Desert
Rhino Camp: This was our first destination and
probably my favourite place we stayed at. We were staying in ‘Luxury Tents’ –
so I had a massive double bed (I’m seriously considering about having a
mosquito net at home as it makes me feel like I’m a princess when I’m in
bed...!), a double basin, a shower and loo...all in a tent! Very crazy. Mummy
suggested that our first day we should have a relaxing start as it was obvious
that I was pretty tired but our guide had other ideas and our wake up call was
at 5:00! We went out on the most amazing game drive – for eleven hours! This
may sound a bit extreme and in all honesty the last couple of hours could have
been cut out but we had an incredible day. We were warned the night before as
we sat down to our three course supper (the lady who announced the menu was
called Grace and as Daddy isn’t very good at understanding the Damara accent he
thought she was saying grace and couldn’t understand why she was talking about
custard) that we might not actually seen any Black Rhinos. The concession is
450,000 hectares and all the Rhinos are wild. Trackers go out in front of the
cars but the aim is not to disturb the rhinos. We were incredibly lucky and saw
eight rhinos in five different sightings as well as numerous springbok, oryx,
zebra and giraffe. The countryside we were driving through although incredibly
bumpy was absolutely stunning. The rhinos were magnificent and we were really
privileged to be able to see so many. The next day we decided to go on a
shorter drive but we still started at 5:00. We didn’t see any rhinos but
instead we sat 60m away from a pride of twelve lions – one male, three females
and then lots of cubs. The cubs were so cute and very photogenic! We also saw
some spectacular sunsets and sunrises. Both my parents couldn’t get over how
big the sky was over here which wasn’t something I had previously picked up on.
Mowani
Mountain Camp and Twelfontein: We arrived here in time
for lunch and this time we were staying in a thatched tent which looked like a
mushroom! This place was also spectacularly beautiful and all the tents were
very hidden among all the rocks. We went on a tour to Twelfontein and went on
the Lion’s rock. This place is famous for its rock engravings and painting
which are 6,000 years old. These were amazing and we saw the famous penguin
rock engraving which so baffles everyone. We then drove to the Organ Pipes and
Burnt Mountain which were brief visits but none the less interesting. The Organ
Pipes are rocks that funnily enough look like organ pipes and Burnt Mountain is
a black mountain that was burnt by lava.
The next morning we headed to Erongo but when via the Petrified Forest.
I was imagining a forest full of dead trees but I couldn’t have been more
wrong. There weren’t actually any trees...instead there were some piles of wood
that had been carried by floods from Central Africa thousands of years ago. The
wood had been turned to stone somehow, so in appearance it looked like wood but
when you touched it you realised it was actually stone. We bought a little
Giraffe wood carving from a couple of boys here and when Mummy asked what the
Giraffe was called the boy replied “Giraffe”! So she asked his name which was
David so our Giraffe has been christened David Giraffe.
Erongo:
Erongo
was absolutely stunning and was built among the rocks in a very Swiss Family
Robinson style with lots of wooden walk ways. Once again we were in amazing
tented rooms and my bathroom was actually outside among the rocks. I have to
say I did feel a bit weird showering outside but the view when I brushed my
teeth was incredible! Erongo was filled with these creatures called Rock
dassies which looked a bit like a beaver cross otter and were very weird
creatures that made a lot of noise. Erongo was all about the walking and we
went for amazing early morning walks through the rocks. The first morning we
did the Baboon walk and on the second morning we did the Eagle walk. It was
amazing to walk as the sun rose and to see the incredible views from the top of
the mountains. We also went on a sun downer walk and watched the sun set from
the top of a mountain. On the second night we went to Paula’s cave which was at
the top of a mountain – there were rock paintings of animals and Bushmen inside
which were fantastic as well as massive honey bees which were less fantastic! The
food here was really great and we all enjoyed particularly eating ostrich for
the first time.
Desert
Homestead and Sosoussvlei: We drove to Desert Homestead via
Swakopmund – although this added on a couple of hours driving time the shopping
here is amazing (making Mummy happy!) and it meant I could see a Doctor again
as my cough still hadn’t cleared up from the last lot of medication. The Doctor
was really nice and gave me a whole new batch of medications which have finally
sorted everything out and I’m now only coughing very occasionally. It was
lovely to be able to show Mummy and Daddy around briefly and then we went to
the Market where we did some serious present buying. I was definitely the best
at bargaining and getting a good price for the things we bought. We finally got
to Desert Homestead at about 5 o’clock having driven all day. Our only other
stop was at ‘Moose McGregor’s Desert Bakery’ where we bought brownies and apple
pie. This Bakery was literally in the middle of nowhere but it was amazing. At
Desert Homestead we stayed in little stone, thatched cottages which were very
fairy tale esq. We were literally only there to sleep as we left at first dawn
to go to Sosoussvlei. This was definitely my favourite place in our whole trip.
These are the famous red sand dunes (they are the highest dunes in the world)
and they were just as beautiful as they had been described. We drove a long a
tar road with dunes on either side of us – what made it so beautiful was the
shadows that fell on one side of the dune creating such contrast. Having
decided not to climb Dune 45 we drove on to Deadvlei where we climbed ‘Big
Daddy’. Climbing sand dunes is actually quite hard work but it is definitely
worth the incredible view from the top. Mummy and I then had great fun running
at speed down the side while Daddy followed at a more leisurely pace. This is
where we first met the Tok Tokkie. It’s a type of beetle which in the sun looks
a brilliant shade of blue but if you pick it up it is actually black. They
scuttle at an incredible speed and leave brilliant tracks in the sand. We then
visited Sesriem Canyon which is a very beautiful rock canyon just outside
Sosussvlei.
Wolvedans:
Wolvedans
was literally in the middle of nowhere, we drove for hours on dust roads until
we were amongst the mountains and after weaving through the countryside we
arrived at the lodge which was hidden among the sand. This place was absolutely
stunning, totally spectacular. We stayed in a luxury Family Room which was
tented with two massive double beds looking out onto the plane with the
mountains framing the landscape. You could roll up the walls (!) and then you
could see miles upon miles of beautiful landscape while lying in bed. Here we
went for drives in the morning through the countryside – there was some game
but the main purpose was to appreciate the scenery which we all did. It was
much colder here at night and we returned from supper a hot water bottle would
be waiting for us warming our beds. Sadly the time flew by as usual and soon it
was time to start the drive back to Windhoek.
My holiday with my parents was absolutely amazing –
firstly just to spend the time with them after eight months apart made the
holiday for me. Although, I haven’t suffered much from homesickness I have
obviously missed my home, family and friends an enormous amount. Secondly, I was thoroughly spoilt and we
stayed in the most incredible places which were so beautiful. My favourite time
when my parents were out here was when we were at Otjikondo purely for the
reason that I was able to share with them how much this place means to me. As
we walked away from the final assembly of term my parents remarked that they
didn’t know how I would be able to leave this place. Not only have I fallen
totally in love with the country and school but I have 236 children who I
consider my own and saying goodbye to them will the hardest thing I have had to
do. I just want to say a massive thank you to my parents for coming out to see
me and for our magical holiday. I am sure that the remaining four months will
fly by and it won’t be long until I’m home for good.
End
of the Month: During my holiday another month ended
and I have now done over eight months away from home. I’m writing this in
Zambia so I don’t have my list of records but I do know that I only cried once
which is a first! It’s been another incredible month and I appreciate more and
more how lucky I am to be able to have this experience. I want to say thank you
again to all the people who made this possible for me whether you granted me a
scholarship or bought a chocolate biscuit cake. I am truly grateful as I would
never have got here without you and I’m having the time of my life.
Lots of love to everyone and to everyone who is
embarking on exams GOOD LUCK and I will be thinking of you
Ottilie xxxx
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