DAY 5 ROSH PINAH to AI-AIS 167km

After my English breakfast I went to the post office and got a sim card and 3GB for N$72,  (US $4). Headed south and then  to the C37 road , which had 3 CLOSED signs and some tape, but went round that cause it didn't  make sense why it would be closed and the detour was not an option.

The road follows the Orange River, which divides the two countries, for about 80km and is in good shape as it has been recently graded. The landscape has changed dramatically, with small red rocky mountains with the road winding through them for most of the way with absolutely zero plant life. When you turn N towards Ai-Ais that's when you pass through kilometers of flat, dry, baron, sandy plains which go on forever with a sprinkling of rocks. Then you reach a T junction and you turn left and drop down into Ai -Ais.

Arrived at 11:30 and was planning to go to Fish River Canyon but got caught up in the arrival of the hikers just finishing their 5 day hike down the canyon, people cheering and ringing the bells welcoming and celebrating their final steps. They allow thirty people a day to hike and you have to book a year in advance, was chatting to some young couple from Stellenbosch and they just raved about the scenery and the hike, really inspiring. Later I spoke to another guy that's done it four times and he said next time he does it he's going to take six days cause it's so beautiful you want more time there. So I decided to stay and was lucky to be able to get a room for the night. 

It was really a festive vibe with people trickling in all day and I could even hear them atop of the mountain right opposite the hotel which took me an hour to hike up. It was virtually straight up, real rocky with loose gravelly shale, coming down was real tricky in some spot. The view from the top was endless, was going to walk up the river bed, but so glad I took the difficult and right choice for once.