An early depart from the luxurious Safari lodge in Etosha National Park, along the boring, straight, long tarmacked road to Popa Falls, a Namibian tourist attraction. The most excitement of the ride, a slight bend in the road then passing through a diseased animal checkpoint where they just waved me through. Next, a police officer’s wagging finger telling me off as I zoomed past his mobile speed camera. I look for the speed limit signs, there aren’t any, so travel at what I think is a safe 70 mph whilst keeping an eye out for nervous goats, which look but cross the road anyway not to mention the donkeys who just stroll across not even looking. The cattle are the cleverest, they stop, look, wait for you to pass or come to a halt, then cross and look back with a blink as if to say thank you.
My inland route takes me through Kavango Land and up along the Caprivi Strip. I’m told the South Africans reclaimed the Caprivi from either Germany or the Angolans on Namibia’s behalf back in the seventies so it could be used as a merchandise transportation route from the West to East side of Africa which sounds similar to the Chinese reasons for constructing the super highways to avoid the long sail around Africa, instead now being able to almost drive straight through it. Maybe Russell can better inform me on the colonial times?
After approximately four hundred sleepy miles I arrive at my unplanned destination of Popa Falls. Here, I am offered a lodge or a tent pitch. The lodge is just too tempting after my last experience and to save erecting my tent, I take the very basic four bedroomed lodge overlooking an over grown stream at a cost of 400 Namibian Dollars for one person. Otherwise, 250 Namibian Dollars per person per night, sharing. The falls can be heard only meters and so can the birds and insects coming alive as night draws in. Every bird and insect I see here is like nothing I’ve seen before. The birds have are brightest of colours and unusual patterns with long feathered tails almost like a monkeys tail. After showing me to my room, the proprietor abandons me at the isolated, vine covered lodge, providing no information on the whereabouts of the sanitary block or my neighbours, if any. It’s lovely and peaceful here, so I sit out on my raised veranda and read whilst listening to the jungle come to life.
Just before sun down, I take a stroll down to the falls across the rounded stepping stones created by the years of flowing water. I look for crocodiles and hippos but can’t hear or see any. Unfortunately Emily there are no Lions here either, well I hope not anyway. I will keep looking for you.
Tomorrow, Emily, I hope to see elephant along the road heading in to Zambia. If I see one, I will take a photo for you. They’re much friendlier than Lions!
