The first point of interest that we intend to visit is still inside the National Park – the Sesriem Canyon. It is a short slot canyon similar to the ones in Arizona and Utah. We first look at it from above and cannot identify any way to get down, it is steep and doesn’t appear to be climbable. We are not the only ones that are looking for the descent as we meet a couple from UK who are asking us if we have seen the stairs. We had no idea that there are any stairs or if the descent is even possible. Finally we find a side canyon that drops abruptly and just when it appears to end we get to THE stairs, just a few hops down and we are in the dry river bed.
The canyon is cool and empty of other people however it is full of birds that take advantage of the few puddles of water on the canyon floor. After hiking to the end of the canyon, a couple hundred meters, we return to the car and proceed out of the park.
Before starting on the road however we first buy gasoline from the modern gas station next to the park and some provisions especially water. The road south is in good condition and we make good time. The vegetation changes repeatedly between no grass and dense savannah and to our right always visible are the dunes as a reminder that we are skirting the Namtib desert. We start to see again oryxes, in the distance, sitting on top of some hills that appear to be constructed just for them. A bit weird actually.
The road is deserted but in good state and we make good time even though we stop often. We stop because we see wildlife, unexpectedly abundant, we see zebras and ostriches and of course oryxes.
There are also of course lizards, agamas this time and many other ones that we see as we stop along the way. And then soon we are on our next stop Duwisib Castle.
