My travels to Namibia took place in 1991 when I was still a student. It was planned as a 2 week road trip during our winter break from Uni. Members of our expedition included myself, 2 house mates (Justin and Jaco) and a class mate, Mario. Below is a short account of what we did. For photos, see the photo section of the website.

Tuesday - 25 June 1991:
After some last minute packing, we set off at 1.45am. It was very misty and the going was slow all the way to Springbok. Or first stop was Clanwilliam for a quick game of American Football (in the middle of the road with an orange) to wake up the driver!! Around 7am we stopped in Springbok for petrol. We actually got lost leaving the place (population you can count on your fingers and toes!) At 8.30am we reached Vioolsdrift (the border between South Africa and Namibia). We stopped again just outside Keetmanshoop for breakfast, then filled up with petrol again before the long stretch to Windhoek. I slept the rest of the way as my driving shift was over and the desert heat was unbearable without aircon!!

Eventually arrived in Windhoek around 3.30pm and headed straight to to the pub for an ice cold Castle! Around 5.30pm went caught up with Ian (my ex phys-ed teacher and former rugby coach) and moved into our accommodation at Centaurus High School. We finished the night off with a braai (BBQ for you non-South Africans), Windhoek Lager and loads of Apfelschnapps (Apple schnapps).

Wednesday - 26 June 1991:
After sleeping late, we got a guided tour of Windhoek by Ian, Marion & Shaun. We visited 3 castles (supposedly linked underground by passages), a museum, SWAPO Headquarters and Sudwes Stadium (Namibia's National Stadium). For dinner we went to a restaurant called 'Gathemans' where I ate Gemsbok steak, Justin had giraffe and Mario tried croc.

Thursday - 27 June 1991:
Up early and into town to hire a tent and buy some food for our trip into the desert. Headed for Spitzkoppe with a stop at Okahandja and Usakos for more supplies and a map! 23km outside Usakos we turned north into the desert. After about and hour of driving (42km!!) we reached Spitzkoppe where we pitched the tent and then went exploring this volcanic outcrop. We found caves, hollow rocks (caused by temperature extremes) and bushmen paintings. 

Around 5.30pm we headed back to our campsite to collect fire wood and make a fire. After eating and drinking coffee, we sat around the fire watching the bright orange moonrise and playing backgammon. Later we went for a walk by the full moon to see if we could spot any animals. Bed around 10pm. We all slept well as it wasn't very cold.

Friday - 28 June 1991:
Mario, Justin & I got up at 7.30am to watch the sunrise. Jaco eventually got up when we started the fire and made some coffee. Then, our worst nightmare!! In the middle of the desert, and the car wouldn't start!!! After 30 minutes of panic and pushing and pulling, we set off for our next stop. Swakopmund.

We drove south from Swakop, crossed the border back into South African territory (they even checked our passports) towards Walvis Bay. At Langstrand, we pitched out tent again before driving into Walvis Bay. After lunch we visited the harbour and then headed back to Swakopmund.

We visited Peter's Antiques (which is more like a museum than a shop) and by 5.30pm we were in Kücki's Pub which EVERYONE recommended we visit. We met up with some backpackers from Aus & New Zealand who had travelled from Tanzania on motorcycles. Around midnight we called it a day and drove (very slowly) back to Langstrand!

Saturday - 29 June 1991:
Early start today. After packing our (wet) tent and breakfast in Swakop, we headed back to Windhoek. In the afternoon we went to watch Namibia play rugby against Zimbabwe. It was a 'great' game to watch. Zim were 15-9 up at half time then the ref got mysteriously injured during the break so Namibia brought their own ref on (Rooi Piet) and ended up winning 34-15!! Doesn't get much better than that! Spent the rest of the day at the "Glass House" and got absolutley smashed on Windhoek, Tafel Lager, Apfelschnapps and R4.

Sunday - 30 June 1991:
Day of rest including potjiekos, rouhaak (raw mince, onion, egg and spices in a roll) and home-made peach brandy. Ian and Earl played guitar and sang while we sat around the fire talking.

Monday - 1 July 1991:
Late start. After breakfast, we went to the Alte Feste Museum which was an old fort built in 1800 by Curt von Francois. Most of the displays were about Namibia's independence - mostly UNTAG uniforms, posters & crests and political party charters and banners. After that we went to the Namibian Craft Centre to rummage around the stalls of wooden carvings, mats, stone carvings, etc

Spent the afternoon chilling, playing mini-golf and went for a run. In the evening we went for a beer then to bed early.

Tuesday - 2 July 1991:
Up at 7.30am. We discovered that Etosha was fully booked, so we went into town to hire a tent again. Left Windhoek taking turns driving until we reached Etosha at 3pm. We had hardly gone through the Anderson gate when we spotted loads of animals - zebras, wildebeest, giraffes & springbok. When we got to the camp at Okaukuejo we learnt that there had been a cancellation, so we got a tent for our stay. The tents have a concrete floor, lights, beds with bedding, towels and running water.

We unpacked and went straight to the waterhole about 300m from our tent. There were Gemsbok, Springbuck, elephants and rhinos. After sunset and dinner, we went back to the waterhole and saw more elephants. Around 11pm a lioness came down to the water to drink. The smal black-backed jackals kept coming to us to 'beg' for food and we were told to keep our tents closed at night. At around 11.30pm, 2 more lionesses joined the first one.

Wednesday - 3 July 1991:
Up at 6.30am, dressed warmly and headed down to the watering hole. By 7.30 there was a whole herd of springbuck. After breakfast and a shower, there was also a herd of zebras drinking. Around 11am a kudu bull brought a herd of kudus down to drink.

After lunch we climbed the watch tower and in the afternoon we went for a swim. In the evening we saw some more rhinos, elephants and wildebeest. I sat up until 3am watching the animals coming and going.

Thursday - 4 July 1991:
Left the camp at 9.30am and drove to the pan. Etosha Pan was just a huge expanse of ... nothingness! We drove to a water hole at Gemsbokvlakte. Here we spotted gemsbok, springbuck, blue wildebeest, giraffes and zebra. Left Anderson Gate around 11am, heading back to Windhoek. Stopped in Outjo and Okahandja for biltong.

Went to the Wanderers Club for a few beers then to the Spur for supper. Home at 11.30pm

Friday - 5 July 1991:
Ian and Marion took us to 'Zum Wirst' for a pub lunch of Gemsbok schnitzel and draught beer. We then drove to Aris 30km south of Windhoek where we tried 'Pumpelmuser' - out of the freezer!!

In the evening we went to the 'Glass House' again. We drank all sorts of weird and wonderful things - Asbach Uralt (?), kudus (kaluha & Amarula), embryos (tequila, kaluha, Amarula) and De Kuyper! By 3am we were so drunk that we went to the 'Truckport' and bought a whole chicken (more bones than meat) for the 4 of us!!

Saturday - 6 July 1991:
Our last day in Namibia. We got up at 9am, packed our things, went to town to buy some padkos (food for the road - again for you non-Saffas), said our good-byes and then left around 12.30pm.

I drove the first stretch as far as Keetmanshoop. Stopped for petrol, then Justin took over the steering wheel. Mario took over at Noordoewer (Namibian side of border control) and drove ato Pikeberg where Jaco took over. We stopped in Malmesbury for petrol then drove through to Jaco's farm. We arrived around 2.15am, had coffee and something to eat and then went to bed at 3am.