Mainly Namibia

[RooFlyer]

Sun downer deck



The individual chalets





Final dinner with the group at night and a very enjoyable affair it was too.

I finally found some Namibian wine. The red was called Red Catholic.







It was OK-ish.

Dinner was a very nice buffet comprising as usual a steak of Oryx or Kudu or the like plus casseroles, stroganoff, all sorts of salads etc etc.







I haven’t posted that many photos of the plated meals as my group seems to be rather ‘no phones on the table’ type of people .

 

[RooFlyer]

They were a few mozzies around but Google had already told me that there was no malaria at Etosha during the dry and very little even during the wet, so a bit of insect repellent did okay.

Next morning, it was the final 4 to 5 hour drive south to Windhoek.



But first a sunrise, 7:15am







An hour south was Outjo and it’s amazing bakery (bakkery)







Also a big selection of pies and sausage rolls and the like which I didn’t photograph and didn’t buy either, although I was really tempted to..

Shot of the inside of our vehicle and which was apparently a custom built Toyota four-wheel-drive touring vehicle. It was excellent and we had an excellent driver too - Gert ( guttural, swallowing ‘G’) - rhymes with ‘ghurt’. He was in Namibian and ate with us for most meals and was very good company.



Couple of old volcanoes we passed

 

[RooFlyer]

The road south was a 2 to 4 lane divided highway, very long straight stretches and very good quality road. More giraffe, ostriches, springbok and even some baboons seen.





Coffee break and when I saw this I thought of the Goons’ Ying Tong song.



And the tour ended in Windhoek . Said farewell to the Spanish-French family I’ve been travelling with, and sincere thanks for the company. They were really excellent to travel with. A group of five I think, must be nearly a perfect number for these type of trips. Driver, guide and us was a very easily manageable group. We nearly always left five minutes before schedule. I had the only decent camera in the group so supplied the close-up pictures of all the locations and animals posted them to our WhatsApp group.

I’m going to add something that I’ve resisted saying up to now, but it’s probably with some fondness that I tell you that the father first introduced himself as Manuel and that he was from Barcelona <unkind, stifled chortle >.

They spoke French or Catalonian amongst themselves, but effortlessly used English when I was around, even when not talking directly to me.

We’ve all swapped details. The parents live in Barcelona their son and his French girlfriend live in London. Parents also have a holiday house in Andorra and I think a flat in Monaco and naturally they’ve invited me to get in touch with them when I visit. I think I can confidently say that a visit to Barcelona at least will be on the cards before too long. And as the parents are very well travelled and they say they will be back in Australia soon, I hope to see them in Tasmania too.

Back in the Weinberg for a night before flying back to Jo’burg tomorrow. Another lovely room.









The view from my room’s Terrace



Up to the hotel’s sky bar which has a lovely view over Windhoek, but on this Monday evening there was a bunch of glam local couples there and as a fat white guy I felt a bit out of place.

Unsuccessful surreptitious pic



So after a G&T there, I retreated to the other bar area in the middle of the hotel



It’s a lovely warm evening with the fountains going and I’m really going to miss Namibia.

 

[RooFlyer]

Dinner at the hotel’s seafood restaurant. Prime place on the upper deck



Menus. Nab$100 = A$8.30








Sun went down during the meal. I had the garlic mussels ( no pic) and the salt and pepper calamari.









Again, two courses, glass of wine and a G&T for total of about A$35

 

[Flyfrequently]

Have really enjoyed your travels @RooFlyer
Those sunset and sunrise photos are spectacular.
Thanks for your comprehensive TR and letting me tag along.

 

[RooFlyer]

Thank you. I had a Intrepid organised ride from the hotel to the airport this morning for 10:30. He turned up at 10 so there was a bit of a last-minute scramble finish the packing.

35 mins out to the airport. I had checked in online with Airlink, with boarding pass in my Apple wallet but when I arrived to start going through immigration, they said there are no scanners there so I had to go to the counter and get a paper pass.

Carry on was weighed which is something I tried to avoid. Total of 14kg over two pieces which is under their allowance of two pieces of 8kg each although one of them was 9kg.

Had to fill out the paper departure card much the same as the arrival card and through security and immigration both virtually deserted. This time, the guy at immigration wasn't talking to anyone next to him - but was talking on his phone.

Not a bad small Airport, reminds me a bit of HBA.



In J, I’m allowed to use the Paragon lounge



It’s not a bad small lounge. it’s before lunch but there’ll be some more offerings for lunch.

 

[Seat0B]

Bet the lounge didn’t remind you of HBA

 

[jastel]

Very interesting Report.
One to add to the bucket.

 

[RooFlyer]

Boarding was delayed a bit. As usual, I went out of the lounge early to stretch my legs and noticed a queue already forming. Hmmmm ... no signage for Business Class. After a lap, I joined the queue. It was a E190 and I coveted the overhead bin space.

Close to boarding time a lady came up the queue checking passports Vs BPs. When she got to me (I was about 20th) I asked about Business boarding and she then told me to start a new queue up front. Not for business, just to form 2 queues.

Boarding commenced and after a long walk along the apron (no airbridges - just kike HBA!!) got on board and I got my stuff stowed OK.

Standard F190 seat plan, 2 rows of 1-2 in J - me in 1A





OK legroom, can't quite stretch out.



Off we go. Pilot said there would be turbulence on ascent, and he was right. Lasted about 10 minutes.





I put my Airpods in, closed my eyes and started listening to a podcast. After a while a gentle tap on the shoulder asking if I'd like a drink. Yes, G&T please - no problem.





I went back to listening to my podcast and a bit later I opened my eyes to see that the pax in row 1 C&E were having a meal tray put down. I waited a bit to see if I would be offered, but the CSM then helped the Y trolley down the back and I didn't see him again until top of descent! Fortunately I had had something in the lounge, but it was a strange occurrence. My glass etc didn't get collected but he did ask me to take the Airpod earpieces out for landing. Odd all round, but the flight arrived only a few minutes late ...



... and proceeded to stop at a bus 'gate' at the far end of the domestic terminal. Interesting relic parked there





Five minute bus ride to International Arrivals, to immigration Fast Track and through in minutes.

 

[RooFlyer]

Across to bus terminal, onto Premier Hotel shuttle, and I've scored another suite.









Could only get late check-out to 12:00; check in for QF63 tomorrow is 15:00. They wanted ~A$150 to extend to 3pm!!

 

[kpc]

Could only get late check-out to 12:00; check in for QF63 tomorrow is 15:00. They wanted ~A$150 to extend to 3pm!!

Checkin opens at 2pm!! ...and the Ba lounge also opens at 2pm! ps don't take photos in the lounge as I got told off doing so.

 

[RooFlyer]

Checkin opens at 2pm!! ...and the Ba lounge also opens at 2pm! ps don't take photos in the lounge as I got told off doing so.

I'm HLO and have just checked in on line, so I'm going to try my luck in getting into the terminal at 12-ish. May as well have lunch in the terminal somewhere.

Lounge is that bad, eh?

 

[kpc]

I'm HLO and have just checked in on line, so I'm going to try my luck in getting into the terminal at 12-ish. May as well have lunch in the terminal somewhere.

Lounge is that bad, eh?

Lounge is not bad at all including shower facilities....shower attendant tried to solicit a tip but too bad I already used up all my rand!

Landside towards the B checkin side, (not on the same level I think) there is a whole bunch of restaurants incl a food court. We had dinner on our last night at Ocean Basket as we were staying at City Lodge at the airport and wanted a change from the hotel restaurant

Alternatively have an upmarket lunch at Quills at IC hotel at airport...restaurant is undergoing renovation but I think is open.for lunch

 

[Daver6]

Boarding commenced and after a long walk along the apron (no airbridges - just kike HBA!!) got on board and I got my stuff stowed OK.

Unlike HBA you weren't rained on though

 

[RooFlyer]

Lounge is not bad at all including shower facilities....shower attendant tried to solicit a tip but too bad I already used up all my rand!

Landside towards the B checkin side, (not on the same level I think) there is a whole bunch of restaurants incl a food court. We had dinner on our last night at Ocean Best as we were staying at City Lodge at the airport and wanted a change from the hotel restaurant

Alternatively have an upmarket lunch at Quills at IC hotel at airport...restaurant is undergoing renovation but I think is open.for lunch

Thanks. I wish my digs, the Premier was closer - the restaurant here is pretty grim.

 

[RooFlyer]

Checkin opens at 2pm!! ...and the Ba lounge also opens at 2pm! ps don't take photos in the lounge as I got told off doing so.

Of course I wouldn’t doubt you, but I went up the escalators to check out the BA lounge at 12:30 and saw the sign that they opened at 16:00. rechecked on Google and they were saying something like 15:20.

SoI had something at the coughpy 'diner' underneath ( using up my last cash rand) and at 2:15 went up again to doublecheck and of course you were quite right - they were open .

Damn - their Wi-Fi is open and fast. I get 36Mbps. And to think I suffered with the coughpy SAAWi-Fi a couple of weeks ago. The lounge is directly opposite and I’m sure I could’ve stolen some BA bandwidth.

Nice lounge but following your advice I won’t attempt to take any pictures as there are staff everywhere.

Lounge filled up almost completely full by about 5 pm still an hour and a half to go to my flight but I’ve ducked out to get some exercise.

Oh look, how did that happen?







The bird





Just opposite. Hmmmm

 

[RooFlyer]

QF64 was an uneventful flight. Left 30 mins late and arrived 45 mins early due to strong tail winds.

PDB of Moet and the meal and drink service started soon after the seatbelt sign went off. No introduction from the CSM or any of the crew in particular.





Dinner was served reasonably efficiently. It was great to have a Reisling with the beetroot and feta salad, which was nice.



Unfortunately, that point the drinks service ceased. No top ups or opportunity to ask for a top up (except for ringing the bell) for either water or wine until they cleaned the dishes away.
Steak was good (note the state of the wine)



Very dry.



Arrival immigration was totally deserted when I got there, one of the first of the flight, as was customs. I got the secondary customs screening because of my African presence but waved straight through. It was seven minutes from exiting the plane to getting landside - absolutely a record for me.

SYD-xMEL-HBA to go

 

[RooFlyer]

Just to finish off. SYD lounge was crowded as ever; I tried to 'fly ahead' but nothing available.

SYD-MEL was my first boarding by groups on QF and it was a shambles; probably not the groups thing, but a shambles nevertheless. Departed 40 mins late after 20 min delay in boarding (??). I had a 2hr connection in MEL, but by the time I got off the plane I had 40 mins but fortunately arrived at a gate adjoining the departure.

Finished in HBA, Uber, and that was it.

Both Madikwe game park in RSA and the whole Intrepid 'Premium Namibia' trip lived up to expectations. Lotsa animals at the game park, and unique landscapes and Namibia. The tour was very good, made better by limited number and great travelling companions. The accommodation and tucker was a high standard throughout, but oh, those beds in Namibia! When I returned to India, I took an air mattress with me; I'd do the same for Namibia if I went back.

I probably won't again but I'd encourage anyone to go. Its safe, tidy and cheap, but many of the roads are awful. My overall tips here: Namibia

 

[kookaburra75]

Thanks again for the time and effort you have taken to put together your trip report - and sorry about hijacking it for my Dad Joke.

The photos and information will be invaluable for MrsK and me on our planning for our Grande Tour once I retire at end of next year.

 

[Daver6]

I wonder how much of a difference the season made to the unsealed road condition. We were there in early June and drove a lot on the unsealed roads and thought they were in excellent condition. Perhaps they had been recently graded

Our little Corolla had no issues, easily cruising on the unsealed roads between 70km/h to 100km/h for the most part.