Day 36 - Ai-Ais (28/10)

We're leaving the views of the canyon for Ai-Ais (literally "burning water") hot springs which is on the canyon on the banks of the Fish River.  One last pop to the main viewing point, where we get some more perspective on size

On the DR324 to Ai-Ais, mountain zebras as we stop to admire the rockface,

nest in quiver tree

and lots of 4x4s charging along too fast - duuuusty!

Boulders and piles of rubble lie around - it looks like a building site, with glimpses of hills through the mounds every now and again.

Eventually a green patch - trees and bushes, and we're at Ai-Ais.

Not unexpectedly, there are thermal baths here so, for the princely sum of N$10 (50p), we have a soak - and then a cold shower (hot baths not being required when it's 90 outside!)

Knocking together a spot of lunch, S is the hapless victim of baboon robbery-with-menaces from the picnic table (he makes off, lightning-fast, with his swag bag full of still-wrapped-up loaf of bread, four rusks and a handful of travel-sweets, wrappers and all!)  Bold as brass and with big shiny-sharp teeth bared when I clap and shout at him (none of which has much impact so I decide that retreat is regrettable but inevitable).  Let's hope he gets indigestion.

On the plus side, D has espied eland steak on the restaurant menu - turns out to have been yesterday's offering but tonight it 's springbok and the chef understands what we mean by "rare please" - it's perfectly cooked and with nice potatoes, cauliflower and (little bit unusual) beetroot. Outstanding if belated birthday dinner.