An 8:30 start had us at the border by 10am. We were through the Botswana side very quickly with no interest shown in Hatchiko or her paperwork. A hitch at the Namibian side kept us slightly longer but we were processed and on our way again by 11am. There seems to be a problem with our intended length of stay – you are only allowed 3 months a year in Namibia so our idea of a leisurely trip from north to southern Namibia during September will need to be changed into a three or four day dash for the boarder at the end of August. We will need to apply for Hatchiko’s import permit in July to ensure that we can being her back into the country. I also have to get a work permit and present it at the border. They have given me a month to sort out the paperwork but Clive can stay until the 29th August. We will discuss this with our employers and may need to leave Namibia and come in again.
There is a totally different feel to the country; the roads seem to be in better condition. There are villages and homesteads scattered along the road at regular intervals and the herds of cattle are much larger than any we saw in Botswana. We have seen one deposit of elephant droppings but there is no evidence of wildlife preserves.
Wood for sale on the side of the road makes you realize that we did not see any in Botswana.
A warm welcome awaited us at Mukolo lodge and the van was installed in short order. We were not very happy on our stand as it was adjacent to the road and a fine grey dust covered everything as soon as a vehicle passed. Hennie kindly offered us another stand and we have relocated to the river – a prime stand and very kind of them considering the discounted rate we are paying.
The lady I will be working for is in Windhoek suffering from an annual outbreak of Malaria which she seems to be hosting. We have had an enjoyable two days getting acquainted with our new world and its birdlife. A study of the map and consulting the locals has opened a world of opportunities in the immediate area for game and scenic drives. The workload promises to be interesting and heavy with volunteer opportunities for Clive. I think it will be a very short three months.
Itchy Feet! 