Naukluft National Park

                                       canyon river near Nauklauft campsite

                                          Photo Credit: Rachael Costello

We traveled to Naukluft Campsite with in Namib-Naukluft National Park  yesterday. It was four hours from Windhoek, three of those hours on a dirt road. We are deep in the bush!!

Our camp site is beautiful. The camp sits between huge rock outcroppings beside a stream. It's  very serene here with the water flowing. It is also very dark here so that our flashlights barely light up anything.

                                                                              Our campsite at Nauklauft Camp
                                                           Photo Credit: Rachael Costello

I have been wanting to see the African stars again and last night was it.  Christian says the stars are brighter because of the lack of light pollution, the dryness of the air, the weather is different in Southern Hemisphere, fewer clouds. I don't care the reason, I have been waiting 17 years to get back to Africa to see those stars and they didn't disappoint.

         Moon as seen form southern hemisphere

             Photo Credit: Rachael Costello 

It wasn't until our last night camping at Otjiwarongo Cheetah Sanctuary that I actually saw the moon. Because we are so far south in the Southern Hemisphere it only rises about 30 degrees in the sky and then starts going down again, and look only the bottom of the moon is visible. 

Christian is a "ranger guide" one of the few left in Namibia. So he is not just driving us around and cooking our meals he has a gun and will lead us on walking and driving safaris. 

He gave us the rules...

1. No food in tent

Baboons, honey badgers, and spotted genet will cause damage tents if they smell food. People should not feed wild  animals because it signs their death warrants. There is a large male baboon here at the camp who is getting aggressive with women & children. Aggressive behavior towards humans will get him killed. 

2. Stay on paths, no climbing rocks, be aware of you surroundings SNAKES!!!!! Although it is winter and snakes should be hibernating they like to sun themselves on rocks. We need to be cautious of Black Mamba, the Puff Adder, & the Night Adder all venomous.  Also, keep shoes and tent bags inside tent so a snake or scorpion doesn't climb inside. 

3. Have fun and ask a lot of questions

On our way to Naukluft National Park we saw  

Many, Social Weavers(birds) nests, springbok, Kudu, Baboons, and I saw a  Spotted Genet in the trash can after Micah went to bed.

  

                                      social weaver nest

                   Photo Credit: Rachael Costello

We went on a walking safari before we left Naukluft Camp Site this morning and saw Mountain Zebra, springbok & kudu this afternoon at Namib- Naukluft National Park we saw oryx, ostrich& bat eared fox. We also hiked #45 red sand dune of Sossusvlei.

                                    Red sand dune #45 at Soosusvei
                                 Photo Credit: Rachael Costello