MARIANFLUSS IS JUST LIKE THIS, BUT A BIT DIFFERENT

In the morning after breakfast and pumping tyres back up to pressure, we continued down the valley, which eventually opened up into a beautiful plateau called Otjiha Plains.  

We came upon the plains shortly after the turn off to Rooidrom, which leads northward on the Marianfluss and Van Zyl’s pass, the thought of which led to some pining about the loss of these landmarks from out travel itinerary.

Arthur attempted to calm the waters by suggesting that the drop from the plateau that we had navigated was similar to that of Van Zyl’s, and Andrew tried to add some healing balm by suggesting that this plateau was just like Marianfluss “but a bit different”.

Not quite satisfied by these comparison’s but acceptant of the loss, we turned south again towards Oripembe.  Road corrugations were annoying along this section, which led to Andrew and Ross deciding to continue in the river bed, while Arthur, Alan and I continued along the road.

A subtle competition developed between the river runners and the highlanders, with animal siting, road conditions and progress being broadcasted on the radios, perhaps with the aim of enticing the other clan to see the folly of their ways and to change routes.

The valley was wide and arid and stark, but not as desolate and starkly beautiful as our camp site of the evening.  We sighted many majestic gemsbok, ostrich and quite a few giraffes.

Eventually we took a left out of the river bed and followed a track to the ridge line.  On the far side of the ridge lay a stark and desolate landscape, which just had to be experienced in more detail, so we camped right next to the road and explored the area for some time before deciding it was to be the 'night of the stars'.  This meant that it was the night for dressing up (well sort of), of culinary delights and entertainment.  Natasha and Ross, boasted with their Mozambique prawns, and Alan and Ross entertained us with their knowledge of the moon and the stars, magical laser pointers and telescopic views of the moon.  It was beautiful.  Judy's reading of a Herman Charles Bosman tale was also memorable.