Day tour to BlutkuppeIn the morning after breakfast we set off to the Namib-Naukluft Park. Often one sees game on the farm already and if we are fortunate, also the desert giraffe. The first quiver trees stand beside the road. After a good rainy season they bloom Mai/June. We drive over a gravel-road that takes us to the vast Tinkasfläche. Occasionally we see a tree, often with a vulturešs nest on top. In the distance, about 80 km away we can see the mountains of the Erongo Mountains range. After about a 30-km drive we reach a gorge, see a maze of rocks and the vegetation increases. Even the ungainly Elephant-foot-tree occurs (actual habitat: Kaokoland/Damaraland). The canyon ends and we arrive at the big Tinkas-dam, which adapts wonderfully to the surroundings. From Tinkas-dam onwards the landscape gets more diverse. In the whole area granite forced itself between slate/mica millions of years ago and so forms the environment of bands of rock and fairy-like rock formations. Through this bizarre landscape, through thick sand we come to the Bogenfels (rock arch). We have a well-earned lunch break in a shady semi-cave.
Afterwards we proceed through the partially sandy riverbed to the old dugout of the guards of the "Schutztruppe", well preserved with their crenels. The soldiers had to guard the ox-wagon path (Baai Weg) in the desert. We continue to the "cheese-rocks", a granite formation with many holes and caves in it. The resemblance to a Swiss cheese cannot be denied. At the Blutkuppe - this mountain glows at sunrise and sunset as red as blood - we have a coffee break. If you feel like loosening your limbs you can do so by climbing or taking a short walk. Passing various waterholes, where we observe game, we return to Niedersachsen.
After breakfast we set off to the Namib-Naukluft Park. We cross wide plains with rivers. From time to time we come across camel-thorn trees and in the distance one can see mountain ranges. At one place in this flat landscape the water of the rainy seasons digs a canyon. It is a special sight how the small rainfalls have eaten their way into the subsoil over millions of years, thereby changing the landscape. The drive takes us to a one-time terrace of the river, from where we look deep down into the gorges of the Kuiseb Canyon. We are now in the vicinity where the two German geologists, Dr. Martin und Dr. Korn, first lived after their escape from Windhoek. A 20 minute hike takes us to the first living quarters of the men, situated underneath a big overhanging rock. Well worth seeing: the archway, through which even today herds of zebra move. We wander back again to the car and drive up the twisting and steep pass to the Kuiseb Bridge and have a rest underneath big Anna-trees. After that we drive across the Zebra-pan. We see the old copper mine of the 19th century, and Homeb, a small settlement in the Kuiseb river. In the shadow of Anna- and Camelthorn trees we have lunch break and enjoy the view: on the one side of the Kuiseb the rocky desert with its large and empty expanse, in the middle the green riverbed and towards the south the red dunes of the Namib. We carry on driving to the granite Island Mountain Mirabib, where we have coffee. Afterwards we take a look at the waterhole Ganab, where we watch game like antelopes and zebras drinking. After an eventful day we return to Niedersachsen for supper.
Additional day tours to other destinations on request. We are also quite prepared to offer advice on sightseeing and routes for adequate vehicles, if you prefer to drive yourself. Please order the necessary permits for Namib-Naukluft-Park in advance or get them yourself in Windhoek, Walvisbay oder Swakopmund beschaffen.
Farm Niedersachsen
Barbara and Klaus Ahlert
PO Box 3636, Windhoek, Namibia
Tel ++264-(0)62-572200, Fax (0)62-572201
Email: info@farm-niedersachsen.com
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