5-6 May 2019: The Caprivi, Kavango and Ovamboland

Traversing Namibia; this time from east to west, was a hard slog. I was a month behind my planned schedule and I needed to get to grips with the Angolan birds. I again camped at Ngepi Camp, basically in the middle of the Caprivi on the Okavango River. The next morning I departed early and reached Rundu by midday, where a very helpful cellular shop owner fixed my internet problem. I know it sounds stupid, but I do not feel so isolated when I am able to read my mails and send blogs.

After stocking up on supplies, I headed further west on a beautiful tarred road running parallel to the Angolan border. This was a far cry from the Kavango and Ovamboland dirt roads I remember from the Border War days. At nightfall I stopped in Okongo, a small rural town in Ovamboland, looking for a place to camp. Two policemen suggested I ask at the police station, and so I ended up camping in the Namibian police base.

Some of the policemen were fascinated by my mobile home on wheels, but could not really understand the concept of travelling thousands of kilometres just to look at birds. Another bewildering issue was the fact that I was touring by myself. Wherever I go, I find that the very first question an African would ask me is: “Why are you alone?” I never really know how to answer that question. Perhaps this Big Year will help me find an answer…