Hey there!
Google Air Namibia for their website and plan your visit using the national airline!
The beauty of Namibia is breathtaking not only because of the national parks, cultural attractions and tourism icons. In the vast, pristine Namibian landscapes, you will feel free.
I was born and raised in Washington, D.C., USA and have travelled and lived all over the world. Now that I live in Windhoek (Namibia's capital city), I have learned how it works! Let me give you some tips.
Forget about grand international airports when arriving in Namibia. The main 'hub' airport is called Hosea Kutako International Airport. Ok... think "small municipal airstrip" and you will have HKIA down to a T. You will not exit onto those fancy tunnel ramps where you go directly into the airport; you will walk through the door of the plane, down some mobile stairs (hold on tight) and be right outside in the elements. If you can take a second to look around when you exit the plane, the scenery will be stunning (unless you arrive at night... then it will be pitch black other than the lights of the runway.)
Adjust your perspective. AIRPORTS in Atlanta, JFK in New York, LAX, Dallas/Fort Worth, Frankfurt or Charles de Gaulle are all bigger than all of Windhoek.
Don't worry about knowing on which carousel to find your luggage. Once you go through passport control, there is only one.
Need a taxi? Fine, there is only one exit door in the arrivals section and the taxi guys are usually standing right there. Namibia is not dangerous like South Africa or Moscow. There are no false cabbies that will take you on a con, steal all that you have and hurt you. A few of these guys might over charge you, but you will safely get where you need to go, and no one will rob you at the airport even though there are no cameras watching everything and everyone.
In Namibia, there is one thin telephone book for the whole country and one zip code: 9000. Simple.
When you drive into the city, you will stop at 'robots'. Yep... that is what they call traffic lights here. Strange, but true.
Depending on where you come from, Namibians drive on the 'wrong' side of the road (right hand driverside). Coming from the USA and Germany, I turned wrongly on many streets and suffered many honking horns and flashing fingers until I got that straight. If you rent a car during your holiday in Namibia, remember this point; you can cause an accident otherwise.
Forget about using public transportation in Namibia. That doesn't really exist here. Of course there are no subways. There are local buses in Windhoek in the morning and evening geared for workers to get in an out of town or to suburbs where they work in houses from the 'location', but that's it. So, 5-9 or so in the morning there are buses; again from 4-7 or so. After that... nada. Hotels and lodges usually have their own cars/buses to take their guests around.
For the adventuresome, you can use taxis. Dress down, be tolerant, hide all valuables; know where you want to go. These taxi guys are horrid for the most part. I would suggest that you rent a car, arrange local transport with a friend or a tour operator registered with the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB). Taxis everywhere in the world drive recklessly, over-charge people who they think are stupid, and do not maintain their vehicles properly - Namibia is no different. All taxis in Namibia are not rough, but enough are to make it chancy for anyone who doesn't know what's what.
For food, take note: if you order 'bacon' with your breakfast, you will get ham sliced thinly and fried. You'd better ask for 'streaky' bacon to get rashers or the bacon that Americans expect. If you like eggs 'easy over' or a two-and-a-half-minute soft boiled egg or egg white omlete, forget it. You will have to do a mini-tutorial to get your server to understand what you want. Have PATIENCE, be TOLERANT and SMILE! In the end, they will serve you what they understood that you said you wanted. Just eat it and move on. Chalk it up to experience.
When speaking, forget all slang and euphamisms. Sarcasm is lost on folks here. Don't be subtle. Use simple english words. Don't make movie or TV show references in your banter; they haven't seen it and don't know what you are talking about. Though english is the national language; most Namibians don't speak it as their mother tongue. Most people here speak 3-4 languages, minimum. They are amazing! English is likely to be their third or fourth language, so slow down. Be precise and straight to the point, with a smile.
Windhoek and Swakopmund are the only reasonably modern cities in Namibia; they are becoming quite pseudo-'cosmopolitan'. Oshikati and Ondangwa in the North are booming and could be like Windhoek in about 5 more years.
Internet connections are readily avialable so you can be on line and send emails, etc... in many areas. But, in most places you will pay for the connection by time OR there will be no connection at all. Cell phone coverage is extensive! But, if you go to remote holiday spots, a SAT phone may be in order (you can rent one easily in Windhoek.)
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| An overview of Swakopmund at the Coast |
In the main Namibian cities, at restaurants, capuccinos, chocochinos, or expressos are available and delicious! (I love a 'shot chocolate' with Jamesons' shot on a cold winter evening!) Lots of herbal teas are readily available usually, but outside of these cities (except in your lodge or resort) tea will be black or rooibos (rose bush) tea, ONLY.
Pancakes, french toast... are hard to get, even in the main cities. 'Pancakes' will be crepes in most places so check before ordering. But, 'foreign' breakfast is available at the Hilton or Kalahari Sands Hotel or other city hotels/guest houses or some trendy cafes. Check around. All kinds of sausages here are GREAT! Pig out and enjoy it.
They are big on salads here, like beetroot or macaroni or coleslaw (with raisins), sliced raw carrots with pineapple pieces or greek salads. They don't usually use the word 'lettuce' here; its all just 'salad.' This is served with almost every meal like clockwork. They call chicken salad, chicken 'mayo' and like wise with tunafish.
All the meat here is 'free range' and 'natural' (no steroids, hormones, drugs, etc...) so enjoy the meat products (most are slaughtered in the halal or kosher ways, very clean...); they taste GREAT! Ox-tail stew is my personal favourite! The chef at Okaukeujo Resort inside Etosha National Park does the best in the whole country... yum-yum! Eat lots of game meat... it is prepared well and better for you. Medium-rare, grilled, springbok filet is divine!
Grilled Cheese sandwiches are called 'toasted cheese' sandwiches and you can get it with ham, tomato or egg in any combination. They are quite nice and safe eats if you are not sure what some of the local food will do to your stomach.
Don't ask for 'wheat bread' ask for 'brown or white bread.' Here, all bread is made of wheat, so they will look at your face in puzzlement if you ask for 'wheat bread.'
Asking for ice is a challenge here. TWO (2) cubes is what you get in your drink when it is served (if that!). If you ask for 'extra ice' you get three (3) cubes. Go figure. If you want serious ice, just ask for a beer mug full of ice on the side. They'll think you are weird, but they will do it. If you are in a local situaiton (outside of your lodge, resort or hotel), don't ask for ice; go with the flow. Windhoek Lager or Tafel Lager is to die for. I don't nomrally drink beer, but even I will drink the Windhoek LIGHT beer. It is all naturally Namibian and wonderful!
In Namibia, you take a TAXI, not a 'cab' and you fuel your car with PETROL or DIESEL, not gas.
In closing, take note: When you travel to Namibia, respect WATER!!! This is a semi-arid country. Water is more precious (to a certian extent) than oil! So, you cannot take leisurely 30 minute showers or leave the water on while you shave or brush your teeth or take a bath with a full tub of water twice a day. Heck, when I use a hot water bottle to sooth an aching muscle, I pour that water out when it gets cold, onto a plant in my garden! Never sing "rain, rain go away...." Here in Namibia! I thank God when it comes.
In future blogs I will share more of my discoveries. If you find this interesting, let me know!
Plan to visit Namibia on holiday! Check out the Gondwana chain of lodges for your accommodation. They are great and located all over Namibia and are quite reasonably priced!
When you visit,
Tell'em... Jackie sent you!
