WILD CAMPING NAMIBIA | UGAB RIVER

WILD CAMPING NAMIBIA | UGAB RIVER

Excitement quickly died down when we realised the river that came down a while ago has beaten away the road to a point where we would not be able to go down to get to the swamp even. The swamps are filled with evidence of wildlife, tracks everywhere! We were still hoping to see the desert adapted wild elephants and lions, but up and till now no luck in finding them. With swamps this full who would be in the open anyway.

Detour time again – this is where the fun started. Back tracking a few miles we pitched our second night in the Ugab. Warm, calm conditions.

Did you remember the pot? No what pot? So another blooper, we forgot to pack the pot and plans had to be made to get supper going. True wild style we pulled it off and made the most delicious potjiekos for supper.
Spiders teasing us, laughter filling the air and children playing in the dark is how we spend our last night in the Ugab. Just after twelve we went to be just to be shaken again at 1 am. The East wind is here! By 4am we had to make the decision... We have no idea how our Bundutop tent will last in the howling winds, ripping thorough the gap of the Ugab. I got motion sickeness in the the rooftop tent.
Right, decision made. We are closing the tent at 5am. We woke the kids and made a bed on the back seat for the two of them. The toilet tent has blown away, chairs has taking sepertate and different paths... estimating the wind at more than 40 knots. The floor tents were no longer vertical and cuddling the bodies inside. By 5h30 am we attempted to sleep on the front seats, hoping the wind will calm down. By 7 am we were up. The wind calmed down to a point where we are able to get some coffee made and start the morning with a fresh brew of caffeine.
The Bundutop tent? I dont know if it would have lasted all the way till the next morning, but by the time we closed it after hours of winds, it was still sturdy and in one piece. I asked Bundutec about the wind tolerance, they said it has been tested in 50km/h. Beside the wind moving the zippers making a noise, we did not feel the wind inside. I was impressed with the sturdiness and strength of the Bundutop at that hour of the night in that amount of wind.
Getting to Swakopmund we drove into the worse sandstorm in years! Some businesses and schools closed.

What happened next? Was this it?

No, defiantly not. We made most of the last day that was ahead of us. We visited an old mine area and one of the biggest Welwitschias in Namibia. Adding to memories and landmarks to be visited again.

It was a disappointment not to drive the swamps, but such a good reason to do it again in a few months! Always up for a challenge and the next adventure.

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