Namibia

Our next stop in the Spitzkoppe area was “the Natural Bridge”. It is what it sounds like – a natural rock formation that looks like a bridge.

There is not much more to be said about it…

…but to say it is a nice place to visit.

Bring your camera!

This is definitely a place for taking photos…

…so I did just that…

…even if an early morning or…

…late afternoon would have been better…

…so I do think this is a place to go…

…and enjoy…

…with your loved ones…

…if nothing else so…

…just do get your next Christmas greetings photo!

At the eastern part of the Spitzkoppe area is something called “Bushman’s Paradise”.

To reach it you have to climb up a rather steep path but it’s made easier by a chain.

Once up you are rewarded by fantastic views over the Namib desert.

Girls – don’t fall down!

And Hanna – You are not supposed to push that down either!

But I admit – it would have been cool…

We found a very large cave…

…and from it you could shout with magnificent echoes, …choes, …oes, …es…

But the reason this place is called “Bushman’s Paradise” is that here is a big granit wall with bushman paintings. They have been here for a long time, between 4000 and 2000 years. Well preserved until…

…the white man came. Now thousands of tourists have been here – touching and throwing water at them to get nice shining pictures. These paintings have deteriorated more during the last 50 years than during the 500 years before that.

There have been many theories about the meaning of these paintings. Today most seem to agree on that they are paintings showing experiences of trance dances – for healing and other purposes. In the trance dance there was a feeling of being tranformed into animals. The dances could also release powers that could be used for healing. These powers came rising along the spine which makes me think of kundalini yoga that has the same belief. In bushman paintings of animals (transformed humans) the back line of the animal is often very accurate.

So I found this painting of giraffes so interesting. The paintings have faded but the back line is very distinct.

We were happy with our visit to “Bushman’s Paradise” as we again climbed down along the chain to continue to our next stop at Spitzkoppe…

Spitzkoppe is a group of granite peaks that you can see if you drive the B2 between Windhoek and Swakopmund. If you leave B2 30 km west of Usakos and follow the road another 30 km you are there. The picture below shows Spitzkoppe from the north.

Above you find Spitzkoppe to the right (west) rising 1784 meters above the sea level and about 700 meters above he surrounding desert. To the left (east) is “Pondoks”. These granite mountains are more than 700  million years old. The area is about 7 km from east to west and 4,5 km from north to south. Panorama picture.

Spitzkoppe from the south. There are lots of things to do and see in this area. We only had time for a few. There are a lot of nice camping spots around the area but they don’t have water. Near the reception you can find water, flushing toilets and a few bungalows.

A visit starts at the reception. The whole area is run by the Damara community and we got a professional and friendly welcome. You pay a small fee and get a map of the area. You can hire a guide but we went in without one.

The rocks look unusual. We thought they looked like giant pieces of doe to make Christmas ginger cookies… From the reception you can go to the left to find the “Natural Bridge” that you will find on all Spitzkoppe photos or you can go to the right to find “Bushman’s Paradise“. We went right but first stopped for a lunch…

…and to give the driver his well deserved beer…

Aaah! Now I’m ready for the climb!