Quiver Tree Forest - Giant's Playground
February 3rd, 2003
Starting
at Naukluft park this morning we follow endless gravel roads back to Marienthal.
Here we fill up gas and head south on the B4 until we reach Keetmanshoop in the
afternoon. We want to see the quiver tree forest that is located on the C17
eastward just out of town. Before we check in at the camp right beside it.
The camp
looks like a zoo as ostriches and warthogs run around in the front yard and two
cheetahs walk up and down along their fence. We are being accommodated in two
funny... well, sort of space ship.... that are quite cozy inside, and they have
air condition. As we are about to unload our stuff from the car I notice the air
evading one of the tires. So far we are well trained in exchanging tires and
after 5 minutes the car is good to drive again. We visit the pool shortly, but
the water is a bit to warm and go for diner into Keetmanshoop tonight.
February 4th, 2003
We
get up late and go for stroll in the quiver tree forest. Ok, the "forest" is
kind of a group of 300 quiver trees, which itself is a amazing number for these
tree are normally only found sparsely. They are protected by law that also
covers the dead trees and semen. Violators are punished with a payment of 5000
Rand or a year in jail.
Later
that day we head for the Giant's Playground, just another 5 km away. Wind and
weather have formed rock sculptures that look like pieces of Lego put on top one
another. We stroll around for a while and take some shots.
After walking a loop we drive back to Keetmanshoop in order to fill up gas and food supplies and to get a new tire. After a delicious breakfast at Lara's we head eastward on the C16 towards Aroab, where we plan to stay for the night.
As we get to Aroab we find our accommodation quickly as it is the only motel in the village. Beside a gas station and a supermarket we have diner at the only restaurant that opens just for the four of us. We have Schnitzel, which seems to be the only meal just in different variations. It's such a small world...
