Properly the first step to getting over

Properly the first step to getting over the idea that really plain impossible to go to Africa is the fact it's not as exotic as you might believe... 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 numerous that nothing will be like home and you will feel lost and out of your factor and home-sick while 10, 000km from your home? Nope, probably not. And for those 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 all left their mark. The Romans and Greeks conquered much of North Africa at various times, and even find examples of this in fusion cuisine such as Italian/Ethiopian restaurants in America. The Dutch and the English language both colonized South Africa, they speak Portuguese in Angola because that's who came in and colonized (same together with Brazil), the West of The african continent was largely colonized by Italy (they even had some of The usa if you remember - Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Quebec, Montreal, and so forth ), and the country we're concentrating on - Namibia - was colonized by Germans. "Now, that's many well and great", you're considering, "but what the hell does this should do with me? ". Simple - plenty of Europeans already visit countries where their ancestors colonized. They speak the language and often know somebody. So when Africa is in general still vast and untamed, you can definitely get a bratwurst and a lager during your vacation through Namibia. Sure, you can always take in some gazelle or zebra as well to make it more thrilling, but if you believe homesick and want something acquainted, you can definitely find it.

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

Well amazingly, not every country in Africa might be war-torn and in constant civil conflict with rebels driving down every streets threatening you with AK-47s or lions on leashes. I know this could shatter your world view, but some countries are pretty well run. The largest thing for Namibia is its previous Apartheid government it shared with South Africa, but that of course continues to be officially over for a while now, and instead of bitter resentment it seems like every person there is just happy to have it be done. Sure some countries are better left un-seen for the casual traveler, but Namibia is plenty safe.

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

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

Following landing at Windhoek's Eros air port, I got a rental cell phone, found my ride to the rental car depot together with took off. Rental cars are really a good choice in Namibia. They don't have a lot public transit and the roads are often in good condition. So I had a shiny Toyota Corolla waiting to take me on my safari dreams when I arrived. I recognize, I know - a Corolla merely exactly what you think of when you think firefox in Africa. But what can I state, I was by myself and smaller autos are cheaper. Plus this issue was a bit beefier than a North American corolla. Trust me, the car is probably even more up to the challenge landscaping	in Colorado Springs of driving inside Namibia than you are. Case in point, it made it through my crash no problem. I mean this wasn't a huge crash, but still. Facet note: crashing your car into the employee's break table before you even abandon the rental car lot is not a fantastic way to instill trust in a rental car corporation. Damn the driver's seat becoming on the right and shifting when using the left!

Cars are to Namibians mainly because horses were to cowboys in the United states West. Once you're out in the state, you basically live and perish by your car, so be good into it. You'll be with it a lot too - the roads are well kept nonetheless they're still not an interstate highway system. Think of how driving is within Ireland and you'll get the picture. Price range more time than you think it'll take to get some where and be sure to grab some maps at the rental car office.

Don't be surprised if you see lots of guys in official Jeep or Mercedes shirts hanging around, or vehicles with black-out tape all over these people. Namibia is where many car corporations test prototypes for heat plus rough roads, and has some of the best all-terrain trails in the world to give SUVs an appropriate workout. See what I'm expressing 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 popped out to bed early to get a jump proceeding on heading out to the country and traffic. I didn't want anybody around while I was learning to generate 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 -- definitely a feast for the eyes. But the turn-off to C24 is how the real fun starts. Honestly this road could be the newest stage of the World Rally Championships. It's a dirt path 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 you hill steep enough (though just about 30ft height) that I couldn't stand up in 1st gear! I had in order to reverse and try again with more of a running start. Fun generating, but you're definitely ready for an escape when you get to solitaire.

When you check out Sossusvlei, be sure to head there since you can in the morning for two reasons. Initial, because the sun hitting the sand sand hills at an acute angle makes for very dramatic and beautiful lighting. Second, cause you'll want to climb those dunes and hike the vleis before it gets scorching hot outdoor. Miss either of these and you'll genuinely be disappointed.

Sossusvlei is just one of several vleis in the area. I took the particular desert ferry over to them in addition to saw Dead vlei, Sossusvlei and plenty of smaller vleis. The vleis, in addition, are pans of dried dust and rock. There is so little rainfall and so much evaporation that it sucks all the moisture out of the ground until it is much more like fired ceramics or even bricks. Almost nothing can grow in all of them and they are mostly barren wasteland surrounded by towering (up to 1, 000ft) fine sand dunes. Very forbidding, very fatal, and very beautiful.

After a day in the desert and relaxing the night aside with French travelers staying at precisely the same guest farm as I, it was the perfect time to move on to someplace cooler. Swakopmund is really a tourist town in Namibia designed 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 all-around it, and not only is it cold, it's also wet. A current of freezing water from Antarctica makes it's approach north along the coast of South Africa and Namibia. It finally heats a bit and rises up beyond Swakopmund, cooling the air around that making an air conditioner for the whole metropolis. When the cool air hits the hot wasteland 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 and a booming adventure scene to explore and still have fun in all the area offers.

For just a great apres-adventure beer, head to the authentic German Brewhaus. Wurst of every shape and size, beer flowing down waterfalls into 5 liter glasses dished up with a side of leiderhosen together with a polka band for every table! Ok, it might not be

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

Oh come on, 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 sections of the country as well? Well you're throughout luck. You can have all of that if you want, and Etosha is the name of the game if it's time to Safari in Namibia.

Etosha is a monstrous salt-pan in the north of the country, with an even larger national park surrounding it. That it is well known for game viewing inside the dry winter, when animals are available in droves to the man-made watering gaps. In the summer, it becomes a birders paradise as the pan floods and 1000s of birds (including large flocks regarding flamingos) come to wade.

I provided myself a bit of a treat and stayed at at a luxury lodge just outside the park. Cell signal isn't good in the north so I wasn't in a position to ask for more specific directions as I acquired close. Torrential downpour made the roads thick with mud and the Corolla was having some difficulties on the dirt when I finally observed the turn off for the lodge. As I was trying to communicate with some people next door who spoke no English in addition to couldn't fathom what I was performing in the country in a 4x2, and VOLKS WAGEN minibus comes tearing down the road together with through the gateway, followed by a military vehicle. A huge old German in fatigues gets out, slowly starts off smoking a cigarette and systematically - almost strategically - gives directions to the bewildered VW denizens, his help, and myself at the same time. "You're looking for Nauanaua? " he says as more of a suggestion than a concern, using The Force like he's Darth Vader. "I work for Nauanaua... Let me get you there. Park behind the fence", he says, motioning to the hot and razor-wired fence he just simply drove through. And just as I am stepping into the car, happy to get free from the rain, "No wait! You can park in there. There are

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

Once you have made it into Etosha, the world seems to open up a bit. There are long roads going out in all directions, and slow-motion generating becomes the name of the game. Take your time, go slow-moving and try to spot animals out in the space and wait for them to come better. Remember that the animals are in price - if they're blocking your path on the road, wait for them to clear. Being patient will often get you better picture ops as well.

You can camp within the park, and I'd recommend this for maximum safari time. You will find four camps with both hotels together with campgrounds, and all have illuminated watering holes for game viewing. The animals are most active in the evening, so this can be a great opportunity. You can even 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 thoroughly.

After the big safari experience, it had been once again to Windhoek for one you get before winging my way back to be able to America. Now this is where getting a GPS NAVIGATION with my car would've already been very handy. I drove everywhere 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 only never seemed to jive with the actuality of the streets. And up to this point obtaining someone who spoke decent English was not hard, but of course this time every company I stopped at for directions it was German, Afrikaans, or chest area. Eventually I found it, they were all of the happy (surprised? ) to see i made it back in one piece, and also my shuttle to the hotel.

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