After a hectic week and a crazy busy day , Alhamdulillah we were off on our adventure by 9pm. Aasiyah was asleep by the time we passed Canal Walk and Muhammad crashed soon after. We had our coffee and very sugary donuts from Woolies to keep us awake and going Insha'Allah. The roads were empty, but it was dark and not very well lit. We just about made it to Clanwilliam – it was very much passed our bedtime and we were exhausted. Barely able to see in front of us so we pulled over near a petrol station to nap. We had just nestled under a light and behind a bush when Muhammad woke up and whined and nagged for the next hour. In our desperation to keep him quiet, we told him their were animals in the bush. I think it freaked him! Next Aasiyah woke up, thank goodness we had the potty ! Managed to sleep from 12pm to 2am.
Bitterfontein and fatigue sets in again. I found myself fighting to keep my eyelids open. The road was boring and dark. In hindsight we should have slept at home and then trekked early morning!
We passed a “Welcome to Northern Cape” sign around 4.30am, pulled over between some trucks and slept until 6am. We passed a burning truck along the road. Looks like the driver was safe. Amazing how we could feel the heat as we passed. We had hoped to make Fajr in the next town : Springbok, but ended up praying along the side of the road. (So glad I am wearing khuffs!)
I think we saw the “white light of dawn” - we could just about distinguish between the dark hill and the dark sky.
I think we saw the “white light of dawn” - we could just about distinguish between the dark hill and the dark sky.
Springbok was a small town and besides Marwaan going to the ATM and buying cheap blitz, we moved on.
The mountains on our way to Namibia were very interesting, they didn't look like solid rock formations, but rather piles of stones. I think we have developed an interest in geology !! The camera wasn't close by so we couldn't take a picture of it.
The SA border was quite efficient, however Namibia was busier and took us about an hour. Aasiyah had promised to bring souvenirs, so I tried to convince her that the tour pamphlets were souvenirs and she should take some !
The landscape seemed very similar to SA, but soon changed – it became more dry and rocky and resembled the moon !
We realised we do not have our memory card with for our camera!!!
We used the camera on the video camera and cellphone, but felt shattered. We now have a mission : find a memory card or this will be 'Taking notes and leaving footprints' !!
Shukran to Uncle Amien for the Namibian money – we bought cooldrinks at the petrol station.
CAMP:Ananzi Tours, Noordoewer. Looked lovely, along the Orange river. Big, grassy marked sites. Sites are separated by reed walls. A tree or two on each site. Clean ablutions. The kids were concerned about crocs and hippos in the river. Apparently Ma and Pa had shared a tale before we left. Our campsite was on a higher level, further away from the river, which is great as the murkiness of the water had me worried about crocs too! Very peaceful and as soon as we arrived the children ran like free-range chickens. They unsuccessfully attempted to climb the tree on our site. We ate, napped and played a few games. It seems there wasn't much else to do in this area. A chilly breeze blew through the camp, so we did some laundry.
Our evening was amazing and I brought the kids out to see – they sky seemed so low and it looked like a canopy of stars overhung us. Allahu'Akbar!
It was very cold so we went to bed at 8pm.
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