Day 41 - Duwisib Castle and the Tsarishootge Pass (2/11)

In a remote valley, on the edge of the Namib Dune Desert, set amidst huge camel-thorn trees, sits one of Namibia's most bizarre buildings - the Duwisib Castle. It was built in 1909 for a German soldier, Captain Heinrich Von Wolf, (who styled himself "Baron") from raw materials imported from Germany; after landing at Luderitz on the coast, the materials were transported by ox-wagon for over 600kms through the Namib Desert! The Baron and his wife didn't have long to enjoy it though : they travelled to Europe in 1914 and, when WWI broke out, he re-joined the German army and was killed at the Somme in 1916, and his wife settled in Switzerland, never returning to Namibia.  The state took it over in the late 1970s, and opened it to the public in 1991; it now houses a collection of 18th and 19th century antiques, armour and paintings.

The immediate terrain is flat and rather dull but, once we join the C19 west, we start to gain height then come upon the beautiful views from the Tsarishootge Pass. We're lucky to espy a "Camping" sign outside a farm; upon our application, the farmer direct us along the road, through a gate 

  
into an unpromising-looking field, up a dirt track and finally to a (very private) camping spot.
 

As well as excellent views of hills all around including the Namib Rand dune / hills,
 

 
it boasts a super-looking gecko in the loo

wild horses and a few friendly zebra as we watch the sun go down