Tropic of Capricorn!
When I looked at the map of Namibia at the back of Kitonga (our Intrepid Truck) and saw that we’d be passing the Tropic of Capricorn, I was pretty excited. This would be my first time passing this particular tropic and to be passing it in Africa was an added bonus.
“George, are we going to stop at the Tropic of Capricorn for photos?” It was a silly question, I know, but I wanted to know.
“Yes, of course!”
As soon as we all knew that we’d be stopping for photos, there was a small debate over the co-ordinates of the Tropic of Capricorn in Namibia, which is when Rolf pulled out his GPS unit. 23°26′S 14°27′E Yep, that is where the Tropic of Capricorn is in Namibia, at least that’s where it is THIS year.
Fun Facts About the Tropic of Capricorn
- Marks the most southernly latitude where the Sun can appear directly overhead -which happens during the December Solstice
- Currently drifting north, about 15 meters a year!
- The term Capricorn comes from the Latin words caper [goat] and cornu [horn]
- Named for a sign of the zodiac
- The Makara Sankranti festival in India celebrates the day of Sun entering the zodiac belt of Capricorn.
Kitonga, our Intrepid Truck, by the sign for the Tropic of Capricorn
I’m starting to think that I should have some kind of journal to mark travel milestones. Something I can open from time to time to remind of the cool places I’ve been, as well as remind of all the cool places I still need to go to!
Thinking of traveling to Africa?
Kenya to Cape Town with Intrepid Travel
Traveling in Africa, solo, can be a scary thought -especially for solo female travelers. I’m not saying it can’t be done, it can. What I am saying is that there is nothing wrong with joining a group tour.
For 45 days I traveled from Kenya (Nairobi) to Cape Town with Intrepid Travel. This was my very first group travel experience. At first I wasn’t sure what I had gotten myself into, but as time progressed, I began to relax and fall in love with this type of travel. In fact, I would definitely travel with Intrepid again.
“Uncover some of Africa’s greatest sights on a journey from the dramatic Great Rift Valley to the beautiful southern coast. This trip offers endless opportunities for game viewing in some of Africa’s iconic nature reserves, as well as hidden gems like Chobe and Etosha national parks. The surging Zambezi crashing over the Victoria Falls, rolling savanna plains dotted with wildlife and the stunning, white-sand beaches of Zanzibar combine to create an inspiring overland adventure.” (visit the Intrepid Travel website for more information by clicking the link above)
**A very special thank-you to Intrepid Travel for sponsoring my trip from Kenya to Cape Town, as well as a thank-you, hugs and beers to my guide George Gathara, and the crew (Simon and Ben) for making my trip unforgettable.
About Pamela
Ahhhh such an awesome experience!