Robbie Stammers, spends a spectacular 18-day road trip across the length and breadth of Namibia, to experience all that the Naturally Namibia group offers.
Summer in Namibia is the festive and holiday season. It is the time of a great trek northwards from the capital on the central highland, to traditional homes and families or westward to the cool Atlantic coast and social gatherings, big sporting events and lazy beach days.
The waterway leads us to Serondela, a classic safari lodge accessible only by boat. En route to our luxury destination from Kasane the river is buzzing with houseboats, tourists on cruises, fishermen and service vessels.
It is mid-April. We are doing a canoe trip down the Orange River from Vioolsdrift to Sendelingsdrift by courtesy of Umkulu Safaris, based at The Growcery (spelling correct) on the southern bank of the river.
At first I am somewhat nervous about driving on the left side, but luckily this fades after a while. The road is long and straight. Around sunset, we marvel at the colours of the landscape – pastel and gold!
As I stand on a sandy hill dipped in bronze, the sun presents its colours for the day and I could cry. It’s perfection and I am reminded of the saying that simple things can be the best. Nature, light and Namibian coffee.
I cannot find the word for “that feeling when you return to a place of familial significance, a place your heart remembers but you have no living memory of”.