The Farmhouse.

Travelling in Namibia means travelling for long distances, hours on end in some instances. Thankfully, the country is dotted with a number of charming cafés that offer a green sanctuary along your way through the arid country. In Outjo, just South of Etosha National Park, »The Farmhouse« awaits weary travellers with freshly brewed coffee and heavenly pies and gateaux. Served on rustic enamelware a generous helping of Mississippi Mud Pie or Carrot Cake will be all you need to get you going again. Of course, their extensive menu also features savoury dishes for those with a less sweet tooth. Sit back and unwind in their tranquil garden and recharge batteries for the next leg of your trip.

Free & Easy.

Namibia can be quite an expensive, bordering on ridiculously overpriced, destination. Fortunately, the smart guys at tour operator Sense of Africa some years back had the great idea to introduce a last-minute accommodation voucher system for Namibia. It's as simple as can be and opens up some of the most luxurious lodges around the country to less loaded travellers. For Namibian residents a voucher for a double room is N$480 (approx. EUR50), bed only. The rate for tourists is slightly higher but still very affordable. When buying your vouchers from Sense of Africa they will also give you a little brochure that contains all establishments that are part of the Free & Easy system. Whenever you are on the road and looking for accommodation, simply consult the booklet and call your lodge of choice. Reservations can be made earliest 72 hours in advance before arrival.

www.senseofafrica-namibia.com

Ibenstein Weavers.

Not many people make the effort to venture off the beaten track all the way to the sleepy hamlet of Dordabis. However, Ibenstein Weavers, Namibia's oldest weavery, is definitely enough reason to embark on the short drive out into the veld, where skilled crafters produce the most beautiful, high-quality carpets you'll find in Namibia. Manager Wolfgang will gladly give you a tour of their premises and explain the entire process from raw Karakul wool, sourced from Southern Namibia, to finished carpet. All is done by hand right here at Ibenstein in an almost archaic, low-tech kind of way, including the old wooden looms that populate the workshop. So, bring your own design, choose your preferred colours from their huge palette (wool dyed on-site as well), and wait for delivery to your home a few weeks later.

www.ibenstein-weavers.com.na

Teufelskrallen Tented Lodge.

Who would've guessed that just outside the nondescript town of Kalkrand lies a picturesque weekend retreat called Teufelskrallen Tented Lodge. While the check-in and restaurant area pays homage to its farming past, the six tended rooms a few kilometres away on the first string of dunes of the Kalahari desert are all about understated luxury. Make sure you are booked into one of their more spacious tent houses (instead of the less comfy house tents). The tents are all built on wooden platforms, though, from where you have an uninterrupted view over the grassy plains of the Karoo. Through the windows of the cosy reading nook on the other side of your room you can overlook the undulating sea of red dunes that stretches all the way into Botswana. Your own bathroom in a separate little hut is accessible via a raised walkway, making it an even more maritime adventure. Service is honest and friendly, meals are moreish, homey country fare, and the entire experience is surprisingly affordable.

www.teufelskrallenlodge.com

Fruit & Veg.

Admittedly a bit on the pricey side of the retail spectrum when it comes to dairy, drinks and dry stuff, Fruit & Veg, aka the Footlover's Market, is THE place to go to for fresh produce. There are shelves and shelves laden with everything from avos to parsley and butternut to bananas, making it the grocer with probably the broadest selection of vegetables and fruit you get anywhere in the country. And it's not only imported things. The procurement department apparently makes an effort to source locally where possible. To complete the shopping experience they also have an entire wall with containers of exotic nuts, dried fruit and treats. The bakery section is a destination of its own, as is the in-store butchery and biltong station.
Head for their downtown branch if you are a fan of buzz, or drive out to Kleine Kuppe in case you like it more tranquil. The Swakopmund branch was revamped recently.

http://www.fruitandvegcity.co.za

Fishmonger's.

Finally! A fish bistro that brings the bliss of coastal retreats to the capital. No wonder Fishmonger's in Adler St is fast becoming Windhoek's favourite Friday lunchtime spot. Make sure you are there well in time before 13:00 to secure one of the benches outside in the courtyard or a place on their maritime wooden furniture close to the open kitchen. Here's where the young and friendly team is busy preparing honest seafood fare that beats any of the more fancy oyster and crustacean places around town. Order a glass of cold white to welcome the weekend ahead while you wait for your scrumptious fish burger or giant portion of fish and chips. Best fries in town! They also have great shushi and other dishes in case you want to extend your lunch into the late afternoon.

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