It’s strange how things can change overnight. Before the arrival of Covid-19 and the ensuing lockdowns, home comforts seemed quite appealing. But during the time of the virus and enforced confinement, we realised the importance of freedom in our lives. Now more than ever, the long open roads and the vast Namibian skies are calling.
Roughing it has never sounded so appealing. And Namibia, with its small population and large never-ending landscapes is the perfect place for roughing it. For some, this may be appreciating the great outdoors with creature comforts in Gondwana’s fully-equipped glamping tents, and for others it’s sitting around a campfire in the Namibian wilderness when the stars seem so near that you could put your hand out and pluck them from the heavens. It’s what dreams are made of!
Now, we long to hit the road, to be free to travel, explore and discover. Hair blowing in the wind, windows wide open and the countryside speeding past as we breathe it all in.
‘Roughing it’ is relative. I did a bit of research. Sources mention that the term ‘roughing it’ is a nautical term that came into existence in 1768; I assume describing the hardships of being out at sea for long periods. And in 1872, Mark Twain’s semi-biographical book ‘Roughing it’ was about his travels through the Wild West. ‘Roughing it’ wasn’t nearly as romantic for the 1820 settlers according to Ralph Goldswain’s book ‘Roughing it: 1820 settlers in their own words’. They used the expression when they were lured from Britain with promises of large tracts of land and ended up in a tent city at Algoa Bay with inadequate shelter and not nearly enough food. The comforts of home were a long way away and a struggle for survival in the harsh climate of Africa lay ahead.
Times have changed and many of us who live in towns and cities realise the value of getting back to nature and to the land as our lives increasingly revolve around our smart phones and social media platforms. After living through a time when international borders were closed and air and land travel came to a sudden halt, we appreciate the importance - and beauty - of the natural world when we can switch off, tune in and reconnect to the earth.
Today, with the Covid years thankfully behind us, we can climb into our vehicles and know that the exhilarating day of vistas and magnificent scenery lies ahead. And we can look forward to the arrival at a campsite as golden sunlight bathes the land and barking geckoes begin to serenade their mates. As the sun sets, there are enjoyable hours of camaraderie around the campfire and the aroma of food sizzling on the braai, and then the sounds of night in the bush. The hooting of an owl, the call of a nightjar, the grunting of hippo and the trumpeting of elephant - a tonic for the soul.
Maybe what we realise now is that the outdoors is more our home than we ever thought before and that we need to safeguard and cherish it. We long for the freedom of its bountiful landscapes. It is soul-food and we hunger for it.
I am looking forward to ‘roughing it’ once again. Are you?
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