At the peak of the heat of the day (around 40 degrees celsius), it was decided appropriate that we should take the trek through part of the National Park at Brandberg mountain in Damaraland, to visit the 'white lady' rock painting - thought to have been left by the Bushmen at least 2000 years ago. Despite having put in a bid for leaving the trip until later on in the day, this went ahead.
I never got to see the paintings, as I near collapsed along the way and begged to be left to wait and be picked up on the party's return. Our guide - who wasn't supposed to leave us alone, considered my predicament, took one look at my condition, and finally agreed that I could stay.
After a while of recovery, and to keep myself distracted, I made a little video recording. Perhaps I should never have posted it on facebook as in retrospect, I do look incredibly flaked out and scared! I was sat in the shade of the rocks shown here, and expectant that at any moment a cheetah might poke his head over the edge and stealthily approach me whilst photobombing my recording. The script went something like this ….
“So here I am in the National Park at Brandberg - Nambia’s highest mountain, and I think I have got sunstroke…. and so the party have gone on ahead and left me to recover. I vaguely heard talk before they left – tales of er leopards, cheetahs, lions, and monkeys, adders, cobra, scorpions – the dangerous type – and goodness knows what else, but apparently, as long as I stay on this spot I should be OK. There is an hour to kill now, so wish me luck.”
I really should have mentioned the desert elephants in the area too. Sadly we didn't see them.
I was rather annoyed that I hadn't been able to make it to see the rock paintings.
@domenicododaro oh don't you worry Domenico, I certainly will, and am discussing the organisation - with the tour operator. If only you knew the half of it!
A great photo but an awful situation. Can't believe a tour operator would be insane enough to go climbing in the heat of the day, you were very lucky that you recovered well, it could have been much worse. I am glad to see that you are taking the tour operators to task!
