For anyone who has been on a road trip, ramp that up about seven times for a road trip in Africa, specifically large countries such as Namibia and Botswana!
So, this morning (Friday), all the Primary drivers and Secondary drivers were bussed to Asco, the car rental place, where there were 7 Toyota 4 x 4's waiting for us along with 2 staff members to go through all the workings of the car and 3 ladies in the office preparing all the paperwork for signatures, etc.
First , we were given a rundown on the outside of the vehicle...the tires, the mirrors, the lights, the gas tanks (2), the canopy with 3 different locking swing flaps to allow access to luggage, the cooler box, and the repair kit. We were given a demonstration of removing the large tire jack (zap-strapped across the front grill) that is for changing a tire in sand. We also had to learn where the regular jack was stowed and how to use that.
They showed us every item in the tool/repair kit including a tow strap (Michael checked it carefully as apparently last time, they were given about 4 feet worth of an old rope!). Then we were each given an individual tutoring with the technician on all of the idiosyncrasies of a left-hand drive with a 4-wheel drive gear shift. In addition, we had to learn the two-way radio and remember that the antenna on top was attached only by a magnet so no underground parkades in cities (drivers who forgot this, you know who you are!).
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For good measure, on the outside of the vehicles' metal canopy, were an axe and a shovel, both locked in place. All in all, the driver was given a set of keys with 8 keys (!) on it for full functioning of the vehicle.
Spare tires? Two! One on the swing-gate and one underneath. Gas tanks - two. The gas gauge would only start to show the level of the gas after the first tank was empty. You can understand why this process took about two and a half hours but those on the group from the last trip said this was a marked improvement over the six hours it took that time!
So, now we actually have our cars and are ready for safari and what do we do? Well, rent small vans to take us for dinner, of course, for our last night in Windhoek at Joe's Beerhouse, a "must see" if you're ever in Windhoek! Namibia, like BC, has zero tolerance so no one wanted to drive to dinner and not be able to enjoy a drink (or two!).
Joe's, a completely different experience! If you could combine the funkiest ex-pat bar in Mexico with a roadhouse museum, a Bushman cave, a treehouse full of every empty bottle known to man and a crazy concoction of signs and ridiculous sayings, that would be Joe's. And it was a huge place! You had to be very careful to mark your way to the bathroom or you might end up in a completely different part of the restaurant with an entirely different crowd and no one would ever find you! (No, no, I don't think so!)
27 people sitting down at once is a tall order for any restaurant and so it was a while until all drinks were served. Finally, this small feat was accomplished and so the Travel Agent made his first toast to our journey with "To a safe drink!" Which was met with a round of laughter as he corrected it to "To a safe trip!" and everyone toasted in agreement!
After a fabulous dinner of either Springbok, Oryx, Kudu, or regular fare such as beef, lamb or chicken, everyone was ready to hit the hay as we were to be packed and ready to hit the road at 8 am the next day!
Safari awaits........JT
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