Friday 22 November: to Swakopmund

 We enjoy a more leisurely start to the day and hit the road soon after 9am. What an amazing place we have stayed in. We feel very lucky. Back on the gravel roads I take my first go at the wheel today and it’s fun! Initially terracotta dunes and rocks and we see a family of giraffes crossing the road. We look but no time for photos. We see the enormous nests of the weaver bird who live in large flocks each with their own compartment. We see 3 ostriches at a distance. The terrain changes to rocky canyons and then white desert landscape. The mirages are really playing with our minds as we see enormous lakes with rocky reflections that never materialise. After about 5 hours of shared driving we approach the coast at Walvis Bay and take the main motorway road rather than the coast road in error. It’s still very scenic behind the large dunes that meet the sea. Our guest house in Swakopmund is pleasant with a garden and it’s 10 degrees cooler here. We explore the town with its strong German influence and enjoy a coffee and apple strudel at the Village Bakery. The beach looks nice and there are a few swimmers but we’re not really tempted. We are approached by a couple of hawkers and we learn to be more vigilant. We eat at The Jetty 1905 right on the end of the pier. Delicious fish overlooking the North Atlantic Sea watching the setting sun.