The Air Namibia Flight Home from Katima Mulilo

The B1900 waiting for us on the tarmac at Mpacha (Katima Mulilo)

There was nearly a riot at Mpacha (Katima Mulilio) Airport Monday afternoon whilst checking in for the B1900 flight to Eros Windhoek.

The clever Air Namibia check- in clerk booked in so much excess baggage (from foreign hunting tourists) that the plane was overweight.

“We have a problem”, announced the Air Namibia clerk just before boarding, “we are overweight”.

“Why did you book in that excess luggage” was our reply. No answer.

What to do now.

They took all the luggage off the plane.

Then what to do.

After deliberation, they decided to weigh the passengers. That was going to be no use I thought, as one glance around, there were only fatties on this flight. Still, one by one we all took turns on the scale, and yes we were now more overweight than before.

Now what to do. We all stood around waiting.

Then our not so favourite Air Namibia chap announced, “we will have to leave baggage behind”.

This resulted in a new mass protest…."take off the hunters excess baggage", everyone protested, “we are all under our allowable weight”. But our not so endearing Air Namibia clerk did not think this was a good idea. Then the shouting started, and everyone braced themselves for fisticuffs. No one was going to leave their bags behind just so the hunters could take their excess baggage along and the hunters were just as determined not to leave their precious weaponry behind.

Now what to do. And once again we waited.

Then our Air Namibia chap said, “we need a few volunteers to leave their bags behind”. So reluctantly, as it was now getting late, a few pax volunteered their baggage, just so we could get going.

“Still need another 6 kg” shouted our Air Nam guy. "Ok ok" , I gave them my 6 kg bag which they promised to send by Nampost.The luggage was re-loaded on the plane, and we were soon on our way, my 6kg bag having saved the day.

Of course, no thanks from the foreign hunting tourists.

Western Zambia (Barotseland)

View of the Zambezi River

View of the Zambezi from Khibbu Camp

Fishing off an island sand bank

Khibbu Camp

Sunrise over the Zambezi

The Zambezi viewed from Kabula Lodge

I spent the weekend with good friends at Khibbu Camp. I have a share in Khibbu Camp, which is situated on the Zambezi River in Western Zambia, about 40 km North of Katima Mulilo on the Namibian - Zambian border.

The Western Province, previously known as Barotseland, (a former kingdom), is the least developed region in Zambia. It is home to the Lozi people, a beautiful area but starved of development.

Trip to SA

Table Mountain

Valley near Franschhoek
Camps bay

Did a trip to South Africa last week, mostly business. Visited Jo’burg, Durban and Cape Town. Was a good trip and gave me a chance to visit the folks in Pennington. I really enjoyed Cape Town, it is one South African city that has not gone backwards. The winelands are really beautiful and there is so much to see and do. Decided I must get down there more often.

Oshikango

Lots of Auto Dealerships, most of the signs in Portuguese

This guy did not put a tiger in his tank, but in his cab !!!

Trucks lined up with goods for Angola

Earlier this week I did a business trip to the northern Namibian town of Oshikango, on the border with Angola.
It’s a shabby, dusty town but extremely busy with all sorts of trade with the Angolans. Most of the signs are in Portuguese, and the town is full of bonded warehouses and goods destined for Angola. All trading is done in cash US Dollars. With the increase in the oil price, Angola’s main export, business is booming and Angolans are buying like crazy. Its pretty corrupt in Angola and one has to have the right contacts to do business there.
I took some pictures from the car, the pictures are not that good, but give some sort of idea of the place.

Namib Desert Photo's

Hiking Trail near Rostock Ritz (Namib Desert)

Near Rostock Ritz

View of the Namib Desert taken from the Spreetshoogte Pass

Damaraland - N.W. Namibia

Desert Elephant in the Hoanib River Bed

Desert track, on the way to Puros

Near Puros

Decided, as a change, to post a few photos I took in Damaraland, North Eastern Namibia.

Farm Visit

Last weekend had an outing to a friends farm, about an hours drive from Windhoek. The farm is really nice with loads of natural game, we saw a herd of 40 Red Hartebeeste, lots of Oryz, Kudu as well as smaller game such as Warthogs.