Rafael Berber presents: Buddha

It is better to travel well than to arrive.

Buddha

Namibia – Dunes and Delicacies

From Swakopmund to Sossusvlei

As a country with one of the lowest population densities in the world, Namibia is not a typical tourist attraction. With less than three people for every square kilometer, there is a lot of ground to explore and we loved the long drive to Sossusvlei and the fantastic sights along the way. No matter how many foreigners there are traveling around the country at any given moment, the chances of them running into one another are slim. It is nothing like walking down a street in Spain and hearing at least five British and two Dutch conversations.

Spectacular dunes

Fog over Sossusvlei (Wikipedia)

Like every tourist en route to Egypt plans to see the pyramids, everybody planning a trip to Namibia goes to see the spectacular sand dunes. Sossusvlei is where some of the world’s largest dunes are found – like the famous Dune 45. It is a protected area and no commercial ventures are allowed, so no sandboarding here – although we didn’t miss out because of this. We were thoroughly entertained in the days we spent camping in this area. Salt pans and waterholes draw hordes of flamingos, pelicans, oryx (locally known as gemsbok) and other animals after salt and sustenance. Sossusvlei is an incredibly scenic area that features unparalleled natural beauty and wildlife and as with most African countries, the locals are friendly and food is great. We explored the area and its striped, patterned and incredibly coloured inhabitants while it was light and experienced its unique ambiance after the sun set every day. On a previous trip I discovered the magnitude of an African sunset – this time I was amazed after dark. I discovered that a whole new world is born as soon as the glorious African sun disappears behind the dunes.

Namibia is Perplexing, Captivating and Humbling

After living in Europe for a while, especially in London, you start developing a profound appreciation of open spaces. Despite days and nights spent hankering for the vastness of the African skies, the sheer enormity of Namibia’s open spaces was a shock to my system. The desolation that stretches beyond imagination has a strangely pulsating energy – not unlike a bustling city. Except on most of the roads in Namibia there are no buildings, no cars, no fences and not even pylons or telephone poles as far as what the eye can see in every direction. The immensity left me breathless.

Skeleton Coast (Wikipedia photo)

Our incredible adventure started when we landed at Windhoek (which means windy corner) airport and picked up our rental car, a 4X4 double cab camping vehicle, complete with our new home on top of its roof – a surprisingly well-equipped tent. Our journey involved traveling more than 1,000 kilometers over a period of two weeks and it was a relief to know that it would be in relative comfort – although our initial idea was to rough it. We stocked up on supplies and set off West towards the Skeleton Coast where we set up camp at Henties Bay, the fishing hub of the Namibian coast. We had delicious super-fresh seafood in a little restaurant called Fishy Corner. 

Rafael Berber Presents: Travel Blog

For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return.

Leonardo da Vinci

When the African Travel Bug (and Other Bugs) Bit Me

I used to be like every other holiday-maker. Until I fell in love with a strange and mysterious, dangerous and exotic place: Africa.

My first African adventure was a five day trip to Morocco while I was still studying. Although Morocco was only a short flight away from Spain, just over an hour, it was very obviously on another continent and

I was immediately amazed at how different everything was

to Europe. The people, the smells, the sounds – even the air was foreign to me. I was completely overwhelmed and the days flew by very quickly. I returned, covered in insect bites and with the knowledge that I am going to be back in Africa as soon as I could manage it – even though I didn’t quite know why.

Explore-Dream-Discover

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointing by the things you didn’t do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore. Dream. Discover.

-Mark Twain