Namibia 2014

Sunday28September

Waking up at Cañon Roadhouse campsite where, during my quick wash, I cross paths with a huge cricket. We both stand frozen, not moving, looking at each other... Until I realize it's been dead for a while...  

It is an armored cricket (Acanthoproctus cervinus).

The local place for washing dishes. And at the exit, a chanting goshawk (Melierax canorus) watches my imminent departure...  

Here we are in front of one of the continent's must-sees, the Fish River Canyon. With its 168 km length, 27 km width, and 550 meters depth, it is the second largest canyon in the world after the Grand Canyon in the United States. While it certainly doesn't have the immensity of its American cousin, being only half as high, it resembles it a lot, and in some places, you can't tell the difference! Which takes me back 9 years to very good memories!  

The Fish River winds around the rest of the Earth's crust that has resisted it...

We are on the East bank and thanks to the bends, we can see the cliffs where we are going to walk.

Plants punctuate the landscape with their red colors. These are aloe gariepensis.

The usual mounds of stones assembled by passing hikers.

At this spot, the ground is covered with old magmatic rocks...  

Back to the starting point for the picnic. Nabouroup rufous-winged starlings (Onychognathus nabouroup) will accompany us throughout the meal...

We get back in the car to follow the track that runs along the East bank southwards to an even more spectacular spot.

A mountain chat (Myrmecocichla monticola) also enjoys the superb view.

At the bottom of the canyon, the river dries up and reveals a sandy bed.

Back at the campsite where I take advantage of the acacias to take some photos of their pretty yellow flowers reminding us of their belonging to the mimosa family.

Its name is Acacia erioloba, with its crescent-shaped pods on the left containing the tree's seeds.

And for the evening barbecue, Rico prepares us a spatchcock chicken!

We have dessert at the campsite restaurant amidst old collection cars. Charming!  

Tomorrow we hit the road again to reach the Atlantic coast and visit the town of Luderitz!