Bridging The Continents

February 20 2026 - Swakopmund to Sesriem

Location: Namibia Summary: Today, February 20th, I'm continuing my journey through Namibia's stunning desert landscape. I wanted to mention a fascinating museum in Swakopmund that I visited a couple days ago - it showcased the incredible mineral wealth found throughout Namibia's vast desert regions, including uranium and other metals, particularly in the north. The past few nights, Gert-Jan and I enjoyed excellent fish and chips from a beachside cart, and he took a refreshing ocean swim while I captured some great photos. Now we're heading to Sesriem, a small town near the famous Sossusvlei valley - a major highlight for visitors to Namibia. The drive today covered many kilometers through beautiful desert terrain on rough and semi-paved roads. Once you leave the populated areas, you rarely encounter other travelers except for tourists in rented 4WD vehicles with rooftop tents. Sesriem has very limited and expensive accommodation options - some places charge 5,000 Namibian dollars per night. Fortunately, with help from Gert-Jan's wife Ninke, we found the Quiver Desert Camp for about 2,500 dollars. It features 20 modern cabins, an outdoor bar, and swimming pool, but no restaurant. We're truly in the middle of the desert now - the wind can be incredibly strong at times, but the reward is an absolutely spectacular starry night sky with countless visible stars. Tonight we're eating car food as I work through my camping supplies, though I've been preferring the 'African way' of buying local food and meeting people rather than isolating myself. This approach has been much more rewarding than talking to trees that don't talk back!

February 19 2026 - Walvis Bay Adventure: Flamingos, Salt & Coast

Location: Namibia Summary: On February 19th, I left Swakopmund for a day trip to Walvis Bay with Gert-Jan. Having been there before, I knew where to go, which was helpful since everything was new for my companion. In Walvis Bay, we saw ships and offshore drilling operations, then visited the salt collection area where we spotted flamingos - not many, but enough to take photos of these impressive birds. We had lunch at a restaurant on stilts over the water, where we tried snails and met Dan, a Canadian from Saskatchewan. Dan used to be a dairy farmer but was now traveling through southern Africa on his motorbike, having started in Cape Town and visited Victoria Falls. He had until March 16th to return to Cape Town. We enjoyed talking with him and even stopped to chat again when we saw him walking to his hotel later. We explored both the main town and the smaller area where service workers live. I learned that diesel is significantly cheaper at the coast - about 60-70 cents difference - costing 19.63 Namibian dollars per liter (18 Namibian dollars equals about one euro). On our return, we watched kitesurfers on the beach, though I got stuck in sand taking a shortcut. While Gert-Jan walked to get closer to the action, I managed to free our car. We also visited a beautiful landscaping center with a coffee shop near the camel rides and dune buggy tours. It was a great day exploring.

February 18 2026 - Swakopmund Adventures in Namibia

Location: Namibia Summary: Today I made my way to Swakopmund in Namibia. Along the journey, I attempted to visit a desalination plant but was turned away due to ongoing instrumentation work and calibration. They mentioned offering monthly tours for water users and stakeholders, with the next one scheduled for March, but I won't be staying that long. I also stopped at a shipwreck and visited a camping lodge where I met interesting retired locals, mostly of German descent, who were curious about my orange vehicle. When I reached Swakopmund, my planned accommodation at Dongo Guest House was fully booked, but they directed me next door to Skeleton Beach Backpackers. Despite my initial hesitation about backpacker hostels, this place turned out to be quite nice - more like a guesthouse with private rooms, common areas, kitchen facilities, and breakfast service at a reasonable price. I secured accommodation for two nights and spent time showing my companion John around town to help him get oriented, while I refreshed my own knowledge of the area.

February 17 2026 - Namibian Coast Road Trip

Location: Namibia Summary: Today I made my way from Aus to the Namibian coast, driving on rough unpaved roads at 55-60 km/h through desert landscapes. Along the way, I spotted the Dauris Green Village, Africa's first zero-output community with greenhouses and accommodations that offered Wi-Fi and refreshments, though I didn't stop to explore. My main destination was Cape Cross, where I paid 350 Namibian dollars to visit an incredible seal colony of about 200,000 seals. Despite being smelly and noisy, it was amazing to witness so many seals up close along the walkway where baby seals hide underneath. I then traveled to Henties Bay and stayed at The Doune, a waterfront hotel. Finding the Fishy Corner restaurant proved challenging as it wasn't where maps indicated, requiring some driving around the small town. I noticed many European tourists, particularly Germans, with overland vehicles and rooftop tents that can be set up in 5-6 minutes. At dinner, I observed the stark social dynamics with mostly white patrons being served by black staff, despite the significant local Namibian population. It was great experiencing Henties Bay for a second time, with more adventures planned for tomorrow.

February 16 2026 - My Day in Aus, Namibia

Location:Namibia Summary: My February 16th adventure began with breakfast at the hotel, but I saved room for the highly recommended bakery in Ocho - what a treat! The journey to Aus was spectacular, though entirely on unpaved roads through amazingly beautiful scenery. Traveling without reservations during low season, I relied on my Garmin GPS to find accommodation. After checking out Petra's Inn (no Petra to be found) and finding another place too expensive, I discovered the wonderful Cactus Tea and Garden, also called Dauras Rest Camp. What a gem! Located on the desert's edge, it featured detached cabins with four single beds and a unique open-air bathroom with no roof - surprisingly functional with hot water heated by wood fire. I met fascinating people including Sue, a neighbor who had left Namibia in the late '80s due to apartheid concerns but returned in the '90s. She shared her perspective that the black people are nicer than white people and now creates art bags. There was also a Canadian-Namibian visitor who travels here three months yearly and plans to retire in Namibia. The camp had decent internet, a restaurant, and even a small desert pool that I enjoyed. Despite the cloth roof flapping during the day, nights were peaceful. It turned out to be a fabulous day in Aus, filled with beautiful landscapes and meaningful conversations.