We second that sentiment. There is more to Namibia than the brochures, and
we are at times very glad that the huge numbers of tourists find their way
to Kenya and other places, and leave Namibia to those that might enjoy
something more.
--
Sue & Jeri Drake
UK Shark Tagging Programme
http://www.ukshark.co.uk
"Koos Greeff" wrote in message
news:bhfibp$kl8$1@ctb-nnrp2.saix.net...
> Amen brother - you've said it!
>
> See you all in Namibia. Koos
>
>
> Slowcoach wrote in message
> news:3b3f8414.0308131549.3d4d7956@posting.google.com...
> > Hi All,
> >
> > I agree that Namibia is perhaps not the best place to go if your
> > primary interest is in seeing lots of wildlife. Given the harsh nature
> > of the country it can not compete in numbers for savannah game but
> > given its climate and lack of pests the game, in the fat years, is in
> > very good condition. We have been blessed to have seen fat years with
> > good rains but that may be now over and thin years may be on the way.
> >
> > That said there is a lot more to seeing the wildlife than visiting
> > Etosha and the odd game farm. The problem is that it is not easy or
> > often safe to view game outside these areas.
> >
> > I agree that the organised tours are run at a hectic and sometimes
> > lethal pace. This is really sad as it somehow misses the point. To my
> > mind, Namibia's strength is not in its set pieces. Its popular
> > attractions are widely spread and the bits in between could all be a
> > bit of a blur. This is a pity as it is quite easy to miss something as
> > big as an elephant standing in the bushes or a giraffe eyeing you from
> > behind a tree.
> >
> > I can not knock the appeal of Etosha or Sossusvlei but once seen I
> > have not found a strong incentive to see them again.
> >
> > Most of the wildlife is outside of Etosha, the game farms and other
> > fenced areas. Most of the sand is not at Sossusvlei. The problem is
> > that outside of these areas travelling is a bit more adventurous and a
> > good deal more hazardous than most people would consider suitable for
> > a holiday destination.
> >
> > It is not a mystery that we have never found anyone who wishes to
> > travel with us. People lose interest when we start talking about kit
> > lists, water calculations, survival rations etc.
> >
> > It is not of course necessary to travel like that. There are a number
> > of safari organisations that will take you out into the wilderness in
> > a fair but not excessive degree of comfort and a modicum of safety.
> >
> > I guess I am saying that there are still two Namibia's which can
> > largely be defined by the fenced and unfenced parts.
> >
> > Our preference is for the wilderness and it is still possible to camp
> > in the desert knowing that you are in a very real sense on your own.
> > Well nearly, just yourselves and your local guide, we are not that
> > silly.
> >
> > One final observations is that in our experience there is an inverse
> > relationship between cost and enjoyment. As the years have passed we
> > have got poorer our journeys cheaper but our enjoyment greater.
> >
> > This will not last for ever, commercialisation of the communal areas
> > is progressing at a fast pace and it is in general a thoroughly good
> > thing.
> >
> > If I shared my environment with elephants, hyena and lions I think I
> > would also wish to see a little bit more form the passing tourist than
> > a cloud of dust.
> >
> > There is much to be recommended in Namibia as a wildlife destination
> > but it is not the numbers. The great migrations ceased when Etosha was
> > fenced and the numbers of prey and predators have slumped.
> >
> > There is the small matter of setting. The desert areas are in my mind
> > very beautiful and to see a black rhino dance over the rocky terrain
> > or a Gemsbok stand proud on the plain is unforgettable.
> >
> > There are still things I wish to see and perhaps with time and
> > patience I will get to see an elephant crest a dune. The chance is
> > small to zero; but would not that be something.
> >
> > Best Wishes
> >
> > Alex
> >
> > Liz wrote in message
> news:...
> > > In message <3F3996B6.1E3CF7CB@africasafari.com>
> > > Dave Patterson wrote:
> > >
> > > > Liz - so very interesting! 2 questions - do you feel the
> > > > scenic assets of Namibia make up for the limited wildlife
> > > > experiences? I ask, because I am reluctant to send
> > > > people there who don't already know through their
> > > > own research what to expect.
> > > Not for me, personally - but it could be that things are better in the
> > > Caprivi area. I'm really glad to have been, but wouldn't be too upset
if
> I
> > > don't go again (perhaps excepting Caprivi). Unlike the longing to go
> back to
> > > Kenya/Tz, or even India were it not monsoon in the school hols, which
> is
> > > the only thing which stops me from handing in my notice!
> > >
> > > The thing I liked least was the long times travelling: I knew
beforehand
> > > that long times would be spent travelling, but couldn't find a trip
> which
> > > did the same 'stops' in three weeks (which would have been ideal for
me)
> > > without camping. Also in July there are only 11 hours daylight.
> Sometimes
> > > we'd get into a place about an hour before sunset and have to leave
> again
> > > just after breakfast. Trouble is, there wasn't anything on the trip I
> didn't
> > > want to see! Three weeks would have been so much better, but there
> > > presumably can't be a demand for three-week trips. I couldn't justify
> the
> > > expense of a fly-in trip, which in any case seem usually to be only
for
> a
> > > week.
> > >
> > > If people want to go to Africa mainly to see wildlife, I wouldn't
really
> > > recommend Namibia for a first trip. Mind you, if it was their first
> trip,
> > > they wouldn't be too disappointed, not knowing any better! If their
main
> > > focus wan't wildlife, then Namibia could be considered.
> > >
> > > I think I posted before (and should also put on my site) that there
are
> IMO
> > > a number of real advantages to Namibia: no hassle from locals
anywhere,
> no
> > > "good price for you, my friend"; 'feels' generally 'safer' in the
towns;
> > > drink the tap water; smooth, straight roads, etc. If someone has the
> usual
> > > Western perceptions of "Africa" they won't be met in Namibia: the
towns
> > > could be anywhere in Europe or America, but cleaner and with wider
> streets.
> > > There really couldn't be much more of a contrast between Nairobi and
> > > Windhoek! I understand things are very different 'north of the
> veterinary
> > > fence'.
> > >
> > > I think it would be great to self-drive there, but not for me as I
have
> no
> > > car maintenance skills: there are huge distances between habitations,
> and
> > > there isn't always a cellphone signal (though most of the 'main' roads
> are
> > > covered: there's a map which shows the coverage of the only cellphone
> > > company (??MNET??) available on their website. I asked our guide what
> would
> > > happen if we broke down outside cellphone range, and he said, "Maybe
I'd
> > > have a long walk": though there were always some other cars passing by
> who
> > > might have helped, or at least got a message 'out'.
> > >
> > >
> > > > And - how was the weather in July? I would expect
> > > > some cold nights, but your narrative doesn't indicate
> > > > that you had many weather complaints (or comments).
> > > The nights were cold, (I suppose) but everywhere we stayed had very
warm
> > > bedding, so it wasn't an issue. I only noticed it cold during the day
in
> > > Windhoek and Okonjima (windy). Mind you, we were so much in the
> vehicle.....
> > >
> > >
> > > > You were indeed lucky to have good travel companions.
> > > > With just the 3 of you, there's no hiding place from
> > > > unpleasant folks.
> > > Strangely, my fears weren't even of unpleasant folks! I hadn't even
> thought
> > > of that possibility! I was scared they'd not speak English (two
> companies I
> > > had contacted previoujsly indicated that guests were from all around
> Europe.
> > > One woman seemed surprised on the phone when I declined the last place
> on a
> > > vehicle with a group of seven Swedes travelling together. I've nothing
> > > against Swedes: I've been to Sweden and know that most Swedes talk
> English
> > > like they'd been born in the USA, but what incentive would there have
> been
> > > in such a group? So I thought that would have had all the
disadvantages
> of
> > > travelling in a group, but none of the advantages. Similarly, another
> > > company told me that they didn't know the exact composition of my
group,
> but
> > > that their ground agent takes bookings from Germany, Austria and the
UK.
> > >
> > > I was also nervous about the other people in the group being very
young,
> > > which was *one* of the things which put me off camping - from what I
> > > saw of the camping groups, this was a valid fear. In fact, in my group
> from
> > > the plane, all the others who were being picked up by the same ground
> agent
> > > were going on a camping trip: all were about 18-22 except for a couple
> I'd
> > > say in their late 50s, who were beginning to see that it hadn't been a
> good
> > > idea. They looked so apprehensive, starting when they had to push
their
> > > baggage up to the guide standing on the roof of the vehicle!
> > > I'd have loved to have met them at the end of their trip to see how
they
> > > enjoyed it, but they were only on a one-week trip.
> > >
> > > The other thing which would have been difficult for me would have been
> if
> > > the others hadn't been very keen on photography, but I had psyched
> myself up
> > > for this probability, so was extremely pleasantly surprised. I'm sure
> their
> > > photos will be much better, not least because they were using a
digital
> SLR
> > > with a 50 - 500 lens, so their top magnification would go to 800mm.
> > > They don't have a website though, and were reluctant to start one!
> > >
> > >
> > > > Thanks for the 'diary'.. I really enjoyed it and learned a
> > > > lot about some Namibia aspects I haven't experienced.
> > > > My wife has seen most of the country, but I've only
> > > > been to Windhoek & Swakopmund & Walvis Bay.
> > > All the accommodations we stayed in were absolutely fine. The rest
camps
> in
> > > Etosha are fairly basic: that wasn't a problem for me, but might be
for
> > > those who want pampering all through. Okakuejo had an incredibly noisy
> > > 'Butlins' atmosphere (I don't know the US equivalent of Butlins) which
I
> > > thought would be a problem around the waterhole or even doing game
> drives,
> > > but it certainly wasn't. I kept wondering where all the people had
> > > disappeared to, and everyone quietened down after 9 p.m. It seems the
> rest
> > > camp restaurants have improved a lot over the past few years: friends
> told
> > > me they were very basic, but we found them good.
> > >
> > > Certainly I loved the dunes both at Sossussvlei and between Swakop and
> > > Walvis Bay. I could easily have spent another full day at Sossussvlei.
> In
> > > one of the guest farms, there were some National Geogrphics in the
> bedroom,
> > > and I was reading one which had an article about Chad and thinking,
> "That is
> > > sooooooo beautiful."
>
>
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