Etosha National Park.

14 MAY 2023

We were up early for what was soon to become our morning routine; tents down and breakfast at 6:30 to depart at 7:00. We saw the sun come up as we set off north towards the Etosha National Park.

Having passed signs for this on my journey south towards Windhoek, I was silently thanking my lucky stars that this opportunity had manifested itself after all.

On the M63 dirt road just south of Outjo we had a puncture. The rear left tyre shredded and needing replacing in full. John and Greg set to work- a speedy wheel change by the experts. We were soon on the road again.

While John was arranging a wheel change, Nahida and I explored Outjo. This small town is a stopping place for tourist vehicles and has been a settlement with German missionary presence. There are two German churches, both providing services in German for the local population on this Sunday morning.

The café shop at Outjo was a lovely place to get WIFI, marvel at Andrew's sketching and to connect with the waiter and his friends. We established our round of drinks....

Okaukuejo Campsite

Etosha National Park blew me away. This expansive park covers more than 20,000 square kms and the animals roam freely coming close to the tracks particularly where there are waterholes. From the pop-up roof of our vehicle we had a fantastic vantage point. All around us was mopane woodland, with umbrella-thorn acacias and other tree types favoured by browsing animals. We spotted elephants, giraffes, zebras, springboks, red hartebeests, blue wildebeests, gemsboks, kudus, ostriches, jackals, oryx and hyenas. The birdlife was profuse; yellow-billed hornbills, kori bustards and numerous other smaller species.

The highlights today were the elephants and seeing a hyena slink off into the undergrowth. I've adopted the hyena as my animal symbol; they are witty, courageous, smart and incredibly caring animals according to google! Then to top off everything, we watched a mother rhino suckling her young in front of us at the water hole. Both animals seemed totally at ease and relaxed in this lit location. I can't believe our luck - can it get better than this?