And then we are off as we exit on a paved highway almost immediately and drive for 60 km to Kamanjab where we again leave the paved highway to go towards Khorixas. The dirt road C35 is in great shape though and it almost feels like we are on a paved road and we make good time to Khorikax. In Khorikax we fill up the gas as it is the last gas station on an almost 700 km stretch for us, check and top up the tires and then we start on the C39.
The road starts in a good shape but it becomes progressively worse the farther we get and we have to go at a slower speed than usual. Still we have time so we take it slower and arrive at around 1PM at Petrified Forest National Monument.
We were not sure whether to actually visit the petrified forest as we have been a few times at the Petrified National Park in Arizona, US but in the end we decided to enter to make a comparison between them. The major difference is that in Namibia you cannot enter without a guide who takes you along a set path.
While this restrains your movements and imposes a pace on your visit it also gave us an opportunity to get some information about the local flora besides just looking at the petrified logs all around. Which are quite impressive really.
Noticing our interest in plants the guide starts pointing at the different bushes and plants and to our delight he knows both the Latin and English names and the different uses which is quite interesting. But the most interesting plant we see is the welwitchia plant, a desert plant with only two leaves (even though it looks like it has a lot more).
There are a few big logs of petrified trees that really draw our attention, it is surprising in how many places you can see petrified trees. And then it is time to return towards the car to continue on our way.
Before leaving we use the good facilities as we have two luxuries here, restrooms to use and covered parking to protect our car from the harsh sun. But then it is time to leave as we want to explore a bit more of Namibia today.
After leaving the petrified forest the road becomes corrugated for quite a few stretches and we get worried about the next day when we have to drive quite some distance on this road. But today we leave it relatively fast and head to Twyfelfontein. We have one more stop before the lodge though as we take a short side road to Wondergat an interesting sinkhole in the desert. The whole area looks more arid than Etosha with less vegetation and a lot more wild and forbidding. And no animals that try to eat you, probably, so you can explore freely. And then it is time to get to our lodge and check in.
