Namibia Day 1: Windhoek - Kalahari Anib Campsite
Start: Windhoek
Destination: Kalahari Anib Campsite
Date: 20.08.2022
Region: Khomas, Hardap (Kalahari)
Distance: 280 km
Duration: 3 hours
Route profile: Mostly tarred roads, ending with a gravel track
Accommodation: Kalahari Anib Campsite
Our Rating: 9/10
Fauna: Iguana, Impalas, Baboons, Weasels, Wildcat, Jackals, Tok Tokkie, various birds
Shopping: Prepaid SIM card at the airport, supplies at Superspar Maerua Windhoek
Food: Breakfast on the plane, snacks, pasta with tomato sauce, minced meat, and cheese
Arrival and Purchase of SIM Card.
Let's go! We fly from Zurich via Frankfurt to Windhoek. The flight with Lufthansa and Eurowings was very comfortable, and the crew on board was very friendly. Since we are flying overnight, we can even get some sleep. A significant advantage of traveling to Namibia is that there's no jet lag to deal with (only a one-hour difference in winter). This makes the journey much easier and particularly pleasant. Thus, we land punctually at 07:00 AM in sunshine.
First Glimpse of Namibia
But the sunshine is deceiving; a cool 5°C greets us as we disembark. The driver, organized by our car rental service AfriCamper, is already waiting for us at the entrance. Before we set off, we buy a prepaid SIM card directly at the airport in the MTC shop. As mentioned in our travel preparations, in a country with low population density like Namibia, good mobile reception is very helpful. We also want to check in advance if the campsites we plan to visit are available. The friendly lady in the shop even helped us insert the card. Glad to have this sorted, we now get into the taxi of our very friendly driver and enjoy the 30-minute ride to the car rental.
Pick up Camper and Stock up on Supplies
Upon our arrival at AfriCamper, we are warmly greeted and welcomed. Together, we thoroughly inspect the vehicle, and everything is explained to us in detail. This explanation is very important, especially since we are not used to driving such a large vehicle every day. We check the condition of the tires, the oil level, and get instructions on how to access the spare tire and what tire pressure is needed for road and sand driving. Any potential damage to the car is also noted. On the map, they show us where there is a gas station and a large supermarket.
So we fill up the tank right away and then head to Superspar (on the way, we already spot some baboons), which is easily accessible by car. As is common in Namibia, a "Car Guard" offers to watch our vehicle. We usually decide to use this service, providing these people with at least a small opportunity to earn money. Whether they would actually be able to protect our car remains uncertain. As everywhere, no valuables should be left in the car. A fee of 20-30 Namibian Dollars is appropriate here. The supermarket is huge and we are able to stock up on an initial supply of rice, pasta, potatoes, meat, tomato sauces, bananas, cheese, milk, coffee, peanut butter, and some snacks. There's also room in the shopping cart for two bag-in-box wines and Namibian beer. Surprisingly, we find products similar to those in Europe. The two gas stoves included with the car will be needed for daily cooking. So we stock up on food for 4-5 days and also secure 30 liters of water.
Drive South and Arrival at Kalahari Anib Campsite
We store the supplies in the car and then set off. Let’s go! Our journey through Namibia can begin!
On our first day, after the overnight flight, we want to quickly leave the city to find peace and wilderness, but the drive shouldn't be too strenuous or too long. We chose the Kalahari Anib Campsite, about 280 km away, and had already booked a night’s stay from home. It should be reachable in just under 3 hours.
Soon, the industrial area of Windhoek is behind us, and we drive south on a good, partially fenced road. The surroundings are in shades of brown, green, and yellow. I already feel like I'm on another planet. The drive (on the left-hand side!) is very pleasant, and soon after leaving the city, we are almost the only ones on the road. We see individual houses, termite mounds, an iguana, a weasel darting across the road, and several unfamiliar bird species. The first 280 km fly by in no time, and we are already at the gate of the Kalahari Anib Lodge. We give our names and are granted entry. Now we drive for five minutes over rough terrain. At the reception (there’s also a lodge), we are assigned our camping spot. At the reception, sundowner drives could also be booked. These are sunset drives where you sit in a safari vehicle, explore the property, and look out for animals.
We are now excited about our first camping spot. The three sites are very nice and offer enough privacy. The next site is about 300 meters away. At each spot, there’s a small house with a shower and toilet, and a covered area with a trash can, table, and benches. Now we can finally set up our 'tent' for the first time. A few simple steps and our home is ready.
Short break. There are tables with benches and trash bins along all main roads.
Simple road to gently ease into the journey on the first day
Road to the campsite
Kalahari Anib Campsite with private washroom, fire pit, and seating area
Map of the hiking trails at Kalahari Anib Campsite
At the site, three hiking trails (Ostrich, Zebra, and Oryx) are marked. They wind through the savanna landscape, and after a first exploration of the campsite, we set off on the Ostrich trail. The landscape is simply breathtaking. We're not used to such endless expanses at home, where mountains or hills quickly block the view. During our hike, dusk sets in. Africa gifts us on our first evening with a brilliantly red twilight that bathes everything in a magical glow. During this hour-long hike, we already make our first wildlife observations. We see graceful impalas jumping around, a wildcat stalking through the grass, and numerous birds circling overhead. I make a note of all the animals we see in the African Safariguide Lite app. The light, the atmosphere, and the tranquility are impressive, giving us a true sense of having arrived in Africa.
Back at the camper, we catch the last rays of sun. The sky turns yellow, orange, red, and violet, casting the entire landscape in beautiful light—a spectacular color display. It quickly becomes dark and cold (below 10 °C). We get out the pans and the gas stove and prepare pasta with minced meat. A glass of red wine, the occasional sound of animals, and the sparkling Milky Way above us in the sky, visible even to the naked eye. We have definitely landed in the right spot. Tired from the journey, incredibly content, and filled with the day's experiences, we climb into our rooftop tent, slip into our sleeping bags, and look forward to our well-deserved first night in Namibia.
Happy Camper
Camping spot with lots of privacy
First wildlife sightings in Namibia
Wildlife everywhere! Impalas leaping through the grass.
Game!
Hike in the twilight
Our first dinner cooked on the gas stove (pasta with tomato, minced meat and cheese)
