Botswana and Namibia

14 August – Windhoek NAMIBIA

This is the longest I’ve gone without writing an entry but even though we’ve been pretty busy there’s not much to write. It’s all been travelling, Botswana came and went very quickly!

Back to the beginning. We left Victoria Falls on Wednesday morning quite early and drove all the way to Ghanzi arriving at around 7pm, after dark. Our plan was to stop at Maun but we got there at 2pm but we felt that we could push on further making the next day’s drive to Windhoek easier. We ended up being delayed in Maun trying to change money and only got going again after 3pm but still, the road was good – dirt between Maun and Ghanzi but not bad at all. The border crossing into Botswana was, as is usual these days, quick and painless but we struggled in Nata to change money, there’s no bank in town and the hotel had a cash shortage so we only managed to change 20USD and with it got petrol to see us through to Maun but not much further. The highlight of the day was that we saw three herds of elephants – one was even crossing the road in front of us and we weren’t even in a game reserve!

In Maun we bought Steers Burgers for lunch – the sauce was great but the actual patty only so-so. After plenty of concern on my part, Scott has agreed that when we get home we’ll become vegetarian again. He seemed to be enjoying the meat so much that I thought he wouldn’t like to leave it. Guess I was wrong.

In Ghanzi, we camped in the grounds of the Kalahari Arms Hotel. Very small camping area but there were only two tents so it was OK. A couple arrived in a caravan after we had gone to bed and left before we got up so they don’t really count except for the noise they made.

Thursday morning we didn’t get up so early and before hitting the road, we went to a bushman craft shop. I like to support these community efforts so I bought my standard bracelet, this time made from ostrich eggs and quite unusual. We drove to the border to our second last country, the last before South Africa and again had no hassles but a small hitch in proceedings. Our carnet was stamped on entry into Botswana but they wouldn’t stamp it when we left. Apparently Botswana, South Africa, Namibia and one or two others form a common customs union and the only carnet will only be stamped when we leave that area. Hope that’s true. What it means is that we’re already into the area with our car and we shouldn’t have any problems at the SA border. Let’s see.

We drove on to Gobabis, changed money and bought lunch – very nice chicken, which we ate on the side of the road. We drove on to Windhoek and called Yvonne from a public phone. She arranged to meet us on the side of the road just outside town. From there we’ve just been hanging around here doing washing, watching TV and eating well. We saw Brad on Thursday evening but he’s away for the weekend entertaining clients so it’s just the three of us plus the three kids. Can they make a noise!

Yesterday morning was a shopping day – air filter, shoes for Scott etc and then a quiet day further. Lunch, siesta and then work on Yvonne’s PC. A chance to check e-mail at leisure.

Today was also pretty quiet. Apart from a quick walk to the café I haven’t left the house. Scott had one more outing, he took the kids off to buy ice-creams. Scott fulfilled a long held urge and had boerewors rolls (home made) for lunch. He weighed himself last night and at 68kg is lighter than he’s been for years so he can really enjoy himself. I weigh 50kg on the nose so have lost no more than a kilo or so.

We are also using the opportunity to phone around. I chatted to Liesl and Mom and Scott has also phoned his mom. He also booked 4 nights at the Fish River Sun. At R270 per room per night for bed and breakfast, we’re quite pleased. Apparently the casino has closed and that’s why the place is so cheap. Or anyway cheaper than expected! Tomorrow we’re off to the farm

Right now we’re watching rugby – South Africa vs. Australia. It looks like it’s going to be close but my interest is such that I’m writing my diary while Scott and Yvonne watch

15 August – Farm near Mariental

It has been a day with not too much happening. We left Windhoek around 9 or 10 (depending if you sue SA or Namibian time) and took the scenic route to the farm. We went via a place called Spreetshoogte which has some wonderful views over the dry, semi-desert ‘voor Namib’ as they call it.

We stopped at Solitaire for fuel and wonderful apple pie. Solitaire has changed a lot since we last saw it 12 odd years ago. It was pretty much nothing then but now all and sundry stop there. It is not only your standard garage-cum-café but they also offer baked goods and a small camping area complete with shade and ablution blocks.

We arrived on the farm mid-afternoon and after some tea went for a drive with Uncle David. The farm is as great as I remembered, the goats were all kidding so we were driving around trying to match kids to goats. Strange, you’d think they could manage that part by themselves.

My Uncle is not well. He looks old and gaunt and has lost a lot of weight. He has self-diagnosed himself as having Malta fever some cattle borne disease but I am not so sure. Yvonne is desperately trying to get him to go to the doctor but he has always had a rabid mistrust of all doctors and refuses to go. They’re due in Windhoek around 23 August and Yvonne will try again.

15 August – Farm near Mariental

Another quiet, relaxing day on the farm.  We took a drive to the farthest camp – Springbok camp and saw quite a few animals – springbok, foxes, ground squirrels etc. Nothing huge but lots of life. This part of the farm is stunning with some excellent camping spots. If Robin is still keen for a desert New Year experience then we have the place for him. If we can get a couple of days off work I’d love to bring him here.

In the afternoon Scott had a siesta and I joined my uncle on a trip to Maltehohe. He had to get some feed for the goats and Scott has a bit of a cold so I went along for the drive and to see what I could find for Scott. It ended up being TCP and Med-Lemon.

In the evening, mom phoned to wish me happy birthday for tomorrow which was nice and then we watched a movie I had heard lots about but never seen – Smilla’s sense of Snow. It was pretty good but I think the book may be a lot better, as always.

It was our last evening with my Uncle and Aunt. They would have liked us to stay longer but it just wasn’t possible. Well I suppose it was possible but we had bookings and we wanted to get moving again.

They, especially Uncle David,  have been our most appreciative audience to date. Uncle David thinks that the whole trip is great and when I went into town with him I was introduced to all and sundry and our story proudly told. I’m impressed too – a guy got a series of seven articles printed in Getaway about crossing Africa with Public Transport and he flew across Sudan because Sudan is ‘impossible’ to cross. Yeah right?!