Namibia Education Tour – Franklin University: Part 2

Day 7

On this beautiful day, the students visited the Fish River Canyon. The Fish River Canyon, is located in the south of Namibia. It is the largest canyon in Africa, as well as the second most visited tourist attraction in Namibia. It features a gigantic ravine, in total about 160 km long, up to 27 km wide and in places almost 550 meters deep.

The Fish River is the longest interior river in Namibia. It cuts deep into the plateau which is today dry, stony and sparsely covered with hardy drought-resistant plants. The river flows intermittently, usually flooding in late summer; the rest of the year it becomes a chain of long narrow pools. At the lower end of the Fish River Canyon, the hot springs resort of Ai-Ais is situated.

This is where they spend the night.

Day 8

On Sunday morning, the students went for a walk in the beautiful canyon. After the walk, the group left Ais-Ais, crossed the border into South Africa and spent the night at Grocery Camp next to the Orange River.

The Orange River is the longest river in South Africa and the Orange River Basin extends extensively into Namibia and Botswana to the north. It rises in the Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho, flowing westwards through South Africa to the Atlantic Ocean. The river forms part of the international borders between South Africa and Namibia and between South Africa and Lesotho, as well as several provincial borders within South Africa. Except for Upington, it does not pass through any major cities. The Orange River plays an important role in the South African economy by providing water for irrigation and hydroelectric power.

Day 9

The students had an early breakfast. After filling their tummies, they went for an exciting canoe rafting experience on the Orange River. After all the excitement, they spent the camping under the African stars next to the river bank.

Day 10

After a scrumptious breakfast on the river bank, the students left the campsite. The stopped in Springbok where they did some shopping for lunch. After lunch, they left for the overnight accommodation – Highlanders camp. Here, the owner of Klawer Cellars, a delicious winery, did an exclusive wine tasting with the students. After the tasting, they had a traditional South African braai – where meat is cooked over open coals – delicious!! And if this is not enough excitement for one day, the head guide of Boesmanskloof Nature Reserve took the students for some stargazing .

Day 11

The students had to wake up early for their long drive to Cape Town. After arriving in the Mother City, the group had some free time to spend at the VNA Waterfront where they also had a delicious lunch. After a free afternoon, the students made their way to Table Mountain where they watched on spectacular sunset.

Table Mountain is a flat-topped mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town in South Africa. It is a significant tourist attraction, with many visitors using the cableway or hiking to the top. The mountain forms part of the Table Mountain National Park. Table Mountain is home to a large array of fauna and flora, most of which is endemic.

After watching the most beautiful African sunset, the students had dinner at Marco’s Africa Place where they also listened to some traditional music.

Day 12

After an early morning breakfast, the students made their way to Cape of Good Hope via Chapman’s peak drive. Cape of Good Hope is the most South Western part of Africa. Thereafter, the group made their way to the District 6 Museum.

District Six Museum is a museum in the former inner-city residential area, District Six, in Cape Town, South Africa. District Six Foundation was founded in 1989 and the museum in 1994, as a memorial to the forced movement of 60,000 inhabitants of various races in District Six during Apartheid in South Africa in the 1970s. The floor of the museum is covered with a big map of the district with hand written notes of former inhabitants, which indicate where their houses were located.

From there, they walked to the lady Hamilton Hotel where they spent the night. They had a delicious dinner at Africa Café where traditional meals from all over Africa is served.

Day 13

After an early morning breakfast, the group made there way to their last attraction for the tour which was Stellenbosch. Here they went on a township tour and had a traditional local lunch.

Sadly, after lunch, the group made their way to the airport where they borded the plane for their long flight back to Switzerland.