The gravel roads were good but we for some reason had a bad run of it getting 2 punctures in a matter of an hour or so. This on a very good smooth gravel road. Joan wasn’t wearing her St Christopher she tells me afterwards.
Luckily Norotshama is a large vineyard with a big workshop, the mechanics mended the punctures as best they could but one of the holes was large caused by a sharp rock and the other is on the side wall of the tyre.
It is very isolated out here. We travelled over 100 kms this afternoon without seeing one car and only a couple of houses. At least the 2nd puncture happened a few kilometres from our destination and I was able to use the compressor to pump it up. I have a repair kit which has worked in the past but this tear was too big.
22nd August. Springbok. Sth Africa
Our last frontier crossing and only the 2nd one in Africa where we didn’t have to fork out any money. A pleasant change. We had a relaxing day at Norotshama. The wind blew in the morning while we did some cleaning up but it died down in the afternoon when I was able to take one of the canoes out and paddle across to the Republic of South Africa. The scenery in this area is very wild and rugged on the RSA’s side while on the Namibian side the river flats are covered with vineyards and orchard.
Springbok is a magnet for visitors at this time of the year as the wild flowers are out in bloom. We are so lucky when we travel, we timed it perfectly. We have only started to get into the area where they are but already they are quite something. I wonder if they are the same types of plants that form the display in Western Australia at about the same time.
23rd August.
There is a nature resave a couple of kilometres on from the campsite that we are told has a great display of the wild flowers. We heard this from our South African neighbours at the camp site. From Cape Town, they, like we are finding with South Africans in general, are reticent to approach us. But when the ice is broken we are finding them so very hospitable, love their country, but fear for it future. Before they went back to cook their tea we had been given 2 bottles of very nice Sth African fortified wine, a topographical map of an area south of here they said we must visit as well as an offer to join them in a braai when we get to Cape Town.
Anyhow, getting back to the reserve and the flowers. They were magnificent. A fair few succulents but so many others as ell. There were areas of solid oranges and purples leading up to the rocky outcrops or koppies, then other areas a mixture of whites, yellows, reds, orange and purples. We were able to drive around the reserve and could stop whenever we felt like it. It was a most stimulating morning. In the afternoon I watched the Wallabies beat the Springboks sitting alongside a couple of rabid Springbok supporters. All I could say was it was good to see the best team on the day win.