Well here goes - we are off on the Intercape Coach at 6.30pm this evening for a 16 hour trip to the Caprivi region. If I had more time I would love to insert a map of the journey and link to Googlemap to show you exactly where I am going (there is much to learn about this blogging).
Take a look at the map of Namibia and search for the Caprivi strip you will be suprised where it is and the shape of this part of Namibia. Ask yourself why the region is shaped like that.
There should be a good tarmac road all the way but with more potholes in the far north. Once past Rundu in the far north, there is a long straight stretch of road right through a National Park towards Katima Mulilo. Here we may see our first elephants (a previous bus was damaged by elephants!). People who have been recently say the rains this year have been very serious and that the rivers are at their highest ever level. Many roads are flooded (I have an umbrella!).
I have a dongle working on my laptop so should be able to keep in touch but perhaps not until after the weekend. My new house is called Boma House and I can't wait to see it.
Schools start again on Monday after the Christmas break and everyone is expecting a slow start so we'll see.
Yesterday were were taken on a drive to observe the different sides to Windhoek - a leftover form the apartheid arrangements when black and white people lived separate lives and lived in separate districts of the city.
Black people were poor and white people (mostly from German origin) were much more wealthy. There was an in-between race called 'coloured' (this is a name we would not use now). The houses ranged from mansions with thatched roofs and swimming pools to shacks put together with tin and bits of wood. There were many new shiny tin houses which probably only had one room and and would have been very very hot in the Namibian summer temperatures.
Unemployment is about 50% of the adult population.
On the way back I saw my first red bird! It was vivid with some black. The wildlife is very exciting and there will be more to come!
