The Legend Safari
 Tour 2006
 Namibia - Zimbabwe - Zambia
 Tanzania, including Zanzibar

Namibia - June 7 to 22 back to Namibia
 

June 7:
 Windhoek: Namibia is one of the most beautiful countries in southern Africa and its capital, Windhoek, is a small but pleasant city.
However, like any other capital city in the world, tourists are prime targets for criminals. Tip
There are plenty of great restaurants in Windhoek, most of which are reasonably priced. We found the best seafood restaurant to be the Ocean Basket, situated near the Kalahari Sands Hotel in the CBD. There are also several internet cafes in the city, and great shopping facilities.
It's also easy to change travellers' cheques and forex into the local currency (Rand or Namibian dollars) and there are several ITMs. But,  be careful when getting money from an ITM as there are always people hanging around watching your every move.
If you happen to get sick and have to be hospitalised try to get into the Roman Catholic Hospital, situated in the centre of the city. The professionalism and dedication by its medical staff is second to none.
Still jetlagged we chose to spend three nights at the Hotel Pension Christoph, a delightful, quiet,  B&B establishment,  run by Amanda and situated only a short drive from the city centre. Unlike a lot of accommodation in southern Africa, everything at 'the Christoph' works - hot water, toilets, lights, television - and it's spotlessly clean.
Again, the rates had risen from the previous year, but at around N$460 per night, including breakfast, it's really good value. It is a popular stopover, so we suggest you make a booking early.
June 11: Nearly over our jetlag (but not quite) we headed off to Omaruru,a small, but pleasant town, in central Namibia, to pick up our Toyota Hilux, which had broken down whilst being ferried to Windhoek.
There we stayed at the Central Hotel in a roomy, semi-detached thatched-roofed room at the rear of the hotel. The cost of N$470 for two, including dinner, drinks and breakfast was good value, even though the manageress was quite unpleasant and seemed to have very little command of the English language as all she could do was grunt and glare!
Not very welcoming, but the pleasant young woman behind the bar made up for it!
June 12:
Walvis Bay: Picking up our now-repaired vehicle we were back on the road again, this time to Walvis Bay, on the Atlantic Coast.
We usually stay in one of the self-contained units at Lagoon Chalets, but a google search for accommodation found Ana's Inn, situated only a couple of blocks from the ocean and, at N$280 per room, per night, a lot better value than the N$480/room being asked at the 'Chalets'.
The room was smallish, had a tiny kitchen, an en suite and television, was clean and everything worked. The 'Inn' also offers secure parking, an in-ground pool and a  braii (barbeque) area. The owner, Andre, is a friendly, nice man who made us feel most welcome.
The port of Walvis Bay is situated only 30-kilometres south of Namibia's main tourist area, Swakopmund, but is a lot less commercialised. It offers several good restaurants, but one most definitely not to be missed is 'Willie Probst'. Open during the day only, it offers a selection of light meals, tasty pastries and cakes.
Two out of our three days at Walvis Bay saw beautiful, sunny weather, averaging around 23-degrees, but then 'The Mist' rolled in, bringing true winter weather. 'The Mist' is a phenomena which rolls in from the Atlantic ocean and into the Namib Desert for about 40-kilometres, bringing lifesaving moisture to the desert's animals and plant life.
When you realise that the annual average rainfall in this area of Namibia is only about three millimetres a year you understand how important the mist is.
And, if you need the services of a barber, see John at 'Salon Sir' on Sam Njoma drive, who will give you a haircut and fill you in on all the latest gossip!
June 15:
Swakopmund: Leaving Walvis Bay we travelled to Swakopmund, which was also shrouded in mist,





There we were welcomed by the very hospitable Keith and Spring at the Seagull B&B, just across the road from the ocean, in a quiet area of town.
The Seagull offers a variety of self-contained units, with television and en suite, and is quite popular. The only room available for us didn't have a sea view, but opened on to a lovely courtyard. At N$280 per room per night it was great value. Keith is a 'walking encyclopaedia' on Swakopmund, and indeed most of Namibia.
Swakopmund boasts a huge variety of boutiques, supermarkets, souvenir shops, restaurants and bars.
Our favourite has always been the 'Lighthouse Restaurant', situated right on the water's edge and hugely popular with tourists. Sadly, this old building is to be demolished and replaced with a high rise hotel complex by about the end of 2007. We were delighted to find that the Ocean Basket restaurant group had opened a restaurant, on the water's edge, in the Strand Hotel - don't miss it whatever you do.
Another popular lunchtime venue is the Village Cafe, situated in the main drag, which is reasonably price and very popular.
June 18:
Otavi:It was with regret that we left the Atlantic Coast, but it was good to cross the Namib desert, shake off the jeans, sweaters and jackets, and hop into shorts and t-shirts!
Our destination - Zimbabwe. As usual, we stayed at the Otavi Gardens Hotel, phone/fax +264 67 234334, which offers rooms, (with en suite) in the old hotel, or in one of the new thatched cabins. This year we chose a room in the hotel, at a cost of N$200 a night, including breakfast.
Other meals are available in the nice bar/restaurant area and are , whilst basic, inexpensive. The breakfast is quite filling.
Otavi is close to 500-kilometres inland from the coast and is a very small town with very few facilities, except a brand new service station. Surprisingly, there is a well-stocked supermarket with a small coffee shop attached.
June 19:
Rundu: Some 350-kilometres north-east of Otavi is Rundu, a large town on the Kavango River, near the Angolan border. Before arriving at Rundu we had to cross the 'Red Line', a quarantine station which also seems to indicate  going from the relative affluence of a first world country into the third world section.
There are several hotels and lodges in Rundu, most of which we have stayed at in previous years.
This year we chose to spend our two nights at the Ngandu Lodge, situated on a rise, just on the northern outskirts of the town. We chose the 'semi-luxury' room with television and en suite, costing N$430 per room per night, including breakfast. We had dinner there one night, but went to the Omashare Hotel another night as it probably has the best menu at 'fairly' reasonable prices. At this stage there are no coffee shops in the town (one will be opening early next year) for a light meal so it's best to go to one of the hotels.
While there it was good to be able to meet up with our Namibian family, Izi, Diana, IJ and Freddie, along with Daniel and Bitti. Our association with this wonderful family started many years ago when our (previous) vehicle died and we needed to return to Zimbabwe to catch a flight back to Oz. Izi helped us out and has done so many times when we have needed assistance. Since that time all of us have become close friends, despite a difference in age.What kind and helpful people one can meet whilst travelling around!
Izi has represented Namibia in International fishing competitions and now runs fishing safaris on the Kavango River from Namibia and Angola. He can be contacted here for further information.
June 21:
Katima Mulilo: From Rundu we drove 500-kilometres to Katima Mulilo to overnight at the Mukusi Cabins, near the Engen Service Station.
As the name suggests, the accommodation comprises a variety of cabins, (some) with en suite and television. Ours cost N$380 per night excluding breakfast. A word of warning, trying to make a reservation at this establishment by phone is very frustrating and drawn out as the receptionists seem to have difficulty with the English language. Evening meals are available, are reasonably priced, but are basic. The place has a nice bar, manned by friendly staff.
Mukusi also has cabins overlooking the Zambezi River, which is a very pleasant spot.
June 22: At last we were on the last leg of our journey to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, some 300-kilometres away, but first we had to go through immigration and fill out the necessary paperwork for our vehicle at the Namibia/Botswana/Zimbabwe border posts.
Not much of a drama there, but the border posts into Zimbabwe take a while. Finally, Zimbabwe, and our special friends. Zimbabwe