Another major feature - as one might expect - was the overpowering smell. Young pups were playing amongst the rocks, some were suckling, whilst the parents were constantly on guard against the black-backed jackals picking their way amongst the boulders looking for any scraps. The jackal's inland relative has quite a varied diet, consisting of small mammals and antelopes, carrion, reptiles, insects, birds, fruit and carrion, whilst the diet of the jackal that resides on this Namib coast can be up to 86% seal, so it is little wander that they are not readily tolerated. We stayed with the seals for about an hour before we resumed our journey, and on to "Mile 72" and stopped for lunch on the beach, where we found the remains of a giant turtle.

After lunch we pressed on to our next stop at Ugabi (White Lady) Camp.
As we arrived at the camp's lodge it was feeding time for one of the resident meerkats which went scurrying across the stone floor to devour a scorpion. We were introduced to a few more of the meerkats which were housed to the rear of the lodge. As the lads prepared camp we took the opportunity for a cool drink at the bar. For dinner tonight we were treated to something traditional - fish and chips!! (though Maxwell offered an apology for being unable to serve them wrapped in newspaper!!) After our meal Max had a surprise in store, when some local villagers came to entertain us with song and dance. At its conclusion they sang their national anthem, and then - horror of horrors - invited us to sing our own.

 We all gave our best "God save the queen," then helped with a bit of vocal backing (well, humming actually) to help Chuck and Lori with the American anthem. Then it was Maxwell's turn, who gave a solo performance of his own Zimbabwean anthem. We were asked if there were any more - and I felt a distinct dig in my ribs as Nancy could see me toying with the idea of announcing her Welsh nationality!! (As if I would!!) After a very pleasant evening, we gave some gifts to the village children. We had brought some toy "matchbox" cars, along with a number of pens, pads and pencils etc. which others had also brought, so it was good to see the gifts going to this small community. To cap off the evening, I went hunting for scorpions!! I had brought an ultra-violet light from UK, having had a demonstration from

some of our group in the previous year's trip to Botswana: Scorpions, along with some spiders glow bright luminous green under UV light. I don't think many believed how luminous they become. Julia accompanied me on this first foray, and as I turned over a rock, the largest of the scorpions we were to see, this one being about 3 or 4 inches long quickly burrowed into the sand beneath, and I was glad that Julia was with me to witness it, or I fear I would not have been believed. We went on to find some more, some of them only about an inch long. Gecko and Jonas were quite taken with the UV torch and went on their own little safari around the camp in search of them. Another early start - so, needless to say, another early bed!!
(One final note for today - Whilst daytime temperatures during the trip so far had generally been in the range of 32-35˚C (89-95 ˚F) this afternoon produced our first shade temperature of 40˚C (104 ˚F) !! )