Bethanie (Fish River Canyon), Namibia

Today was the earliest start of the entire trip! Alarm at 4am, up at 4.30 and departed camp at 4.55. We drove to the park entrance and our plan is to drove 15km in the truck, cross the river, meet up with our 4 wheel drives for the furhter 45km to Dune 45, climb the dune and watch the sunrise. But alas with all of the unseasonal rain which has been occuring in the desert these last few weeks the river crossing was completely unpassable and we, along with many other vehicles, could do nothing but sit and stare at the torrent raging across the road. It wasn't a total write off though and we managed to clamber up some some hills to a decent vantage point for sunrise anyway. Afterwards we had breakfast down by the truck and then hit the road. We stoppped for a brief lunch under a tree on the side of the road and later arrived at Konkiep Lapa Rest Camp about 3.30pm. Sandra and I upgraded for the night to a basic double room which was great as we are really getting sick of the tents now. For sunset we hiked up a nearby rocky peak which was well worthwhile. After dinner and a couple of games of poool we packed it in after what had been a very long day.

6.30am breakfast at Konkiep Lapa and departed about 7.30. Stopped off at the quivertree forrest at about 10.30am - these are some weired trees that usually appear solitary on rocks and live for up to 200 years but in this particular place they occur in greater numbers. At the same place they also have a cheetah refuge where we saw our first cheetah of the trip which was cool but would have been nice to see one in the wild of course. Next stop was the 'Giants' Playground' which is a landscape of red granite rocks piled up in unlikely stacks which reminded me very much of the Devil's Marbles in the Northern Territory of Australia. In the afternoon we defer lunch so we can make it to Fish River Canyon in time for sunset. Wow this place is impressive and scary as none of the sheer drops are even fenced off or signed. Back at our nearby camp site the evening meal was great as usual thanks to our resident cook Henry. Dinner was followed by an impromtu chair hurdling contest which was very entertaining, particularly impressive were Dan and Henry.