I woke up suddenly, startled by something outside our tent...then it dawned on me, in our scurry to get out of a rare Kalahari rainstorm we secured our bicycles under a sail and had left our rubbish bag outside the entrance of our tent. It was now a tasty treat for some or other scavenger. So how did we end up here; two law students, two bicycles and hundreds of kilometers from our final destination, Windhoek Namibia?

In 2015, my husband and I went on a fishing trip to the Zambezi Region and stayed at Island View lodge. Initially, I was rather reluctant to go as I knew the sum total of my fishing holiday would probably involve me working on my tan and reading a book at the camp.

Waking up to the deep grunt of a Hippo no further than 20 meters away from where we had set up camp along the banks of the Okavango River is a feeling only true Namibian adventurers will have experienced.

I still remember it like it was yesterday. My family decided over a braai that we were going on a spontaneous crayfish-adventure to Lüderitz for Easter vacation. We had two weeks to plan our trip. Luckily we were able to find accommodation on such short notice at Obelix Village Guest House. Most places in Lüderitz are fully booked at that time of the year with Lüderitz Crayfish Festival and Easter holiday falling on the same weekend.

One day I heard about a place called Donkerkloof - a magical place that is a gateway to a very exclusive part of the Fish River Canyon. When I say exclusive it may be the wrong word, it is just that few have ever been there due to the hassle of getting there. This is a part of the canyon north of where the Ai-Ais trail enters, therefore, the area remains mostly untouched.

In an attempt to convince me he sweetened the deal, adding: “Oh and while you are here we will take a 1980 model U1100-416 6×2×2×3 Mercedes Benz Unimog truck into the Fish River Canyon and down Donkerkloof Gorge!” Suddenly, what seemed a very mundane and ordinary trip turned into an amazing adventure. An ultimate Namibian adventure.

Have you ever thought of spending your holiday in the scorching Namib Desert? Being attacked by midges under lone Camelthorn trees that provide the only shade in the vast desert, having an unexpected rain shower in a very dry area, as well as enjoying the company of others who had the same idea for their holiday is what I experienced!

My ultimate adventure is getting off the couch and pushing myself beyond my comfort zone and challenge myself to do something quite frightening; but this doesn't always have to involve dizzying heights or facing fierce animals. When the call of adventure beckons, it can be very much an inner journey of personal self-discovery as we face our fears (real or imagined) and test ourselves not just physically, but also emotionally.

After I crossed the Orange River on my mountain bike during a long distance cycling tour from Cape Town to Windhoek, I never forgot about this beautiful place where the desert meets the green riverbed of the Orange River. I knew I had to come back to go on a relaxing kayaking tour on the flat waters of the Orange River.