Diary

October 4-6, 2024

On October 4th we had an early start and now we are accompanied by two cars with security (all the way to Cape Town). For the next few days we will be moving along the west coast of Namibia. The Namib Desert is located here, which, as the Internet tells us (and again thanks to Elon Musk, his Starlink works in the desert too) translates as “A place where there is nothing”. And we are going to the most photogenic place in Namibia. Sossusvlei, which means “Forest in the desert”. At 8.30 we found ourselves at the Southern Tropic, or Tropic of Capricorn. We did not even suspect its existence. This is the analogue of the Arctic Circle. This is the southernmost latitude at which the sun can rise to its zenith at midday; one of the five main parallels marked on maps of the Earth.

We drove along the longest dune in the world (25 km). According to tradition, Vasily Shakhnovsky and Alex Safonov climbed to the very top of one of the dunes. Not an easy task. If you decide to do this, don’t forget to put on socks, otherwise the hot sand will get on your bare feet. By evening we returned back to Wolfis Bay.

The next day was a mix of activity and relaxation. We spent the day exploring Namibia, not on foot, but on a boat and in jeeps. In the morning, we took a four-hour boat trip to discover Namibia’s marine life. The ocean has always fascinated us with its beauty and mysteries, and we hoped to see some amazing creatures.

Our adventure began with a sea lion that we fed fresh fish. Then we met Lady Gaga, a friendly pelican with a pink neck and soft eyes. We fed her, petted her, and took photos together. Nearby, a large colony of pink flamingos greeted us, and we were thrilled to spot dolphins swimming around. It was a joyful and memorable trip!

In the afternoon, we visited Sandwich Bay, a UNESCO-protected area. The name’s origin is unclear; it could be linked to a ship from the 18th century or the German word for “sand fish.” This unique place features sand dunes rolling down to the Atlantic Ocean.

Next, we explored a salt mining plant. The process here is fascinating, involving pink microorganisms that create vibrant fields and rivers of color. The “dirty” salt is shipped to South Africa for cleaning before returning to Namibia, while the unrefined salt is used on roads.

Finally, we drove over stunning dunes with their beautiful shapes and colors, from pale beige to bright yellow. The pink sand is made of tiny ruby crystals. Climbing and descending the dunes was thrilling, but experienced local guides knew the terrain and got everything out of the cars. Next time we will arrange to bring our expedition vehicles into this area!

On October 6th we left the friendly Walvis Bay and are now heading north. On the way, we stopped at a place where they sold salt crystals. There were no sellers around, so we were told to leave some money ourselves. People here are trusted. We also stopped by the ocean. Our guides mentioned that there used to be a diamond mine here. After 3.5 hours of travel, we arrived at Skeleton Coast National Park. We reached our overnight stop called Terrace Bay, which has just a few houses by the ocean. We traveled 402 km in one day.
Expedition diary Stage 4