🙂 Christmas! Food! SAN Culture. Malva Pudding.
🙁 Covid!
Friday, 25 Dec 2020 / Saturday, 26 December 2020: Windhoek Airport – Bagatelle Lodge (270Km) 38C
We had a lovely family day celebrating Christmas with sauterne and oysters followed by a delicious 3 bird roast and lots of exciting presents.
We headed to Heathrow which was eerily quiet! We had been supposed to fly to Cape Town to start our 4×4 adventure there however, Covid put a stop to that when SA went Red. It had been a last minute scramble to re-book new flights with Ethiopian Air direct to Windhoek. We had booked a massive shop with Pick n Pay which had been delivered to Jo’s in Stellenbosch. She had donated it all to local homeless people and had sent us video footage of them gratefully receiving all the food. At least it did not go to waste. Despite the peace and quiet in Heathrow, once we boarded the flight it was completely full! We were right at the back and a baby screamed all night.
Landed in Adis Adaba at 06h40 – complete chaos and Covid City!! Landed in Windhoek at 12h40 – massive queue and complete chaos – really rude immigration woman. Our bags were last 4 off the plane.
Friendly Bush Lore guy met us and kindly dropped the girls and I at Pick n Pay while they went to sort out the 4×4 vehicle. No one had processed our food order despite the fact that my card had been processed so we spent two hours collating our order. A chap called Boytjie assisted us and asked me for a job in the UK – shame. Paul finally arrived at 5pm and we set off for Bagatelle Lodge which was 270Km away. It was hot – 38C.
Bagatelle Lodge is a really lovely place. The lodge has the warmest vibriant vibe, with a real African feeling. The interior decorating is magnificent. The bar and pool area are picture perfect. Food excellent with snails and then oryx in a cherry sauce followed by malva tart. The only downside is that because it was Christmas nowhere was serving any alcohol! Not even with food at a hotel! Pick n Pay had also closed the alcohol section. So it was a dry few days.
We set up our camper without a hitch in a really nice spot at No 5. We had our own ablution block. SO hot! Had to put a wet cloth on my neck. Probably only got about 3 hours sleep.
Up at 05h45 – cold shower which was actually welcome as it was so hot already! Really easy to pack up the camper. Headed to reception for the Bushman Walk at 07h00. We walked with 4 chaps aged 15-23 years old who shared the San way of life with us. They showed us how they set traps for hunting. They also spoke and demonstrated the 4 key clicks which they use – fascinating. We visited the hut where Oupa lived. They do not have a written language – only rock paintings to tell their stories. They are so small. Young girls breast feeding their babies. We bought the quiver of arrows. Young men shoot these at the buttocks of the lady that they fancy! We were shown tracks of rhino (two white rhino have been introduced to the area), giraffe and gemsbok and scorpion holes.
We saw the donkey cart which they use to collect guests from the camp site to take them to activities…so cool. Bought a giraffe and a toothpick holder covered in ostrich egg shells. Looked like we had a slow puncture so Paul pumped up the tyre. Enjoyed breakfast and then headed off at 10h15.
Go Back to: Namibia
Go to: Quiver Tree Forest
