NAMIBIA AND BOTSWANA 2025 : SOSSUSVLEI AND DUNE STAR LODGE

Thursday 22 April

Today's travel angel is Willie at Sossus Oasis for arranging a new tyre and rim for the Maggs' caravan from Windhoek overnight. We dropped our caravans in his parking lot to visit Sossusvlei for lunch. Too many tourists!

Mazzie and Mike stayed at Sossus for the night to explore it more seeing as they'd never been before. 

Gail, Neil, Hanlie and Andrew headed to Dune Star Lodge for the night. 

Just before Namib Dessert Lodge the Maggs' sacrificed another tyre. Andrew and a few guys at the lodge managed to fix it just in time for our 5pm departure up to Dune Star.

During the pandemic in February 2021, Neil and I escaped to Namibia as soon as South Africa's land borders opened. We'll never again be lucky enough to feel like we had a whole country to ourselves. Lodges all over opened especially for us. Dune Star was one such special place.

Tonight we almost have the place to ourselves again, with just one other couple arriving really late. Sunset drinks,  gourmet dinner and a star-studded sky.

The rooms are designed so that the bed pulls out onto the deck for a night under the stars.

NAMIBIA AND BOTSWANA 2025 - NAMIBRAND FAMILY HIDEOUT

Monday 21 April to Wednesday 23 April

Shout out to Suide Koelkamers for opening especially for us on Easter Monday so that we could pick up our butchery order. She even bought us sim cards in advance and loaded our data. 

Driving in Southern Namibia is roadtrip heaven. The vistas are so stunning your eyes hurt.

And for hours you won't see another car. The downside is the harshness of the gravel roads. This time we sacrificed a Maggs' caravan tyre and rim to the travel demons.

Mazzie and Mike joined us at Namibrand via Windhoek.

There are few places left on this crowded earth that offer such beauty, tranquility and solitude as Namibrand Family Hideout. It's a blessing to stay for 3 nights this time. 

I have no words for how much I love this spot.

NAMIBIA AND BOTSWANA 2025 RIETFONTEIN BORDER TO KEETMANSHOOP

Sunday 20 April

We were not expecting rain in the Kalahari overnight but it stopped in time for me to make our early morning coffee. The 45 minute drive to the Rietfontein Border Post was stunning with an the pans so full of water.

This border post was amazing too. We were the only people there and the officials were friendly and fun.

And then we were in Namibia cruising on the best gravel roads in Africa and driving 200kms without seeing another car. Stunning vistas!

We got to the Spar in Keetmanshoop 30 minutes before the 2pm closing. We spent the night at the Quiver Tree Forest Campsite. Such a special place.

We loved our campsite; sitting around our braai fire under the most spectacular night sky.