Despite our reluctance to leave the lush and verdant Okavango Delta region, it was time to check out Etosha National Park again before the rains arrived to disperse the game and predators away from the artificial waterholes. To do so we headed towards Tsumeb, a place we seem unable to avoid, whether for catching up on the Internet or for car and trailer repairs.

On the way to Tsumeb (that will probably never be a song title!) and in between tropical downpours, we dropped in at the Hoba meteorite near Grootfontein. The main claim to fame of this 60 ton lump of iron and nickel that fell out of the sky 80,000 years ago is that it is the world's largest visitor from outer space. It may be heavier but I don't think it's as wide as our Landrover so I'd dispute that claim! Much as I like geology, a lump of metal is a lump of metal, and after watching it for 10 minutes we decided that was as exciting as the show was going to get!

We inadvertently timed our arrival in Tsumeb with the start of the "world famous" Tsumeb Copper Festival. This seems to consist of 5 days of live music by "up and coming local artists" in the UN Peace Park and the judging of the Miss and Mr Copper Festival beauty pageant.

The local mayor, for reasons best known to himself, enhanced the feel good factor by pointing out in the free programme guide that the festival was moved to November because it clashed last year with a "show in Windhoek that was preferred by customers and exhibitors." Clearly warming to the theme he then highlighted the high level of unemployment in the area!

In common with all our visits to towns after time in the bush, we have a busy schedule of equipment repairs and replacement. This time we need to have the front door tent zips repaired or replaced, under warranty from our last visit to the world's copper capital.Despite having 3 relatively large supermarkets in town, it takes several visits to all three before we can find the provisions we want. It also costs a large cold drink in each car park to ensure that the security guard watches our vehicle; well worth the cost given the equipment we have to leave in it.

Tsumeb is also the last place in Southern Africa running Internet over ordinary phone lines (they like using copper?) We have chosen to arrive the week they are upgrading the area to ADSL. Consequently I'm sat in the Travel North Internet Café looking at a row of blank screens; well at least I get to charge up the laptop. Connections have been down for 3 hours, from 7am this morning, which means you will probably never get to read this blog, count yourselves lucky!

We've been able to book 10 days in Etosha, so off we go.