Planning a trip, highlights and helpful links, Namibia

Favorite thing: Exploring a country on your own takes a different dimension when you know what you are doing, and makes the waiting and preparation to get there so much more fun!! (Warning - such research is especially wonderful and enticing if you are supposed to be studying for an important exam instead!! .......)

Do invest in a guide book, to help with the preparation and to take with you for reference. The best one around at the moment is Bradt's Namibia

If you are a wildlife lover like me, than it is absolutely necessary to familiarise yourself with what you might encounter BEFORE setting foot in Namibia. A good all round book for general information is Bradt's Southern African Wildlife. If you will need more detail, especially concerning the birds, one of the best guides around is Sassol's Birds of Southern Africa. More info on animal behaviour can be found in the excellent book The Safari Companion (Richard D.Estes)

Of course all this should be supplemented by plenty of research from the net, and especially VT ;-)

Favorite thing: Namibia was the experience of a lifetime. There was, in retrospect, no way we would not have loved our trip to this out of the way and beautiful land.

But our guide, Julia Tress, made it so much more special. If you'd like to find Julia, she works for CCAfrica. Contact them at www.ccafrica.com. Tell her that Pete from Florida recommended her.... and tip her well.

There are quite a few very good guides in the area. My advice is to find people who've traveled with guides and ask for names. Word of mouth means more than anything else.

Fondest memory: The bonding that took place between our wonderful guide Julia and my daugher Sara. Julia made the trip special for Sara, and since we went TO Namibia primarily to satiate my daughter's love of wildlife, her contribution was the prime factor in making this trip one of the best we'll ever take.

Favorite thing: Malaria:
The Risk of catching Malaria is different depending on what Areas you visit.

Areas:
high Risk (time=months): Cubango-Valley, Kunene-Valley, Caprivi Strip (1-12); rest of the North, as well as Etosha Park, Otjozondjupa, Omaheke (11-6)
Risk (time): rest of the North, as well as Etosha Park, Otjozondjupa, Omaheke (7-10)
Free from Malaria: Cities and the South

It is advised in any case to protect yourself agains Mosquito bites. Use repellent and wear long, light clothes in the morning and evening.
If you stay in a high risk Area, you have to take the Malaria medication before, during and after your journey: Mefloquin (LARIAM® / MEPHAQUIN®), or Atovaquon + Proguanil (MALARONE®) or Doxycyclin.
If you are staying in a risk area, you have to have the Malaria medication with you, but you only have to take it, if you get fever. :
(Mefloquin (LARIAM® / MEPHAQUIN®), or Atovaquon + Proguanil (MALARONE®) or Artemether + Lumefantrin (RIAMET®))

Prepare for the stay:
The following immunisations are advised for everyone:
Diphtherie , Tetanus , Hepatitis A , Poliomyelitis
In special situations (if you work for helo groups and so) the following is advised:
Hepatitis B , Abdominaltyphus , Tollwut

Yellow fever: If you come from an yellowfever endemic area you have to have your shots (and prove for it)

AIDS/HIV:
This is a BIG problem here. About 20% of the working population is positive. 18'000 new infections per year.
The hospitals are good and you will not have any problems with transmission there. But if you think about Sex, use a condom! There is just no way around it.

Medication:
take with you what you normally need. Remember, the next hospital or pharmacy can be some hundred miles away.
Don't forget something against Pain, First Aid Kit, Diarrhoe (not a big problem, but anyway), and maybe some Antibiotics.

Favorite thing: Meet the Desert Elephants
SENSITIVE and sustainable tourism can solve many conservation problems, says Johannes Haasbroek, founder of Elephant Human Relations Aid (EHRA).

His organisation has started a project to bring in groups of overseas environmental volunteers for four weeks at a time.

"It works on the same basis as Earthwatch, but is much more labour intensive," says Haasbroek.

With a group arriving each month from June to October this year, Haasbroek hopes to build at least five new protected water points for communities in the Sorris Sorris conservancy.

About six farms in the area were left without water during the past rainy season when elephants moved into the area to find green mopani trees.

Desert elephants have been returning to the Ugab River and surrounding areas in the Erongo Region over the past couple of years after an absence of about 50 years.
With their numbers on the increase, communal farmers have been the hardest hit as the jumbos effortlessly destroy water points in their quest for fresh water.

These water points are the local communities only lifeline to survival in an otherwise desert environment.

At the same time the struggling communities have come to realise the value of the elephants in terms of tourism and the income they could generate for them.

One solution to promote symbiosis between the communities and elephants is to build protective walls around water points.
ttp://www.gvi.co.uk/pages/projectDetail.asp?page=datesc&expedition=65

Fondest memory: The vast open spaces - magnificent colours - amazing landscapes

Favorite thing: Meet the Desert Elephants
SENSITIVE and sustainable tourism can solve many conservation problems, says Johannes Haasbroek, founder of Elephant Human Relations Aid (EHRA).

His organisation has started a project to bring in groups of overseas environmental volunteers for four weeks at a time.

"It works on the same basis as Earthwatch, but is much more labour intensive," says Haasbroek.

With a group arriving each month from June to October this year, Haasbroek hopes to build at least five new protected water points for communities in the Sorris Sorris conservancy.

About six farms in the area were left without water during the past rainy season when elephants moved into the area to find green mopani trees.

Desert elephants have been returning to the Ugab River and surrounding areas in the Erongo Region over the past couple of years after an absence of about 50 years.
With their numbers on the increase, communal farmers have been the hardest hit as the jumbos effortlessly destroy water points in their quest for fresh water.

These water points are the local communities only lifeline to survival in an otherwise desert environment.

At the same time the struggling communities have come to realise the value of the elephants in terms of tourism and the income they could generate for them.

One solution to promote symbiosis between the communities and elephants is to build protective walls around water points.
ttp://www.gvi.co.uk/pages/projectDetail.asp?page=datesc&expedition=65

Fondest memory: The vast open spaces - magnificent colours - amazing landscapes

Favorite thing: The Republic of Namibia is located in south-western Africa. It is one of the most arid regions in Africa. Here you can find the Namib Desert, parts of the Kalahari Desert and the Fish River Canyon!

Namibia is one of the least densely populated countries in the world: 2 inhabitants per square kilometer compared to 200 inhabitants per square kilometer in central Europe.

Namibia is a fantastic travel destination with its scenic beauty, the rich wildlife, its interesting history and the friendly people! There is a lot of sightseeing to do and especially the wildlife at the Etosha NP was the one thing, that fascinated me most!

Favorite thing: Just as a general tip, let me point out that the South African Rand is interchangeable with the local Namibian $ for cash transactions. In some cases, you'll even be given South African coins or bills as change in Namibia.

This comes in handy if you wish to obtain cash before entering Namibia. While $N are tough to find outside Namibia, most large international airports in Europe and Asia will have a ready supply of South African Rand for exchange.

Favorite thing: I have been told it is a good place to stay for a while, unfortunately I spent my whole 8 days here in hospital, and only got to see half a day and 1 night of it :(

Fondest memory: Holding baby cheetah cubs, at a cheetah farm, just outside of Etosha NP.