28 April 2016 - Keetmanshoop to Swakopmund

28 April 2016 - Keetmanshoop to Swakopmund (via Mariental, Maltahohe, Solitaire, Walvis Bay)

This is not the moon, its the Namib desert.

We saw many diverse landscapes, all known as the Namib.  Stick around and see more.

We drove 808 km from KMH to Swakopmund. We filled up diesel in Mariental, and drove tar road to Maltahohe, both small towns, the first more industrial looking.  I paid R11.23 for diesel in George and only R9.24 in Mariental, a nice surprise.

The road was excellent tar rod to Maltahohe.

The sun came up at 7.10 and was quite spectacular through the clouds. The landscapes was bland and flat. From Maltahohe the road was gravel and somewhat corrugated; not too nice to drive on.  In the distance we could see a small mountain range.  As we got into that the scenery changed and was quite beautiful.  We entered the Namib Naukluft Park.

Mountains of all colours could be seen. Sometimes with vegetation, often without. Thorn trees cover many of the valleys between mountains.

More Namib Naukluft Park scenes

We passed 23.5 degrees south, the 'Traffic' of Capricorn...the traffic was awful! Five tourists groups posing!

Diesel: although maps and GPS show fuel available at Asab and Gibeon (between KMH and Mariental), there was no diesel available; not even pumps.  We had to fill from our 25 liter can.

More Namib scenes (top right is Solitaire)

The road from Maltahohe to Solitaire in some places are rutted, similar out of Solitaire, but the last 100km to Walvis Bay is excellent. The number of vehicles from Solitaire to Walvis Bay was quite high.

Walvis Bay has an industrial town' feeling but a beautiful waterfront neighbourhood with flamingos close-by in the water. North towards Swakopmund, expensive housing developments are growing fast.

Swakopmund seems to be an affluent town, and sprawling!  It extends over many kilometers and is the most vibrant of the few Namibian towns i saw.

Prices:  food and drinks are very similar in price as in SA.  Fuel is cheaper in Namibia. Urbock beer is as expensive in Namibia as in SA (N$70.55 for 6 (340ml)). I pay for my good taste.

Temperature was 36 C in the interior and 17 C in Swakopmund at 5 pm.

Tomorrow North along the coast, sleeping at Kamanjab, in Damaraland.