Namibian Viking

I knew something was wrong. My guide, Andrey, and his wife should only have been some 15min behind me. It had now been 30min since I last saw them and we said we would meet at the waterhole. My heart started to race, what should I do, I dont have a map of the route we should take and how should I get out of here?

I was in Naukluft National Park in Namibia and we had been hiking for the whole day. It was now less then 2h left to sunset and I had just lost my guide. I put some stones down on the ground saying “Andrey, wait here” and walked back 20min to see if I could meet him. But no sign of him.

What do I do? At least I have water and fire steel (Thank you Bear Grylls!). I started to descend quickly, at the water hole I changed the stones to say “Joakim has gone down”, should Andrey be further back, but somehow I knew this was not the case. He should have been here by now. I came to a big waterfall and started to climb down. 5m down and I felt that I was rushing into things, climbing a 20m waterfall with no ropes might not be the best idea. Am I acting rationally?  The questions kept rushing through my mind. I climbed up and got my backpack off my back. I looked through what I got: All kinds of camera equipment (great for being able to document, but not great for survival), fire steel, knife, some dried sausages, fruit, energy powder, sun screen etc. I guess the only thing I was lacking was warm clothing and a back pack. The desert gets cold at night, about 5 degrees or so but worst case I would just start a fire. Thank god for my two weeks last August with Kobus when I lit the fire every evening with only the fire steel and dried grass, and thank god for all the hours I have watched Bear Grylls!

I put my backpack back on and I found the right route to descend the waterfall and did so, after about 2hours on my own I hear a faint whistle, it has got to be Andrey and I shouted back. I found him!

Well, what could have been an even greater adventure of having to sleep rough in the national park was to an end. Together we did the last 45 min hike back to camp and I got a warm meal.

I still slept rough though. Africa’s stars, the sounds at night and the feeling that if a jackal, snake or scorpion wanted to, they could come and join my sleeping bag is just a too good opportunity to say no to. Having said that, 5 nights into my holiday and so far the only thing that has joined me were some ants (mental note to one self – always check if there is an ant trail before you put your sleeping bag down!).

Over and out form Namibia, next time you hear form me will be after the race.