As we leave Namtib Desert Lodge the dirt road is empty of other cars, as usual. but we notice quite a few ostriches enjoying the spring and some of them dancing in the savannah for each other or even for oryxes.
And then we reach a group of springboks on the road who start to run away and because the road is bounded by fences they become more and more agitated as they run away from our car. Some of them make it through the fence but the last few ones start to pronk (jump vertically) and finally stop and let us pass without continuing to run in front of us.
Near Aus there is a cemetery from World War I when South Africa had a prisoner camp for German captives until the end of the war. As influenza spread through the camp in 1918 lots of people died in the prisoner camp and were buried in the cemetery.
As we visit the cemetery there are quite a few flowers nearby which again remind us that it is spring here. Something that we forget whenever we pass the desert areas devoid of plants.
We then drive towards Luderitz for about 20 kms to see the famous wild horses at Garub. There is a really rutted side road towards the viewing area for about 1 km from the main road and to our surprise all the horses are in the viewing area so we don’t have to look for them with binoculars. There are other tourists also some of whom appear to be stuck in the enclosed viewing area as to exit they would have to go through a huge horse who is waiting in front of the door.
It is surprising how close you can get to these supposedly wild horses. Likely this is due to them being used to tourists watching them but it is great to be able to see them from real close.
On the way back we stop in Aus to get gas and check the tire pressure as well buy some provisions. The town looks quite nice with a few well preserved and maintained buildings including the old church. And then it is on towards the Quiver Tree Forest our next goal.
