arrival at n/a'an ku sê

friday night, touchdown at windhoek airport, 6:30pm local time.. i'm so glad my trip is nearly over!! from when i left ocean camp to the time i arrived it's been around 32hrs.. seems so stupid considering i've only flown from one side of the continent to the other.. but anyway. the arrivals terminal seems pretty much deserted, the only traffic being the 20-odd people from my little plane. i sling on my oversized backpack (it's always a relief to see it sitting on the baggage carousel and not lost in transit god knows where..), pass through the visa check and walk up to a man in a N/a'an ku sê t-shirt holding a sign with my name on it. [it's pretty cool, i feel like one of those weird vip guys with a limo driver awaiting me!!] i've just enough time to withdraw some local currency from the atm, purchase a local sim card and then climb aboard a white jeep [not a limo this time..].

the drive to N/a'an ku sê takes around 40mins, bumping around on dirt tracks and moving further and further away from the glow of windhoek lights in the distance. eventually we pull up to a big, white gate where the driver exchanges a few words with the guards who then let us through. [the bushmen language is riddled with varying clicks of the tongue, sounding like a percussionist ensemble playing alongside a smooth-flowing melody.. so damn cool!!] not far now.. a few more twists and turns and suddenly we arrive smack bang upon a huge porcupine just chilling in the middle of the road. i've never seen one in the wild yet and he looks pretty funny waddling off into the scrub!! we then arrive another gate the driver jumps out to open and finally we pull up next to a group of vehicles.

opening the door, the heated air rushes out of the car and i realise it's pretty chilly out here! the stars are amazing.. the driver (whose name i still haven't quite caught) helps me with my bag and shows me to my room - i'm in the 'oryx' room and can't help but grin at the sight of my first proper, comfortable bed since tsavo. he leaves me to get settled in and points out the way to the dining area, where i proceed to after pulling on my fleece. a few girls are sitting around chatting and introduce themselves. they're really sweet and soon we're discussing my kenya trip, life on the farm, the things they've been up to during their stay.. it's a little strange being the 'new girl' after my 3-monther kenya status but people here are always coming and going so i'm not too fussed (:

after a short while chatting, i'm pretty much falling asleep at the table and say goodnight. i set my alarm for 7am breakfast, pull on a pair of pjs and don't even bother braving a cold shower before passing out.