April Break - Northern Namibia
(April 2024) On the way to Swakopmund, Namibia, we crossed the Tropic of Capricorn. This is the group that departed together from Cape Town a week earlier. Traveling north, the scenery was never dull and always changing. At Swakopmund, our first stop was Walvis Bay to see flamingoes. On the coast, temperatures were much cooler than in the desert. Morning fog was common and afternoon sunshine felt wonderful. Swakopmund shows strong German and Africaan influences. The Germans arrived after the Dutch and developed a port. After WWI, the colony was controlled by the Union of South Africa. A large retirement community lives here, many from outside the country. Prices are very reasonable, including beachfront property. Exploring some of the neighborhoods The Namibian currency is the Namibian dollar so it was strange to see coffee drinks for $35. The US dollar is equal to $18 Namibian dollars, so the coffee drinks are quite reasonable. We found a large, public recreational center ...