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Farewell to Windhoek
In preparation for a month in the Namib and Kalahari deserts, Angela and I have spent our time in Windhoek doing essential chores such as eating, drinking and lounging by the pool!
Thanks to some cloudy days Angela has been able to stay in bed to at least 6.30am, before the heat drives her out of the tent!
Alerted by the sudden appearance of numerous black millipedes, we sat at Arebbusch campsite and watched the approach of a major thunderstorm from the south. Having deliberately pitched tent on higher ground (there are signs all around the campsite warning about flash floods) we escaped with some minor water drips in the tent. People camped lower down in various dry river gullies were not so lucky and spent the following day mopping out their tents.
One consequence of the torrential rains was another of Nature's spectacles. Millions of termites (reproductives according to our insect book) climbed out of previously unseen holes in the red earth, opened double sets of pristine wings and flew off for a brief life of mating, burrowing and egg laying before they die.
Death came sooner than anticipated for most as our resident ants enjoyed the opportunity of an easy protein feast by intercepting the termites as they emerged. Those that avoided being eaten alive by ants on the ground ran the gauntlet of flocks of swifts in the sky above.
The ants, previously benign, turned very aggressive to us in this orgy of feeding. It was Sod's Law that we'd positioned the braai in the middle of the highest concentration of the termite exit holes. We took it in turns to check the chicken wings, the ants biting our feet and legs within seconds. Anyone passing would think we were practising for the World Morris Dancing championships!
The latest photo album shows us at NICE (National Institute for Culinary Education) the catering college and restaurant here in Windhoek. Sadly the meal turned out to be anything but nice, never mind!
Christmas and New Year will be spent in the Namib Naukluft with no cell coverage or electricity, we are looking forward to leaving civilisation and it's attendant noise pollution behind.
Nearly all of January will see us in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, hopefully watching lions, cheetahs, leopards and raptors doing what comes naturally, in our favourite South African national park. Whilst there we hope to meet up with old friends, Ken & Nancy and Isaac and Liesel.
In February, after a quick drive through the Karoo to Cape Town, we will be hosting our first UK visitors, Lesley & Bill. After that, who knows, maybe Mozambique or Zambia via Botswana. Wherever we are going we'll enjoy it!
We wish you all a relaxing holiday break and all best wishes for 2008.
Thanks for all your emails and message board comments, keep them coming, it's always a pleasure to hear from you (excluding Steve of course).
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