First time I was not crossing a border solo. I entered the Namibian territory with three friends: Matt and Lucie -the British bikers- and Mrs Malaria -not really a friend, but she didn’t want to leave me alone yet. I actually met her in Botswana, and we broke up on my third day in Namibia.
I spent most of my time there with my favourite Brits: we’ve been flirting with the sensational landscapes and experiencing some very good off-road tracks.
--Do you know what? I spent more time with bikers (motorbikes) than 4x4 overlanders. I actually love bikers’ mentality and I relate much more to them.—
But sadly, Namibia wanted to bring me some not very easy experiences as well. These ones made me almost lose my passion for overlanding Africa. I couldn’t recognise myself anymore, but this was what we call life, right? I could retrieve my passions thanks to an amazing therapist and it made my passions harder than ever.
YES: I’ve been physically assaulted by police, I got robbed in a camping on the coast, I got trapped by a gang on a parking lot, my camera broke, one of my memory cards got a virus and I lost all my videos of Botswana, Namibia and Zambia, and for the first time: Rafiki got stuck and got a flat -exploded- tyre in the middle of nowhere.
BUT Namibia was especially the place where I was completely mesmerised by the immensity of Nature, met new true friends (Matt & Lucie), been hosted by the most exceptional people that today I call my Namibian parents (Chris & Betsie), had the best off-road experiences ever, spotted the first rhinos of the adventure, met fascinating ladies (Nadja, Jojo, and Fleur), got to be called ‘the angel of the desert’ (thanks German Chris!), and met the soul who gave me my passions back (Brigitte, the post-trauma therapist from Keetmanshoop).
Namibia, you’ve been intense, very intense, but you brought me back on the path that really belongs to my personal life: exploration.
Thank you and I’ll see you again one day (soon?)!
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