Riana’s Treasure — Geocache of the Week
Namibia is a country rich in biodiversity with woodland savannas, sandy beaches along the Atlantic Ocean, lush floodplains, and arid deserts. In this edition of Geocache of the Week, we head to this stunning southern African country. Home to nearly 350 caches, what better way to connect with an environmentally focused nation than by geocaching!
Known for its lush and vibrant flora and fauna, Namibia was the first African nation to include environmental protection in its constitution. Through communal conservancies in which local people manage their natural resources, the country has been able to preserve and restore numerous wildlife populations such as cheetahs, zebras, black rhinos, and lions. Ecotourism thrives as the nation’s primary income source, making it a perfect place to geocache!
This week we’re on the hunt for “Riana’s Treasure,” a Traditional Cache located somewhere along the rocky ledges of Epupa Falls. Epupa Falls is a part of the Kunene River, which flows along the border of Angola and Namibia in the Kaokoland area of the Kunene Region. Epupa Falls is Namibia’s grandest waterfall, which flows down a 131 ft (40 m) deep gorge. In fact, Epupa means “falling water” in the Herero language.
Your journey begins in the city of Opuwo, where you are sure to pack enough food and water for the day as opportunities to buy such supplies are limited the closer you get to your destination. Once you are stocked up, you embark on the roughly 60 mile (90 km) drive (best done in a 4×4!) to the falls. As it typically takes at least the entire day to travel to and enjoy the falls, many cachers choose to camp in the area. Upon arrival, you find a few different hiking paths.
After you make your way to the remote waterfall with a westward hike, it’s time to start the search. Luckily, the cache page gives some pretty specific descriptions, but with the natural red rock, our keen geocacher senses are definitely needed! This cache was first placed in 2009, so the plastic tupperware container has been replaced a few different times. Currently, the cache is an amber glass vitamin bottle, which blends in with the terrain.
With such an expansive landscape, it is easy to get lost in the natural beauty. But you are on a mission! As you continue to look in the nooks and crannies between the large rocks, you finally spot something that does not quite belong. You know what that means — you found it!
Woohoo! Before you jump for joy, you are sure to sign the logbook and check for any cool trackables and swag. Okay, now it’s time to jump around and revel in your success. Just be mindful of the rocks! After such an adventure, it’s time to enjoy the scenery before you trek back down. If you’re lucky, you’ll see some crocodiles sunning themselves along the riverbank. What a beautiful place to score a find.
Continue to explore some of the most amazing geocaches around the world. Check out all of the Geocaches of the Week on the Geocaching blog. If you would like to nominate a Geocache of the Week, fill out this form.
