Nicely the first step to getting over the

Nicely the first step to getting over the idea that it could plain impossible to go to Africa is the fact that it's not as exotic as you might think... well, sort of. I mean it certainly is nonetheless exotic and far-flung, with an air of danger and romance thrown in? Sure. But is it so varied that nothing will be like home and you'll feel lost and out of your factor and home-sick while 10, 000km from your home? Nope, probably not. And for people who aren't regular globe trotters existing the nomad life, that is great media.

You see, Africa was colonized by many people different European countries and they've many left their mark. The Romans and Greeks conquered much of North Africa at various times, and you could even find examples of this within fusion cuisine such as Italian/Ethiopian dining places in America. The Dutch and the English language both colonized South Africa, they speak Costa da prata in Angola because that's who seem to came in and colonized (same with Brazil), the West of Cameras was largely colonized by France (they even had some of America if you remember - Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Quebec, Montreal, etc . ), and the country we're centering on - Namibia - was colonized by Germans. "Now, that's just about all well and great", you're pondering, "but what the hell does this need to do with me? ". Simple - a lot of Europeans already visit countries where their ancestors colonized. They speak the chinese language and often know somebody. So whilst Africa is in general still huge and untamed, you can definitely get yourself a bratwurst and a lager during your holiday through Namibia. Sure, you can always consume some gazelle or zebra too to make it more thrilling, but if you sense homesick and want something familiar, you can definitely find it.

Now that that is covered, you might be surprised to find out exactly how easy it is to get there. There are lots of direct flights from New York to Hat Town and Johannesburg, and following that it's no problem flying to Namibia's capital city of Windhoek. There are lots of traditional, European-style hotels there and the ALL OF US dollar is pretty much accepted everywhere. Namibia's government is also tied to Southerly Africa's so they're a bit more stable than the average African country. Namibia even has a good road system and it's highway signs and guidelines were installed with all the accuracy and effectiveness the Germans could muster, which is saying something. All in all, Namibia is possibly the perfect place to check out Africa and its wonders.

Well contrary to popular belief, not every country in Africa is without a doubt war-torn and in constant civil war with rebels driving down every neighborhood threatening you with AK-47s or lions on leashes. I know this could shatter your world view, sometimes countries are pretty well run. The most important thing for Namibia is its previous Apartheid government it distributed to South Africa, but that of course is actually officially over for a while now, and instead of bitter resentment it seems like everyone there is just happy to have it be performed. Sure some countries are better left un-seen for the casual traveler, but Namibia is plenty safe.

At this time, that being said, Namibia is also vast and sparsely populated. So while is actually safe on a human level, typically the countryside and animals can be harmful. However because of this, everyone is always on the lookout for each other. I don't think I at any time pulled over to check a map just where someone that passed didn't stop to be sure I was okay. It's just the approach it is out there - you have to check each other.

Good question! Let me tell you somewhat about my trip there.

After landing at Windhoek's Eros air port, I got a rental cell phone, found my personal ride to the rental car depot in addition to took off. Rental cars are really a good alternative in Namibia. They don't have much public transit and the roads are often in good condition. So I had a shiny Toyota Corolla waiting to take me in the safari dreams when I arrived. I am aware, I know - a Corolla is not exactly what you think of when you think firefox in Africa. But what can I say, I was by myself and smaller automobiles are cheaper. Plus this issue was a bit beefier than a United states corolla. Trust me, the car is probably a lot more up to the challenge of driving throughout Namibia than you are. Case in point, it survived my crash no problem. I mean that wasn't a huge crash, but still. Area note: crashing your car into the employee's break table before you even keep the rental car lot is not a terrific way to instill trust in a rental car enterprise. Damn the driver's seat becoming on the right and shifting along with the left!

Cars are to Namibians because horses were to cowboys in the U. s. West. Once you're out in the country, you basically live and pass on by your car, so be good into it. You'll be with it a lot too instant the roads are well kept yet they're still not an interstate interstate system. Think of how driving is at Ireland and you'll get the picture. Finances more time than you think it'll decide on get some where and be sure to grab some maps at the rental car office.

Don't be surprised if you see plenty of guys in official Jeep or perhaps Mercedes shirts hanging around, or autos with black-out tape all over them. Namibia is where many car firms test prototypes for heat in addition to rough roads, and has some of the best all-terrain trails in the world to give SUVs a correct workout. See what I'm declaring about cars and Namibia? They will just go together.

After checking out down-town Windhoek and stocking up on materials at a local grocery store, I decided to go to bed early to get a jump started on heading out to the country and on traffic. I didn't want any individual around while I was learning to push on the left. I was off to Sossusvlei in the South to see a real, honest-to-God desert. Taking B1 out of town, you'll see lots of hills and ravines, boulders the size of houses strewn here and there help definitely a feast for the sight. But the turn-off to C24 is where the real fun starts. Honestly this kind of road could be the newest stage worldwide Rally Championships. It's a dirt highway that makes the best wooden roller-coaster envious of all its zips and zags. It runs through the Naukluft hills, whose terrain looks like a crumpled up piece of paper. There was even one particular hill steep enough (though just about 30ft height) that I couldn't stand up in 1st gear! I had to reverse and try again with more of a running start. Fun traveling, but you're definitely ready for an escape when you get to solitaire.

When you visit Sossusvlei, be sure to head there since you can in the morning for two reasons. To start with, because the sun hitting the sand arte at an acute angle makes for very dramatic and beautiful lighting. Next, cause you'll want to climb those arte and hike the vleis ahead of it gets scorching hot out in the open. Miss either of these and you'll really be disappointed.

Sossusvlei is just among the list of vleis in the area. I took typically the desert ferry over to them and saw Dead vlei, Sossusvlei and lots of smaller vleis. The vleis, in addition, are pans of dried soil and rock. There is so little rainfall and so much evaporation that it sucks all the moisture out of the ground until it finally is much more like fired ceramics or bricks. Almost nothing can grow in all of them and they are mostly barren wasteland between towering (up to 1, 000ft) crushed stone dunes. Very forbidding, very dangerous, and very beautiful.

After a day inside the desert and relaxing the night away with French travelers staying at the identical guest farm as I, it was period to move on to someplace cooler. Swakopmund is actually a tourist town in Namibia just for exactly the opposite reason Florida plus S. California are for Americans - it's cold there. A minimum of it is compared to the scorching deserts around it, and not only is it cold, it is. wet. A current of freezing water from Antarctica makes it's method north along the coast of South Africa and Namibia. It finally warms a bit and rises up outside Swakopmund, cooling the air around it making an air conditioner for the whole town. When the cool air hits the hot desert air blowing in, it makes prodigous amounts of fog. All this adds up to a large array of land and sea everyday life, and makes Swakopmund not only a destination for the temperature, but also for it's ecology as well as a booming adventure scene to explore and still have fun in all the area offers.

For that great apres-adventure beer, head to the particular authentic German Brewhaus. Wurst of each shape and size, beer flowing down waterfalls into 5 liter glasses offered with a side of leiderhosen and also a polka band for every table! Okay, it might not be

German, but this is definitely the real deal. Come for the dark beer, enjoy the food and love the live songs provided by drunken over-landers.

Oh can occur, you really want it all don't you? And I assume you want 5-star dinners with that, and private airplane rides over the most exciting aspects of the country as well? Well you're within luck. You can have all of that if you want, and Etosha is the name of the game when it's time to Safari in Namibia.

Etosha is a monstrous salt-pan in the to the north of the country, with an even larger national park surrounding it. It's actual well known for game viewing inside the dry winter, when animals come in droves to the man-made watering gaps. In the summer, it becomes a birders haven as the pan floods and thousands of birds (including large flocks of flamingos) come to wade.

I presented myself a bit of a treat and stayed at a luxury lodge just outside of the park. Cell signal isn't tough in the north so I wasn't allowed to ask for more specific directions as I got close. Torrential downpour made typically the roads thick with mud as well as the Corolla was having some problems on the dirt when I finally discovered the turn off for the lodge. When i was trying to communicate with some natives who spoke no English and even couldn't fathom what I was carrying out in the country in a 4x2, and VW minibus comes tearing down the road in addition to through the gateway, followed by a military vehicle. A huge old German inside fatigues gets out, slowly starts off smoking a cigarette and methodically - almost strategically - provides directions to the bewildered VW denizens, his help, and myself simultaneously. "You're looking for Nauanaua? " he says as more of a suggestion than a problem, using The Force like he's Darth Vader. "I work for Nauanaua... Let me get you there. Park behind the particular fence", he says, motioning to the hot and razor-wired fence he just drove through. And just as I'm stepping into the car, happy to step out of the rain, "No wait! That people park in there. There are

in there... KABOOM Lightning strike! holy crap Now i'm in Jurassic-freaking-Park!! After the terrified Germans and I get into the military automobile, it's a leisurely ride uphill by waist-deep mud, often sideways, continually with all differentials locked, fogged-over car windows and constant water dripping on us through the roof. We made little talk about whether we just got kidnapped by a Survivalist or not, and if we would all be eaten by the elephants. However once at Nauanaua, all anxieties were put to rest. The lovely partner of the old German in fatigues (together, they're the owners) welcome us with open arms plus fruity drinks. Ahhh, what a way to turn a rough day totally around! Here's to Africa.

Once you've made it into Etosha, the world generally seems to open up a bit. There are long streets going out in all directions, and slow-motion driving a vehicle becomes the name of the game. Take your time, go slow and try to spot animals out in the length and wait for them to come more detailed. Remember that the animals are in fee - if they're blocking your path on the road, wait for them to clear. Being patient will often get you better image landscaping	in Colorado Springs ops as well.

You can camp within the park, and I'd recommend this for maximum safari time. There are four camps with both hotels in addition to campgrounds, and all have illuminated sprinkling holes for game viewing. The particular animals are most active in the evening, so this can be a great opportunity. You can also go on guided safari through the campements or any of the lodges surrounding Etosha, which can be a good option since they often know the park and animals intimately.

After the big safari experience, it had been once again to Windhoek for one yesterday evening before winging my way back to be able to America. Now this is where getting a GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM with my car would've recently been very handy. I drove all over the downtown area for over two. 5 hours trying to find the rental car great deal. I had a detailed map of Windhoek and their address, but the two just never seemed to jive with the actuality of the streets. And up to this point getting someone who spoke decent English wasn't hard, but of course this time every business I stopped at for instructions it was German, Afrikaans, or bust line. Eventually I found it, they were all happy (surprised? ) to see that I made it back in one piece, and got my shuttle to the hotel.

And exactly what a hotel it was! I wanted to spend my last night at The Heinitzburg, an existing German-built castle perched on a slope high above the city (and really the only Relais &amp; Chteaux hotel inside the country), indulging in luxury after our solo-safari experience but alas, it absolutely was not to be. I had to "make due" with the Executive Suite on the Olive Grove instead. Simply wonderful hotels and staff - sure it absolutely was a bit more pricey than the rest, nonetheless every once in a while you have to splurge, right? Especially on the last night of your Africa adventure, and I hope you do the exact same.