In advance of the trip people asked me what fears I had. I suppose everyone wonders how they would be in the situation and could they do it. Well, I can’t jump out of aeroplanes, climb high peaks or cook dinner for ten, but I can do this.

I am strangely ( and still ) fearless about long plane journeys and the unknown at the other end. My only trepidation is fellow travellers. I know that I generally ‘fit’ well with other people, but will they be stronger and healthier (for this read – younger) than me and will there be the one annoying person who will spoil it for everyone (for this read – me)?

I have been in this situation before on a trip in my 30’s and my younger self battled with the very annoying person in the group. I am now wiser though and vouch that if this situation arose again I would take the person aside and give them feedback. Do we ever get enough honest feedback in life? Good or bad.

So here I am in Swakopmund on the Atlantic Coast after a 5 hour 230 mile drive in a completely straight line on the Trans Kalahari Highway. I realise now how much I like bends in the roads, roundabouts and traffic lights.

About to head north east for another 5 hours drive to base camp. The group is 13 strong. 7 women, 6 men. 5 Germans, 3 Brits and one of each : American, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Denmark and Namibian. My guess on the age range : 5 people over 50 year old, rest in their 20’s. I suppose all the 30 and 40 year old are working..

Anyone annoying? One guy slightly negative,’ the breakfast wasn’t very good, ‘ the group is big, ‘what qualifications do the guides gave?’ For now, I am keeping my distance.

Who will be the first person to sit next to on the bus? Beauty, the my guess, 25 year old Namibian Systems Analyst. Fortunately for her, and her parents, she does have beauty, but so far has hidden her face inside a huge oversized hoodie. How brave to travel with all these white European colonialists. By the end of the day she will have a best friend!