Journey to the Namibian Coast
Good day, February 17th. Today it’s time to get to the coast, and the roads remain rough unpaved roads. Traveling at 55-60 kilometers per hour, I got to see more of the surrounding desert landscapes. We could have easily stayed another day in Aus, but after breakfast we vacated our place and got on our way.
Dauris Green Village Discovery
Before reaching the coast, we saw signs of salt and came across the Dauris Green Village, which consists of greenhouses and living quarters. We didn’t go in, but we probably should have as they had Wi-Fi and food and drinks available. It’s reportedly the first African green community or zero output community.
Cape Cross Seal Colony
Once we made it to the coast, it was time to visit Cape Cross. Cape Cross has a lodge near a massive seals colony – about 200,000 seals at this one point. They are a little smelly and noisy, but you’re in their backyard. We paid 350 Namibian dollars to see them, and there’s a walkway where many little seals hide underneath. So many of them – it’s just a joy to be around them, but not for too long.
Henties Bay and The Doune
On the way down, we made it to Henties Bay and stayed at a hotel called The Doune (the Dutch or Afrikaans version). The Doune was right on the water and a reasonable place to stay. We found the Fishy Corner for food, though it took some searching as the location didn’t match what we expected – we had to drive around to find it in a different location.
European Overlanders and Cultural Observations
We saw many overland vehicles, mostly rented by people from Europe, particularly Germany. Many had rooftop tents that reportedly take 5-6 minutes to set up. At dinner at the Fishy Corner, I observed that 90% of the patrons were white while all the serving staff were black, which was notable given the significant local Namibian population in the town.
Good to see Henties Bay a second time, and more adventures tomorrow.
