An Oryx Holiday - Part 7 - Erongo Wilderness Lodge

So the last time I blogged we were at Sussosvlei where we didn't stay very long because we had another long drive ahead of us on our beloved gravel roads. What I did to pass the time on these drives was to think about Namibia. It is a new country...only 24 years old, compared to the US which is over 200 years old. If I was president, how would I develop it? For sure, paving all these roads was definitely my first choice. 

Although I didn't research this I did think about dividing up the land. In some places fences can't be put up because of migrating animals. And how would I handle the different tribes and their centuries old customs? What about a police force sufficient to handle an entire country? With the Ebola outbreak in northern Africa, I would want to develop a really up-to-date health care system...people, technology, buildings, emergency vehicles, etc. I could go on as I'm sure you could. I guess it's never easy to be a president regardless of where you live!!


There are similar sights during all of our drives. We've  seen lots of termite mounds of two different colors, 

termite mounds are LARGE!

dry river beds, ( not sure whether that's because Namibia is mostly desert or is it because it's the dry season?) cattle, goats, occasionally sheep roam what looks like wherever they please, 

mountains of rocks rise out of the ground in the middle of desert land and often look as though someone placed the stones artistically.

 Water from the tap has been safe to drink...whether we were at Johanna's village or Windhoek. Johanna also tells us that gun violence is almost nonexistent here in Namibia. At none of the places we have stayed so far have there been few if any accommodations for the handicapped. On our tours there have been few safety regulations although there are postings that your participation is at your own risk, We've also seen windmills and solar energy use which surprisingly is very popular here. We have not seen anyone with a cigarette, and not a single boy with jeans worn at their knees!

When we neared The Erongo Wilderness Lodge we were told to call and they would meet us, which they did. Destin met us and took us up to the lodge in a 4X4 over a narrow rock bed. 

We met  the two caretakers and he took us to our rooms. We had to walk up a wooden or stone pathway for about 150 yards. Johanna was #5 and we were #6. The rooms are cabins built into the sides of large rocks. Both of us had porches overlooking the area. We showered and went to dinner. We ate outside as most, if not all the guests did. Our assigned table was in the corner overlooking a lit up watering hole.

 In the night sky we were able to identify many Southern Hemisphere constellations. Diane had stuffed pepper and Johanna and John had beef. We had spinach and feta cheese in phyllo pastry, then a green salad, and then the main course...and of course wine. We were last coming to dinner and so the last to leave. But before actually leaving we sat around the embers of the fire pit in the middle of the dining area.

In the morning we got up at 6:30 to take a 7:00 nature walk. 

We did not see any animals but we did see lots of animal droppings....zebra, dassie, baboons, and kudu.  

The little furry creatures are dassies. They were all over the place and not a bit shy!

This seems to interest nature lovers! The walk lasted until 9:00 and then we had breakfast. The internet was good and we caught up on our email and Facebook.

Unfortunately, we had to check out at 11:00 and are now on our way to Erindi.