First Impressions

Namibia is a considerable distance from Australia. My 6 year old son, Atticus, was a delightful travelling companion. But I just want to reiterate that Namibia is a considerable distance from Australia! Nuff said.

So...

two months worth of missed cuddles were re payed at the international airport, where Bert had come to meet us. As we drove away from the airport towards Namibia's capital, Windhoek, we stopped to pick up a hitchhiker because it's what you do here. Few people have cars and, for many, hitchhiking is their only means of transport. We were still exchanging introductions with the hitchhiker when Atticus piped up "Look, Mum and Dad. Monkeys!" The hitchhiker laughed, ruffled Atticus's hair and said "No, baboons." My first Namibian photo was of the baboons in the tree five minutes from the airport in the major city. First impressions? Impressive!

We stopped for petrol in Windhoek and I was surprised and somewhat delighted to encounter full driveway service: windows washed, oil level checked, fuel filled, tyres pumped, water filled, lights checked...It was like we were undergoing a racing car pit stop because all of these things were rapidly attended to by a smiling team of uniformed driveway staff. These people were not, however, employed by the petrol station. Commonly seen in Namibia are crews who "own" a lane of a petrol station and they live on tips alone. We happily tipped handsomely, assured in the knowledge that our car was road worthy for the long drive ahead.

This is how some people get around.

Mountain pass

Grassy plain

Our accommodation en route

Plains meet desert

"Lion King" lookout

Red earth

An orphaned zebra recuperating after being

viciously kicked by a wild alpha male stallion zebra

First impressions? "Lion print" says Atticus