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Earlier this year I was fortunate enough to be invited to participate in an educational visit to Namibia. Given a choice of three itineraries I chose to head south to the Kalahari, having visited the Etosha National Park on a previous trip, and experience some of the cultural heritage of the country. From the time I was selected for the trip I was really looking forward to the whole experience. I enjoy wildlife viewing and have an interest in Archaeology and history: Namibia has some of the best sites in Africa for both. This trip was to focus on the cultural aspect of the country and also the recent history leading up to and following independence. Namibia is one of the youngest democratic states in Africa.
I travelled on Air Namibia, the national carrier and only airline to fly direct into Windhoek, the capital, from the UK. Flights are conveniently timed to run overnight, and with a maximum of 2 hours time difference depending on the time of year, allows plenty of time to travel beyond the capital on arrival if you are not staying there.
My first night was spent at the Kalahari Sands hotel in the centre of Windhoek, a comfortable property offering a great base to explore the city. In the evening a trip had been arranged to have dinner at Thesehands Lodge, an open air facility reached by an hours’ drive in a 4 x4 into the hills surrounding the city. As well as being treated to a BBQ dinner, followed by home made apple pie, the panoramic views over the city and hills as the sun set were truly magnificent.

Driving in Namibia is easy and safe, and on the left! After a city tour taking in the old town, the main town and the township where the migrant settlers lived after their time spent in the outlying shanty towns, we drove down to the Kalahari for an overnight stop at Suricate Tented Camp. Vast red dunes rise above you as you enter the desert, rolling on for miles, some vegetated, others bare and shifting timelessly across the landscape. I was fortunate enough to see the Kalahari Lions at the Lodge and also enjoyed a brief early morning bushwalk with the local tribesmen.
On the way to the next overnight stop we stopped for lunch at a little known resort popular with the Namibians as a weekend retreat, Lake Oanab. Set about an hours’ drive out of the city this resort has lots of water activities as well as game drives, quad biking and safe walking paths for people to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Definitely a place to stay.
Africa has a reputation for the unusual and the unique and nowhere typified this more than the Gocheganas Resort where I stayed on my last night. A five star fitness and wellbeing centre set on a hill surrounded by native bush it has a fabulous appeal for those who want to see the wildlife, have a comfortable nights rest and then pamper themselves with a spa treatment; the ideal place to start, or ideally end a self drive holiday.
However the highlight for me came on the last morning with an educational bushwalk with the Bushmen at Aabadi Bushcamp. This was a true taste of Namibian culture. Interacting with the local people in their native environment taught me more about the incredible lifestyle of the bush people who have lived there for thousands of years, than anything reading or watching would ever do.
I was aware how easy it was to get around, how safe it was and how amazing Namibia was before I went on this trip: now I have a renewed admiration and respect for the people and how, despite poverty and hardship, they still live life to the full, embrace visitors with a friendly smile and really appreciate what they have.
Tourism is a relatively new venture in Namibia on a large scale and I would say to those who have been to Kenya, Tanzania or South Africa that the next phase of their journey of knowledge through Africa should be Namibia and its wide range of unique experiences.
I know my experience and passion can help your trip be as moving as mine was and I look forward to helping you plan your own Namibian adventure.