Backpacking Swakopmund
From Windhoek, Romy and I packed a backpack and head off on a 4 hour bus drive to Swakopmund. Ekonolux buses where the cheapest at $120 each one way, well actually the train was cheaper at $85, but would have taken 12 hours overnight and without beds. So we left the train for next time.
As our luck was going, the bus "broke" down within the first hour outside Windhoek. A dodgy fuel hoses was leaking diesel all over the trailer behind the bus, and giving us a nice diesel smell at the back of the bus.
Within an hour our handy driver emerged from the bowels of the bus and we where once again on our way. Mrs Romy G, who made it clear before heading to Windhoek that there was no way at all she could possibly sleep in a moving vehicle, car, bus or plane. Spread herself out put her head in my lap and went straight to sleep, as she had on the drive up from Cape Town.
I blasted my ipod with Plain White T's and watched the desert go by.
While in Swakopmund we stayed at Villa Weise, totally amazing backpackers N$120 Nam per night for a dorm bed including breakfast (Vegetarian and not Vegan friendly). The even have a full on kitchen you could use, including a nice bar (happy hour from 6-7 whoop whoop)
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Hey Taurayi,
No problem at all always keen to help fellow travellers. Answers inline with your questions.
2008/12/31 taurayi beremauro
> Hey dude
>
> Been reading your blog about backpacking in swakopmund(Namibia) and to be >honest i loved and am thinking about doing the same in March.
> Just have a few question which i would appreciate greatly if you could >answer;
> 1. You stayed in the Villa weise in a dorm- was the place clean and decent >and up to standard. Was the breakfast you got a nice hot breakfast or more like >a cold continental breakfast.
Place was great. There is a bigger more commercial backpackers called cape to cairo where all the overland trucks stop. Its huge and you get a pass to come in an out.
I would recommend Villa weise everytime, its clean and decent we got a whole dorm to ourselves with a great view over Swakopmund. There is also a nice cheap bar (drink tafel lager) with friendly barmen and you get to chat to everyone staying there. The breakfast was ok, I dont eat meat so I had muesli fruit and coffee. My girlfriend at the time ate the full breakfast with bacon etc. After breakfast they allow you to use the kitchen which is a nice bonus so you can really cook what ever you want.
> 2. Wat is the general cost of food for a decent meal in the local area if >we opt to eat out
Thats a tough question and might depend on the season. I would say its little cheaper than South Africa so you looking at N$20 for a take away burger and maybe N$60 for a main course. Beer will be between N$8-15 depending on the bar.
> 3. Wat things r they do in swakopmund which r one and very affordable.
Lots to do. Quad biking, desert tours, sand boarding. All of course cost money and you can find websites for all of those.
Free stuff is sitting on the beach , swimming and cheap stuff would be museums and going to the pool.
> 4. Does the hotel have a swimming pool and is near the coast
Its not really a hotel, just a backpackers. It does not have a pool but is less than 10 minutes walk from the beach. Its a very nice beach in front of the lighthouse.
> 5. Tell me more about transport from Windhoek to swakopmund wat options do i >have and the prices
We took a bus which was perfect, we phoned around to get the cheapest price. The place it picks you up in Windhoek is little tough to find but it drops you in the middle of Swakopmund next to the Spar. The bus comes all the way from Cape Town. Its a very nice ride from Windhoek to Swakopmund, I enjoyed it and would do it again on the bus.
> 6. Cost of drinks, beers
If your coming from London will be super cheap :) Beer will be between N$8-15 depending on the bar. South African wine will be pretty cheap to buy at shops. Tafel Lager should be your number one its a great beer.
> Dude will appreciate any information and advice on how i can keep this trip >cheap as possible considering i have to pay for flights from here in London.
> Am planning to do this trip with 8 of my friends friends
>
> Sorry for bombarding you with so many questions
>
> Taurayi
No problem, let me know how you get on or if you have any other questions.
Cheers
Laurence
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Submitted by laurence on Sun, 2009-01-04 11:33.Sounds like you had a great time down there ( with the exception of the bus of course :) ). When it comes to traveling backpacking is the only way you can really enjoy a trip. Keep it up and happy traveling! ;)
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Submitted by Anonymous Coward on Wed, 2008-12-17 13:09.Hi,
just curious. What type of vehicles did you use in Nambia? Landrovers or Landcruisers?
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Submitted by Anonymous Coward on Mon, 2008-09-01 00:23.the best Nissan Sentra Japan could make in 1992,, then you get out and walk over the sand
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Submitted by Anonymous Coward on Tue, 2008-09-02 18:07.hey! your trip sounds amazing. i am trying to make my way up to namibia from durban. and id love it if we could chat, maybe get some help/advice from you :)
thanks!
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Submitted by Samantha Lo (not verified) on Fri, 2008-01-18 10:05.No problem, your best bet is to email me laurence.baldwin@gmail.com. I am not on facebook for obvious reasons.
Namibia is a really cool place, if you can survive in Durban you should be fine in Namibia.
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Submitted by laurence on Fri, 2008-01-18 10:41.It's Swakopmund, not -munt
Surprising that in the time you were there you didn't read a single sign, even the ones that say "Welcome to Swakopmund", or "Swakopmund Municipal Swimming Pool", and that the building you stayed in is right across from a building that has "Swakopmund" painted on it. Not to mention that many of the businesses have it incorporated into their signage. And unless they used abbreviations, your bus ticket should also have had it.
And now for an interesting fact, and this is just in here since clearly you are daft, the symbol for the Namibian currency is N$, but of course you probably never looked at the money (it actually has it on there, no jokes)
P.S. Maybe I am mistaken, maybe you just need to see an optometrist.
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Submitted by Ex-swakopmunder (not verified) on Tue, 2008-01-01 14:21.Thanks for that, mistakes have been corrected. I get my eyes checked out pretty regularly, have yet to find someone to check out my attention to detail, apathy and general spelling levels on a regular basis.
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Submitted by laurence on Wed, 2008-01-02 07:07.