Ok, where's Africa?

Namibia reputedly has the highest standard of living in Africa. Flush with diamonds, abundant uranium and other minerals, vast fishing grounds, productive agriculture, a relatively honest and stable government, good education and a Gernanic tradition, one gets cleanliness, order, efficiency and a lack of anticipation and excitement of what may be around the corner that we have experienced in other Africa countries. When I asked our guide if all of the country was like what we were experiencing, he said yes, unless ones goes deep into the countryside. That's great for the Namibians, but hard on someone trying write something interesting. I mean how much German efficiency can one take when looking for the next mind blowing shot?

As we left the Port on Sunday morning, this is what we experienced on the streets, not only in Walvis Bay, but Swakopmund as well. Large, well maintained roads, with nary a vehicle on them and no people to be found. Our guide assured us that because it was Sunday morning and Mother's Day as well, traffic would be light. It was non existent.

We headed inland from the port to visit Dune 7, the highest dune in Namibia. Now this is desert. No vegetation, no animals, just sand as far as the eye can see. Unlike the southern desert in Namibia, there are no diamonds here so one is free to roam to their heart's content, although why one would is beyond me. The only things you might run across are dung beetles and an occasional snake. As you travel along the well paved road you see nothing but sand until you reach the dunes area and then the landscape gets interesting.

The dunes done, it was time to head off to Swakopmund, the resort city of Namibia, situated directly on the Atlantic Ocean. The city swells to over one hundred thousand people in season as Namibians and South Africans flock to the wide beaches, great restaurants and good weather.

The first thing that hits one is that all of the signs are in English and all of the buildings look like they were moved here from Bavaria.

We were on a Swakopmund on your own tour and had plenty of time to wander the deserted streets. Outside the small, town museum we had a nice lunch of curry wurst and pfannkuchen with a great view of the beach.

We finally did come across some of the indeginous people. The first in a stop at a weavers shop where one woman was dressed in typical native city dress and then strolling in a park, we came across a group of native women in dress more typical of the tribal lands.

We had one more stop in Namibia,Walvis Bay, the largest town on the coast and historically the most important. It is home to a wonderful harbor as well as a large bird sanctuary. It was also typically German in architecture and every other way one could think up. It is amazing how the Germanic tradition and mind set could still prevail considering Germany lost German West Africa after World War One. The parts of Namibia we visited were truly Germany in Africa.

Next stop will be Cotonou, Benin where we are going into the country side to board canoes and visit a stilted village, in a large lake, inhabited since the 17th century. Then Lome, Togo were we will bypass the city and again head into the countryside to Sanguera, the seat of the Vodoo Religion and home to the Python Temple. Things should get much more interesting.

 

 

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