Route of the day
All points shown were part of the original itinerary. Not all were visited — decisions made along the way are a natural part of any expedition. We kept them on the map in case you wish to explore them yourself.
What we lived
We were up by half past six — breakfast at seven, and a long day ahead.
First stop was Maerua Spar, a large supermarket on the outskirts of Windhoek. We stocked up for the days ahead — five people, roughly €400 in supplies.
From there, the road south opened up. Along the way, the first wildlife of the drive appeared: guinea fowl, mongooses, baboons at the roadside, and a group of waterbuck as we neared Lake Oanob. Lunch there was good — a restaurant with a pleasant view over the water, and four resident cats who made themselves very popular with the younger members of the group.
The afternoon pushed further south. Before reaching Rehoboth for a fuel stop, the moment that stayed with us: a baboon perched on top of a cut tree stump, sitting perfectly upright, arms resting at its sides, watching the world go by. Completely human in posture. We had done safaris before — none of us had seen anything like it. Unfortunately, we had no time to stop for a photo; we were mid-drive and it was entirely unexpected. Shortly after the fuel stop, a giraffe appeared at the entrance to the Kalahari park, very close to the road. Our first giraffe in Namibia.
We arrived at Kalahari Anib Lodge as the afternoon cooled and headed straight out on one of the few self-guided walks the lodge offers. Six kilometres through the bush — impala visible throughout — and a sunset that caught us mid-trail. We arrived back after dark. Dinner at seven was relaxed and excellent.
A long drive. A very good day.
Photo of the day
Gallery
Our tips
Maerua Spar is one of the best-stocked supermarkets in Windhoek — worth a proper visit before heading south. Excellent gluten-free selection, with a dedicated section plus options throughout the store. Budget roughly €80 per person for several days of supplies. Namibian roads are dotted with roadside rest stops — merendeiros — signposted with distance markers so you always know how far the next one is. Each has a table, chairs, and usually a bin, often in the shade. Perfect for a bush picnic using the equipment in your AfriCar jeep. Always speak to the lodge kitchen in advance about dietary requirements — in our experience, they accommodate without hesitation when given notice.
Tomorrow we head to...
Rest day in the Kalahari