Traveler’s Journal: Namibia’s Vast horizons

Published 4:25 pm Tuesday, January 26, 2016

by Arvo Johnson

For the Sequim Gazette

My wife Christiane and I have lived in Sequim since 2009. We both love traveling and exploring many of the great places our amazing planet offers us. It is up to us how much we wish to see and experience.

Our type of travel has changed over the past few years, since we have two daughters ages 6 and 2 . We are trying to introduce them to different cultures and places, hoping to instill in them a sense of adventure and appreciation of what they have and what the world has to offer.

We took this Namibia trip in 2008 before kids and hope one day to revisit Namibia with our children.

Although we have traveled to more than 60 countries, Namibia is one our favorites for many different reasons — the unique and varied beauty of the landscape, its friendly people, its diverse wildlife, the feeling of solitude.

Formerly known as German South-West Africa and later South-West Africa, Namibia gained its independence on March 21, 1990. Those who opposed outside rule preferred the name Namibia, from a Nama/Damara word meaning shield. The name was derived due to the coastal desert, the Namib, which long protected the interior from access by sea. (With good reason, it is known as the Skeleton Coast.)

Therefore, the new nation became Namibia.

Being just over half the size of Alaska and with a population of 2.1 million, Namibia is one the least densely populated countries in the world. Situated between the Namib and the Kalahari deserts, Namibia is the country with the least rainfall in sub-Saharan Africa and depends largely on groundwater.

Droughts are common and desertification an issue. With around 14 percent of its land protected, Namibia was the first country in the world to incorporate the protection of its land into its constitution. Namibia is unique.

Our trip to the area encompassed more than just a visit to Namibia. We spent two weeks there and easily could have spent double that amount of time. After renting a car in Cape Town, South Africa, and spending 10 days or so exploring the western part of South Africa, we ventured north to Namibia. After our time in Namibia, we went to Botswana and then back to South Africa, exploring the eastern part of the country this time.

Our travels to Namibia started with a border crossing at Noordoewer. We headed to rugged and majestic Richtersveld National Park and Fish River Canyon, a mini-Grand Canyon. Next we headed off to the Atlantic coast toward Luderitz, a town built alongside a restricted diamond area. With warning signs saying, “Stay away,” along with armed patrols, we made sure we did not venture too close to the fenced area. Seeing the ghost-mining town of Kolmanskop being swallowed up by the great Namib Desert also was quite a sight and another fascinating experience.

Moving north, we explored the ever-changing Namib Desert and its incredible dunes. Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei, with its forest of dead trees in the middle the desert, are surreal. We made our way back to the coast at Swakopund and Walvis Bay, seeing too many out-of-the-way gems to mention.

We ended our Namibia adventure in the north, searching for African wildlife in Etosha National Park. There are so many incredible areas to view the wildlife there, being at one of the many watering holes throughout the park or just driving the secluded roads and coming across elephant, zebra, giraffe, impala, kudu or lion to name a few.

So, if you ever have had a desire to see a unique corner of Africa, either on a tour or on your own, Namibia offers a safe and fascinating travel experience. It is without a doubt a top choice for travel in Africa. It has a little bit of everything in a big way. Namibia does not disappoint.

Happy travels.

About the presenters

Arvo and Christiane Johnson met in Chile in 1999 while traveling independently. Christiane returned to Germany to finish her architecture degree before moving to California to meet up with Arvo again.

With both a love for travel and adventure they have continued their travels together for the past 16 years. They moved to Sequim in 2009 and started to build their home. Traveling has changed somewhat in the past few years, now having two beautiful daughters. Their oldest at 6 already has been to six different countries and around a dozen states. Daughters now in tow, they continue their adventure.

With more than 60 countries and many of the states explored, Arvo and Christiane look forward to experiencing many new ones as well as going back to some of their favorites.

About the presentations

Traveler’s Journal is a presentation of the Peninsula Trails Coalition. All of the money raised is used to buy project supplies and food for volunteers working on Olympic Discovery Trail projects.

Shows start at 7 p.m. in the Sequim High School Library at 601 N. Sequim Ave. Suggested donation is $5 for adults; those 18 years old and younger are free. One selected photo enlargement will be given away each week as a door prize. Creative Framing is donating the matting and shrink wrapping of the door prize.

For more information, call Dave Shreffler at 683-1734.