Namibia: 3. Lüderitz

Suddenly, a taste of Germany. Lüderitz is a quaint little town, with Lutheran churches, bars from Bayern, and Nachtigallestrasse, Kirchstrasse and menus in German. Traditionally a fishing village, it is becoming increasingly a tourist destination, but still keeps that quiet, sleepy coast town feeling.

A few kilometres inland, lays a ghost town, Kolmanskop. There was a big diamond rush (legend has it you could just pick them off the ground) in the 1908 and this village was build all around that. We didn’t feel it was too impressive though (I mean, most of our houses also date back to the early 1900s), and also because our guide wasn’t very communicative. Maybe the fact that she seemed to sweep any segregation and question whether there were harsh working conditions for the local blacks under the carpet…

Highlight of our trip in Lüderitz (the only place in Namibia where we spend two consecutive nights) was the boat trip. You can go see the penguins, seals and birds on the islands just off shore.

Namibia: 2. Sesriem and Sossusvlei

After a two day drive through Botswana (sleepover in Maún) and one night to stock up and recover in Windhoek, our first real sight to be seen was Sossusvlei, a picture of which actually covers the Lonely planet guidebook. Yep, we took exactly the same picture on the same spot (though the lighting wasn’t a 100% the same). 

It’s one of those place with the image of the Namibian desert which we all have, sand dunes and… well, more sand dunes… and more sand dunes.

  Here, amidst sandy dunes (some up to 300m high) and beautiful sunsets, lies a small vlei, which when it rains (i.e. very rarely) becomes a salt lake. Now, the soil is all dried out and the trees are like rocks. It’s a bit spooky at times, but very impressive.  We camped at the entrance, and had to rush, because of the rules that you can only enter and leave the park between sunrise and sunset, while of course these are the most impressive moments, light wise.  

Off to Namibia

This Saturday 18th of September, we're going on a two week road trip, and when I say road, it really is road (planned 6.000km to drive). As Namibia is one of the only countries we haven't explored properly yet in Southern Africa, we're going for two weeks there, together with Thomas, Pieter and Hanne, my cousin who is currently visiting us. We'll be away from 18 to 4th of October, and (of course) pictures will follow afterwards but meanwhile, there might be a bit of radio silence.

Namibia! – 1. The planning of the trip

Namibia… Of all the countries in Southern Africa, the one we knew least (excepting Angola, but not really motivated to get to know that one). So, before we leave, this was our next destination. My cousin, Hanne, was coming for a visit, and brought her boyfriend Pieter along.

They first spent two weeks in Harare, visiting some of our projects and partners, doing workshops on puppet making and M&E. But then it was time for the holiday, and they seemed quite enthusiastic about Namibia. And I must say, of all the countries, Namibia is actually my favourite. A lot of diversity, desert, mountains, beach, animals. Great infrastructure, and pretty decent roads. And those roads had better be good, because we were all doing it by car. Thomas’ Honda CRV (though already 14 years old) had over a lot of distance to cover.  When we had our initial meeting with Hanne and Pieter, and Thomas explained the project, we all sort of felt over 6.000km was going to be too much. We’d be driving almost every day, with at least two days going there (over Botswana), and two days back (over the Caprivi Strip).

Though we’d initially scratched some of the km, while we were in Namibia, we actually did all of the original plan… and more. In total, we reached 8.300km, roughly two third of the distance Harare-Brussels. And though Thomas’ car had to go back straight to the garage, it was definitely a trip to remember!

Skydiving

After a brief but intense training, over a month of waiting for weather, plane availability and our schedules to match, we finally went skydiving here in Charles Prince airport, just out of Harare. For 150USD, we got the full training, and two static line jumps (which means the chute opens automatically after you drop out off the plane, so you only have a couple of seconds of free fall).

It was my third jump (did two at uni, so ages ago) and Thomas had only done paragliding so adrenaline levels were high. It was quite the thrill, though short (around 3 minutes of flying) and all following the instructions given from the ground by a big arrow. Thomas sprained his wrist landing though, but besides that, no injuries, just excitement. Might do it again soon, as from now on, jumps would only be 35USD each time, quite the bargain compared to western prices.