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Skeleton Coast: Terrace Bay - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi
Terrace Bay is located on the Skeleton Coast in Namibia, one of the most inhospitable places on earth and it is an absurd location, it seems to be at the end of the world.
It is surrounded by desert dunes and lies on the Atlantic Ocean, here the air is so damp that it seems to be raining, the waves crash on the coast, and the seagulls and cormorants are perched on the roofs and on the wooden light poles.
Skeleton Coast - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi
This morning we get up a bit quieter at 6.30 and prepare for our breakfast outdoors, certainly not hot, but the sun has already risen and even psychologically it seems less cold.
We set up the car and leave, we are leaving the Etosha National Park today and heading West to reach the Atlantic Ocean and the notorious Skeleton Coast; here in the past, but even nowadays, many vessels and fishing boats are wrecked due to the strong marine currents.
Our car! - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi
This morning we left our campsite, near the Etosha National Park, at 7.30am and head towards the town of Otijo; along the road we feel that the bullbar vibrates more than usual so when we stop at Otijo for fuel, we ask if they can give it a check.
The gas station boy points out that it has unsoldered; we are shocked, both us and him, also because it is new and has not taken any shot, only the vibrations of dirt roads.
Etosha National Park: zebras - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi
This morning we wake up very early, we want to enter the Etosha National Park as soon as possible; it's crazy cold, but we're quickly getting ready, drink a coffee and we're already in the car.
We drive the few miles away from the Andersson's gate and we arrive when they are opening.
There are a few cars, but we can get into it almost immediately; once inside, we go first to Okaukuejo to pay the entrance fee and then continue, today we explore the Westernmost part of the park.
Etosha National Park: zebras - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi
This morning we get up early, have breakfast and go back to the Moringa pond to see if we are as lucky as last night, but today, apart from some birds, nobody comes to the puddle; but this is how safaris are, you never know what you can see, where and when.
We go back to our car and depart, we leave Halali; today we explore the part of the Etosha National Park that is between Halali and Okaukuejo; therefore we exit from the Halali's entrance and head West.
Along the way, we see several zebras, red hartebeests, some giraffes and a myriad of springboks.
Etosha National Park: Rhino - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi
Just after arriving at the Halali campsite, in the Etosha National Park, and taking our place in our pitch, we go to the Moringa waterhole, that is accessible only from the Halali complex; there is a short path leading to a kind of terrace, where some stone seats and some benches were made.
We sit and, armed with camera and binoculars, we wait.
It is almost sunset and we took two Savannas, a dry and a light, and make a toast at today, waiting for some animals to get to the waterhole.
Etosha National Park: zebras - Photo credits: Romina Facchi
This morning we woke up at 5.30am, outside it is so cold that it seems to be at Courmayeur in January; we dress up wearing two fleeces each and a woolen hat, it looks like we're going skiing rather than doing a safari, but now it is austral winter and it's normal that there are these low temperatures.
We have already checked out from the camp last night so to be ready to leave, we want to get in the Etosha National Park as soon as possible; the gate opens at 6.30am and we are there ready to enter, just the time to complete the formalities and we are inside.
Etosha National Park: Giraffes - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi
We arrived at the Von Lindequest gate at 9.30am, we could not have been faster than this!
We complete all the formalities and get in, how nice it is to be here, each time it's as if it is the first and we're excited.
We walk along the paved road leading to Namutoni and immediately see a Damara Dik Dik, they are often noticed around here, probably they prefer the vegetation that is in this place; we get to Namutoni, we go to pay the entrance fee, buy some things at the store and then go for the safari.
Etosha National Park: Von Lindequest Gate - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi
Early wake-up call this morning, we have breakfast at our pitch at the Roy Rest Camp, near Grootfontein, and then we go, finally today to the Etosha National Park!
We take the main road, the B8, turning right, and we head towards Grootfontein; here we turn right again and take the C42, that after about 60 km takes us to Tsumeb.
We do not even enter the city, besides having no need for anything, we have read that it is not a very safe town and that there is often the risk of being robbed; we take the B1 and, on our left, we see what looks like a small township.
San people - Photo Credits: Living Culture Foundation Namibia www.lcfn.info
Today we left our campsite near the Mahango Game Reserve at the Botswana border, and after passing Rundu, we arrived at the Roy's Rest Camp, near the town of Grootfontein in Namibia, at lunch time.
In this area there are several traditional San villages, the San or Bushmen, are the population of this desert land, that is the basin of the Kalahari, and many of them continue to live here following their ancestral traditions.