Safe, Clean, Value-for-money holidays in Namibia!

Hi there!

Namibia is the tourism spot to be!  Yep... even the New York Times says Namibia is the place to visit in 2014.  We are #6 on their list of 52 worldwide places that are must-visit! so come on! with the exchange rate very much in the favor of tourists from the USA and Europe, come NOW... don't even think about it.  Book a Christmas holiday in Namibia.

AND...Namibia is the No. 1 fastest growing countries in Travel  (2013), data from SKIFT, a New York based tourism industry marketing intelligence company.  Please refer to the link below for more information.

http://skift.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Skift-2014-State-of-Travel-Report-Full.pdf

When you come on holiday, check out my good friends at Gondwana for great places to stay all over Namibia.  Do a tour linking several of their facilities in one trip!  We did that once and drove all around the South and saw wonderful things!  You can too!  Google GONDWANA in Namibia and get to their website and book something special at a great price.

When you come,
Tell'em Jackie sent ya'!

The Namibia Tourism Expo was a blast!

Hey readers!  June 4-7th was the annual Namibia Tourism Expo here in Windhoek.   It was fantastic!  Those planning visits next year, come during Expo time... add even more fun to your itinerary.

Kudus in Etosha National Park

At Expo, the tourism industry shows off its wares.  Participants offer specials to the public for travel ideas, and generally sells contracts and bookings to one another... which is also good.  Mainly, there are suppliers to the tourism industry, selling everything that is needed to run an accommodation facility or even to service a tour and safari company. 

There are chef's presentations and cooking demonstrations; there is a wine tasting hall with lots of GREAT wine companies teaching and telling about various vintages.  There are restaurants selling their goodies... my favorite is the Joy of Foods Café and they had a stand there alongside of Grandma's Cookies, a great new chocolate chip cooking making company.  see:  www.grandmascookies.com.na.

All the latest high tech electronic stuff was there too.  Have you guys seen that new flat screen TV at curls around on the edges?  The picture is incredible!  Man... do I wish there really was a Santa Claus!

The Expo had companies selling security info, hunting equipment, camping equipment, and of course with stands telling environmental and communal conservancy stories.  Also, there were vehicles of all descriptions on display, everything for kitchens, washing clothes, you name it!  The place was packed.

The best spot of all Expo was the GONDWANA HALL!  Yep... my friend Manni Goldbeck and the great team at Gondwana now have an entire hall set up as a Kambashu.. or 'local bar' with local flavor advertisements from the past and an entire contemporary set up that is realistic and fun.  They had live music and great, simple foods.  It was THE place to be during Expo.  wow... 

Gondwana launched their new logo... Google them to get their entire story and book any of your next travel with them. They have lodges all over the country offering value-for-money accommodation, great food (which they largely grow for themselves) and motivated, professional staff to serve you. 

My other friends, Scott and Judy Hurd were at Expo too! They were doing photography for Gondwana and have a marvelous project on the wild horses in the South of Namibia.  My friend Piet Swieggers runs the Eagles Nest and Klein Aus Vista (a part of the Gondwana chain) right near the horses!  Book a room with Piet and see the horses that the Hurds are photographing.

Until next time....  Tell'm that Jackie sent ya' when you come.

These are beautiful Cherry Blossoms from Washington, D.C., my home town.
My cousin Rose sent this wonderful photo to me and I wanted
to share it with you....It makes me miss home very much!

Oops, I mised April, but Jackie's back in May!

Hi Readers!

Sorry, but April got busy and I didn't update you with any new stuff about how great Namibia is as a tourism destination.

Right now the US dollar is strong vs. the South African Rand.  Why is that important for Namibia?  Well, Namibia's NamDollar (N$) is pegged 1 to 1 with the South African Rand.  This is quite a smart thing the founding fathers and mothers of Namibia did 24 years ago at Independence. Of course, it has its ups and downs, but on balance, for a small economy like Namibia's that imports about 70% of what it needs to survive, having a hard currency like the Rand to benchmark the value of goods and services helps a lot. 

 

No relation to the blog topic; but this is just a nice photo of a
Cheetah in Namibia!

When the Rand is relatively weak, like now... holidays in Namibia are 'cheaper.'  You can get more bang for your buck! Of course, due to the fact that Namibia DOES import so much that it then esells, things here can be a bit pricy compared to other places, like in South Africa.  BUT.. you cannot get our sparsely populated country, vast vistas,  desert tourism experience, romantic coastline, wild unexplored areas, safe atmosphere, wildlife and other attractions anywhere else.  Food, particularly fresh fruits and veggies and wholesome low fat game meat, is delicious and would be cheaper with the weaker Rand.

Don't delay! Now is the time to book your holiday in Namibia!

Jewelry hawks (like me!... in my dreams) can get some beautiful things here with the weaker Nam dollar vs. US dollar AND return of sales tax (called VAT) when you leave the country!  The jewelers here are truly talented. My jeweler is Adrian and Meyer in the center of Windhoek in the Carl List Mall on Independence Avenue.  I also go to Herma Herle Jewelers from time to time.  Check them out when you come to Namibia!

My favorite tourism operators are Gondwana Desert Collection (all of their facilities all over Namibia!), Ultimate Safaris, Wilderness Safaris, the Hilton Hotel,  NWR's Dolomite and Onkoshi Resorts, TransNamib's Desert Express, The Seaside Hotel and Spa and the historic Hansa Hotel in Swakopmund!  Give them a try! 

Here is a favorite accommodation picture of mine... Enjoy it!


Dolomite Resort inside Etosha National Park
accommodation of the Namibia Wildlife Resorts

When you come to Namibia on holiday, tell'em Jackie sent ya'

Tribute to a great Namibian photographic artist - Paul van Schalkwyk

Dear Readers,

One of my dearest friends and colleagues in Namibia is Rieth van Schalkwyk.  She is a woman of substance, intelligent, insightful, witty, lovely, and one of the kindest people you'd ever meet.  Rieth 'feels' life while most of us live life. She runs Venture Publications and produces some of the most informative, popular, and visually appealing magazines ever!  http://www.namibiatradedirectory.com/home/classified-directory/communications-media-advertising/publishing/venture-publications/

My dear friend just lost her husband, the artist, cinematographer and the superbly talented photographer, Paul van Schalkwyk.  My thoughts are for Paul and the vacuum left by the loss of such a great and good man.  My heart is with Rieth and her two children.

 

It's far too painful to keep repeating the information about Paul's untimely death in an airplane crash over Etosha National Park this weekend.  Here is a link to a newspaper article that gives some details.

http://www.namibian.com.na/indexx.php?id=10353&page_type=story_detail&category_id=1

In some of my blogs over the last two years, I have featured a few of his fantastic photos.  I went to the opening of his photographic art exhibit at the French Cultural Center here in Windhoek some months ago.  One stares at Paul's work and simply falls in.

 

Those who would come to Namibia as tourists, usually want to see images of it before they decide to visit.  Paul's images tell the Namibian story like no other. His camera shots as the producer and cameraman on many tourism marketing films is unforgettable!  These all live on and when I do tourism training workshops, I usually show parts of one Tourism Board video or another, all produced by Paul. 

 

Enjoy a few samples of the huge photographic talent of the late Paul van Schalkwyk, my friend.

 

Rest in Peace Paul.

Happy 2014 from Windhoek, Namibia

Dear Readers!

Welcome to my 2014 blogs!  My last few blogs had over 1,450 hits! Wow.. that is up from about 43 hits when I started this blog.  See me on facebook (Jackie Asheeke.)  All comments are welcome.

Rain, Rain go away, little Jackie wants to play!  In Namibia, we don't sing that child's poem like we used to do back in the States.  We LOVE rain here and I have learned to greatly appreciate it too.  I pray for more.

My husband says this is a traditional
veggie for his people; for me
it's a weed.

Right now it is rainy season here in Namibia and that means green grass and the budding of all kinds of dormant seeds that were sleeping during the dry season. 

 

These sort of 'jade' plants hold
their own water and do well in dry
or rainy times.  They are lovely!

The weather is hot as normal for summertime here, but it is not unpleasant. 

Don't you just love going to bed at night, snug and warm in your comforters and you hear the pitter-patter of the rain on the roof and the rain hit the windows as the wind blows it around? 

While I love that comforting part of hearing water fall, I say a little prayer for all of those without proper shelter during the rain.  For them, it is certainly no wonderful thing to have rain beating down on a tin shack with a leaky roof.  The mud floors and roadways of the poorer townships in Namibia is not wonderful at all.

 

Namibia is a low rainfall country.  Dunes like this one are more typical in some areas.  These areas by the coast of Namibia get a moist 'fog' that comes in every dawn off the waters of the south Atlantic.  There is no normal rainfall here.  

Taken by my friend Paul van Schalkwyk, the greatest
artistic photographer I know.  Google him
for his contact info and buy a print of his shots!
 

Tourism helps provide jobs for many in Namibia.  Over 74,000 jobs directly and indirectly are owed to the 1.2 million leisure tourists that visit Namibia!  When you come to visit, not only will you have a GREAT, world-class exciting holiday experience, you will be helping to empower rural black Namibians. 

 

We had a bit of a snafu in that everyone (including me!) was calling this a drought year because of low and no rainfall in various parts of the country.  Indeed, areas all around the country had dead crops, dying cattle and other misfortunes.  "Drought" aid flowed in and food products were given out in those affected areas. 

 

In fact, friends of mine who are experts in the climate control field have informed me that this is a NORMAL year for a semi-arid country like Namibia.  It is just that we have had GREAT and HIGH rains for the last several years and people got to thinking that the exception was the rule. 

 

Upon returning to Namibia from holiday in Delaware, USA, I found that my two tortoises, whom my daughter Martha named 'Dave' and 'Steve', were actually 'Dave' and 'Stella!" 

Now, there are little turtle babies in my garden! 

Enjoy the turtle and garden photos.  The babies are tiny.  But, its amazing, because they are miniature models of their much larger parents. 

I took a shot of the little one with my hand to give you a perspective of just how tiny these guys are!  I have to get someone over here to give me more information on these naturally Namibian tortoises so I can make sure I know how to care for them properly.

Is that little sweetie not cute?

Please, when you come on holiday to Namibia, tell'em, Jackie sent ya! 

Doesn't that flower look like a drop-out from the movie "Invasion
of the Body Snatchers?"  It is  actually a cactus flower that popped
out after some heavy rains last week.

Book your Namibian holiday stay at any of the lodges in the Gondwana Desert Collection. Google them and get booking info.  They have great prices and prime locations.  Also, my good friend Manni runs Gondwana and he does things right!

 

 

As you freeze in the USA, it is warm and wonderful here in Namibia!

Hello Blog Readers!

Here is a beautiful desert flower that bloomed this morning in my backyard!  They only live for a day and I wanted to share it with you!  Come to Namibia and see all of our desert wonders.

 

If you want more of my writing, you can see my weekly feature column in the Windhoek Observer www.observer.com and my monthly piece in the Insight Magazine, www.insight.com.

Lest we forget Namibia has wildlife views that are spectacular, allow me to share some other pix from my friends the Hurds:

Elephants taking dust baths are common now in Namibia!  We must have RAIN very soon.  It seems some rain is predicted for this weekend.  Let's hope! Rain, rain come today, little elephants want to play!

On with the BLOG -

I just returned from a conference in Lesotho.  They call it the Mountain Kingdom.  It was a quick trip to represent the Namibian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) at a Southern African Customs Union (SACU) meeting.  Great information about joining private sector with public sector to meet and talk together about better cross-border trade issues in the region so that each country can better harmonize what they are doing.  All too often, countries 'tariff' each other to death, yet they are in the same Customs Union?  Governments often pass trade restrictions without consulting the private sector and that needs to be stopped.  This new vehicle for private/public sector to meet on these issues can help get this in check.

Sorry, I didn't have my camera handy to get photos while driving in from the airport and seeing some of the sights on the tours we took.  There are plateaus al over like old John Wayne western movies and the air is clean and crisp. 

 

I stayed at the Maseru Sun Hotel which, sorry to say... is a dump.  I should have taken photos, but I thought that was extreme. I think my words will paint an accurate picture.

 

Aside from the fact that they lost my reservation and I was left standing for 45 minutes until a manager could be found to sort the matter, the rooms are a hang-over infused flashback from the 1970's.  The curtains in my room pre-dated my marriage... we just celebrated our 25th anniversary last month.  My 'sheer' inner curtain was torn and dirty (room 324).  the beds are horrific foam-ish things and not firm spring mattresses.  The pillows were new and soft though and the bed linens were white and smelled fresh. 

 

Get this:  there is an AM radio between the two beds and the room telephone is a reject from 1980!?  Whaaat?  The internet is EXTRA cost!  Accommodation providers in the 21st century that charge extra for the internet are ripping their clients off.  It is like charging extra for pillows.

 

The food was passable, but they don't know what a fried egg, EASY-OVER means and they don't understand 'crispy bacon.'  They only know 'well done' eggs and undercooked pork streaky bacon'  and tasteless Danish-wannabe dried things on the breakfast buffet.

 

The shower requires Olympic high jump skills to get into the tub and then to wash.  This is the old fashioned style with the tub and shower as one.  No hold-on handles or safety bars anywhere - I was  afraid I would fall. I nearly stripped my skin bear using the hard towels.  But, at least I could exfoliate my skin and dry myself at the same time.

 

The rooms had yellow light that is so dim!  There is no overhead light in the room and that makes reading at night a challenge!   Maybe they dim the lights so that you can't notice that the rooms haven't seen investment in 20+ years.  They even still have real, actual keys for the rooms!  No computer card systems there.  

 

But seriously??  The Sun International people should be ashamed to have a hotel bear their brand and look like that one! 

 

I can say with a straight face that Namibia knows how to do accommodation.  We have hotels in our Capital City that rival anywhere in the world for comfort, efficacy and style all wrapped up in one.  While we still need to work on consistent, friendly SERVICE issues, we have the infrastructure to let our business travelers relax in style at all price ranges. 

 

Visit Namibia and check it out!  When you come, tell'em - Jackie sent ya'

 

By the way...my Labrador pups are now 6 weeks old.  Here are some photos at 5 weeks. I will take new photos today and get them to the VET for their puppy shots.

 

 

Readers in Namibia, they are available as of next week! They are N$3000 each.  We have 6 girls and 2 boys.  They are booking fast so, send me an email:  Asheeke@africaonline.com.na! 

 

This is a pup at 6 weeks.  They are adorable!

I attended The SUMMIT in South Africa! AND, I have a new litter of Lab Pups!

Hi Readers,

I was invited to be a facilitator at the national tourism conference in South Africa called:  THE SUMMIT held from October 14-15th, 2013.  It was great!  South Africa's tourism industry came together and discussed issues of importance to their activities.  Representatives from their private sector, government and services industry for travel, tourism and hospitality all attended. 

Main plenary hall before the session started on Day 1

I had the task of doing the wrap up at the ending plenary.  It was fun! 

 

The hotel where the event took place and where I stayed is called MASLOW in the Sandton section of Johannesburg.  It was a nice hotel with the more modern motif.  Lots of greys, silvers and shades of grey.  Not much on splashes of color - but lovely in that modern, hi-tech kind of way.  The b'fast buffet looked wonderful, but the pastries looked better than they tasted (they made their apple puffs with apple sauce...gag!).  They did my eggs soft scrambled well on day 1 and missed it on day 2.  The bed was absolutely comfy!   Their service and politeness of the staff was WONDERFUL!  I may complain about other things, but the service was the bomb! Kudos to them!  Too much glass everywhere in the room for me (no wall between the bathroom and bed section, only decorated glass! Even the door for the toilet was glass), but nicely done and since I was alone in the room, that was ok.  The room service grilled ham and cheese I ordered was as tasty as cardboard with day old cheese and hard sandwich 'pseudo-ham' melted between the wedges of dry bread.  But, I was hungry, so I ate it anyway.  For me... I give it 3 out of 5 'Jackie Smiles.'

 

I did several television interviews at The SUMMIT including a studio clip about tourism in Namibia at CNBC in South Africa.  There is a clip of me on YouTube from a CNBC interview I did two years ago talking about the financial aspects of tourism and its impacts on the Namibian economy.  I hope they post this new one too.  They did my make-up and I think it looked rather nice.

 

At the CNBC studio, I was introduced to a new magazine called:  Forbes Woman (Africa edition).   I will pray that I can send them a teaser and get to write an article for them!  Here's hoping!

 

But, there is a magazine they published for this month called Forbes Life (Africa).  It has a stunning cover photo of Alek Wek the South Sudanese model. That cover photo is absolutely the most riveting and stunning shot I have ever seen. I would love to have a copy framed and mounted on the wall of my office.  It is that beautiful.  Google it and take a look! 

 

The Adventure Travel World Summit is starting in Namibia this weekend! Hurray!  I am smiling all over with the glow of having Namibia front and center in so many international conferences and activities including the COP 11 of the UNCCD.  That was over 3000 delegates!  Wow.... ATWS will have 700 delegates, but these are tourism agents and activities companies from mostly the USA, but some other countries too.  They will travel all over Namibia and see the beautiful things we have to show the world here! 

 

Before I sign-off, I have to include this photo of one of my newly  born Labrador pups.  This was baby #1.  There are 8 (eight) of them!  To anyone in Namibia, you can call me to get one!  There are 6 girls and 2 boys.  They are in demand and always sell out fast.  They won't be ready to leave their Mom until the last week in November at the earliest (they are 10 days old now), but if you want one, you'll need to book now.  Send me an email for more info: Asheeke@africaonline.com.na.

I am 20 minutes old here!

I hope you other readers decide to book a holiday to Namibia soon!  You will have the time of your life. 

If you come, consider Gondwana Desert Collection for your lodging.  Contact ULTIMATE SAFARIS for a tour operator that understands how things really work here in Namibia and can really relate to us Americans when we travel to new places! 

If you go there,  Tell'em -   Jackie sent ya'