Shark Island Lighthouse.

 



One of the most charming pieces of architecture in the country can be found in the quaint, little seaside town of Lüderitz. In fact, it is one of the main reasons we keep going back to this unreal, remote place wedged between the Atlantic to the West, the Namib to the East and two restricted areas to the North and South. The moment you enter Shark Island Lighthouse, perched on a steep rock just outside Lüderitz, the possibilities that this gem hold suggest themselves to you. The squeaky floor planks, the old French windows, and of course the lighthouse tower with the spiral staircase that leads all the way up to a roof-top terrace. The signs of neglect and non-maintenance can be seen all over this NWR property, but this only adds to your urge to buy it and turn it into a small guest house or cafe. The view from the front porch is so amazing, you can just sit there all day long and watch the fishermen without the slightest sense of boredom.

Que Tapas.

We try to stay away from soulless malls and too much retail pollution. And until recently there was no good reason to head for Maerua Mall, most definitely not for food. Unless you like some uniform junk from Wimpy or Panarottis that is. Enter a few Spaniards with enough style and vibe to make even the most drab shopping arcade a happening place. Whenever we feel like some leisurely eating and a glass of red or cold cerveza, we now head for Qué Tapas on the upper level of the Maerua courtyard. If the Spanish regulars you can meet there on any evening of the week are anything to go by, the tapas on offer are authentic Iberian fare. Try a portion of tortilla and some olives in oil and garlic!

Mopane.





Try something new this year for decorations. Thanks to the versatile Mopane tree, which provides us with its signature angel wing leaves, Easter and Christmas and any other special occasion can easily become uniquely Namibian. Try to dust them with gold spray to make intricate ornaments. Or maybe make them appear on eggs, which you have coloured with onion peel with only the distinct Mopane shape remaining uncoloured. Be on the lookout, there will soon be essential oils from Mopane pods to fragrance your body lotion and shampoo. So, what applications can you think of for Mopane?

NamibRand Family Hideout.

         

If you want to get away from it all and spend a few days in complete relaxation, you should head for the wonderful, rustic Family Hideout in the private NamibRand Nature Reserve. And a hideout it is. From the front porch you look out to an endless sea of grass that washes up against rugged mountains in the far distance. Just a few hundred metres behind the house red sand dunes grace the eye in stark contrast to lush green trees and the crisp blue sky. For breakfast a bunch of Sprinboks pass by and for sundowner a lonely Oryx pays his regular visit. And this as exciting as it gets. Else, there is only you and the occasional bird and silence and peace. And the starlit night. http://www.hideout.iway.na/

The Stellenbosch.

To the Namibian culinary crowd, the Cape Winelands are always a bit like the grass that is much, much greener on the other side. No year without a trip of recreation from the mediocrity of dull country fare to check out new concepts and tastes between Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. Well, that is now a matter of the past. Since late in 2011 the oak city lends its name to »The Stellenbosch - Wine Bar & Bistro«, a refreshingly sophisticated yet relaxed restaurant between Klein Windhoek and Ludwigsdorf. Have some buttery avo with olive oil and sea salt for starter, then go for a divine Biltong and blue cheese salad with homemade bread, and finish off with an Amarula creme brûlée. Linger for longer in the airy courtyard and listen to the gentle stream of water from the central fountain. Of course with a good red from the Cape.

The Fish Deli.

When we go to Swakop over the weekend, we make sure we arrive well before 13:00 on Saturday. Because that is when the Fish Deli closes. And that would mean to miss all the seafood goodness on offer at Namibia's most wonderful fishmonger. In fact, the Fish Deli has become one of the main reasons to go to Swakop. First, we would have a big portion of fish and chips, as well as joghurt with berries for dessert. Then, we stock up on angelfish scewers and marinated kingklip for the evening braai, plus a huge container of creamed herring to take back to Windhoek and get us through the week on the mainland. Fortunately, Katja and Martin (they guys behind the Fish Deli) were wise enough to broaden their reach to the capital in recent months. Some of their delicacies can now also be found at Seawork and Superspar. But for some reason we still make sure we are at the coast on time...

Free Map Collection of Namibia.

If there is one thing you should do in Namibia, it is obviously traveling.  From Orange River to Kunene, from coast to Kalahari, Namibia's landscapes are as diverse as its people. And roads, though not necessarily perfect in all places, extend into the most remote corners of the country. Fortunately, there is no need to buy expensive maps for orientation and route planning (unless you want to go off-road and need GPS coordinates). Just head for the nearest tourist info and get yourself a free »Map Collection of Namibia«, featuring separate maps for Northern and Southern Namibia, plus city maps of Windhoek, Swakop and Walvis. Oh, and they obviously make their money via advertising, which isn't a bad thing either, as some of your destinations, i.e., lodges, are indicated already. Which is how we made it into every single copy of the map collection ever since the 2010/11 edition. Yes, the guy in the canary yellow jersey in the passenger seat of the game drive vehicle at Erindi, that's me.