The Rostock Ritz

March 16, 2013

I met Roger and Nadine on the way to the Rostock Ritz.  They had stopped on the side of the road to photograph a flock of vultures who were eating something 30 meters away.

Vultures in Africa are huge ugly birds on the ground, but graceful and beautiful in the air.

I didn't know then what a fantastic stroke of luck it was to meet Roger and Nadine, for we would go on to spend the next five days and four nights traveling together.  They had already been on the road for 10 weeks camping in South Africa and Namibia, and we went on to lodge, camp, explore, and dine together at the Rostock Ritz, Seesriem and Sossuvlei, Tsauchab River Camp, and Kooismasis.

The road to the Rostock Ritz went wide open plains with far mountains, undulating with deep canyons and river beds.  The road was fascinating, and we crossed the Tropic of Capricorn before finding the Ritz.  The Ritz was a collection of earthen huts cut into the hillside.  Each hut had a circular fan above, a mosquito net over the bed, a nice bath and shower, and a small balcony on the back.  The main area included a wonderful pool with hammocks, a great restaurant where we dined on Kudu Steaks, and some fantastic hiking trails that I discovered the next morning.

 

The sunset was colorful and welcome because the afternoon sun was so hot and it cooled off nicely at night.  I slept very well at this place and woke at 5am to hit the trails and work on my photography.