6.04.2016 – 6.04.2016  32 °C

Early wake up, as our car arrived at our hotel at 8am. We checked the car over did all the paperwork and then started loading. During our loading of the car we realised that the tail gate lid (not sure what you call the glass bit above the tail gate that opens) wouldn’t close properly and that we would likely be getting dust into the back (an issue as our suitcases were going to be fairly dust filled, fairly quickly)- most of the roads here in Namibia are dirt roads.

So two hours later, two fix it dudes and some driving around Windhoek we worked out that our tailgate lid wasn’t going to be as much of an issue as the tail gate itself… Zero rubber sealing of the tail gate! Plenty of light flowing into the back. At this point Mum and I decided to repack and put all of the suitcases on the back seat with me. So once we repacked our bags in the back (nice and cosy space for me) and got ourselves all organised we hit the road in search of Sand Dunes!

Our drive wound south west from Windhoek through bare hills + scrubby desert. Another spectacular drive. I love driving through mountainous desert scapes! The first part of the trip was on tarmac roads but very soon we left behind the civilisation of tarmac and hit the gravel. Actually, the gravel roads here are quite good! Not too corrugated and very drivable. We got slightly lost when we reached a particular intersection. I thought it was the one we needed to turn off on but it was numbered differently to what my map said… Slightly confusing. As we were sitting discussing our options another car drove up and we stopped them to ask them what their map showed. It showed the road (that we were looking for) as matching the road we were on (our map was incorrect) so off we went to find the second highest pass in Namibia. We were hoping we could test out the 4WD early… No such luck! Got to the top of the pass and saw the most spectacular view so stopped to have our lunch~ cheese, bickies and wurst today. Started down the pass (thinking we’d engage our 4WD) only to find that the whole pass had been paved! So easy to get down..

Before we knew it the landscape started to get drier and drier, mountains getting larger and in the distance the hint of sand….. We arrived into our hotel at Soussevlei (pronounced Sosso-fly) just after 3pm. Plenty of time to rest up, shower before drinks on the balcony, watching the sun set.  This is why I came to Namibia! Our hotel is surrounded by big barren mountains, with the most awesome coloured layers of rock- they gradually changed from an orange to a deep red to a purple before disappearing all together. As soon as it started to get dark- out came the stars! And did they come out!!! OMG I’d forgotten how amazing the Milky Way looks when you’ve got no artificial lighting. Super duper awesome. Ballooning tomorrow so a 4.15 wake up.. Yikes!