August 25, 2019 – Swokopmund to Omaruru, Namibia

Morning Briefing, 8:10 a.m.

Location: Swokopmund, Namibia

Weather: Clear Temp: 20C

Notes: We packed up our luggage and put it on the truck before going for breakfast. Then we geared up and drove the bike to meet the rest of our group.
Yesterday evening three of the bikes that got held up in the port in Cape Town finally got delivered. Jean, Ross and Mike will be riding their own bikes instead of rentals.

The rentals are being trailered back to Cape Town. Gary still doesn’t have his bike. Hopefully it will catch up to us tomorrow. The delay was all due to a storm that kept the ship from docking in port in Cape town so it continued on up the coast then eventually made its way back to Cape town a week later.

Cost:
100 for drinks tab

Entry located at: https://www.google.com/maps/@-22.6816919,14.5315467,100m/data=!3m1!1e3

On the Road – Gas Break, 11:37 a.m.

Location: Usakos, Namibia

Weather: Clear Temp: 25C

Notes: This morning we stayed on the B roads which means pavement. The original route would have taken us along the coast on a salt road and then inland on dirt to some kind of feature. Our guides decided that an easier day would be better for the people who just got their bikes delivered.
We drove through desert toward some mountains. It got very hot for about half an hour, but then cooled down again as we gained altitude and got closer to the mountains.

Segment 1 located at: https://www.google.com/maps/@-21.9987488,15.5761092,100m/data=!3m1!1e3

Arrival at Accommodations, 1:25 p.m.

Location: Omaruru Game Lodge, Namibia

Notes: Our arrival was earlier than planned because of our altered route. We got our room just as the housekeeper was finishing up. Its a beautiful place. We changed and went out to the parking lot for lunch.

Segment 2 located at: https://www.google.com/maps/@-21.3349443,16.0828126,100m/data=!3m1!1e3

Eats – Lunch, 2:19 p.m.

Location: Omaruru Game Lodge

Weather: Clear Temp: 24C

Notes: Picnic lunch in the parking lot.

Segment 3 located at: https://www.google.com/maps/@-21.3349443,16.0828126,100m/data=!3m1!1e3

Special Attraction – Game Lodge safari, 3:30 p.m.

Location: Omaruru Game Lodge

Notes: Enough of us wanted to go on a safari that the lodge added another truck. Our first stop was where the elephants were. They came running to greet us because the landrover was carrying hay for them. We got up close and personal!
A warthog also showed up to scavenge on the hay the elephants didn’t eat.
Next we sought out some giraffes who stopped to gaze at us while we gazed at them. After, there were wildebeasts, elans, impalas, ostriches, zebras, rhinos and hippos.

There was a giraffe named Sammy who just loved to have visitors scratch his head. He stuck his head into the landrover to facilitate this, then when we tried to drive away he followed us and actually got in front of us so that we had to stop or hit him. Then he stuck his head in again. Our driver had to be pretty cagey to get away from him!

It was fun to seethe animals in their habitat, however, the lodge is built at the side of a man-made waterhole and at dusk it is feeding time. ALL the animals except the hippos showed up to be fed. It was like extras on a movie set all coming in for the lunch, still in costume.