Swakop Reef

Driving away from Branberg we stopped to buy some curios from the local Himba Tribe. They were nomadic but now stay in this area to sell their goods. They also farm goats to provide milk and meat and also to sell. It’s the women and children who sell the goods whilst the men farm and hunt. Because the schooling fees are beyond their means the children are likely to continue this new way of life, but still maintain their traditional dress.
Continuing towards the coast we passed salt mines and little stalls at the side of the road selling salt rocks. The weather started to change considerably at this point with a blanket of heavy mist surrounding us, but we drove through this and upon reaching the coast the prevailing wind became even more apparent. This area is unique because it is here that the desert meets the sea.
The seal colony at Cape Cross was noisy and smelly but watching the interaction of thousands of seals was fun. They are however vulnerable to Jackal and brown hyena who hunt them from the land and shark and whales from the sea.
After a lunch on the beach we headed to Swakopmund passing along the Skeleton coast taking in one of the shipwrecks that was on its way to be scrapped when it ran ashore.
Swakopmund is a mixture of German and South African influence in both its architecture and food. We ate schnitzel for our tea in a local restaurant, with our group before heading back to our hotel by the sea.Read more