We crossed the border into Namibia and the landscape begins to change drastically. It’s a phenomenon that I’ve seen numerous times and I wonder how much the landscape change has to do with border lines and the creation of country territory. While the landscape had become more arid in Northern South Africa it was still quite mountainous. Shortly after crossing the border large flat dry plains with plateau shaped mountains in the distance form. It looks like we’re driving across moonscape.
We are driving down a dirt path my skin and lips are flaking due to the extreme lack of moisture. I’m sipping water almost constantly and it feels like I’m unable to quench my thirst. A pair of Springbok is spotted bouncily running through brown brush and tumble weed filled plains. Kudu, Ostrich, and Oryx are spotted as we camera totting travelers gaulk like we’ve never seen and animal in the wild before. I wonder how these animals roaming in seemingly nowhere survive. What do they eat, there is little vegetation and there isn’t water anywhere. The average rainfall in the Namib desert is only 2-20 millimeters per year.
Driving across the planes, the ground opens up as we arrive at Fish River Canyon, the second largest canyon in the world. It’s only surpassed in size by the Grand Canyon. It’s over a hundred miles long and 20 or more miles wide. Hiking along the rim edge the large orange ball descends over the horizon, its beaming rays scorching the rocky formation as a couple mongoose scurry across the rocks a few feet away. As our rotating globe spins in space I watch in awe how fast our star slips away. If I were able to teleport myself I wonder if I’d be able to tell the difference between this magnificent location or the Grand Canyon. Having been blessed with being to both I may post pictures of both to see if anyone can tell.
