Namibia at Christmas!

Hey there!

Its that time of year again!  Wow... Namibia at Christmas.

 

As a D.C. girl, born and bred, it's a bit weird for me to see Christmas holiday decorations up in October.  But, that's the deal here.  Since Halloween and Thanksgiving are not Namibian holidays, there is no barrier to getting the Christmas stuff up nice and early.

 

Also, in Namibia, the vast majority of the country basically goes on serious holiday anytime from the second week of December until the second and third weeks of January.  Things get slow here during that time.

Mr. and Mrs. Santa Bear welcoming
 all guests to our house

Most shops close down by the end of the second week of December. People take leave and they get out of Dodge! 

 

They go to the farms where they come from, the villages where their parents and families live or they leave the country to take holidays outside of the country. 

 

These days it's changing and not so extreme, but easily half of the city is gone during the Christmas holiday.  Those of us that stay in town, get the city to ourselves and we relax.  In recent years, merchants are waking up to the fact that you need to make profits to survive and they are staying open to reap in the Xmas profits!  Some of the larger stores are actually open all the way through the holiday time; but these are usually the South African chain stores; local Namibian stores, by-and-large, still don't get it; they close at holiday time.  

Bowl of golden ornaments in the Christmas sun!
(the bear is getting a tan!)

When I first came to live in Namibia in 1990 after Independence, Windhoek, the Capital City was a serious ghost town after December 1 and remained that way until the end of January.  Schools close here in November and don't re-open until the last week of January.

 

It's no wonder that the Christmas decorations go up in late October.   The cities put up light displays and all stores put something of the holiday spirit in their windows.  People only have November to enjoy them until they and all of their customers leave town!

 

It gets a bit strange to see holiday decorations in Africa with snow, ice cicles, Jack Frost, sleds, reindeer, jolly ol' Santa in a thick red suit trimmed with white fur, and Frosty the Snowman plastered on all windows, doors, mall decorations and trees.  The Christmas trees on display here are all the blus spruce or other pine trees that I grew up relating to Christmas.  

None of this is native to Namibia or Africa at all!   I've written an article for a local weekly newspaper called the Windhoek Observer.  I wrote:

"...[instead of seeing Santa in the recognized way,] ...We should be talking about a brown brotha’ on a magic sand board going over the dunes, wearing shorts, sandals, an open safari shirt, a Windhoek Laager logo tank top, sun shades and a wide brimmed straw hat. Our ‘Santa’ should be happily singing Liberation Movement songs as he tosses his gifts over the wall of each city house, farm, tukul, or rusted zinc roof shack that he passes. 

Whattup with reindeer?  Let’s go with kudus pulling the extra-wide sand board around as it glides in the air on heat thermals.  Let’s switch away from the North Pole thing and have ‘Santa’ live in a secret, beautiful hidden workshop deep in the Namib... "

 

All that said, I cannot tell the a lie... I miss the snow, cold that makes my red nose run, the smell of a freshly cut pine Christmas tree, baking my famous chocolate chip cookies and sweet potato pie, roast turkey with my Mom's oyster dressing, giblet gravy, hot homemade biscuits, buttery corn, collard greens with smoked turkey, cranberry sauce,  and apple pie with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream.  Yummy....

 

I miss playing spades or pinochle with my family and friends! I miss watching the NFL games and screaming at the TV screen alongside of my nephew who won our family pick-em competition last football season, I miss hugging Mom and seeing my kids studying in the States; I miss being home...

 

But, the pictures in this blog are my way of celebrating Christmas those years where I cannot go home for the holidays (like this year).  I have a different kind of holiday fun here, but I have fun!  Everybody should just do Christmas in whatever way makes them happy!  Afterall, that is what the season is all about anyway.

 

Merry Christmas....

 

If you come to Namibia at Christmas time,

 

Tell'em Jackie sent ya'

Windhoek 101 - Some great stuff to see!

Dear Reader,

I decided to take my cheap little camera around Windhoek, the capitol city of Namibia, and photograph some of the buildings and landscapes.  I thought that it could add to my pitch to get you to come here on holiday.



A view of Independence Avenue in Windhoek, Namibia
Photo taken from the rooftop bar of the Hilton Hotel, Windhoek

Of course, I am no city tour guide and I know little about the history of buildings in the city.  When you come on holiday, there are tours you can take that will explain all of that.  But, Windhoek has some surprisingly innovative architecture.  Most office buildings are modernized or rennovated and new building are going up every month!

 

My daughter and I went around and took photos of buildings I thought are interesting to look at.  Most are newly built, like in the last 10 years.  The Independence Museum isn't fully complete yet, but its innovative design will soon become the iconic representation for Windhoek.  My camera didn't capture the golden gleaming color of the building; but it is quite lovely with the side elevators (the dark strip up both sides) is actually darkened GLASS!  What a nice view of Windhoek those elevators will provide!  Fantastic!

Soon to be opened:
The Independence Museum
 

A national museum inclusive of the struggle of the people of Namibia AGAINST colonialism and apartheid repression is FAR FAR better than the colonial era German church that occupies a high point in town as an graphic brand for Windhoek. 

 

Time and tide waits for no man! The architecture of the old Christ Church (it goes by its german name though) is a contrast and a blast from the past.  It has a role in Namibia's history; but I don't think it should be an emblem for Windhoek going forward.  I will be happy to NOT have a colonial church decorated with the names of German soldiers who died killing the indigenous people as they stole the land, be representative of Namibia in the 21st century.

 

I am amazed at how Windhoek and other towns in Namibia have 'grown-up' in the last 20 years.  I remember clearly my first day ever in Namibia, when I arrived with my husband and small children (my kids are in University now!) The Safari 'hotel' was really a road side motel in American terms, more like a Howard Johnsons on some rural route in Indiana in the 1960's.  But now, Safari's owners rennovated, expanded hugely and are quite the proper hotel with lower cost room rates and quite affordable restaurants.  For now, they have the largest banquet hall in the country and a great conference center.

 

Parliament Gardens in front of the building where
lawmakers meet!  Many have their wedding photos
taken here!

Windhoek, when I first came here in November, 1990, was a one 'mall' city.  I hestitate to use the word 'mall.'  In the American context, when you consider Tyson's corner in VA or any of the malls around Washington or Valley Forge Mall in PA or Mall of America or the malls around Los Angeles or Chicago, that thing here in Windhoek 20+ years ago was a joke, not a mall. 

 

These days there are three 'major' malls in Windhoek with a fourth under construction.  Though these malls all carry the same South African outlet stores and really lack uniqueness, they are growing in size and really can compete with small strip malls in midwestern or southern towns in the USA.  Windhoek even has a movie theatre with four screens!  Now, that is saying something indeed!

At that time when I first arrived to live here, everything closed down at lunch time, they didn't serve alcohol on Sundays, and everything closed at 5.  Remnants of this attitude from old, slow colonial days and a 1960's mentality of 'Mom' being at home and doing the shopping during her day in the house, still cling.  Stores still don't sell alcohol after 1 on Saturdays!   This is a remnant of the 'uber-Christian' background of those setting the rules during colonial days.  This similar to the 'blue laws' in the USA where conservative communities mix their biblical interpretations with local laws and regulations. In Namibia, the 'no-buying-alcohol-from-stores' rule is ancient and a bit hypocritical since you can buy it in bars, night clubs and restaurants anyway whether on a Sunday or not.

 

Many stores still close at 5 and for lunch (between 1-2), but things are getting better with food stores and larger department stores staying open until 6 or 7 in the evening.  These stores finally recognize that most urban women work outside the home and with two working parents, it is tough do the shopping, if everything is closed at the lunch hour and closes at 5... exactly when most folks get off work!

 

Still, too many shops close at 1 on Saturday!  Can you believe it?!  Most people with jobs need to run speed race on Saturday mornings just to get bread!  The halls of the shopping 'malls' are full of people running to get basic things and the shops will close their doors at 1 no matter what. 

 

Thankfully, that is slowly changing with increasing population and demand for services, but in 2012, most stores are closed tight by 1 on the most important shopping day for working families.

 

Another hilltop view of downtown Windhoek

Still, Windhoek is a calm, graceful, clean city.  The things needed for everyday life ARE readily available!  Windhoek is quite modern. 

 

Enjoy some of my photos and when you come to visit...

 

Tell'em Jackie sent you!

CNN features Namibia!

Hello there!

 

Please tune in to CNN International.  Richard Quest is hosting small spots on different subjects about Namibia for the entire second week of November.

 

Go onto CNN's website and hook up with the film clips and supporting articles.

 

Also, please check out the Namibia Tourism Board's website.  www.namibiatourism.com.

 

That website is quite a Rolls Royce and has many expensive bells and whistles that can give great information about Namibia and offer you a chance to actually make bookings with various operators or research an operator that you are considering working with.

 

As always I promote quality on my blog.  My preferred accommodation is the Gondwana Desert Collection.   In fact, I am proud to be a Gondwana Ambassador!  This company just won great awards for its outstanding adhereance to Affirmative Action laws in Namibia.  That company is simply fantastic:  they walk the talk.  Book your next holiday at Gondwana's facilities... check out their website... and see all the different products they offer.

 

Check out CNN and Gondwana and the NTB website!

 

Then, book your holiday and tell'em Jackie sent ya'

Check out this article on Namibia! Happy Reading!

Dear Readers!

I was in the process of updating my blog when a friend sent me this article link onto CNN's webpage.  It is a great story about the conservation success in Namibia.  Since Namibia has won the bid to host the Adventure Travel World Summit in October 2013, this kind of information about us is really important right now. 

Check it out!

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/10/23/world/africa/namibia-eye-on-conservation/index.html?hpt=hp_c3

When you come on holiday to Namibia,

Tell'em Jackie sent you!  Book NOW!  Check out the Gondwana Desert Collection for your accomodation! They are great!

Lion crossing the road in Etosha National Park
Photo by Scott and Judy Hurd

First Time to Namibia?

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.)

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!

Tour Guides: Superheroes

Dear Readers!

 

Over my last 9 years working in the industry, I have been all around Namibia.  On each of these tours, I have had a driver and/or guide who told stories, explained about the flora and fauna seen along the way, prepared the packed lunches, set up sundowners, attended to safety issues and minded the road conditions, time, weather and other issues.  The Guide is the tourists' link to their holiday; he or she makes the plans become real. 

 

In thinking about the fantastic Guides I have travelled with, I have to recall a trip into the bush to see the famous Namibian desert adapted elephants.  We were in the Kunene region of Namibia and guests at the wonderful Damaraland Camp of Wilderness Safaris owned jointly with the Torra Conservancy. 

This is the landscape we viewed as we drove through looking for elephants

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Our Guide had done is homework and had a good guess as to where some of the desert elephants might be that day.

 

Let me say a word here.  Tourists come from all over the world to see the wildlife in Namibia among other tourism iconic sights.  There is a big pressure on Guides to find these animals.  The fact is that seeing wildlife just like on Nat Geo Wild or Animal Planet is RARE.  Tour vehciles in national parks are restricted to the roads.  So, unless the lion or elephant or cheetah crosses the road or is by the side of that road, you won't see it.  Witnessing a 'kill' by a road is really, really rare; in 9 years of constant travel on safari, I have seen such things maybe 5 or 6 times only.  You are very lucky to come across animals feeding or giving birth or mating or fighting, like the television shows.  Why not listen to the stories, cultural details, environmental information and see the WHOLE picture and enjoy what you do actually see?

 

Private game reserves are bit different as the vehicles have more leeway to roam around and find the animals.  Still, the animals cannot be so 'watched' that they become afraid of the vehicles and run away when they hear them coming. Interrupting their living needs too much is a No-No; Guides know the deal and know the balance.  Remember folks, the animals do not give a whit about whether you are on holiday or not.  I have seen tourists acting sullen and complaining about their Guide because an elephant or lion didn't turn around so they could get a better photos.  Animals need respect.  Enjoying Namibia while on tour means being a part of the environment and society just for a little while, not trying shape that society and environment aorund you.

 

Back on point... my adventure with a Guide seeing desert adatped elephants. 

 

By the way, desert adapted elephants have wider feet than the regular Etosha bush elephant.  They have these feet to help them navigate the soft sand.  They also are adapted to arid conditions in terms of the need for water . And, they have longer legs....  (a Guide taught me these points!)

 

So, I was out escorting an official visiting to evaluate Namibia for a  program funding submission.  We went out in beautiful weather, found the elephants and sat quietly observing them for nearly two hours.  The time just flew by.  The elephants were unafraid and largely unconcerned with us and our Oooohs and Aaaahhs.  Our camera clicks and whispers didn't stop them from eating, playing with one another, doing dry sand baths and nursing one little young one that was obviously a new born arrival to the group.  (I didn't have a camera then, so no pix from me... sorry!)

 

 

 

Throughout, our Guide warned us to be still, gave us bits of data and information about the elephants and stayed ever cautious about the  distance between the elephants and us.  (Go To Wilderness Safaris website on Damaraland Camp in Namibia for better shots of desert adapted elephants.)

 

All of a sudden, the elephants looked to the West, put their trunks in the air and turned east and strating leaving.  Not quickly mind you... elephants are not necessarily light on their feet   But, they cleared out.

 

The Guide told us to pack up everything, get our cameras stowed away and he started firing up the engine.  Both he and the elephants noticed that the sky had gotten steel grey dark in the west and it was moving fast right towards us. Even I noticed that the wind picked up and that fresh 'water' smell was in the air.

 

Nevertheless, the storm rolled in as we pulled out.  Before it hit, the Guide unpacked the weather proof ponchos and gave one to each of us, making sure we were as covered as possible.  He put all electronics in a waterproof lock box, rolled down the side flaps of the game viewer, told us to sit closely together and hunker down.  We were not going to make it back to the camp before the storm hit.

 

It was weird because the dark and forbidding sky was behind us and the brightest, most wonderful azure blue sky was in front of us.  I was reminded of that scene from the Jurassic Park movie, where the T-rex was right behind the jeep where the stars were trying to get away. 

 

We got hosed. 

 

The guide was shouting his stories about rain and storms and how it is normal and giving us encouragement all through the water wash drive back to Damaraland Camp.  That rain pelted us from all sides, and the sound was thunderous! I could hear the Guide on the radio telling the Camp to have blankets, warm tea and other things ready immediately when we arrived. So, instead of feeling afraid, I was laughing and making jokes the whole way; we all were bantering back and forth with our Guide.  I was soaked through to my underwear by the time we got back to the camp, but it was GREAT!

 

Guides have a talent for focusing on their clients and making the trip work.  The most expensive trip can be ruined in one outting with a Guide that is not good; likewise a bargain discount tour can be made FIRST CLASS, by a Guide who is all hands on deck!

 

Hurray for Tour Guides!!

 

When you come to Namibia, make sure you book with a tour operator who will have a trained, professional Guide to go with you while on safari. Check out Damaraland Camp and the desert adapted elephants!

 

Then,

 

Tell'em, Jackie sent you.

 

Desert Flowers of Namibia are BEAUTIFUL!

Hello World!

Back at the beginning of my blog adventure, I told you that I would get a camera and begin to teach myself how to take photos and then load them onto this site.  That may seem so easy for many of you, but for me, I assure you, it is like climbing Mount Kilimanjaro with an 800 pound anvil on my back!

 

Desert Flowers are wonderful things.  Of course the colors of the flowers and buds are gorgeous  and so very calming, yet vibrant.  But the thing that I like the most about desert flowers is their fragility.  Seeing them is like seeing a secret unfold.  It is something that doesn't come all the time, nor will you go into stores or flower shops and see most of these shy blooms.  Just seeing one 'live' is a special thing.

 

I love it when Namibia gets heavy rains and whole areas of the country which are brown and vast and 'moonscape' like, become alive with colorful flowers of all description! 

 

For me, the randomness (seemingly) of the desert flower is what makes it more beautiful. 

I took this photo in my own back yard!  Not bad for an amateur with a cheap digital camera!  This is a round cacutus with long painful needles to be sure.  The Afrikaans word for this plant translates to be "mother-in-law's cushion."  I laughed hard at that one.  You can imagine some guy making up that name wishing that his mother-in-law, who must be a pain in the butt, sits on such a thing!

 

The plant is indeed shaped like a round, fat floor pillow that you'd sit on.  Believe me, if anyone sits on this bad boy, you'll not sit anywhere else for weeks after you get out of the hospital.  Aside from the scary needles, the flowers are quite lovely.  This one has delicate little yellow flowers budding all over.  See how the buds look like little peanuts first; then as time goes, the peanut gets bigger and then opens on all sides into a yellow flower!  Hurray!

 

Actually, it is Spring here in Namibia... remember our seasons are the reverse of North America.  I touched the little buds and they look and feel like thin, gossamer wings or thin rice paper.  The yellow color is rich, but you can see through to the other side of the bud when you touch it.  The yellow gets deeper and deeper as you move towards the center of the flower.  I love that about desert flowers, delicate and hesitant to show their glory!

This one is also from my backyard in Windhoek.  This cactus (I will have to look it up and find its real name) is tall! Like at least 9 or 10 ft high!  At the tippy-top are these small purplish, lavender little flower buds.  See them?

 

I pointed the camera up so that you could see it better.  This camera is a cheapie so there is no zoom to get a closer look.  This guy grows wild and free and has needles all over.  Each of the 'branches' could be broken off and planted individually so they can grow another plant on their own.  At times, when it gets too tall, the branches get heavy and it does break off, particularly on windy days.  Those guys just root themselves right where they are.

 

This plant's next door neighbor in my garden is a large, tall Aloe family plant.  We peel off the bottom leaves every so often and that makes it grow even taller. 

 

Both of these plants are great for the semi-arid conditions in Namibia.  Watering your garden daily here is unthinkable where water is so scarce.  So, you go with nature!  In the dry season, we push the envelope and water two times per week, but these suculents and cacti don't need water more than twice per month really.   We have indigenous desert cacti all over our garden.  When I get better at the photo taking thing, I will roam around and take even more!

 

Until then, here are some other more professional photographs of various flora from Namibia.  I don't know the name of the beautiful pink one, so just enjoy the fact that it is pretty to look at.  The green one is the famous Welwitchia plant.  These guys have actually two leaves only and some are as old as 2000 years!  Amazing!  They are unique to the Namib desert and another desert in the southern part of Angola going into Namibia.

 

The website of the Namibia Tourism Board also has free downloads of all kinds of photos of Namibia.  Check that one out too!

Of course my website is www.africatourconsult.com.na.  Sorry, I've been a bit busy and have not updated my website in months!  I will be doing that by the end of this month.

 

When you come to Namibia on Holiday.... you can see all the desert flowers in the world, right here!  Tell your tour operator that you want to come just at the end of the rainy season and see the desert flowers in bloom.

When you come,

Tell'em Jackie sent you!