After leaving Waterberg Plateau National Park, we ccompleted our big loop through northwest Namibia by heading back to Windhoek to meet up with Steve and Ki, resupply, and head out on the next leg of our journey.
En route to Windheok we spent a night at a wonderful campsite in a private game reserve called Omatozu located 100 km or so north of Windhoek, and then headed on to Windhoek to meet up Steve and Ki, shop in a fully-stocked supermarket, and then on to the Daan Viljoen Game Reserve just outside of Windhoek for a couple of nights R&R and some leg stretching.
Before we get to the good stuff, let’s do a little TIA drama! Hopefully you remember that TIA refers to “This Is Africa” and all the simple things that can go wrong or become challenges that would otherwise not be in the States. Well, here’s a good one for your entertainment. After meeting up with Steve and Ki (see below) and stocking up on food and drink, we stopped at the Shell fuel station to top off our tanks before heading into the remote portions of Namibia. As usual, I hopped out of my driver’s seat and told the attendant to fill up my Sub tank (that’s my secondary tank in the rear) with diesel, and then I went into the station to look for something. When I came back out to the car and looked at the pump and the guy pumping the fuel, my heart stopped beating – literally – as I saw that he was pumping petrol (gasoline) into my diesel fuel tank! This was a DISASTER in the making. Contaminating diesel fuel with any amout of petrol can destroy an engine. Fortunately, someone or something was shinning down on me because I did not turn the key in the ignition before I noticed what was happening and yelled STOP, and thus none of the contaminated fuel got into the fuel lines or engine, which would have been a serious problem. Anyways, we – actually the station manager – called an expert experienced with this problem for emergency help. He came and drained and flushed the Sub tank, and then we test drove the Green Dragon and he guaranteed all was well – but only because I had not turned the ignition key to the On position, which would have pulled fuel into the fuel pump to prime it. After 2.5 hours and just a little bit of stress, we were on our way. BTW, this was a great way to welcome back Steve and Ki to TIA.
We spent two nights just outside of Windhoek at the tiny Daan Viljoen Game Reserve, named after the South African administrator of South West Africa (when South Africa governed the territory of what is now Namibia). This National Park, established in 1962, encompasses only 15 square miles of hills and valleys west of Windhoek. The vegetation is mostly short Acacia and Mopane woodland and the Park hosts several of the classic wildlife species, but no lions or elephants. We had a delightful campsite and so far as we knew shared the entire Park with only one other party – a German family that didn’t stray too far from the WiFi.
We had a wonderful 10 km morning hike and another 3 km evening hike, giving our legs some much needed exercise (see pics below), but the most noteworthy event of our stay was the raid on our campsite by a large male baboon. We were setting up camp the first night and getting prepped to make dinner. We had car doors open and stoves and other gear on the tables, as we were all busy getting stuff from the vehicles to set up camp, when a huge male baboon came around the corner and we saw him get into the driver’s side of the Green Dragon. At which time we all yelled and I darted to the Dragon causing him to abandon the front seat – while I quickly wondered what he was trying to steal from the front seat. Anyways, he immediately ran around to the back of the Dragon, climbed in and grabbed a bag of beautful seeded rolls that Nancy was really looking forward to eating – since good bread is almost impossible to find in this country. I raced to the back of the Dragon at the same time as he and yelled and lunged at him while he came out of the Dragon, at which time he turned and aggressively lunged back at me – bread rolls in his mouth – with a growl and with his HUGE fangs bristling white and looking quite menacing – and my heart stopped for a second time in the same evening. Fortunately, he realized that he had his prize and turned and very confidently strode away knowing that he was the boss of this one-on-one confrontation. There is no question that he would easily take me down in a fight if he wanted to. Fortunately, his brain is relatively smaller than mine – I think – and thus he didn’t realize his superiority.
Knowing he had hit the jackpot with us during his first raid, our baboon “friend” returned in the morning by stealth, as we were now on constant look-out for him, and tried a rear ambush from the other side of our camp. He darted in from behind the ablution block, but Nancy yelled out and I grabbed my new slingshot – thank you Nathan for that xmass present – and at the sight of the slingshot he took off. Phew! This guy was bold and aggressive and certainly poses a safety risk for the Park’s visitors. Subsequently, the Park staff revealed that they will have to remove (i.e., shoot) this baboon. Sad fate for an animal just trying to get food in the easiest way possible, like we all do.
Here’s a few pics of our campsite, with first night drinks with Steve and Ki, and our hikes:
OK, hope you enjoyed the TIA anecdotes, because now we are off to the desert and the coast. See you there!
New Species:
- Sabota lark
Yikes for the gas and baboon incidents!!
Nice pics.
Have fun with your friends.
Did the baboon have young nearby?
maybe the baboon was a snippity grad student challenging his professor ! he didn’t know he was messin’ with Dr. McGee!!