A day in Khowarib camp and a bit of a difficulty deciding what to do today. Paul was toying with the idea of a trip down the Hoanib Dry River Trail but the staff on site said three vehicles had been washed into the river last week and we must now wait for the sand to dry out. When wet, some of the sand becomes like quick sand and some is just very deep. He said the guides in the area are not doing the Hoanib at the moment. There goes our last chance to see Desert Elephants we think. Another suggestion for today was a trip across country on a 4×4 trail but again not recommended as we are on our own. Both these comments were verified this evening by three of the managers of the Lodge. So we went for a walk up stream to a small waterfall. Lots of red billed quelea swooping in and out of the trees and river. There are thousands of them, quite a sight. We then went to Ongongo waterfall but basically a spring. This place is only about 5km from here, but then 6km on an Off Road track. Arriving, we met a man who spoke no english and having run to meet us ran off again! We walked down some very steep steps to a valley floor where there was a pool of water from a small waterfall. This was also a camp site. The man had run to find a lady who spoke English. Basically so they could charge us! Paul went skinny dipping in the pool, but I was too unsure about its cleanliness! We bought a very strange nick nack from a little boy on the road on the way back. Not worth anything, but 100N$ into the family pot. Four children all without shoes running over this stoney ground to get to us for a chance of a sell. Makes you realise what we have!
We had a light lunch in the Lodge then spent the remainder of the afternoon by the swimming pool. Last day in Kaokoland, off to Etosha tomorrow. Night sounds of the frogs etc amazing. Very noisy. Sitting in front of our wood fire, having had dinner and a bottle of red, listening to all the sounds out there and about to go to bed aloft, bliss!!
