Several weeks ago Bryan and I had the opportunity to take a short vacation in the nearby country of Namibia (south of Angola in green). I had to leave Angola due to visa requirements and so Bryan was able to take some time and join me in this adventure. And it was an adventure!!!
We left here early Monday morning. I flew the commercial flight from Soyo and this is different than the shuttle that we usually fly. On this flight you get a snack.....a slice of ham and one of cheese on a fresh bun and water. It was really quite a nice surprise. I was surprised when I walked up the airplane stairs and was met by the pilot who said...."Follow me". Now you need to realize that these planes are quite small so it is unusual to have someone....anyone....take you to your seat. But he did and took me to the back of the plane where there are 4 seats....two facing the other two...and he said, "This is the long leg seating" and smiled. I'm sure I chuckled too.....and it was great. I was able to stretch my long legs out between the seats and everyone else could stretch theirs out too.... Bryan flew on the jet.....and was supposed to leave before me but left 45 minutes after I did and then had to circle at the airport in Luanda because the President's plane was there. My flight missed all that.
After many moments of waiting, we finally reconnected at the international airport and bought Bryan's ticket for cash....and flew to Namibia. Boarding the plane was interesting....two doors...no checking of the seat number...just load half of the passengers in the front of the plane and the other half at the rear ....at the same time....and let them find their seats.....down the narrow aisle.....no problem. We all found our correct one and settled in for the flight. This is a short flight of only a couple of hours.....and was quite nice. They served a hot lunch and then did something I'd never seen before. After everyone was served, they came back around and offered a second meal to anyone who wanted one until they were all gone......so no waste. Quite a change from the flights where you bring your own lunch in the USA......
From the moment we arrived in Namibia until we left nearly a week later, we were relaxed. It was great. Short lines in immigration....friendly people at the taxi area, the travel agent, the rental car place, each lodge we stayed in and on the safari. I could easily spend a long time there enjoying the place. And Bryan really loved the fact he could drive.
We spent our first night at the Safari Court Hotel. We met with the travel agent for the safari plans the next morning and had time to go buy hats and shirts....some African music for the road....things for the grand kids.....and then were supposed to leave "no later than noon"....this was extended getting the car.....then problems with the credit card.....we had to call and go through a long time talking with the company in the USA to get them to accept the charge....they are being cautious but this took time we were to be on the road.
Finally at 3:pm we began our drive from Windhoek to Etosha Park.....
All along the way there were many large termite mounds. Some actually had grown around the trees. They were huge!!!
I was so excited when I saw the first animals....I took a picture from the window and saw that they were cows.....not wild animals at all..
The trees were beautiful....just like in the movies. The sun began to set not long after we were on the road and it was beautiful. This picture does not do it justice.
Finally!!!! Wort hogs!!! They were grazing on the cut grass at the side of the road and then would dash...tails up...through the fence into the farms at the side for safety. They are incredible looking.... We also saw huge Kudu but I didn't get a good picture....too dark....
We stopped for something to drink at the gas stations and found a Milo bar. We were going to bring this back to our grandson, Milo, but it was consumed along the way when we got stuck out late at night due to a truck accident.
When we were only about 135 km from our destination and it was already dark which is a bit scary because of the “game” as they call them that cross the roads and some are huge like the Kudu. Anyway, we came upon an accident…..waited for some time……Bryan talked to the man in the car in front and he said it would be at least 12 hours before the road would be opened but he knew a back road…..he told us to follow him but stay behind a ways to watch for game and stay in a place where the white powdery dust would have cleared……it was about 30km to the dirt road going back toward Windhoek…then off onto the dirt road for more than another 30 km and then back on tar road to continue the rest of the 100km to the lodge. We were almost out of fuel on the dirt road and figured no one would find us until the next day…..and the dust was so thick that we lost his lights after the first 30 seconds on the 'detour' and most of the way Bryan just followed the dust…..hoping that it wasn’t a stampede of some sort…..We stopped at a gas station about 8:30pm and only one light was on….but they let us use the bathroom and get diesel for the car. We finally arrived at the lodge at 9:45pm……wow…… Bryan says he wasn’t too tired and we both found the adventure invigorating …… I must say that along the way we thought that we didn't know these men that we were following and there was no cell phone coverage most of the way....but it all worked out well in the end.
We arrived at the Etosha Park Lodge and checked in......had 15 minutes left before the dining room closed so we enjoyed a supper of soup and bread and went to bed. What a great start to this R&R.
We left here early Monday morning. I flew the commercial flight from Soyo and this is different than the shuttle that we usually fly. On this flight you get a snack.....a slice of ham and one of cheese on a fresh bun and water. It was really quite a nice surprise. I was surprised when I walked up the airplane stairs and was met by the pilot who said...."Follow me". Now you need to realize that these planes are quite small so it is unusual to have someone....anyone....take you to your seat. But he did and took me to the back of the plane where there are 4 seats....two facing the other two...and he said, "This is the long leg seating" and smiled. I'm sure I chuckled too.....and it was great. I was able to stretch my long legs out between the seats and everyone else could stretch theirs out too.... Bryan flew on the jet.....and was supposed to leave before me but left 45 minutes after I did and then had to circle at the airport in Luanda because the President's plane was there. My flight missed all that.
After many moments of waiting, we finally reconnected at the international airport and bought Bryan's ticket for cash....and flew to Namibia. Boarding the plane was interesting....two doors...no checking of the seat number...just load half of the passengers in the front of the plane and the other half at the rear ....at the same time....and let them find their seats.....down the narrow aisle.....no problem. We all found our correct one and settled in for the flight. This is a short flight of only a couple of hours.....and was quite nice. They served a hot lunch and then did something I'd never seen before. After everyone was served, they came back around and offered a second meal to anyone who wanted one until they were all gone......so no waste. Quite a change from the flights where you bring your own lunch in the USA......
From the moment we arrived in Namibia until we left nearly a week later, we were relaxed. It was great. Short lines in immigration....friendly people at the taxi area, the travel agent, the rental car place, each lodge we stayed in and on the safari. I could easily spend a long time there enjoying the place. And Bryan really loved the fact he could drive.
We spent our first night at the Safari Court Hotel. We met with the travel agent for the safari plans the next morning and had time to go buy hats and shirts....some African music for the road....things for the grand kids.....and then were supposed to leave "no later than noon"....this was extended getting the car.....then problems with the credit card.....we had to call and go through a long time talking with the company in the USA to get them to accept the charge....they are being cautious but this took time we were to be on the road.
 |
| Termite mound |
All along the way there were many large termite mounds. Some actually had grown around the trees. They were huge!!!
 |
| Wild Animals?????.......Nope......cows.... |
I was so excited when I saw the first animals....I took a picture from the window and saw that they were cows.....not wild animals at all..
 |
| Wort Hogs |
The trees were beautiful....just like in the movies. The sun began to set not long after we were on the road and it was beautiful. This picture does not do it justice.Finally!!!! Wort hogs!!! They were grazing on the cut grass at the side of the road and then would dash...tails up...through the fence into the farms at the side for safety. They are incredible looking.... We also saw huge Kudu but I didn't get a good picture....too dark....
We stopped for something to drink at the gas stations and found a Milo bar. We were going to bring this back to our grandson, Milo, but it was consumed along the way when we got stuck out late at night due to a truck accident.
When we were only about 135 km from our destination and it was already dark which is a bit scary because of the “game” as they call them that cross the roads and some are huge like the Kudu. Anyway, we came upon an accident…..waited for some time……Bryan talked to the man in the car in front and he said it would be at least 12 hours before the road would be opened but he knew a back road…..he told us to follow him but stay behind a ways to watch for game and stay in a place where the white powdery dust would have cleared……it was about 30km to the dirt road going back toward Windhoek…then off onto the dirt road for more than another 30 km and then back on tar road to continue the rest of the 100km to the lodge. We were almost out of fuel on the dirt road and figured no one would find us until the next day…..and the dust was so thick that we lost his lights after the first 30 seconds on the 'detour' and most of the way Bryan just followed the dust…..hoping that it wasn’t a stampede of some sort…..We stopped at a gas station about 8:30pm and only one light was on….but they let us use the bathroom and get diesel for the car. We finally arrived at the lodge at 9:45pm……wow…… Bryan says he wasn’t too tired and we both found the adventure invigorating …… I must say that along the way we thought that we didn't know these men that we were following and there was no cell phone coverage most of the way....but it all worked out well in the end.
We arrived at the Etosha Park Lodge and checked in......had 15 minutes left before the dining room closed so we enjoyed a supper of soup and bread and went to bed. What a great start to this R&R.
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