Windhoek and night-time rhinos

Days 11,12 &13     27^th -29th  September

Spent the day doing touristy stuff in Windhoek, the Namibia museum (check out the size of an elephant skull!) and the famous Christuskirhe Church, which made us aware of the German history of the city during the First World War – huge memorial plaque on the wall and a massive cemetery, which we flew over as we left.   

Some not-so-essential shopping for Sherry (new dress!!), then back to our hotel for the night.  Aimed on getting away v.early next morning to avoid the heat and the bumps, but as usual, Africa won again, as we were unable to contact the fuel truck to come and refuel the plane as all their phones were ‘off’. Eventually snagged one, but so far we have never managed to get through an airport in less than an hour – even on an in-country flight with no customs to worry about!  Windhoek is situated in a sort of crater with hills and mountains around it, then flat, flat with sudden ridges popping up out of nowhere.

We eventually took off for the 2 hour flight to Ongava Lodge and the Etosha National Park.  Beautiful place, stunning room with veranda overlooking the water hole.  Constant traffic – black-faced impala, wildebeest, red hartebeest, zebra, giraffe, springbok, oryx, kudu, guineafowl, kori bustards, warthogs, huge flurries of red-billed quaelia, Namaqua doves, a spotted eagle-owl, black-chested snake-eagles – forget the game drives – we could have sat there all day with camera and binocs!

We did a pleasant evening game drive, the highlight of which was a pair of Purple Rollers, plus a few new birds such as the Red-crested and the Northern Black Korfan, and a lovely sundowner watching grazing zebra and wildebeest.

The highlight of the day came after dinner as to our delight we saw a Black Rhino wander down to drink at the water hole.  Mad flurry of activity to get down to the ‘hide’ beside the water hole, where we could get amazing views (+photos and video) of this magnificent beast.  Just as he wandered off another appeared and hung around enjoying a salt lick as well as a drink.  I was too excited to sleep for quite a while!