On The Road

A selection of images from The Road - most taken during a recent trip:


The Outjo Maower - this Cool Cat and his Donkeys were nowhere to be seen ...

... he'd probably gone looking for help after suffering a Blowout.


Hmmm, I wonder if I should translate that message?

Ok ... it says "I've got a F#%*ing Reputation" - in other words, he's The Man!


A family of Warthog scramble under a fence, startled by the approach of the car.


Entrance sign at Camp Mara - the Metal Birds depict a species of Parrot endemic to the area.


This Kudu Bull jumped two fences then crossed the road and jumped another ...

... this jumping habit of theirs is especially dangerous at night and results in many road accidents.


Desert Balloon flights - I'd love to go on one but they're way too expensive.


A Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk feeds on roadkill - it has obviously been captured by Researchers at some time - notice the Ring on it's leg.


A Sociable Weavers' Nest forms a Cradle in a desert Tree - makes me feel like singing a Lullaby to them ...


A pair of Bat-eared Foxes warily watch the passing car.


A wreck in the Desert - it looks like the car rolled before catching fire - someones Namibian Vacation in ruins.

Driving on Gravel can be treacherous - especially for the inexperienced.


'World's End' a Guest Farm in the Desert.

'Biltong' is dried meat, similar to American 'Jerky' - Namibia is a Carnivore's Paradise.


A Mad Max type vehicle - it appears to have pumping equipment mounted on the back.


A Cheetah runs away from the Road - it was after Sunset and I only managed a few blurry shots.
Daughter Megan is arriving in Cape Town from London this weekend and I'm fetching her from there - my Internet connection will be sporadic for awhile ...

Take care Friends.

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Kavango From A Car - Pt. 2

More passing images, taken from a Car, on a recent trip to the Kavango region in Northern Namibia:


A young Man drives his Water-sleigh home.


'Welcome Shack Dweller" - I'm not sure what this means ...


Mom and Dad transporting Reeds and Kid a Bucket of Something.


This Building looks like it's collapsing from the middle, inwards.


An old Man walks along a path.


DRC Gearbox Doctor - a business along the Road.


A street scene in Rundu - the biggest town on the Okavango river, bordering Angola


Herding Cattle - Namibia suffered a drought this year and many farmers and crop-dependent people are receiving Aid.


Now this is what I call 'Pink' - Shocking against the dull winter colours.


Water Carriers - even the Kids pull their weight with this chore, except of course, those who are still strapped to Mama's back.


A Village scene.


Need I say more?

Kavango From A Car - Pt. 1

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Kavango From A Car - Pt. 1

As a passenger on a recent trip to the Kavango Region, north of my Home, I was able to spend the journey taking pics of the passing scene.

I don't have stabilizers on my lens and, travelling at 100 to 120 kph, it's not easy to capture sharp images - I took a few thousand photos and managed to salvage these, I hope you find them interesting:


Most Dwellings in this area are made of wood and mud, with thatched roofs.


A young boy transports water in a Drum on a cattle-driven sled.

Transporting water is a major hassle and chore for most people in the region, the exercise can take a whole day - water is collected from communal water points, mostly very far from people's homes - lucky are those who live close to the boreholes and wells.


An example of the Nguni cattle breed found in the area. Nguni cattle are known for their fertility and resistance to diseases.


A young Cattle-herder atop his Donkey.


"Best Gloomy House" - one of the numerous Shebeens along the road.

I've got hundreds of pics of the sometimes comically-named Shebeens which are also known as 'Cuca Shops' - enough for a whole separate Post sometime ...


Kids using a net to catch fish in a pond.


Our destination was the Ngepi Campsite on the Okavango River, close to Divundu.

It was great to be amongst old, big Trees again - most people use wood to meet their basic energy needs and  the smell of Woodsmoke is always in the air; sometimes just a faint whiff and at other times overwhelming but, - ever present.

I've never been anywhere outside Southern Africa and I imagine that if I was on another continent, the one thing that would make me totally homesick is the smell of African Woodsmoke ...


Dozens of Thatch-sellers were camped along a length of the road.

Thatch is mostly used for the roofing of rural homes and also for creating Features (Lapas) in wealthier homes, hotels and game lodges.


Three young women stride along the road carrying sheaves to one of the Thatch Dealers.

The harvesting of thatch Grass is a seasonal and often the only source of income for many people.


Mbeyo Baptist Church - the walls are built with a stick frame which is filled with mud.


A young Hunter stalks a bird, catapult at the ready.


Transporting water on a Donkey.

... to be continued ...

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More Junk Art and a Fig Tree Spook

More Tsauchab River Junk Art - and the Fig Tree Shower mentioned in that post:


An alert Kudu beside a tree.


A snapshot of the entrance road and Reception area.

Johan has used tons of scrap metal objects and natural things like rocks, dead trees and plants to create an attractive open-air art exhibition.


A fearsome Crocodile grasps an antelope in it's jaws.


Birds of Paradise?


A Scorpion scuttles defensively around it's pedestal.


I wonder what this gaggle of Ostriches are discussing?


Camera 'round the neck and binoculars in hand, visitors on a hike - the smaller figure doesn't look too happy ...


The Fig Tree Shower I mentioned.

The tree is probably a few hundred years old and the centre, where the shower is, is hollow.

The smoke is coming from the "Donkey" - a wood-fired water heater.


When I first went to check-out the shower near Dusk, my peripheral vision told my mind that the mirror inside the tree was a Window ...

... I was startled when I looked at it and saw someone staring at me ... :)


Sadly, I didn't get any good pics of inside the tree and the shower but, this should give you an idea of what it looked like.

There's nothing quite like the sensation of standing in the open under a hot shower with a coolish breeze blowing over your body.

Related Post: Tsauchab River Junk Art

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Tsauchab River Junk Art

On my previous trips past Büllsport I'd seen signboards for the Tsauchab River Campsite.

It was off my normal route but, on my way North a few weeks ago, I decided to detour and check it out ...



... I'm glad I did because, starting at the gate and all the way up the 300 meter driveway to the Reception Area, were hundreds of pieces of "Iron Art" created by the owner, Johan Steyn.

Above is a small display advertising one of the amenities of the Campsite, complete with Sunbather.


Rusty Aardvark - Johan has a knack of capturing animal peculiarities which make his creations instantly recognizable.



Come linger awhile with me, under the Old Boot Tree ...



A determined Cyclist heads for the Hills.



One Blue Bottle - part of a display of dozens of similarly-colored Glass and Enamel items on an old dead tree.

What shade of blue would you say this is?

Bottle Blue?



A tufted Secretary Bird holds a Lizard in it's beak.



A Gas Bottle Couple lie basking in the Sunshine.

I wonder what the Bucket's for? ...

... junk dentures probably ...



I was informed by Johan that due to space restrictions he could only construct a half-Fokker - a proper one is two barrels long ...

... a local joke I guess ... :)



I enjoyed the private Bush Camp too, including a hot shower in the centre of a massive, ancient Wild Fig Tree.

... and surprises like this, a wooden Face in the Grass on one of the four-wheel drive tracks on the farm.


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