Lemon & Mint Cooler.

 

It's that time of year again when you constantly crave a fizzy drink with plenty of ice cubes, a drink that is refreshing and full of flavours but not too sweet. To make sure they don't have to revert to alcoholic options all the time or brake the bank for ready-made beverages, Namibians have perfectioned the art of preparing wonderful Lemon & Mint Coolers. The most important ingredient is, of course, good quality lemon syrup made from Namibian lemons that grow in gardens and on farms around the country. Order a bottle from the Organic Box or buy one at your local farmers market. Pour a generous amount according to your liking into a glass, then add a few ice cubes, a slice of lemon and some leaves of fresh mint. Top up with soda water and enjoy. It's sunshine in a glass.

Katutours.

Do something different today and book a bicycle tour of Katutura. Energetic entrepreneur Anna Mafwila and her colleagues at innovative tour operator Katutours will give you the complete lowdown on Windhoek's former township as you roll along buzzing markets and quiet corners. The social business takes tourists and locals out of their cars and onto the streets to experience the life of everyday Namibians up close. The guides make sure they visit plenty of community projects and other businesses where you can buy a fresh bread, local produce or other authentic items. After a three hour ride, you have had some proper exercise, done something for the environment, and supported local businesses. What a rewarding experience! Tours start and end at Penduka, so you can unwind afterwards and digest all the impressions and inputs with a cold beer overlooking beautiful Goreangab Dam.

www.katuturatours.com

Polytech Hotel School.

Tasty treats needn't be rediculously expensive in Windhoek! The Polytechnic Hotel School's Aloe restaurant has mastered the art of creating an ever-changing lunch menu with yummy dishes at bargain prices. And, with NICE head-chef Ralf Herrgott now at the helm in the Aloe kitchen, things have even improved a few notches. Indulge your senses with moreish meals, such as homemade butternut ravioli, game ragout with poached pear, and Italian-style Tiramisu. Starters and desserts come at N$10 and mains are only N$30. All this is served in their charming courtyard setting in the up-and-coming Windhoek West area, just off Polytech's library campus. If the fare at commercial outlets would only be half as good, we'd all be living in foodie paradise here in Windhoek.

Gondwana Collection.

They don't have to most luxurious lodges and rack rates are not a bargain, but Gondwana Collection definitely takes the cake when it comes to great value for money when travelling the beautiful country. What makes their establishments from Fish River to Damaraland stand out from the crowd is their honest and unpretentious service. While staff at most other lodges are either grumpy or overly obedient and submissive, Gondwana people approach you on eye level and are never short of a good chat, while still maintaining a professional distance. Food is moreish country fare and when you retreat to your well-equipped room after an enjoyable evening, you can look forward to a good night's rest (and a decent breakfast the next morning).
For Namibian residents Gondwana is especially affordable. For a once-off fee of N$100 you get your personalized Gondwana Card, with which you are eligible for a 50% discount on accommodation and 25% on meals, for the rest of your life and without restrictions. We think that's a system many more lodges and lodge operators should have copied long ago. For now, it remains Gondwana's unique selling point with the local tourist clientele, a market that will surely become more important in the wake of overseas visitor numbers declining rapidly.

www.gondwana-collection.com

MoiYa Artisan Deli.

The Namibian culinary scene is developing rapidly! The latest addition to the foodie world is MoiYa Artisan Deli, which was launched with a fest of artisan bread, cheese and tapenades. Even Camelthorn Brewery was there to help the crowd wash down all delicacies with their refreshing sundowner beer until late after sunset. Now MoiYa's spanking new premises at the Village on Liliencron are open for daily business. They have a small and changing lunch menu every day for guests to enjoy in their beautiful garden setting. Food is well-priced and tasty and just the right portion for lunch. Being a true deli, however, they offer a large variety of hand-crafted chocolates, single-variety olives and olive oil, fresh produce from the Organic Box, and bread freshly baked on site. All is set for this intimate place to become Windhoek's new hotbed of epicurean delights. Let's only hope the team manages to find more Namibian suppliers; and that they start having second thoughts about the deli pricing structure, which doesn't seem to go down too well even with foodies prepared to fork out considerable amounts of money for their daily bread.

Sundowner.

Even in summer, evenings in Southern Africa are rather short, so the few hours between the end of the working day and dusk have to be celebrated thoroughly. A much-loved ritual for this time of day in Namibia and neighbouring countries is the so-called sundowner, which essentially is a drink enjoyed, well, during sunset. Typically, you would order a cold beer, Gin & Tonic (for the more British feel) or the ubiquitous Rock Shandy. Then all you have to do is sit back, maybe munch on some nibbles, and engage in trivial conversation. In Windhoek the best place for a sundowner with the whole family is the bar at Hotel Thule overlooking the hills of Klein Windhoek. If you like it more sophisticated, try the Wine Bar or the Hilton rooftop bar in the city centre. For the real bush experience, drive out to River Crossing Lodge on the fringes of the city towards the airport.

Gwaitalale Pottery.

Unfortunately, many gifted Namibian crafters are working away at their beautiful wares in small workshops far from the public and possible customers. One of our favourites is pottery expert Vistorina, who is operating her business Gwaitalale Pottery from a shack in Katutura. You'll probably never manage to find it, but be assured that Vistorina will find you. With her entrepreneurial spirit and bottomless energy she has managed to make her mark well beyond Goreangab Dam and now sends off her mugs, bowls and plates to businesses around Namibia. Que Tapas serve their delicious meals in Gwaitalale stoneware, as does traditional restaurant Xwama. Orders have recently even come in from as far as Ongwediva. And the best thing is, you can choose from her own signature range or simply order custom-designed pieces to match your particular style.