My latest adventure was a 2 week 150km hike along the Kunene river in northern Namibia. It was organized by geologists and designed as a professional trip for sampling of rocks. However, as 2 people dropped out only two weeks before the trip started they were desperate to fill the places with anyone who would like to do the hike and pay the money. I got to know this from the mountain club and was immediately hooked. A hike through an area where there are not even 4x4 tracks, guided by indigenous Himba people! What an opportunity! I asked my boss nicely and he made it possible that I could have the time off even though I did not have enough holiday left.
The tour started in Opuwo, a town where only a handful of white people live. The majority of the population there are Himbas. We only had to bring tent, sleeping bag and personal items as well as a day backpack for water and snacks. Everything else, including food, was cared for by the tour operator. On the first day we were transported on a Unimog to Epupa Falls, a dusty 200km drive which took about 4h. Our camp was directly at the steep riverbank. We were warned not to enter the water because of crocodiles. That day we only saw a water monitor lizard, though. The waterfalls are beautiful and impressive, with huge baobab trees on the rocks. We saw Himbas from the nearby village washing their clothes there and putting them to dry on the surrounding bushes.
