All Hot & Bothered

Had a lazy start to the day and headed from our bushcamp to Fish River Canyon, one of Africa’s natural wonders. It is the largest canyon in Africa, third largest in the world measuring 160 kilometres in length, 27 km at widest point and 550m deep. We hiked along the ridge, an easy 1km walk and were overwhelmed by the size of the gorge below us. Didn’t get a chance to hike into the canyon as we had missed the season by a few days and hiking was now prohibited due to high temperatures and risk of flooding. Given that it was very hot was quite pleased to have the restriction imposed!!

The mercury was still easily pushing 30 degrees when we arrived at our camp for the night, the fabulous Ai-Ais Hot Springs (translates as scalding hot!). We all groaned when we realized that there were really only hot springs and no cold pool available. Still threw on the bikini and headed in to the pools to sweat it out, then discovered the shallow kiddie’s pool offered some respite. In the evening, after our wine and cheese we could more enjoy the inviting indoor and outdoor pools and soak our bodies from the outside for a change.

Was nice to have a relaxing environment as the strains of having been on the road and living in each others pockets was beginning to take its toll on some within the group – apparently a very common occurrence in the last two weeks of this length trip.

From here we headed a few hours south and left my favourite country of Namibia. Was slightly nostalgic passing through our last land border crossing of the trip. Still can’t get my head around driving over an invisible line, getting a stamp in my passport and then being in a new country with the other one still in sight! Must be something about coming from a small island nation where leaving the country involves getting on a plane or boat.

We stopped at a camp near the border where across the flowing Orange River you could see the hills of Namibia!! Was uneventful day, mostly spent crowding under a mosquito net with beer in hand to try and avoid swallowing mouthfuls of the pesky little insects everywhere. Dipped my feet into the river but it was incredibly fast flowing and really quite muddy (coloured brown, not orange in my opinion) so skipped on the swimming option. Night finished with more alcohol and antics involving the infamous muumuu (leftover remnant from our fancy dress party).