Very well the first step to

Very well the first step to getting over the idea that it's actual plain impossible to go to Africa is the fact it's not as exotic as you might believe... well, sort of. I mean it certainly is nonetheless exotic and far-flung, with an weather of danger and romance thrown in? Sure. But is it so unique that nothing will be like home and you will feel lost and out of your element and home-sick while 10, 000km from your home? Nope, probably not. And for people who aren't regular globe trotters living the nomad life, that is great information.

You see, Africa was colonized by many different European countries and they've many left their mark. The Aventure and Greeks conquered much of Upper Africa at various times, and you may even find examples of this within fusion cuisine such as Italian/Ethiopian dining establishments in America. The Dutch and the English language both colonized South Africa, they speak Costa da prata in Angola because that's who also came in and colonized (same with Brazil), the West of Africa was largely colonized by Italy (they even had some of America if you remember - Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Quebec, Montreal, etc . ), and the country we're focusing on - Namibia - was colonized by Germans. "Now, that's most of well and great", you're considering, "but what the hell does this have to do with me? ". Simple - a lot of Europeans already visit countries in which their ancestors colonized. They speak the language and often know somebody. So even though Africa is in general still vast and untamed, you can definitely get yourself a bratwurst and a lager during your trip through Namibia. Sure, you can always eat some gazelle or zebra as well to make it more thrilling, but if you experience homesick and want something familiar, you can definitely find it.

Now that gowns covered, you might be surprised to find out precisely how easy it is to get there. There are lots of direct flights from New York to Gabardine Town and Johannesburg, and following that it's no problem flying to Namibia's capital city of Windhoek. There are lots of conventional, European-style hotels there and the PEOPLE dollar is pretty much accepted in all places. Namibia's government is also tied to Southern region Africa's so they're a bit more steady than the average African country. Maltahohe, namibia even has a good road program and it's highway signs and guidelines were installed with all the accuracy and effectiveness the Germans could gather, which is saying something. All in all, Maltahohe, namibia is possibly the perfect place to explore Africa and its wonders.

Well believe it or not, not every country in Africa is war-torn and in constant civil war with rebels driving down every road threatening you with AK-47s or even lions on leashes. I know this might shatter your world view, however, many countries are pretty well run. The main thing for Namibia is their previous Apartheid government it distributed to South Africa, but that of course have been officially over for a while now, and in turn of bitter resentment it seems like everyone there is just happy to have it be achieved. Sure some countries are far better left un-seen for the casual tourist, but Namibia is plenty safe.

At this moment, that being said, Namibia is also vast and sparsely populated. So while is actually safe on a human level, typically the countryside and animals can be unsafe. However because of this, everyone is always looking for each other. I don't think I ever before pulled over to check a map wherever someone that passed didn't stop to ensure I was okay. It's just the way it is out there - you have to consider each other.

Good question! Let me tell you a small amount about my trip there.

Right after landing at Windhoek's Eros airport terminal, I got a rental cell phone, found my ride to the rental car depot and even took off. Rental cars are really a good option in Namibia. They don't have a lot public transit and the roads are often in good condition. So I had a shiny Toyota Corolla waiting to take me on my safari dreams when I arrived. I realize, I know - a Corolla isn't very exactly what you think of when you think safari in Africa. But what can I claim, I was by myself and smaller vehicles are cheaper. Plus this idea was a bit beefier than a United states corolla. Trust me, the car is probably more up to the challenge of driving inside we build retaining walls in Colorado Springs Namibia than you are. Case in point, it made it through my crash no problem. I mean this wasn't a huge crash, but still. Edge note: crashing your car into the employee's break table before you even abandon the rental car lot is not a terrific way to instill trust in a rental car organization. Damn the driver's seat simply being on the right and shifting while using the left!

Cars are to Namibians like horses were to cowboys in the Us West. Once you're out in the, you basically live and stop functioning by your car, so be good into it. You'll be with it a lot too instructions the roads are well kept but they're still not an interstate interstate system. Think of how driving is in Ireland and you'll get the picture. Spending budget more time than you think it'll take to get some where and be sure to pick up some maps at the rental car business office.

Don't be surprised if you see lots of guys in official Jeep or even Mercedes shirts hanging around, or autos with black-out tape all over them. Namibia is where many car firms test prototypes for heat and even rough roads, and has some of the best all-terrain trails in the world to give SUVs a suitable workout. See what I'm stating about cars and Namibia? That they just go together.

After checking out down-town Windhoek and stocking up on equipment at a local grocery store, I along to bed early to get a jump started on heading out to the country and on traffic. I didn't want any person around while I was learning to generate on the left. I was off to Sossusvlei in the South to see a real, honest-to-God desert. Taking B1 out of town, you will see lots of hills and ravines, big chunks of rock the size of houses strewn here and there : definitely a feast for the eyes. But the turn-off to C24 is how the real fun starts. Honestly this road could be the newest stage on the planet Rally Championships. It's a dirt road that makes the best wooden roller-coaster jealous of all its zips and zags. It runs through the Naukluft hills, whose terrain looks like a crumpled up piece of paper. There was even one particular hill steep enough (though no more than 30ft height) that I couldn't stand up in 1st gear! I had to be able to reverse and try again with increased of a running start. Fun driving a vehicle, but you're definitely ready for an escape when you get to solitaire.

When you head to Sossusvlei, be sure to head there since you can in the morning for two reasons. To begin with, because the sun hitting the sand sand hills at an acute angle makes for very dramatic and beautiful lighting. Second, cause you'll want to climb those arte and hike the vleis prior to it gets scorching hot outdoor. Miss either of these and you'll truly be disappointed.

Sossusvlei is just one of many vleis in the area. I took typically the desert ferry over to them and saw Dead vlei, Sossusvlei and a lot of smaller vleis. The vleis, in addition, are pans of dried filth and rock. There is so little rain fall and so much evaporation that it pulls all the moisture out of the ground until it finally is much more like fired ceramics or perhaps bricks. Almost nothing can grow in these people and they are mostly barren wasteland surrounded by towering (up to 1, 000ft) crushed stone dunes. Very forbidding, very deadly, and very beautiful.

After a day inside the desert and relaxing the night apart with French travelers staying at the exact same guest farm as I, it was time and energy to move on to someplace cooler. Swakopmund is mostly a tourist town in Namibia just for exactly the opposite reason Florida in addition to S. California are for Americans - it's cold there. A minimum of it is compared to the scorching deserts all around it, and not only is it cold, it is also wet. A current of freezing normal water from Antarctica makes it's approach north along the coast of S. africa and Namibia. It finally heats a bit and rises up beyond Swakopmund, cooling the air around this making an air conditioner for the whole city. When the cool air hits the hot desert air blowing in, it makes prodigous amounts of fog. All this adds up to a massive array of land and sea lifespan, and makes Swakopmund not only a destination for its temperature, but also for it's ecology as well as a booming adventure scene to explore and still have fun in all the area offers.

To get a great apres-adventure beer, head to typically the authentic German Brewhaus. Wurst of each and every shape and size, beer flowing down waterfalls into 5 liter glasses dished up with a side of leiderhosen and a polka band for every table! Okay, it might not be

German, but this is certainly definitely the real deal. Come for the draught beer, enjoy the food and love the live music provided by drunken over-landers.

Oh can occur, you really want it all don't you? And I guess you want 5-star dinners with that, and private airplane rides over the most exciting regions of the country as well? Well you're within luck. You can have all of that if you want, in addition to Etosha is the name of the game when it's time to Safari in Namibia.

Etosha is a monstrous salt-pan in the northern of the country, with an even much larger national park surrounding it. Actually is well known for game viewing in the dry winter, when animals come in droves to the man-made watering gaps. In the summer, it becomes a birders paradise as the pan floods and thousands of birds (including large flocks involving flamingos) come to wade.

I provided myself a bit of a treat and remained at a luxury lodge just not in the park. Cell signal isn't formidable in the north so I wasn't capable to ask for more specific directions as I obtained close. Torrential downpour made typically the roads thick with mud and the Corolla was having some problems on the dirt when I finally located the turn off for the lodge. When i was trying to communicate with some locals who spoke no English and even couldn't fathom what I was undertaking in the country in a 4x2, and VOLKS WAGEN minibus comes tearing down the road plus through the gateway, followed by a armed service vehicle. A huge old German throughout fatigues gets out, slowly begins smoking a cigarette and methodically - almost strategically - gives directions to the bewildered VW denizens, his help, and myself concurrently. "You're looking for Nauanaua? " he says as more of a suggestion than a issue, using The Force like he's Darth Vader. "I work for Nauanaua... I am going to get you there. Park behind the particular fence", he says, motioning to the electrified and razor-wired fence he simply just drove through. And just as I am stepping into the car, happy to get free from the rain, "No wait! You can not park in there. There are

in there... KABOOM Lightning strike! holy crap I'm in Jurassic-freaking-Park!! After the terrified Germans and I get into the military auto, it's a leisurely ride uphill by means of waist-deep mud, often sideways, generally with all differentials locked, fogged-over windscreen and constant water dripping on us through the roof. We made small talk about whether we just got kidnapped by a Survivalist or not, and if there was all be eaten by the elephants. However once at Nauanaua, all dreads were put to rest. The lovely wife of the old German in fatigues (together, they're the owners) welcome us with open arms and even fruity drinks. Ahhh, what a solution to turn a rough day totally around! Here's to Africa.

Once you have made it into Etosha, the world appears to open up a bit. There are long streets going out in all directions, and slow-motion travelling becomes the name of the game. Take your time, go sluggish and try to spot animals out in the length and wait for them to come closer. Remember that the animals are in charge - if they're blocking your path on the road, wait for them to clear. Being patient will often get you better picture ops as well.

You can camp in the park, and I'd recommend that for maximum safari time. You can find four camps with both hotels and campgrounds, and all have illuminated sprinkling holes for game viewing. Typically the animals are most active at night, so this can be a great opportunity. Also you can go on guided safari through the camps or any of the lodges surrounding Etosha, which can be a good option since they normally know the park and animals thoroughly.

After the big safari experience, it had been once again to Windhoek for one yesterday evening before winging my way back in order to America. Now this is where getting a GPS UNIT with my car would've already been very handy. I drove all over the downtown area for over two. 5 hours trying to find the rental car lot. I had a detailed map of Windhoek and their address, but the two simply never seemed to jive with the actuality of the streets. And up to this point finding someone who spoke decent English had not been hard, but of course this time every company I stopped at for guidelines it was German, Afrikaans, or bust line. Eventually I found it, they were most happy (surprised? ) to see that I made it back in one piece, and also my shuttle to the hotel.

And what a hotel it was! I wanted to pay my last night at The Heinitzburg, a German-built castle perched on a hillside high above the city (and the only real Relais &amp; Chteaux hotel within the country), indulging in luxury after this solo-safari experience but alas, it absolutely was not to be. I had to "make due" with the Executive Suite at the Olive Grove instead. Simply wonderful rooms and staff - sure it absolutely was a bit more pricey than the rest, yet every once in a while you have to splurge, right? Especially on the last night of your Africa adventure, and I hope you do a similar.