Chapter 36: 2002
Namibia
Wife Marjorie & daughter Susan embarked on their own African Adventure which ended up with a near-death experience but also some magical encounters. Marjorie wrote a journal of the trip, but here's my potted summary.
Girls on Tour
On 31st October 2002 Sue and Marjorie flew to Namibia on a Wildlife Holiday, followed by a few days in Cape Town. They changed planes at Frankfurt on their journeys to and from Windhoek.
The Namibia part was based around a train ride on the Shongololo Express. Some nights they slept on the train and then went out during the day in 4x4 vehicles that were themselves transported on the train.
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First stop was Tsumeb en route for the famous Etosha National Park where a few days were spent at Mokuli Lodge from where Game Trips were enjoyed.
The Reserve holds 14 mammals and 340 bird species, many of which were seen, including a very close encounter with a Lion.
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​Lake Otjikoto was visited, one of Namibia's few water sources. (Toilets here contained a Cobra!!)​​After a visit to a mining area they sat on the second largest meteorite in the world.​
After a visit to the Lunar landscapes around Spitzkoppe the train moved on to crime free Swakopmund, a seaside desert town.
At Mola Mola (Walvis Bay) there was the chance to hand feed seals, and then enjoy a flight over the desert and the Skeleton Coast.​
The flight was followed by Susan climbing Dune 45, one of the highest sand dunes in the world.
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​​Next came an exciting Quad Bike ride, again on some of the highest sand dunes in the world.
Unfortunately Marjorie came off the crest at speed, rolling down the side followed by a bouncing heavy quad bike.
She may have been trying for the world speed record but required treatment at Swakopmund Hospital.
Nothing daunted the holiday continued with a trip to a seal sanctuary (home to 200,000 seals!) and a Flamingo Colony.
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Visits were then made to Sossusvlei where a wilderness camp was enjoyed near to some famous gorges.
One of the final treats was Fish River Canyon, a competitor to America's Grand Canyon.
Another, was a Hot Air Balloon Ride over the Desert.
After a final visit to Windhoek Sue and Marjorie flew to Cape Town where a lady guide, Jenny, did them proud.
Their accommodation at Cape Town Holiday Inn proved to be an excellent choice.
They took a Cable Car up Table Mountain, visited the Winelands and Kirstenboch Botanical Gardens.
They also had a brief view of a whale near Hermanus en route to the Cape of Good Hope, and encountered the Cape Baboons.
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Susan's favourite visit was to a Cheetah Sanctuary where she went into the cage with one of the cheetahs.
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