Rona's Nambia Educational

Rona, one of our Senior Consultants, recently visited Namibia on an Educational. Read on to find out what she got up to.

Day 1

My trip began on the morning of 13 April 2014 with a flight on Air Namibia from Johannesburg, OR Tambo Airport to Windhoek International Airport.The service on board Air Namibia was good and friendly. We had a smooth touchdown when we landed at Windhoek Airport.After we collected our luggage we then our tour guide for our trip, Alberto Zardi from Namibia Travel Connections. We were taken to our Kombi which would be our trusted vehicle for the next few days.We drove from the airport through Windhoek and stopped off at a shop to get some snacks, drinks and local Sim cards for our cellphones so that we could stay in touch with our loved ones left at home.Windhoek has had a lot of rain the last few months so the city was very green and had lots of trees, not how you image Namibia, you think of rolling sand dunes but that was not the case with Windhoek.We drove 420km from Windhoek to Swakopmund.  The scenery that we passed along the road was green grass but gradually changed to short bushy grass then to sand and later dunes as we came nearer to Swakopmund.Upon arriving in Swakopmund we went to an Italian restaurant called 22 Degrees South, I would definitely recommended this as the Pizza was delicious.  The Namibian Dollar is 1 to 1 exchange with the South African Rand. Our pizza and a cool drink cost about N$65.00. The weather was perfect, sunny and blue sky. Our guide kept telling us that this is very unusual weather for Swakopmund as usually it’s cool and cloudy, but we weren’t complaining. 

Swakopmund

After lunch we drove around Swakopmund and had a few hotel inspections.  First inspection was Swakopmund Sands. This is a 3 star hotel with a modern touch. The hotel has 3 room types. Single rooms, Double / Twin rooms and family rooms. The rooms only have showers.It is within walking distance to Swakopmund town. I would not recommend this hotel for families as there are no baths in the rooms. Please note that the rooms at Swakopmund Sands do not have air conditioners.Our next inspection was at the Alte Bruecke Resort.

This is a 3 Star resort that caters mostly for the self-catering clientele. The chalets have a full kitchenette, bathroom and bedroom /s. Most of the chalets can accommodate between 2 adults and 2 children or 4 adults and some can accommodate 6 adults.  There is also a camping site available for the more adventurous travellers.  At the camping site you have a chalet with a braai area, electricity port and lockable bathroom with shower facility. None of the chalets have air conditioners. There is a breakfast room for the people who would prefer to have breakfast included in the rate.

We then proceeded to Hotel Zum Kaizer were we stayed the night.  

This is a very neat, clean and central hotel. I would recommend this hotel for families and business travellers as you can walk to the town or down to the beach, sea and pier. The hotel does not have sea-view rooms as there is a building next to it. The rooms have air conditioners and tea & coffee making facility. Big bathrooms with bath and shower.

Hotel Zum Kaizer

Hotel Zum Kaizer Bedroom

It was a Sunday evening and not much was open you so you either went to Kucki’s Pub or The Tug Restaurant for supper.   The Tug Restaurant is very popular and bookings for this are made days in advance and weeks in advance during peak season.  The food is definitely worth it though and you get the most incredible Sunset views, so definitely worth a visit.  The Tug was fully booked so we went to Kucki’s Pub, they were extremely busy but good food and value for money.    

Day 2 

On the morning of 14 April we had breakfast at Hotel Zum Kaizer   Breakfast was tea, coffee and 2 types of fruit juices. You could then have a selection of cereals, pastries, cold meats and a hot breakfast which had to be ordered with the waitress. We then made our way to Walvis Bay which is 30km from Swakopmund.  Here you have the amazing but contrasting views of the desert on one side and the ocean on the other. We went on a catamaran cruise, out to Walvis Bay harbour then out to sea.  We had some seals jump into the catamaran and fed them fish, also went past Pelican Point, saw the lighthouse and the seal colony as well as oyster farms.  We had a light lunch of oysters, fish and champagne or soft drinks on board the catamaran. I would recommend wearing sun screen as the cruise is about 4 hours long and we had a very hot day. 

Pelican Bay Seals

Later in the afternoon we went to Moon Valley, lunar landscape eroded over many, many years. We experienced a beautiful sunset and a big, bright moon rising. 

Moon Valley Lunar Landscape

Sea Breeze Guesthouse

We stayed over at Sea Breeze Guesthouse which is outside of Swakopmund so you have to drive into town as it is too far to walk.  Sea Breeze Guesthouse is run by a South African who is very friendly and accommodating. The property is very secure, neat and tidy as it is in a suburb of Swakopmund. I would recommend Sea Breeze Guesthouse to families, couples and tourists. No sea view rooms. The rate includes Breakfast but the Sea Breeze Guesthouse also has 2 self- catering units available. I had a room which was on the first floor and looked out on to the parking area which can be a bit noisy with people packing their vehicles and leaving the property.The rooms have an en suite bathroom with a shower. No air conditioners in the rooms but they do have small fans.   

 

Sea Breeze Guesthouse Bedroom

Day 3

Most of the day of 15 April we drove from Swakopmund to Sossusvlei, the drive was 400kms. We stopped along the way to have a look at some of the view points and a packed lunch.  When we finally reached Sossusvlei we had a site inspection at Sossusvlei Desert Camp, if you prefer self -catering accommodation this is the place for you. If you would prefer to have meals included in your rate at Sossusvlei Desert Camp you can but for Breakfast and supper you have to travel to Sossusvlei Desert Lodge. For braai’s you can order the meat with Desert Camp and they will have everything delivered to your tent by 16:00 that afternoon. Stunning views!

Sossusvlei Desert Camp

Sossusvlei Desert Lodge

Three kilometers down the road from Sossusvlei Desert Camp was our accommodation for the evening, Sossusvlei Desert Lodge.  Upon arrival at the Sossusvlei Desert Lodge you are greeted with a cold face cloth and a welcome drink. We had a site inspection and then shown to our tents as this Lodge is a tented camp, very well organized and stunning views.  Your tent has an en suite bathroom with a shower and a bedroom. The tents all have air conditioners but also have windows which have a canvas covering that can be unzipped to let natural air through the tent and zipped up again at night or left open but no mosquitoes can get in. Dinner is usually served at the outside restaurant and is a buffet meal. Here you can experience wild meat, Warthog, kudu, etc or for the less adventurous, chicken, lamb or steak. Salads and bread is also available with the meal.You can recommend this lodge to families and couple or groups of friends. There is also a swimming pool at the Lodge.

Day 4 

We left Sossosvlei Desert Lodge early morning to join the queue to go into the Namib Naukluft Park to experience Dune 45 and Dead Valley.  Trust me you do not want to try climbing Dune 45 at midday as you will melt as it gets extremely hot.  Do make sure you have lots of water with you.  We reached the top of Dune 45 at about 09:00, you have amazing views of the entire desert. We then drove onto Dead Valley, you have to park your vehicle if you do not have a 4x4 and go to Dead Valley on a shuttle that runs every 15 minutes. 

Above Dead Valley

Above Dune 45

Dune 45

On our way out of the park we stopped at Sesriem Canyon.Sesriem Canyon derives its name from the fact that early Afrikaners trekkers had to use six (ses) leather thongs (a thong is a “riem”) so that their buckets could reach water far below. The canyon begins as an almost imperceptible but nevertheless deep cleft in level, stony ground, and then widens until it finally flattens out onto the plain.

Sesreim Canyon

Sesreim Canyon

In the afternoon we stopped off at Desert Homestead for a site inspection.  At Desert Homestead you can go on a 1 night horse riding safari. The rooms are rondavels with thatched roofs which keep the chalets cool. The breakfast and dining area is in a large house with a stoep (balcony) area where you can sit and look at the spectacular views while enjoying a cocktail or a cup of tea or coffee. The Desert Homestead has recently been brought over and is undergoing slight upgrades to the rondavels.  The Desert Homestead is about 30 minutes drive from Sossusvlei.  

Desert Homestead Bedroom

Desert Homestead

We continued our drive to overnight at Corona Guest Farm. The drive from Sossosvlei to Corona Guest Farm was 350km. Corona Guest Farm is amidst rolling green hills, you could have mistaken the area for Scotland not Namibia. Scrumptious 3 course meal for supper. The rooms are large and open plan, you have a lounge area and the bedroom with an en-suite bathroom with a bath and shower. The house is very eclectic as the owner has travelled extensively and has a range of his collectables (chairs, masks, Figureens, etc) around the guest house.  

Day 5

Our last day in Namibia was 17 April, we had our breakfast at Corona Guest Farm which comprised of tea, coffee and fruit juice, cereals and a hotel breakfast, I had an omelette with bacon and toast. We took a leisurely drive back to Windhoek.  We drove past the Parliament buildings, the city gardens, the Sand stone Christian Church and the train station in Windhoek.  We had lunch and then went to Windhoek Airport to check in for our flight home back to Johannesburg.

I would recommend a visit to Namibia especially the desert, it is a vast open area and very quiet so recharging your soul and making you slow down to enjoy the peace and quiet the area has to offer.