Out of Africa
I just returned from Africa a month ago. My eyes are still filled with wonder from everything I saw and felt during this trip. Here’s a summary of my four months spent traveling through South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana—three incredible countries.
Together with my boyfriend, Oliver, we arrived in Cape Town, South Africa, at the beginning of April. From there, we rented a pickup truck with a rooftop tent and set off on an adventure. We drove up the entire west coast of South Africa, heading toward Namibia…
Namibia: A Waking Dream
We entered Namibia from the south, crossing the Orange River, the famous river that once carried diamonds. The landscapes in the southern part of the country are breathtaking—an immensity of pastel tones. The roads aren’t always great, and we had several flat tires…
But what an adventure it was to cross those wild expanses and sleep under the stars every night. During our stay in the Erongo Mountains, a leopard would pass by our car every night on its way to the waterhole. We could see its tracks in the sand the next morning. I didn’t venture out of the tent at night!
We spent a total of four weeks in Namibia, and it was far too short. We traveled along the entire west coast, making our way up to the northern part of the country near the border with Angola. The north becomes greener and cooler, and you see more wildlife there.
Botswana: The Heart Opener
They say Botswana is the Switzerland of Africa, and it’s quite true—the crime rate is relatively low. People are kind but tend to be quite reserved at first (a culture somewhat similar to the Swiss people). The only real challenge is the wildlife: lions, elephants, hippos, baboons, and mischievous little monkeys—we encountered them all at our bush camps.
During a safari along the Chobe Riverfront, we were at one point surrounded by 30 giraffes and saw a herd of 50 elephants moving across the savanna. I even had the chance to see a leopard stop right below my window; I can still remember its yellow eyes.
A kudu male and a kudu female in Botswana...
Wild camping on the Salt Pans: we’re watching the sunset while drinking local baobab juice. There was absolutely no one around us, except for two wildebeests and an aardwolf several hundred meters away. All we could see was salt stretching out as far as the eye could see. It was truly an incredible, timeless, and meditative place, so silent. I could hear the blood in my ears. This was the best night of my life and one of my favorite outdoor experiences.
Leaving the Bush…
We re-enter South Africa from the northern part of the country at Bokspits. It’s a gradual return to civilization: the roads are smooth, no potholes, all the signs are readable, and there are no more elephants by the roadside. South Africa is quite developed—it almost feels like being in the United States. I miss the bush. It’s surprising how quickly I was growing attached to the absence of civilization and the vast emptiness.
Somewhere in the Karoo, in South Africa.
After these four months of travel, I still miss Africa. That feeling of deep eternity: the vast, empty landscapes, the magical encounters with animals, the starry nights. And the overwhelming sense each day that my heart might burst from how magical it all is.
I think there are places that really capture your soul, and that make you feel you belong there. Africa is one of those places for me. And I already know that I'll be going back...
While I’m writing this blog post, I am now back in Zürich, one of the wealthiest place on earth: what a stark contrast—seeing here so many people, so many unnecessary things, so much to consume, so much stress. And the question I ask myself every day: which of these two worlds is more real?
I would love to hear your thoughts or experiences. Feel free to share your comments, and I’ll be happy to respond.
And if you'd be interested in receiving my tips about the best places to visit in Southern Africa, let me know in the comments as well.
Much love,
Nastassja
Pictures ©Oliver Linder
