Namibian Travel Adventure

December 3, 2018

I have been traveling by myself for decades, taking the chance to be myself without the risk of disappointing travel companions I suppose.

There have been times when I have traveled with a group. In these situations I carefully conduct myself in an anonymous manner free to break away on my own terms. But there was that one trip, a few years back, when I happened upon a group of photographers who I thoroughly enjoyed traveling with. We all met on safari in Botswana by happenstance. Can this independent traveler tolerate spending 2 weeks in a 4x4 truck with complete strangers sharing meals, stories, and conversation for days on end in the African bush? Hella Yeah!

It was such an enjoyable experience that I contacted everyone to join me on a Namibian road trip which we just returned from this September.

Several members of our original group opted out but two new photographers joined in their stead. We all bonded through our common interest in wildlife photography and environmental conservation. Other connections formed organically as the days marched on. Jamie Thom, owner of Conservation Safari Company, expertly served as our travel guide organizing all of the little details that any group of photographers would require. He deftly kept an eye out to make sure all of us were engaged with the sightings we encountered, offering photography tips and creative ideas for us to explore along the journey.

Meet my crew

3 Californians who brought levity and artisanal rum to the group. Quick with the latest urban slang I had to stay on my toes to keep up with all of their hip cultural references.
2 South Africans. There isn’t a more charming man in the world than one from South Africa (excluding my husband of course). Friendly, attentive, and ready for levity our South African companions balanced out the loco Americans.
1 quirky brunette. I’m quick to laugh with a tendency to take solitary walks while others are sleeping.

Africa has been become my favorite continent to visit for so many reasons, the wild environments being the first. I find that I learn a little bit more about myself when I am abroad, in a totally different environment. This time my lessons were learned with friends.

Happy Hour before dinner outside of Sossusvlei

Deadvlei in the Namib-Naukluft National Park

Nambia: Sossusvlei and Deadvlei, Namib-Naukluft National Park

November 18, 2018

I planted the seed for a Namibian trip with a group of my photographer friends, who like to travel, over a year ago. We met on an African Safari led by Jamie Thom, owner of Conservation Safari Company, in Botswana three years back. We knew that, as a professional photographer, Jamie would take our interests to heart so we immediately contacted him to guide our next adventure. After a few communications back and forth, Jamie tailored a Namibian itinerary specifically to our group’s interests.

Photographers are a special lot with specific requirements;

A driver capable of positioning the 4x4 for optimal shots
Sufficient amount of outlets, in our vehicle, allowing everyone to charge camera batteries and various electronics
Flexible mealtimes, photographers will only return to camp when photographic opportunities are exhausted, usually after dark.

Our ten-day exploration of Namibia was filled with new experiences beginning with 3 days of camping in and around the Namib-Naukluft National Park. On our first day together we were up before dawn, downed quick cups of tea, and then hightailed it to the park to witness the sunrise over the dunes of Sossusvlei.

Here are a few of my shots from that first day out in the Namib desert concentrating on the dunes of Sossusvlei and of Deadvlei.

Sossusvlei

Namibian Adventure

November 17, 2018

Here is the video that Jamie Thom of Conservation Safari Company compiled of our Namibian Photography Safari, September 2018.

Northern New Mexico, a renewal

November 15, 2018

A weekend in Northern New Mexico

Land of Mesas and Canyons
Land of enchantment
Land of color

This is just the place to reconnect with one that means so much to me. We took off one Friday morning from Denver, chatting non-stop for 5 hours straight. Once best of friends we both had stories to tell. This was to be a weekend of shared exploration and this is what we found;

Taos

The Plaza, a short walk from our rental, was where we;

Watched the cruisers circle the plaza Saturday night

Ate chocolate at Chokola
Admired art, fine to kitschy

Echo Canyon amphitheater

Saturday morning we drove to the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, it was completely fogged in. Much to Garth’s delight we would not be able to to take in the grand views from one of America’s highest bridges, instead we continued through the fog along Old Highway 64 turning south on hwy 84 where we found the Echo Canyon Amphitheater. A theater carved out of rock millions of years ago by Mother Nature. We enjoyed an easy walk amidst the natural landscape encompassed by the aroma of sage, herbs, juniper and pinon trees.

Rock Art

Our Spanish ancestors interrupted a natural continuum that some would argue in the most disruptive manner possible. New Mexican history runs deep, it has never been passive.

Ghost Ranch

Named for the brujas or witches that once inhabited the valley. Georgia O'Keeffe maintained a small bungalow on Ghost Ranch taking her time to portray the surrounding landscapes in her art. Numerous artists, past and present, have been inspired by this valley.

Abiquiu

Georgia O’Keeffe lived and worked in this village, on top of a mesa, for 40 years. Her historic adobe house is now a museum.

Dixon

Highway 68 follows the Rio Grande gorge, we pulled into Dixon for lunch. The Spanish dialect spoken here, and throughout Northern New Mexico, reflects the language of the 16th century Spanish settlers. We happily:

bought organic apples at roadside stands including Velarde Orchards, an orchard dating back to 1598
shopped for New Mexican goods at the Dixon Market, a locally managed Co-operative

ate enchiladas at Zuly’s Cafe

Rio Grande del Norte National Monument

On the way home to Colorado we stopped at the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument for an invigorating hike down and then up the gorge.

There is a beautiful mosaic of cultures in Northern New Mexico where the Spanish and the Native Americans have forged relationships since the 16th century, sometimes in harmony and other times not. The Anglo minority have assimilated into this patchwork creating a sense of community like no other region in the American South West. We felt revitalized by the people we met; by the expanses of pinon trees and sage brush. Perhaps some would see a harsh environment but there is a pureness to be enjoyed. It is the place where we are welcome, where we belong.

Namibia; Walvis Bay and Sandwich Harbour

November 4, 2018

There was a day on my last trip to Namibia in which my travel companions and I hired a guiding company to drive us from Walvis Bay to Sandwich Harbour. Our guides deftly maneuvered their Land Cruisers along the ever-shifting shoreline and then up & down massive sand dunes.

Hyena trotting along the Atlantic coastline

We were deposited on top of a sand mountain, left to witness the ancient dune sea of the Namib Desert greet the Atlantic Ocean. It was a beautiful afternoon shared with my travel companions. Here are a few of my images from that day.

Dunes

Sand

Climb

Wind

Curves

Play

Walvis Bay Namibia

Link here to a brief article about Sandwich Harbor by Travel News Namibia.