Last images from Sossusvlei Mountain Lodge

The game drive and sundowner at Sossusvlei Mountain Lodge - before Simon broke the ribs. The best sundowner of the trip in terms of drinks and nibbles - we had a gin and tonic with lovely spicy biltong. And the wildlife was reat - spot the ground squirrel, plus zebra, oryx trying to hide behind bushes, and other things I didn't get good pictures of - jackals, wild cats, an aardwolf etc. Nestor was the best guide we had, I think. Plus we had George the resident astronomer with us on the drive, who later on treated us to a perfect view of Saturn and its rings through the telescope at the Lodge.

Olive Grove - the Great Escape

Our room at Olive Grove - we were lucky to get booked in at last minute as they are usually booked out. I loved it, altho' the concrete design is not for everyone. Compared to Thule Lodge - well, there was no comparison.

Thule lodge - not recommended

So whilst Simon was drugged up and kept in hospital, I was in Thule Lodge. Rather a depressing place - 80's furniture, slow hot water, and very cold as the heating didn't work. I would not recommend it. But then, after the stress of the prior 24 hours, I was probably not in the best frame of mind to really like anywhere. After being surrounded by people and having to take charge for so long, being left by yourself in a room is quite dispiriting.

And then Simon broke some ribs...

Yes, Simon took a tumble in the night, and the result was after a very uncomfortable night the next morning the paramedics flew in (see the small pictures of the plane), dosed him up with morphine (which the lodge manager, Desire, helpfully assisted with), and we jounced down to the airstrip to evacuate him to Windhoek for urgent x-rays of his ribs. Not to mention the grazes and bruises... I got squeezed into the back of the plane, but at least I got a scenic flight. That is what the middle photos are!!
We arrived in Windhoek, and were transferred to the Windhoek mediclinic where we met Dr Tommy van Wyk - a Sth African wearing boardshorts and a quiksilver t-shirt, and who was the best doctor I have ever encountered... I got to fill out lots of forms, and take a trip across the road to Pick 'n Pay to buy hot chicken and rolls to make Simon some decent food, plus some other snacks. Then I got to watch Simon try to get comfortable and move around with a portable drip, as well as be presented with mountains of hospital food. After a lot of poking, prodding, and x-rays, Simon was finally admitted for the night, and I was taken off to the Thule Lodge (last minute accommodation in Windhoek, see separate post). But late on Sunday, we broke him out and headed to Olive Grove - where he looks much happier with his sling in the rather fetching kimono and slippers provided! There is actually a smile in that photo, which is practically unheard of.

the plane arrives


We get taken out to the plane

take off


scenic flight (of sorts)

landing in Eros airport at Windhoek
in the hospital with the drip
Simon loving being in hospital
dealing with lovely hospital food
and breaking out to the Olive Grove and a shower (the first in two days!)

Sossusvlei Mountain Lodge

This was the next place we stayed - very different to Wolwedans, but nearly as special. The view from the loo alone (the last picture) was worth the price of admission...

Driving to Wolwedans

We decided to take the "scenic" drive to Wolwedans - the D909. One bit of advice - don't bother! The road was terrible - the picures don't do it justice. It involved cattle crossing the road, and many gates for me to open. Unique in some ways I suppose!
When we stopped for fuel at Betta at the junction with the C27, we ran into a couple of Americans in a Toyota Corolla who had had a puncture along the same road. After driving along various roads in Namibia, there were very few suitable for a non 4x4!