Brandberg, Namibia:

early morning at the Brandberg

We left Windhoek and drove through the wide savannah landscape to Namibia’s highest mountain: the Brandberg.

With a maximum altitude of 2573 m, the Brandberg Massif dominates the surrounding countryside. Nevertheless, we didn’t drive here for a tiresome ascent, but wanted to see ancient rock paintings. The San people lived in the mountain’s neighbourhood for several thousand years and left their traces in a large number of paintings. The most famous piece is the so-called “White Lady” dating back at least 2000 years. In order to protect the paintings, they can be visited only on a guided hike. We were also lucky enough to spot some wildlife, including a couple of Double-banded Sandgrouses breeding next to the trail.

countryside

countryside

Spitzkoppe in the far distance

approaching the Brandberg

grasslands

grasslands

early morning at the Brandberg

on the hike to the “White Lady”

female Double-banded Sandgrouse

male Double-banded Sandgrouse

female Double-banded Sandgrouse

on the hike to the “White Lady”

guide explaining the rock paintings

the “White Lady”

the “White Lady”

giraffes

valley in the Brandberg

Namib Rock Agama

a gecko

Rock Dassie

curious meerkats

After our early morning walk to the beautiful rock paintings, we left the Brandberg behind and drove north into the barren Namib Desert.