Most Inspirational Moment
Yeah - I can't decide - Climbing to the top of the Waterburg plateau was fun and challenging, resulting in a fantastic view; the sand dune climb was a terrific experience (we saw a dancing white lady spider!); the hike back to Deadvlei (no other tourists here!!); the phenomenal waterhole experience at Etosha, and interactions with the Damara, Himba and Herero were all so good. We also did an extra 2 hour dunes flight out of Swakopmund (arrangements made by the tour guide), and the Living Deserts Tour in Swakopmund - both well worth it.
Thoughts on Group Leader
We benefitted from 2 group leaders: Sven and Shane. Both were very knowledgeable, capable and enthusiastic. They helped several of us out a couple of times - I left my credit card at a shop - no problem - let's go get it; one person's bank card got sucked into an ATM - she got help cancelling the card and getting to a bank, and one night we were investigated by a curious elephant that resulted in some minor tent damage - new tent the next day! They were very patient with lots of bathroom requests, the need to stop and photograph each and every elephant, and our desire to stop at roadside stands to shop. VERY very good - both of them. Our camp assistant was Ruben (not sure of the spelling), and he did a LOT more than assist. He set up and broke down the campsite, prepared our meals, did the dishes, and was very interesting to talk with about current Herero lifestyle. A VERY nice and hard working man.
Advice for Potential Travellers
A couple of things: Rand was accepted freely everywhere with the possible exception of the Living Deserts Tour in Swakopmund (although I'm sure you can check that out ahead of time). And since Rand can be converted back to Euros and USD, it might be worth getting more Rand than Namibian dollars. ATM's work for some and not for others, so do your homework ahead of time and make sure the ATM system in Namibia meshes with your bank at home (it didn't for us, but we had done our homework). Biltong!! Yes - we wanted to bring some back to the US, but you may get asked to go to the Agriculture desk at US customs. Our group had mixed results - some were allowed to bring it in, others had to surrender it. Electricity: You need a specific Namibia/South Africa plug configuration which kits do not contain, even if they say Africa. Again we had done our homework and the entire group borrowed our adapter throughout the trip. Do plan on the add-on activities in Swakopmund. We did the 2 hour flight over the dunes which was well worth it. Not only do you gain an appreciation of the vastness of the dunes, you also see lots of other things like shipwrecks, abandoned mining camps, the salt works, seals and flamingoes. We also did the Living Deserts Tour. This was led by Chris who was masterfully multilingual, entertaining as well as passionately environmentally aware. Everyone enjoyed themselves, saw some small creatures and really learned respect for a very fragile ecosystem. Well suited for youth and adults with no difficult walking.
Suggestions
Namibia is a surprising mix of recent modernity and traditional tribal lifestyles. The country is VERY clean (even fuel station toilets were shockingly clean), the water was potable everywhere, and there was reliable electricity at all of the campsites. With that said, don't expect first world product availability - come prepared with enough batteries, camera storage and personal care items to get you through the trip. Basic things like soap and shampoo were available almost everywhere, as well as soft drinks, alcoholic beverages and snacks. On the days when meals are on your own, most restaurants had a fairly standard selection of beef and game; not a lot of choices for vegetarians. At this writing, things were VERY modestly priced compared to what we're accustomed to in the US, making souvenir shopping very affordable. Sleep as much as you can prior to Etosha because you should do your very best to stay up all night at the waterhole. We were there during the dry season, and the animals flock to it. There were over 100 elephants at one point, drinking, sparring and trumpeting. And the rhinos - RIGHT ON CUE - we saw 6 each night! At one point an adolescent elephant decided to challenge a big rhino, only to be put in his place. A smaller elephant then approached the rhino, flapping his ears and succeeding in gaining ground. So fascinating! The vehicle has a refrigerator for drinks, a set of animal and bird ID books, and a very good invertor for charging (remember - you need the adapter!) Shopping: My only regret on this trip is that I didn't completely take advantage of shopping at the right times. We stopped on the beach to look at a shipwreck and several Damara men were selling minerals from their home towns. This was a great opportunity to buy very well priced stones if you're interested. We stopped at a roadside stand and were able to purchase wood carvings, dolls and jewelry from Himba and Herero women, all traditionally dressed. When asked, the ladies were kind enough to allow us to take pictures. In the town of Outjo, there was a great souvenir shop across the street from a breakfast stop whose selection and pricing was very good. In Namutoni (Etosha) there were 2 souvenir shops with lots of local items as well as masks from a variety of African countries. The shop exteriors don't look like much, but make sure you go in - lots of interesting items inside! Back to the money: while we were there it seemed that ATMs worked well, although one person on our trip had her bank card sucked in by the machine. So make sure you have backup with you. WiFi was sporadic or nonexistent. Cell phone use was not possible for us although we did not do extensive research. Shoes: You don't need hiking boots for the dunes: in fact, the sand is so soft you could actually climb in your bare feet with no ill effects. The hike up to the top of Waterburg plateau is steep, rocky and strenuous. Sturdy shoes are recommended although we did it in good quality sport sandals. Do participate in the hike even if you're not sure about making it to the top. You can always stop and sit, with amazing views and the possible sighting of Dassies, until the rest of the group summits and returns. Finally, don't be fooled by daytime hot temperatures: It's really really cold at night! Bring a hat, fleece, long pants, neck gaitor - you'll be glad. This is a GREAT TRIP - book it now! (PS - almost forgot - we drove up to an oryx kill right next to the road - 10 lions, and when they finished, 6 or more hyenas and innumerable jackals. I took at least 400 pix right there and my husband took a LOT of video. Sure - this was lucky - but WOW!!!) Hmmm - as I write this - maybe I should think about booking it again ...