Moose Goes To Swakopmund!

[Mortymoose]

It's Roadtrip time!

I need this! Not been a good place the past year or so. The building I rent has a sinkhole under it! The local council let me know that they have been undercharging me by about 40 grand a month on my bakery! ( For the past 14 months) . My FirstBornMoose is squatting on my couch armed with an honours degree in Forensic Accounting.....

This :limited" drinking thing does not help the situation either....

LastBornMoose who has been stuck here in this little Groundhog day for the past 18 months due to C19 has gone on holiday with his best mate this morning.

So The English HO summonsed me a few days ago, " You are going away on Friday!", she said without looking up from her paper strewn desk!

"I am?", I nervously questioned, fearing what mission she had planned for me this time... fearing the ritual of crossing the border post seeing as my Butchery Manager got stuck there for three hours a mere forty eight hours ago and landed up dumping/discarding meat products due to official harrasment....

"You are going to Swakopmund for ten days! You will be taking THAT daughter of yours with you to see if you can speak some sense into her about getting on with her life" , "You will also be acting as a backup for LastBornMoose in case anything should go South with him!", she added in a manner that I could feel concluded the discussion. I gave a short bow and backed out of her office.

"Swakopmund, Namibia's playground! Little Germany in the Dunes, Town of Draught on Tap and Bratwurst!" , I thought unto myself..... with no borders to cross....

A roadtrip through the desert.........

So in a mere two hours I shall be departing to a place I last visited two decades ago..... Tonight I shall be staying at a wee castle on the edge of the Namib Desert, nursing a cold one or two around a fire..... These next ten days or gonna be soul repairing, much needed.....



I will post a few snaps on this thread as I go along!

I was last at this castle about 28 years ago before the tourists found it....



If all goes to plan, I shall head on to Swakopmund via Soussesvlei and Sesriem Canyon before joining my son and mates for Sundowners at a restaurant with a view...


Hopefully I shall be restored to 1989 on my return!



Right! Tis; Friday, You lot get back to work!

 

[HunterNW]

Enjoy Uncle Moose. I'll be at Vioolsdrift in October. Without crossing borders you can come and sit on your side and we can prost over the river.

 

[jezzad]

Mate, that gravel road from Helmeringhausen to Swakopmund is my favourite drive in the world. Early overcast sunrises with Kudu bouncing around.

Lunchtime stop off at Sossusvlei

Ice cold beer from the top of the sand dunes overlooking the ocean in Swakopmund

ENJOY!

As a parting gift. This was Sossusvlei a couple months back with all the rain

 

[Mortymoose]

What more do u want? A castle, the desert a sunset and a weak wifi conn.

 

[AchmatK]

Giving me some inspiration for 2 week Namibia Road trip with the evoque from Somerset West. Might plan something for June/July.

First need to check what the covid border control is like. Will be the wife and two kids.

Found this 10 road trip itinerary that I might use as a guide.

The Definitive 10-Day Namibia Road Trip Itinerary (+map) | The Common Wanderer

This detailed 10-day Namibia road trip itinerary features Namibia highlights, day to day guide and map, where to stay, and tips.

www.thecommonwanderer.com

 

[Shake&Bake]

Damn! Enjoy Moose! A lovely time shall be had indeed!

 

[PoppieChoffel]

Safe and happy travels!

 

[Mortymoose]

Early morning drive to Swakop via Sesriem and Soussesvlei....My word the empty beauty of this vast country never ceases to amaze me....

 

[absynth]

If it wasn't for all these restrictions then we would've been in Namibia in a jiffy. Miss the empty wide spaces.

 

[Mortymoose]

We went off to see the Moon Valley about 30 clicks into the Namib, my mate had built a braai out of cement out here with his mates in 1993, he was happy to see it still standing... ww went to a spot called Flintstones, that 2nd big of a boulder actually forms a type of cave under it.This is where he camped as a youngster.

 

[Mortymoose]

Can see why its called Flintstones..

 

[Cius]

Swakopmund is one of my favourite little towns in Africa.

Had such a jol there a few years back.

 

[swakop_toe]

View attachment 1057063

What a privilege.
The Jetty.
And Brùcken Strasse.
I can see my grandparents house.
And my late aunt's backpackers on the opposite side of the road.

May you be healed and revived.

 

[Nicholas Lisse]

I personally cannot wait to move back to Swakopmund, from Somerset West in 3 months.

 

[Nicholas Lisse]

Giving me some inspiration for 2 week Namibia Road trip with the evoque from Somerset West. Might plan something for June/July.

First need to check what the covid border control is like. Will be the wife and two kids.

Found this 10 road trip itinerary that I might use as a guide.

The Definitive 10-Day Namibia Road Trip Itinerary (+map) | The Common Wanderer

This detailed 10-day Namibia road trip itinerary features Namibia highlights, day to day guide and map, where to stay, and tips.

www.thecommonwanderer.com

EDIT: Sorry for the Hijack Moose!

That looks okay but when he says Namibia is massive, he is underselling it. Namibia is MASSIVE™.

Over a 10 day trip, I generally decided to do the north or the south, with Windhoek being the middle. This gives you the ability to see a lot more without being hurried.

It gives you time to chill at the camp site for a day, and explore. You’ll need that time or more for Fischriver and Sossusvlei/Sesriem.

Swakopmund will keep you busy for 3 or 4 days (Sandwich Harbor and Walvis to the south, Cape Cross and Henties to the North). I’d also strongly recommend spending a night at Messum Crater and exploring the river there.

As for the Northern Swing, I’d look at doing the Skeleton Coast and going into Damara Land. Palm wag is an awesome little spot, you might find yourself waking up to an Ellie in your camp site. There is also Twyfelfontein, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and further north there are the Epupa Falls at the Namibia/Angola border. And from there no visit would be complete without 3 days in Etosha.

Your Evoque will be fine for about 80% of these roads, I’m just worried about your tires and ground clearance. The vehicle itself is more than capable.

As for the COVID-19 Requirements, Namibia wants a negative PCR test that is no older than 7-days. While they do state that rapid tests are acceptable now, I’m not sure that memo has made it to every border post, so I’d stick to the PCR test.

Coming back, SA wants a PCR test that’s no older than 3-days, but they are happy with the rapid tests. They offer those at the border.

I’m in Somerset West too. PM me if you want to know more info over a beer at Triggerfish

 

[AchmatK]

EDIT: Sorry for the Hijack Moose!

That looks okay but when he says Namibia is massive, he is underselling it. Namibia is MASSIVE.

Over a 10 day trip, I generally decided to do the north or the south, with Windhoek being the middle. This gives you the ability to see a lot more without being hurried.

It gives you time to chill at the camp site for a day, and explore. You’ll need that time or more for Fischriver and Sossusvlei/Sesriem.

Swakopmund will keep you busy for 3 or 4 days (Sandwich Harbor and Walvis to the south, Cape Cross and Henties to the North). I’d also strongly recommend spending a night at Messum Crater and exploring the river there.

As for the Northern Swing, I’d look at doing the Skeleton Coast and going into Damara Land. Palm wag is an awesome little spot, you might find yourself waking up to an Ellie in your camp site. There is also Twyfelfontein, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and further north there are the Epupa Falls at the Namibia/Angola border. And from there no visit would be complete without 3 days in Etosha.

Your Evoque will be fine for about 80% of these roads, I’m just worried about your tires and ground clearance. The vehicle itself is more than capable.

As for the COVID-19 Requirements, Namibia wants a negative PCR test that is no older than 7-days. While they do state that rapid tests are acceptable now, I’m not sure that memo has made it to every border post, so I’d stick to the PCR test.

Coming back, SA wants a PCR test that’s no older than 3-days, but they are happy with the rapid tests. They offer those at the border.

I’m in Somerset West too. PM me if you want to know more info over a beer at Triggerfish

Will be in touch. Planning for to go maybe June or July.

Was thinking of making it 15 days instead of his recommended 10 days for the same trip.

 

[Lupus]

Where is a pic of that cement braai? I want to see a 28 year old braai.

 

[heartbroken]

Mr Moose, does Namibia have any silly lockdown rules? Like being forced to go out between people to have a drink? Like SA had a while back. I am planning a trip but I would much rather sit at a campsite in the middle of nowhere with a six pack of whiskey.

 

[Geoff.D]

Making me feel very very "homesick". How I love that part of the World!

Great memories of many of those places.

 

[RedViking]

Never been to the desert. But would like to one day. Maybe go visit oom Moose