Nicely the first step to getting over

Nicely the first step to getting over the idea that it can plain impossible to go to Africa is the fact it's not as exotic as you might think... well, sort of. I mean it certainly is even now exotic and far-flung, with an atmosphere of danger and romance thrown in? Sure. But is it so different that nothing will be like home and you will feel lost and out of your component 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 just about all left their mark. The Aventure and Greeks conquered much of North Africa at various times, and you may even find examples of this inside fusion cuisine such as Italian/Ethiopian eating places in America. The Dutch and the English language both colonized South Africa, they speak Costa da prata in Angola because that's who came in and colonized (same with Brazil), the West of The african continent was largely colonized by Italy (they even had some of The united states if you remember - Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Quebec, Montreal, and so forth ), and the country we're focusing on - Namibia - was colonized by Germans. "Now, that's most well and great", you're pondering, "but what the hell does this must do with me? ". Simple - lots of Europeans already visit countries where their ancestors colonized. They speak the language and often know somebody. So although Africa is in general still vast and untamed, you can definitely obtain a bratwurst and a lager during your excursion through Namibia. Sure, you can always consume some gazelle or zebra as well to make it more thrilling, but if you think homesick and want something familiar, you can definitely find it.

Now that that's covered, you might be surprised to find out just how easy it is to get there. There are lots of direct flights from New York to Hat Town and Johannesburg, and following that it's no problem flying to Namibia's capital city of Windhoek. There are lots of traditional, European-style hotels there and the US ALL dollar is pretty much accepted everywhere. Namibia's government is also tied to South Africa's so they're a bit more secure than the average African country. Maltahohe, namibia even has a good road method and it's highway signs and guidelines were installed with all the accuracy together with 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 surprisingly, not every country in Africa will be war-torn and in constant civil war with rebels driving down every street threatening you with AK-47s or perhaps lions on leashes. I know this might shatter your world view, however, many countries are pretty well run. The most significant thing for Namibia is its previous Apartheid government it distributed to South Africa, but that of course continues to be officially over for a while now, and instead of bitter resentment it seems like every person there is just happy to have it be performed. Sure some countries are better left un-seen for the casual traveller, but Namibia is plenty safe.

At this time, that being said, Namibia is also vast together with sparsely populated. So while actually is safe on a human level, the countryside and animals can be risky. However because of this, everyone is always on the lookout for each other. I don't think I ever before pulled over to check a map just where someone that passed didn't stop to make certain I was okay. It's just the method it is out there - you have to check each other.

Good question! Let me tell you somewhat about my trip there.

Following landing at Windhoek's Eros air port, I got a rental cell phone, found my own ride to the rental car depot in addition to took off. Rental cars are really a good choice 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 in the safari dreams when I arrived. I do know, I know - a Corolla is just not exactly what you think of when you think firefox in Africa. But what can I point out, I was by myself and smaller automobiles are cheaper. Plus this element was a bit beefier than a American corolla. Trust me, the car is probably even more up to the challenge of driving within Namibia than you are. Case in point, it survived my crash no problem. I mean that wasn't a huge crash, but still. Edge note: crashing your car into the employee's break table before you even depart the rental car lot is not the best way to instill trust in a rental car provider. Damn the driver's seat currently being on the right and shifting while using the left!

Cars are to Namibians for the reason that horses were to cowboys in the U. s. West. Once you're out in the land, you basically live and pass away by your car, so be good into it. You'll be with it a lot too simple the roads are well kept but they're still not an interstate interstate system. Think of how driving is Ireland and you'll get the picture. Budget more time than you think it'll decide to try get some where and be sure to grab some maps at the rental car office.

Don't be surprised if you see lots of guys in official Jeep or perhaps Mercedes shirts hanging around, or vehicles with black-out tape all over them. Namibia is where many car corporations test prototypes for heat plus rough roads, and has some of the best off-roading trails in the world to give SUVs a correct workout. See what I'm expressing about cars and Namibia? They will just go together.

After checking out downtown Windhoek and stocking up on resources at a local grocery store, I decided to go to bed early to get a jump planning on heading out to the country and on traffic. I didn't want any individual 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'll see lots of hills and ravines, boulders the size of houses strewn here and there instant definitely a feast for the eyes. But the turn-off to C24 is how the real fun starts. Honestly this particular 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 a person hill steep enough (though just about 30ft height) that I couldn't get out of bed in 1st gear! I had in order to reverse and try again with more of a running start. Fun operating, but you're definitely ready for a rest when you get to solitaire.

When you head to Sossusvlei, be sure to head there as early as you can in the morning for two reasons. Very first, because the sun hitting the sand arte at an acute angle makes for very dramatic and beautiful lighting. Second, cause you'll want to climb those arte and hike the vleis just before it gets scorching hot out of doors. Miss either of these and you'll genuinely be disappointed.

Sossusvlei is just among the many vleis in the area. I took typically the desert ferry over to them in addition to saw Dead vlei, Sossusvlei and several smaller vleis. The vleis, incidentally, are pans of dried grime and rock. There is so little rainfall and so much evaporation that it pulls all the moisture out of the ground until it is much more like fired ceramics or even bricks. Almost nothing can grow in all of them and they are mostly barren wasteland between towering (up to 1, 000ft) fine sand dunes. Very forbidding, very deadly, and very beautiful.

After a day inside the desert and relaxing the night away with French travelers staying at the same guest farm as I, it was time to move on to someplace cooler. Swakopmund is often a tourist town in Namibia with regard to exactly the opposite reason Florida in addition to S. California are for North Americans - it's cold there. A minimum of it is compared to the scorching deserts around it, and not only is it cold, it's also wet. A current of freezing drinking water from Antarctica makes it's way north along the coast of South Africa and Namibia. It finally heats a bit and rises up outside Swakopmund, cooling the air around it making an air conditioner for the whole metropolis. 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 your life, and makes Swakopmund not only a destination for it is temperature, but also for it's ecology along with a booming adventure scene to explore and still have fun in all the area offers.

For any great apres-adventure beer, head to the particular authentic German Brewhaus. Wurst of each and every shape and size, beer flowing down waterfalls into 5 liter glasses served with a side of leiderhosen including a polka band for every table! Ok, it might not be

German, but it is definitely the real deal. Come for the dark beer, enjoy the food and love the live tunes provided by drunken landscaping	in Colorado Springs over-landers.

Oh 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 in luck. You can have all of that if you want, in addition to Etosha is the name of the game if it's time to Safari in Namibia.

Etosha is a monstrous salt-pan in the to the north of the country, with an even larger national park surrounding it. They have well known for game viewing within the dry winter, when animals can be found in droves to the man-made watering gaps. In the summer, it becomes a birders heaven as the pan floods and 1000s of birds (including large flocks regarding flamingos) come to wade.

I gave myself a bit of a treat and stayed at a luxury lodge just outside of the park. Cell signal isn't good in the north so I wasn't in a position to ask for more specific directions as I obtained close. Torrential downpour made the roads thick with mud plus the Corolla was having some trouble on the dirt when I finally located the turn off for the lodge. When i was trying to communicate with some people next door who spoke no English plus couldn't fathom what I was doing in the country in a 4x2, and VOLKS WAGEN minibus comes tearing down the road and through the gateway, followed by a military 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 at the same time. "You're looking for Nauanaua? " he admits that as more of a suggestion than a concern, 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 hot and razor-wired fence he merely drove through. And just as I am stepping into the car, happy to get out of the rain, "No wait! You are unable to park in there. There are

in there... KABOOM Lightning strike! holy crap I am in Jurassic-freaking-Park!! After the terrified Germans and I get into the military auto, it's a leisurely ride uphill via waist-deep mud, often sideways, frequently with all differentials locked, fogged-over windshield and constant water dripping on us through the roof. We made smaller talk about whether we just got kidnapped by a Survivalist or not, and if we would all be eaten by the elephants. Even so once at Nauanaua, all doubts were put to rest. The lovely wife of the old German in anantissements (together, they're the owners) made welcome us with open arms plus fruity drinks. Ahhh, what a approach to turn a rough day entirely around! Here's to Africa.

Once you have made it into Etosha, the world seems to open up a bit. There are long highways going out in all directions, and slow-motion generating becomes the name of the game. Take your time, go slow-moving and try to spot animals out in the distance and wait for them to come deeper. Remember that the animals are in demand - if they're blocking your way on the road, wait for them to clear. Simply being patient will often get you better photo ops as well.

You can camp within the park, and I'd recommend this for maximum safari time. You will find four camps with both hotels plus campgrounds, and all have illuminated providing water holes for game viewing. The animals are most active at nighttime, so this can be a great opportunity. Also you can go on guided safari through the campements or any of the lodges surrounding Etosha, which can be a good option since they often know the park and animals intimately.

After the big safari experience, it absolutely was once again to Windhoek for one yesterday before winging my way back to be able to America. Now this is where getting a NAVIGATION 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 great deal. I had a detailed map of Windhoek and their address, but the two only never seemed to jive with the fact of the streets. And up to this point selecting someone who spoke decent English had not been hard, but of course this time every company I stopped at for directions it was German, Afrikaans, or chest area. Eventually I found it, they were all of the happy (surprised? ) to see that we made it back in one piece, and got my shuttle to the hotel.

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