Nomad issue #26

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DANCING IN THE DUNES With his eyes set on summiting Big Daddy as well as experiencing the Deadvlei and Soussvlei, Brian Kimeu traverses the Namib Desert in breathtaking Namibia. PHOTOGRAPHS: BRIAN KIMEU 22 DISCOVER EXPLORE EXPERIENCE
KENYAN TRAVELER The ride from Namibia’s capital, Windhoek, to the coastal city of Swakopmund is simply breathtaking. The landscape has hues ranging from a dark rich red to a deep earthy brown, and the most spectacular rock formations rise in the distance as if beckoning you to explore. I wanted to climb every single one. One hour away from Walvis Bay, the sun set, hanging low in the sky. Picture the scene; a mountain straight ahead and to my right, a big orange sphere at eye level, the sky awash with a beautiful blend of purple, red and orange as we drove deeper into the evening fog. Swakopmund is a little sleepy town bursting with colour, full of adorable little cafes and watering holes at every corner. I got there at 10:00am, my phone at less than 10% with no idea where my bed and breakfast was. In hindsight, I really was trying to get lost. If it wasn’t for the kindness of the taxi driver who not only offered to help me find my accommodation but also took me on a little detour into the township, “Mission Dune” would’ve been but a dream. Having spent two nights in Swakopmund, we set out into the desert with a pit stop at Walvis Bay to view the flamingos that call home a stretch of beach here, their pink plumage contrasting sharply with the dull tones of the Atlantic Ocean blanketed in a heavy fog. It took us two days to get to the dunes. The drive there can only be summarized as landscapes that ask you to simultaneously experience them while also curating them for the world to see, often leaving you in a state of confusion as you drive through the vastness of the desert. With the Namib Naukluft Mountains looming not too far in the distance, you would be remiss to try and catch even a sliver of sleep. The Naukluft Mountains stretched before me and the Namib Desert challenged the horizon as far as my bespectacled eyes could see. Finally, D Day (Dune Day) was upon us and we had to be up early because we had a two hour drive to the entrance of the Namib Naukluft Park. When you go on vacation, getting up early isn’t the kind of thing you want to hear, especially if early in this instance is 4:00am, but I was eager to take in the views atop Big Daddy. Dune 45, Big Daddy and the Soussvlei and Deadvlei are all within driving distance of each other, with the park providing 4x4’s to ferry you from the pickup point to any of these attractions. The park opens at 6:00am and we had to be among the first to get there to avoid the long queues for the few 4x4’s available. On the drive to the park entrance, the moon languidly sashayed away behind the Namib Naukluft to my left taking the night’s cold with it. Shortly after, we were at the bottom of Big Daddy. Found between Soussvlei and Deadvlei and at a height of 325m, this was bound to be a challenge to climb especially seeing as I straddle that fit/unfit line, but “Mission Dune” was not for the weak. Two hours, more stops than I care to admit and a lot of heaving later, I was on top of the world. Deadvlei, white and blinding, spread below me. The Naukluft Mountains stretched before me and the Namib Desert challenged the horizon as far as my bespectacled eyes could see. “Mission Dune” was complete leaving me with a sense of yearning for this beautiful country that pushed me past my physical limits. NOMAD MAGAZINE 2020 23
Page 1 and 2: DISCOVER EXPLORE EXPERIENCE ISSUE 2
Page 3 and 4: H E M A G I C H A P P E N S A S S O
Page 7 and 8: EDITOR’S NOTE A ROMANTIC WORK TRI
Page 9 and 10: CONTRIBUTORS WHICH DESTINATION HAVE
Page 11 and 12: TOP SHOTS HARDIK THANKI @hardikblit
Page 13 and 14: ESPRESS’ YOUR LOVE +254 67 586 30
Page 15 and 16: PRANAV CHADHA @P_CHADHA On our last
Page 17 and 18: 2020 TROPIC AIR 10TO4 MOUNTAIN BIKE
Page 20 and 21: GLOBETROTTERS THE STYLISH TRAVELER
Page 24 and 25: LOVE The ISLAND Cabanas at Kizingon
Page 26 and 27: WEEKEND AWAY pair met in Hawaii at
Page 28 and 29: WEEKEND AWAY PHOTOGRAPH: BRIAN SIAM
Page 30 and 31: WEEKEND AWAY CHUI LODGE Lake Naivas
Page 32 and 33: IF I HAD TO PICK A SCHOOL, I WOULD
Page 34 and 35: Elewana LOISABA LODO SPRINGS A fami
Page 36 and 37: SÃO TOMÉ AND PRÍNCIPE: LIFE IN T
Page 38 and 39: SENEGAL NO LONGER UNDER THE RADAR 3
Page 40 and 41: AN ETHIOPIAN FEAST Wendy Watta sign
Page 42 and 43: 42 DISCOVER EXPLORE EXPERIENCE LIMI
Page 44 and 45: IMPALA ECOLODGE KISUMU PHOTOGRAPHS
Page 46: Exhibiting at the Village Market fr

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