On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
lashonharangue
In May of 2022 my spouse and I traveled to Africa and spent nine days in Namibia, one of the driest and least densely populated countries in the world. We flew into Johannesburg, South Africa, stayed overnight at the airport, and then flew to Windhoek (the capital of Namibia). The next day we were met by our guide/driver Jeremia Mwapopi and began our adventure. He said we were his first guide job since the start of the pandemic. Driving southwest into increasingly sparse terrain for about six hours, our destination was Sossusvlei.
Along the way we were excited to see our first baboon sitting on a fence. It seemed pretty bored with the passing vehicles.
We crossed the Tropic of Capricorn a few times while driving through Namibia.
We had to descend the Great Escarpment. You can see a bit of the road winding down on the lower left of the photo, and then more of it as a thin line toward the middle.
Here is a shot of the escarpment from the bottom.
We had stopped there because Jeremia had spotted a Hartmann’s mountain zebra. It has a dewlap (flap of skin) hanging from the throat. It also has different markings from the more common plains zebras. It lacks stripes on its belly, and the stripes on its face don’t meet at the nose like plains zebras.
We stopped for lunch and refueling in a place called Solitaire. It really is in the middle of nowhere.
Driving toward Sossusvlei, we caught our first glimpse of the red sand dunes that draw many visitors to the area. Those are springboks in the foreground.
Here is a better photo of a pair of male Springboks grazing near the road. One of the many antelope species in southern Africa.
As we got close to our destination, we spotted an Oryx. It is one of the largest of the antelope species. The horns are amazing.
Next stop – The Red Sand Dunes
raven
Wonderful pictures!
It’s a good time to listen to the great Hugh Masekela!
Stimela (The Coal Train
Baud
Indecisive Baboon.
Rusty
Seeing that picture, I am looking forward to tomorrow’s pictures. Thank you for sharing!
OzarkHillbilly
A whole lotta OTR folks going to Africa lately. Which is nice, and I sure do appreciate your sharing with me as it is unlikely I’ll ever make it there.
Many thanx, lashonharangue.
Betty
I had no idea that Namibia was so arid. Easy to see why the population is small.
eclare
Lovely photos!
lashonharangue
@raven: Mining is big part of the economy in Namibia as well.
Albatrossity
Wide open spaces! Thanks for these, and I’m looking forward to seeing more!
Denali5
Great photos! Especially of the oryx-love the word- and the zebra-didn’t know about that variety.
way2blue
It’s funny to see the baboon using the fence as a perch. But why not? Thanks for sharing this glimpse of a far far off place.
YY_Sima Qian
Really looking forward to this series! Namibia is on my bucket list.
Mike S. (Now with a Democratic Congressperson!)
Great to see a place I’d really like to visit. But those plants (cacti and Agaves) are native to Mexico/SW USA not Africa!
J R in WV
So is this the Kalahari desert we’re seeing? I see from Google that it is…. Amazing geological feature, with equally amazing cultural results. There’s a movie, a local kid sees a Coke bottle fall from a small aircraft, thinks it must be of incalculable value and sets out for civilization to return the jewel like object to those who lost it… can’t recall the name, was amazing film.
ETA:
Desert plants, can’t they occur in any desert with a fitting climate? One miner comes from Mexico with Sonoran seeds on his pants.
pieceofpeace
Wow, love the animals, the Oryx horns above a masklike face, the mountain zebra who knows she’s(he?) got a good-looking butt, and the setting of red sand, blue sky, shadow and desert plants below so in tune together they look as if painted, while the Escarpment instantly reminds me of am unsculptured Black Hills spot. So I spent time looking for fanciful shapes in those hills, much like I did when a young kid.
Great pictures, fun time. Looking forward to more, more….
lashonharangue
@J R in WV: No I believe the Kalahari is to the east of these pictures.
lashonharangue
@Mike S. (Now with a Democratic Congressperson!): Not native – this was a “landscaped” area of the parking lot.
Albatrossity
@J R in WV: Koyanisqatsi is that movie. A good oneQ
Mike S. (Now with a Democratic Congressperson!)
@lashonharangue: I know, It’s just wierd to so those on the wrong continent.
Jim
Great Escaprment is absolutely brutal in my experience, at least if you go on foot. We did a few nights out there with a guide in hike-style fashion and I gotta say, outside of Alaska camping it was probably one of the hardest experiences I’ve had. Really regreted not getting backup boots since sneakers I’ve had(I think it was some sort of trail-running shoes from https://rununited.com/ or something) got completely demolished by the end of day 2 :D
Nevertheless, would visit again(your photos bring back so many memories :D )