Day 2 - Off to the Kalahari 19/11/2017

On day 2 we were off to the Kalahari desert passing by Rehoboth and Kalkrand and crossing the tropic of Capricorn staying at the beautiful Kalahari Anib Lodge near Mariental (total around 350 km).

After a relaxing afternoon exploring the lodge location watching elands close by to the lodge most people of our group were off on a "Sunset Game Drive" with panoramic views across the red Kalahari dunes seeing zebras, ostriches, oryx antelopes, gnus weaver birds (and their impressive nesting colonies covering nearly whole trees and home to over hundred of bird couples  and other animals and watching a most beautiful sunset while having drinks on top of one of the dunes. 

What a lovely day!

 

pretty lodge room

weaver bird colony looking a bit like a gigantic beaver

pretty flower

more weaverbird colonies

what a sunset!

Day 1 - Windhoek - 18/11/2017

Arriving in Windhoek very much on time, immigration being rather quick (after reading all these horror stories about it being a nightmare), no waiting for luggage and the group of a total of 17 gathering with our tour guide Lily (of German descent) we were off to explore Windhoek, well as much as there is to see. 

First stop was at the Christuskirche (Christ Church). Also close by is the Alte Feste, a fortress and museum, the Independence Memorial Museum, an ugly building inaugurated in 2014, the Parliament Gardens and the Tintenpalast. Unfortunately we were there too early so the Alte Feste was not open yet as I would have loved to see also the Reiterdenkmal, Equestrian Monument, currently placed in the yard of the Alte Feste.

After that we drove along Independence Avenue passing by the Clock Tower and some old German colonial buildings before we were off to the old Windhoek Railway Station, built between 1897 and 1902 by the Germans as well. Entering the station it actually felt like travelling back in time with the old ticket hall, the old timetables, the old train waiting at one of the platforms, the old locomotives in front of the buildings etc..

Last but not least we drove through Katutura, Otjiherero for "The place where people do not want to live", which is a township with hundreds, if not thousands of corrugated steel roof shacks though there are also simple concrete houses built by the government for people with low incomes.
The visit was not as oppressive as the townships in South Africa but it still makes you gasp especially when passing sheds with little children wearing scuffed clothes and playing with litter.

Going to the first hotel, the Safari Court Hotel, a decent 4* hotel, a bit outside of Windhoek (too bad as not one central) after felt a bit off after that experience but with little sleep the night before I was glad to finally being able to relax - and sleep so that I missed dinner. But I did not mind as there were still 14 more days to see the country.

Good morning Africa!

Arriving at Hosea Kutako International Airport