road to namibia

my one goal for 2024 was to go to namibia. not knowing how, why, or when. only certainty was ‘it’s happening’. it’s finally the end of this heavy year. many firsts, many tears shedded, many confrontations, many vulnerable moments, many putting self out of comfort zone. many things that eventually alluded to recognising my inner resilience. ready to drop the load of self doubt, fears of being disliked, and holding self back in 2024. okay… well at least a huge chunk of it. this year taught me that my goals are tangible. when it’s set in motion, nothing can stand in my way. it scares me sometimes. while simultaneously excites me for what is yet to come. pushed through months of work where consumerism nearly consumed me. finally making a risk of a decision to stop working, go on this trip and figure out life after.
road to namibia… trip from cape town up to windhoek on the magical ‘lando’ with the two wonderful ceo’s; alvin (chibaba) & jp (baby chibaba). where 20 strangers, aged 18- thirty something, booked a g-adventure camping trip through southern africa. crossing into namibia on the day of my birthday (most special passport stamped 'namibia' with my birth date). not gonna lie, it was a nervraking fact to be traveling solo, celebrating with a group of people yet to get to know. however, this birthday was one that will be cherished for the rest of my lifetime. the group was a unique blessing. where the dynamic matched out so well. respect, ease, and laughter radiated the group, creating an energy field that protected us throughout the journey. eating all meals in a circle, helping one another out, sharing stories, feeling free to be ourselves. at times listening to when in needed of some alone time, to reenergise, then reopen to receiving. eye thank you all for creating such a safe space.
namibia… the country that got me to 22% of countries visited in the world. and it's hands down my favourite country. the most beautiful, unreal, unmatched sceneries. day after day, hundreds of kilometres farther, it kept me fascinated. sitting in awe, view after view. melting from the dryness. resurrected by the richness buried within the scarcity. left thirsty for more. as if we were on mars, jupiter, saturn, with a touch of some random nebula that roamed its way into this milky way. like is this real life?
the video speaks for itself of what we were up to in the two weeks from cape town up to windhoek… so enjoy. rewatch it whenever you feel like reliving a part of it.
as for me, the ‘after’ has come now to ‘figure life out’… so that’s where eye’ll be.
stay blessed. stay loving.
love,
m.e
eye:
nikon z fc
location: south africa & namibia
day 1: cape town - curiosity hostel
day 2: cederberg- highlanders campsite
day 3: orange river - fiddlers creek campsite
day 4: fish river canyon - hobas campsite
day 5: namib desert - sossus oasis camp site
day 6: sossovlei - sossus on foot bushman's desert camp
day 7 & 8: swakopmund - amanpuri travellers lodge
day 9: spitzkoppe - community restcamp
day 10 & 11: etosha - okaukuejo resort
day 12: waterberg plateau - andersson campsite
day 13: windhoek (got an airbnb and knocked out for two full days)
music:
ngeke balunge by mafikizolo (the music video stuck with me for years... inspiring me when editing: • Mafikizolo - Ngeke Bal... )
extension of the eye:
@my.eye__00 (ig & tiktok)