Swakopmund to Twyfelfontein

Swakopmund to Twyfelfontein today. We got away about 8:00 a.m. and drove north along the coastline for several kilometers and then headed NE into the desert. The weather was damp and cool at the start, but as we headed into the desert it began to warm up. Twyfelfontein is located in the Damaraland. Some native women (Herero tribe) here dress in western style clothes, but wear strange sort of hats. This is due to Christian influences, while others wear virtually nothing (Himba tribe) as a result of their rejection of Christianity and the return to traditional roots.


The women sell crafts from booths set up alongside the highway. We passed a half-dozen or so on our way to Twyfelfontein. We stopped at one that was manned by women from both cultures (dressed and nude). I had my picture taken with the Himba women.

The countryside is dry with sparse vegetation. Flat desert land punctuated with rocky outcrops and mountains. The scenery is enjoyable and varies considerably as we drive. The only animals we saw today were ostrich, with one jumping out in front of the truck resulting in hard breaking.

We arrived in Twyfelfontein around 2:00 in the afternoon. We set up camp, had lunch and then headed off to view some rock carvings that are about 6,000 years old, very interesting. There is no mistaking what animals they were attempting to draw. We returned about three hours later which brings us to where I am now, sitting on the deck of a small bar located at the campground and drinking a beer. Pretty soon supper will be ready, so I will break for now and complete the blog after supper.


I am back. Supper was great with springbok and oryx stew, whipped maize and mixed veggies. Whipped maize is much like whipped potatoes. We then went to the bar where our guide, Janice, arranged for the locals to entertain us. It was a great show. They had no instruments, just their feet, hands and voices. They sang and danced through about 12 songs. Then they asked us which two songs we liked best. Once that was decided, they sang and danced them again, but this time we had to join in with them. What a riot.

That’s all folks. Talk to you tomorrow.