KEETMANSHOOP TO MONTEIRO, WINDHOEK


After the lovely breakfast Rob and I headed for Windhoek - all excited about the trip ahead. Rob was driving and I was happy with this as I could take photos along the way. 


It really was amazing to see the closer we got to Windhoek, the more green the vegetation was. The river beds were still dry but the vegetation looked very lush.  I was also fascinated by the clouds - the sky was as beautiful as the land. 

Dry River Bed

We arrived at Monteiro at about 4.30 pm and set up camp. This was the first time that I have camped with Rob on my own but before we knew it we were organised.  We looked around the camp site and decided on a site close to the top of the hill because it looked like there were thunder clouds building up, and I thought if we camped to far down, that the rain could come through our campsite, and that to get the Kombi up the hill in the morning might be trouble. 

We settled for two minute noodles for supper and played a few games of cards while watching the sky turn beautiful shades of blue. It was such a peaceful evening, apart from the odd flash of lightning and rumbles of thunder, and a few drops of rain. 


Anyway we got into the tent, zipped ourselves up nice and safely and chatted about all sorts of things while listening to the sounds of nature all around us. We we really enjoying our little adventure and snuggled up and drifted off to sleep. 


We were woken by the biggest biggest BIGGEST storm I have ever experienced. Coming from the coast, we don't really experience to many thunderstorms, so this was new to us. The storm was so close to us, that the thunder and lightning was simultaneous. It didn't let up at all.  Robyn ended up chatting to to friends and Shannon in London about the thunderstorm and the adventure we were on. 


I felt safe, and kept on saying to Rob that we never saw any burnt trees around and everything was normal when we got there, so just to go back to sleep and be grateful that we are under a lean-to and safe in our tent.    She didn't buy into this idea. She was petrified to say the least!


Needless to say, we came out just fine and survived the storm! We had been snug as a bug in a rug!


The ground was very wet and slippery as a result of the high rainfall during the night.  I was very glad we hadn't camped at the bottom camp site as I was sure we would have been stuck down there!


We packed up the camp site bright and early and were on our road to the airport to fetch my husband who was flying in from Brazil.  

Road into Windhoek

First view of Windhoek

We got a bit lost on the way to the airport - lucky we had left early enough. There are two airports in Windhoek - but the main airport which is the Hosea Kutako International Airport, is about 40 kms out of town and we had camped about 10 kms before Windhoek. There are so many one way roads its very confusing!  Robyn was driving and I was navigating - not very well!  Needless to say, we finally got the airport and all I could think was "Mission Accomplished".   We went for a nice cup of hot chocolate to sooth the nerves while waiting for the plane to land. There is quite a nice little restaurant there - complete with wireless network if you want to buy airtime to be in contact with the outside world!


I was so relieved when my husband walked through the arrival doors!  Robyn and I  had driven 1600 kms, crossed the border, stayed in great accommodation and camped under trying circumstances, had been lost in Windhoek, but we had done it!  Then there were 3! 


Budds was exhausted after having been travelling for ages, and wasn't up to camping but we took him to see Monteiro just in case he was 'up' to it, but we decided to stay at a Hotel in Windhoek instead.


The chap we had met in Keetmanshoop had suggested Hotel Safari, so we booked in there. 


We got a double room with en-suite bathroom. Unfortunately the service was a bit disappointing there. The room was not ready when we got there and only after three or four phone calls did they come and clean the room - more than half and hour later - and only after we complained to the Public Relations lady. I was surprised in that it is such a big hotel, that they would have been in a position to move us to a clean room, and not have to sit around waiting for them to clean up behind the previous people.   When we complained again in the morning, they just shrugged their shoulders and billed us in full. 


It was a very pretty hotel - and would have been a more pleasant stay if they had just moved us into a clean room. 


It was also also the most expensive place we stayed at throughout our holiday. 

Our accommodation on the second floor

I was amazed at how big the city of Windhoek was. We had not seen a big town since we left Cape Town. I was pleasantly surprised. Funny also that most of Namibia reminded me of South Africa - in that so many people spoke Afrikaans! Definitely not a dying language!  I would almost say there were more Afrikaans speaking people than English speaking people. 




Next section of the journey - the road to Swakopmund. 

MARITZ COUNTRY LODGE, KEETMANSHOOP

We struggled to get to Keetmanshoop. The road had been long and straight. We had thought of maybe stopping somewhere on the way - maybe in Grunau - but when we got there - we took one look at each other - and decided to carry on driving. 

We re-fuelled in Keetmanshoop and saw Maritz Country Lodge behind the Engen Garage. The garage was a hive of activity but nestled behind the service station is the Lodge. 

New to this, I was somewhat apprehensive as to what to expect. No need to worry though, the staff were amazing. Before we knew it, we had been booked in and had a remote to the tv and the air conditioner!  

We were pleasantly surprised. We had a little unit when consisted of a kitchenette with a lovely double bed with crisp white sheets and a clean bathroom with a nice shower. 

Our hostess was very keen to get us to come and have a drink in the bar, so we settled in, unpacked the necessary, and headed over to the entertainment area. 

We went past the beautiful pool and into a lovely little area housing a bar, restaurant, outdoor resting areas, and a lovely braai area. Considering its the middle of nowhere, they really went all out to make it as pretty as they could!

I was talking to my husband on the cell phone, and the next thing I see Robyn 'chatting up' a man in the bar. It was quite funny, as she doesn't drink and definitely doesn't hang out in bars, but they make you so welcome, that she was sitting there chatting to a guy, Thinus Blaauw, who happens to run "Crisscross Namibia Safaris". His email address is info@crisscross.com.na.  He was so accommodating and gave us so much information as to the 'way forward' on our trip. He said doesn't usually run tours at this time of year as the weather is unpredictable. I said I would love to see Namibia in the rainy season, and he told me - this is the rainy season. One would never have guessed with all the dry rivers!

We went for supper in the restaurant and not being that hungry, Rob and I decided to share a meal - crumbed pork chops. Well. We shared it - and there was still some to take home!  What a generous helping for a very reasonable price!  We could never had finished a plate on our own!  I noticed as we travelled through Namibia that they were very generous with their helpings. The staff were also so nice and friendly and really made us feel most welcome.

After supper, we headed back to our cabin. We had seen the build-up of rain clouds on our way to Keetmanshoop but had no idea about the huge rain drops and thunder and lightning that was to follow. I insisted on showering, even though, rumour has it, you shouldn't shower during a thunder storm. Anyway I went to shower, and Rob was sitting watching TV. I was struggling with the water in the shower, and eventually it burst through with such force, I shouted. It so happened that a huge bolt of lightning cracked at the same time - and poor Robyn thought I had been struck by lightning.

We did laugh about it afterwards - but she nearly died of fright in the process!

In the morning we went for a lovely breakfast before hitting the road again. All in all, a great experience and definitely recommended for anyone looking for a place to sleep in Keetmanshoop!