From Henry, still finding sand in his boots...

Well, as John’s said, we’re just back from the biggest sand dunes on earth – and boy, are they big.

But more importantly, our three-day trip into the Namib-Nakluft desert has been great fun, and a real welcome to Namibia. It was a good group of eight fellow travellers, and quite a mix: people from Brazil, Germany, Argentina and Japan.

The heat here is punishing, up to 38C, but plenty of water and our excellent salad lunches are proving just the ticket. And I’m glad to report that sleeping under canvas and the blanket of the African night sky is as invigorating as ever. Beer, a bit of grub and a campfire should be enough to satisfy anyone – and as a vegetarian, I’ve been pleasantly surprised and not left out at mealtimes. At last, campfire cuisine now stretches to veggie hotdogs and burgers. (We did all have to contend with a cheeky jackal who hung around, popping his head up over the low stone wall around our tents, but he was never quite brave enough to make a dash for the leftovers.)

A 5am start ensured we got to the Sossuvlei sand dunes in time for sunrise. Although the Dune 45 experience had to be shared with about 40 other people (see John’s entry), it’s the only one the park managers are happy for people to climb regularly. It was truly wonderful to watch the vast sculpted sand dunes of the Namib turn gently from a dark fuzzy blue, to lilac and soft pinks, and finally a rich clay red.

During the following hike to the Dead Vlei pan, John decided to take the quick route, and roll head-first down a dune. A fun moment to treasure but possibly a bit rash having just put on half a litre of sun lotion. (Picture hopefully to follow…)

Now, we’re back at our safe Western bubble, a hostel in the capital Windhoek for a couple of nights before we set off to the PAWS project in the north of the country.

This may be Africa, but the city’s shopping centre wouldn’t be out of place in Basingstoke. After touring the aisles of a Boots-clone shop, I was greeted at the till by a smart and uniformed lady who looked up at me, paused for breath, and asked inquisitively “Clubcard?”

Henry