Day 6, Sept 14 - Epupa Falls Campground

Our second full day at Epupa was a beautiful, peaceful day spent relaxing among the makalani palms while listening to the falls in the background along with the many birds making their home by the river.  One bird in particular, the mourning dove, entertained us by marching around the campground looking for food scraps and cooing endlessly with its charming downward trill.

Nico befriending a mourning dove

After breakfast we decided to take a walk downstream in order to get a better look at the falls.  There was a well worn path just outside our campground fence leading to the river.  Very soon we came to a spot where some of our group remembered camping before the campground was built.  Over the years flood waters washed away some of the soil and grass that used to be under the Ana-tree (?) but it was still a beautiful spot.

"Old" camping spot under tree along the river.

Near the old camping spot we came across this Baobab.  Baobab trees can live to be over 2,000 years old.  There are several ancient Baobab located in and around the falls.  If trees could talk...I wonder what this one would say?

Baobab near camp

It didn't take long before we started to get some excellent views of the falls.  One of the first views is of the "main" falls, if you can call it that.  You will soon see that the Kunene river widens to about .5 km above Epupa Falls and the falls themselves are a series of many falls spread out over 1.5 km.

Main falls with campsite off to the right

Perhaps this helps one appreciate the lovely sound of falling water we enjoyed at our campground.

Further downstream we started to get other views of the falls located off to the left of the main cataract.

Section of falls with Baobab

Falls on the Angola side of the river

View of the island in the middle of the falls

We weren't just strolling to look at the falls.  We actually had a destination.  We were going to "the beach".

View downriver towards "the beach".  We walked on the left bank.

"the beach"

It was a beautiful walk...maybe 45 minutes to an hour.  We were not in a hurry.  Along the way there was a crude sign stating, "No swimming at the beach".  This was due to the crocodiles who like to sun themselves there.  We didn't see any crocodiles and we didn't meet any other people until coming back. We were fortunate to be accompanied by man's best friend, whom Roelof bonded with. 

Camp dog who lead the way and patiently waited under a tree for us to catch up

Rykie at the beach with flowers

Later that day Leon and Martie took Salome and I to the "sundowner" spot where the Henties doctor and his lovely wife the nurse provided us with medicine in the form of gin and tonic.  After all, quinine was the first effective treatment for malaria!

View of falls from "sundowner" spot

View of main falls.  Campground along river on right.

And that, along with another delicious meal, was the end of a perfect day!