This is the end

We saw lions. Lots of lions. Granted most of the time they were asleep but there were three stand out encounters (pictures to follow):

1. seeing a pride of 11 lions at a waterhole all drinking at once then all the cubs running about rough-housing.
2. going on a night drive and finding another pride that all started roaring a few metres from us. Mel was pretty frightened but I was cool.
3. running into part of a pride on the road (we didn’t hit any) that were out hunting.

Unfortunately at Etosha you’re only allowed to go about between sunrise and set and this is when the animals are at their least exciting. I suppose it stops you getting lost/eaten though.

Now we’re in Windhoek ready to get our final flights back to the UK. Before that we have to suffer the torment of returning our battered hire car and getting fined a zillion quid for smashing it to pieces. A word of advice should you go to Namibia. Get a 4x4. A VW Polo with no aircon isn’t a good choice...

We’ve got three weeks in London before departing on phase two of mega-adventure. This blogs days are however now complete. We think that since our hiatus in actually blogging nobody is reading it anymore so I don’t think you’ll be too distressed.

This is Morge signing off.

Bye

xo

More Namibia

We're writing this from our campsite in Etosha National Park - the wonders of modern technology! I can look up from the screen and see zebras, ostriches and springbok strolling past. We also get sung to sleep by lions each night - luckily the fences around the campsite are quite hefty otherwise that might not be so relaxing! The creature-count here has been pretty good so far - loads of elephants, loads of antelope of various types, wildebeest and even black rhino. The safari camps have floodlit waterholes so we don't even have to go far to see amazing wildlife!

Before Etosha we spent some time at various cheetah and leopard conservation places so got to see both of those really close up which was just amazing.

Since our last post we've also been quadbiking on sand dunes, horse riding on lunar landscapes and hot air ballooning over the desert. Each had their charms but the hot air balloon probably wins overall in terms of excitement!

That's all for now!

Namibia

Sorry we're a bit behind on the blogging - not much internet in Madagascar or Namibia. To be fair we've been in the desert in Namibia so widespread wireless internet access is probably a bit much to ask. We're in civilisation for a couple of days before the next wilderness adventures so we'll furnish y'all with as much junk as we can in that time!

A whistlestop of our Namibia trip so far:

• Fish River Canyon: We did a 4-5 day hike in 3 days sort of by mistake. It was insanely hot and full of sand. My feet will never be the same again...
• Sossusvlei (the huge red sand dunes in the Namib desert): We spent a few days visiting and climbing up (surprisingly difficult) the dunes and surroundings
• Camping - so far we've spent more nights under canvas than under a roof. Very cool but the old 'camping sleep' along with the heat and sandstorms has put a few little bags under our eyes - we're loving being in a real bed for a couple of days to recover before the next onslaught!
• Waking up at dawn - everything here seems to be best viewed at sunrise - so lots of very early starts! This means that during the heat of the day we are left bumbling around a little bit confused about where to put ourselves (have you tried sheltering from the midday sun under canvas!?).

All good so far! Photos to follow once we've de-sanded our cameras...

Big love,

Morge xxx

Madagascar

Lemurs, that’s really why we’re here. And we’ve seen plenty of them (though only about 8 of the 125 species).

• Favourite lemur overall = Sifaka (= Tina Turner in lemur form):

• Favourite lemur noise = call of the Indri:

• Favourite lemur stance = the ooh what’s going on over there!?  (as demonstrated by the Ring-Tailed Lemurs):

• Favourite lemur experience = ‘Lemur Island’ sanctuary:  

Other than lemur-spotting and general gawping at various very weird and wonderful landscapes we’ve also been kite-boarding (well George has, I half-heartedly floated about on a windsurf for a few hours a day), whale-watching, walking, camping (we chose the coldest, wettest part of Madagascar to do this of course), swimming, horse-riding, travelled in a lot of rickety old Renault 4 taxis, eaten very well indeed (both hangovers from French colonial times) and consumed plenty of the amusingly named local brew ‘Three Horses Beer’ – although if you actually call it this or anything other than un tay ash bay (a THB – we’ve also had to wheel out our very rusty French skills!) you’re likely to be greeted with nothing more than a very blank stare...

We’ve also visited lots of amusingly named places – Nosy Be, Diego Suarez, Nosy Natto, Ambodifotatra, Tsimanampetsotsa and not forgetting the capital city Antananarivo (try saying that with a mouthful of peanuts). And everywhere has both French and Malagasy names which adds to the fun/confusion!
Internet has been sketchy here hence the short blog entry but it’s the photos you’re really after, not our ramblings, so here they are! Enjoy!

Crowned lemur on our roof

Brown lemur hanging out

Limestone 'tsingy' (pinnacles) as far as the eye can see

Salt flat lagoon

Horse riding the spiny forest

'Tsingy rouge'

Tsingy rouge close-up

Sacred lake

3000-year old baobab tree

Malagasy country architecture

'La mer emeraude'

The local goat-herder

Beach bungalows

Antananarivo paddy fields

George's sweet kitesurfing skillz

Chic whale-watching attire

Humpback whale hump

Swimming (well lazing really - nice view though...)

Horse-back chivalry

Malagasy taxis

The most amazing fish BBQ on earth (on the beach)

Snake love

Blind cave fish