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Douglases Gone Wild, Keetmanshoop Rural (2026)

26/10/2025

Last morning in Namibia 🌅 Up with the sun, and the final tourist attraction on our list was just 5km up the road from camp — Giant’s Playground.

The Giant’s Playground forms part of the Keetmanshoop Dolerite Complex (also known as the Dolerite Swarm) and showcases a series of impressively weathered dolerite d***s.

Now, the geological and geomorphologic process behind how these were formed might bore most of you 😅 — but for those interested, I’ll keep it short 😉

Molten rock, or magma, is generated below the Earth’s surface and rises because it’s slightly less dense than the surrounding rock. Sometimes, it even erupts above the surface, forming volcanoes 🌋

Sills are flat-lying lava sheets injected into horizontal sedimentary rocks, which can reach several kilometres in thickness and cover vast areas.

At higher levels in the Earth’s crust, rocks are cooler and more brittle, so magma moves differently. Pressure in the magma chamber forces the lava upward, where it pushes into cracks and fissures, eventually solidifying to form what’s called a d**e. These can vary in thickness and extend for anything from a few metres to several kilometres.

Geography lesson ✅ You’re welcome! 😄

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25/10/2025

Leaving Windhoek, we crossed back over the Tropic and headed towards our final Namibian stop — the Quiver Tree Forest, just outside Keetmanshoop.

We made a quick lunch stop at a padstal in Mariental, home to a feather-footed rooster 🐓 and a host of other animal species that would certainly keep the kids entertained. We opted for a good ol’ cheese and tomato toastie with a Coke, and politely declined the house wine 🤪

That night, we camped alongside the Quiver Tree Forest at the Rest Camp, which was very basic but perfectly suitable for a one-night stay. The best part — it was within walking distance of the actual forest. 🌿

It’s not your typical forest. The quiver tree, or Kokerboom, isn’t actually a tree but an aloe — its botanical name is Aloe dichotoma. 🌵
Fun fact : Bushmen and Hottentot tribes once used the tough, pliable bark and branches to make quivers for their arrows. Koker is the Afrikaans word for “quiver.” 🏹

Normally, quiver trees grow individually and are scattered across the landscape, so the reason it’s called a forest is because this is one of the very few places where such a large number grow together in one area — a rare and beautiful sight. ✨

The trees stretch far into the distance, with some of the larger ones estimated to be between 200 and 300 years old. The forest is entirely natural — no trees were ever planted by humans — and it was declared a National Monument in June 1995.

We found the “rain man” at reception rather amusing, as given how dry and hot Namibia usually is, we wondered how much rain he could possibly measure. Yet, not long after, the heavens opened! ☔️ It didn’t last long or fall heavily, but it was enough to “wash” our windows. And as the song goes, “the sun came out and dried up all the rain” — leaving us blessed with one final humdinger of a Namibian sunset! 🌅

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24/10/2025

Windhoek | The Capital of Namibia 🇳🇦

A change of plans scored us a full day in Windhoek and an opportunity to explore some of what this city has to offer. We didn’t venture far, but far enough to see the Christuskirche (which sadly was closed, but just as beautiful from the outside) ⛪, the National Museum 🏛️, the National Art Gallery 🎨, the Houses of Parliament, and the High Court ⚖️

The only house we were really interested in, though, was 🍺 Another cultural explosion of quirky artefacts, dining that seats up to 600 people, and bottles of Jägermeister lined up throughout the entire establishment — all giving a good indication that this place must get super festive! 🎉

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23/10/2025

Our disappointment at sacrificing a night in Etosha was soon forgotten as we pulled into Urban Camp Windhoek in Windhoek!

We were so taken with this location that it deserved a post all of its own. Who would have thought that, tucked away in an urban residential area, there’d be this little piece of heaven 💫

Located close enough to town, yet far enough to enjoy the quiet — and even better, it’s within walking distance of Joe’s Beer House (another Namibian landmark 🍻).

The staff are all super friendly, and the ablutions each have their own special flair (the warm weather even allowed for a test run of the outdoor shower 🚿).

The smaller and tented campsites are equipped with shaded A-frames complete with hammocks, which thankfully extend to the quiet chill area laid out around the pool and between the “beer reception” and cocktail bar 🍺☀️🍹

The setting provides the perfect way to spend an afternoon recharging the batteries before the great trek home. And not one, but two camp dogs! (It also welcomes well-behaved dogs) 🐶❤️

If anyone ever visits Windhoek and is looking for a camping or glamping experience, I would most certainly recommend Urban Camp ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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22/10/2025

Etosha National Park delivered all the goods 💫

Our first morning, we entered and headed straight to Ondeka Waterhole, where we spent a large part of the day. As we arrived, our first guest appearance was a lion — who we soon realised was accompanied by a lioness determined to kill. We watched in anticipation as she made her move, but the gemsbok was too sharp, and she missed her opportunity. Surprised the Kori Bustard didn’t blow her cover!

Later, they crossed the road and took shade beneath a tree in the midday heat. We moved between the lions’ location and the waterhole, watching what felt like hundreds of ostriches, gemsbok, springbok, wildebeest — along with a few jackals, spotted hyenas, and a tower of giraffe. They just never stopped coming in! You could see them approaching from miles away across the pan — incredible to witness and impossible to capture on camera 📸 These are just a few of the best of the bunch.

When we returned to the lions, the lioness was on the move again, attempting to take down anything that ventured close enough. Sadly, she was just too far out of reach, and by the time we moved on, they still hadn’t eaten — though we were sure they would later that day. That’s the beauty of the bush: a small amount of luck and a whole lot of right time, right place 😉

We camped at Halali that night but, unfortunately, had to sacrifice our second night after I took ill and needed to get to Windhoek earlier than planned to see a doctor. A tough call, but the right one in the end. Africa ain’t for sissies — and neither is severe pharyngitis!

Despite the setback, we managed to fill our cup with some great sightings, and know that, had circumstances been different, we’d have seen even more. But life happens — and it’s always a good enough reason to return ❤️

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22/10/2025

Arriving at Etosha Safari Camp — it was stinking hot, 40°C+ 🥵 but we couldn’t have been more excited about a lush green grass site and a pool. Happy days! ☀️💦

I’d started feeling a bit off as we left Spitzkoppe, so a chilled afternoon by the pool was just what the doctor ordered (for now).

As if that wasn’t enough, that evening — thanks to our booking agent Ultimate Routes — we were treated to dinner under the stars, complete with live music! 🎶✨ The quirky bar and dining setup at Etosha Safari Camp absolutely delighted my soul — full of colour, charm, and character at every turn.

Before heading to bed, we were visited by a herd of zebra who were just as taken by the green grass as we were. We drifted off to sleep listening to them happily crunching away. 🦓💚

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20/10/2025

The following day in Spitzkoppe we had a slow start, and before taking on The Chain climb, we stopped in at a nearby tented camp to say howzit to Kevin and Donna from

The Chain. The whole time climbing up, I kept thinking: what goes up must come down — and normally, like with running, the down is always welcomed! This particular moment bought great anxiety for me.

The climb was absolutely worth it though — the view 165m up, the Bushman paintings (a tribe hunting, white & black rhino, springbok among the more recognisable), and a small cave offering shade from the midday heat made it all worthwhile.

I had to psyche myself up for the way back down and I did what a girl had to do to arrive alive. For the thrill-seekers, this is a hiker’s paradise. For those scared of heights — don’t hike in your favourite pants. You might just s**t them or tear them as you slide your way back down. 😉 Thankfully, I did neither.

Later that afternoon we ventured back to the Arch, enjoyed a sundowner with Donna and Kevin, swapped travel stories, and soaked up the quiet of the Arch all to ourselves.

The next morning we did one last loop back to the Arch for sunrise before bidding farewell to the magic that is Spitzkoppe. 🌅✨

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18/10/2025

Sensational Spitzkoppe 💫🤩 WOW!

What looks like a hot mess of boulders and rocks is, in fact, a striking group of granite peaks — otherwise known as the “Matterhorn of Namibia” due to its distinctive shape.

Temperatures during our stay ranged from 22°C to 40°C, with the wind and cloud cover offering some welcome relief from the heat. But that didn’t stop us from exploring our surroundings and scaling a few rock faces!

On our first afternoon, we didn’t venture too far — just high enough to get the heart rate up (the boulder to the left of camp where we could spot the truck from higher ground).

Later that same day, we set off around the rock to the right and made our way to one of Spitzkoppe’s most iconic sights — The Arch. Sadly, it’s a popular tourist spot and was quite busy, including a group of visitors in the middle of what looked like a full-on photoshoot that went on for nearly an hour.

They soon figured out why Brad and I were sitting patiently on the opposite side 🤪 When the sun finally dropped low enough to shine through the Arch — it was absolutely spectacular!

As we made our way back to camp, the sunset continued to paint the sky in brilliant colours — the perfect first introduction to this magical destination. The clouds didn’t allow for any stargazing that night, but the darkness and silence were just as welcome ✨

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18/10/2025

Cape Cross Lodge offered a warm welcome at reception and a crackling fire in the lounge area — but a much cooler night in terms of temperature. Laundry fail 🧺

Up early the next morning, I took a walk along the beach to catch a glimpse of the sunrise and spotted jackal prints in the sand before packing up (damp laundry included) for our next stop — Spitzkoppe.

Once again, the road provided some entertaining conversation as we debated whether the keg on top of a fisherman’s vehicle held beer or water 😁 More gravel roads, another grader, and finally the striking sight of Spitzkoppe on the horizon. This was the highlight on Brad’s agenda — and over the next two days, I’d learn exactly why.

After a quick stop for firewood, we headed into the community rest camp. Having scouted the various sites, we settled on Site 1A — nestled between two large rock boulders, relatively sheltered from the elements (and other campers). The heat, however, wasted no time sorting out our damp washing — 40 degrees will do that 🔥

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18/10/2025

A scenic run along the Swakopmund promenade, a doughnut and a latte later - we headed further up the coast taking in the sights & sounds (the smell would hit us later in the day).

The Skeleton Coast offers an array of fishing spots or beach hideouts along the coastal C34 and is sign posted as Miles such as Mile 4, Sarah se G*t, Tolla se G*t and Mile 72 just to refer to a few.

About 14kms out of Henties Bay, you’ll find the Zeila shipwreck, where a fishing trawler ran aground in 2008.

Arriving at Henties Bay it’s a small local fishing town that has more to offer than we thought. A water park, a golf course and of course Fishy Corner serving the freshest fish, seafoods and sushi. Brad had the paella whilst I opted for Kabeljou 🐟 Another taste sensation!

Back on the road, the scenery again changed as we headed into salt mining area just before Cape Cross. What fascinated us was the little stalls set up on the side of the road, selling rock salt crystals on an honesty system! We didn’t see a single “seller” but apparently the money is collected and the tables restocked daily!

One last stop before checking into our camp site for the night at Cape Cross Lodge, was the Cape Cross Seal Reserve. Cue smell. Oh my gosh — we knew there’d be some seals - but never in our wildest imagination would it be in the region of 350 000! And that’s before the next litter of pups is born in Dec/Jan. The smell doesn’t allow you to hang around for too long but long enough to see some of them defending their territory or harem (fighting), barking and bleating, sleeping (majority) and swimming 🦭 It’s a sad reality to see some of the pups don’t make it to adulthood - some from natural causes or become prey to jackals or hyena’s in the areas but some are also squashed in the pile ups in competition for space by the bigger bulls.

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14/10/2025

Walk. Fly. Fat Bike. Just a few ways you can explore the Namib Desert 🏜️

Today we joined for an Up Close Living Desert Tour that not only took us into the dunes on fat bikes, but also gave us a deeper insight into the creatures and critters that survive the harsh desert elements ☀️

Our guide, Hanjo, was wildly passionate about his work and went all out to showcase the unique fauna and flora just a short ride out of Swakopmund. He successfully tracked down a FitzSimons’ burrowing skink, a sand-diving lizard, a tractrac chat (along with an abandoned nest), a Namaqua chameleon, and a beetle — plus shared a host of fascinating facts about how each species has adapted to life in the desert. The black spiky image is magnetite from the dune soil that’s been attracted to a magnet 🧲

Before heading into town to stock up on supplies for the week ahead, we took a drive up to Surfer’s Corner for lunch — the perfect way to wrap up the morning 🥂

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14/10/2025

We wasted no time stepping it out in Swakopmund. From our campsite, we were transported (by foot) into a coastal town that’s the perfect blend of modern African energy and historical German charm 🇳🇦✨

Founded in 1892 as the main harbour for German South West Africa, Swakopmund still carries its colonial heritage in the architecture, wide streets and old-world details that sit in contrast to the Atlantic coastline and Namib Desert beyond.

It’s a town full of character and contrasts - where history meets adventure, and the desert meets the sea 💛

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Douglases Gone Wild

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