Posts Tagged ‘Namibia Safari’

What’s the best way to visit Namibia?

Last week when the Bush era tax cuts were extended for the wealthy I didn’t get angry with the monies that could have been collected from the top 1% and what could have been.  I didn’t congratulate a victory for the prospects of the money saved to invest in new start-ups and job creations.  I didn’t take sides or fuel our current tribal warfare between the donkeys and elephants. Nope…

I thought about Wesley Snipes -the actor.

The Hollywood star, best known for the Blade trilogy and White Men Can‘t Jump, was once hunted down by the IRS for dodging millions of dollars in tax money.  Federal prosecutors issued an eight-count indictment accusing Snipes of conspiracy to defraud the IRS by submitting fake claims.

Snipes took on the super action hero in an attempt to keep his hard earned money in his OWN pocket.  Now us normal folks just pay, complain, and hope for the best.  However, if you were willing to risk fighting the government, only to be found and hunted down by Uncle Sam, where would you hide?

In a country half the size of Alaska,(and as isolated as) with a population of only two million people perhaps?

Is that a place you could avoid the paparazzi?  Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie (or shall I say Brangelina?) sure thought so.  They recently told reporters they were going to pack up the kids and head for an undisclosed corner of the world.  The paparazzi never found them, however, the locals spotted them several days before Christmas shopping at a mall in the capital city, Windhoek.

What country makes for both tax evasion and holiday travel possible?

Namibia – So why do (law abiding) celebrities seek to visit Namibia?

Brangelina willingly chose to have their daughter Shiloh in a developing country despite the public outcry to as WHY?!

However, Namibia is rather quite modern:

• Private hospitals are on par with the U.S.
• Restaurants serve western fare
• Accommodations are clean, comfortable, and even luxurious
• English is widely spoken

Visit Namibia with the family like Brangelina.  With small and grown kids you really can’t go wrong.  The roads are in excellent shape, car rental is easy and affordable making a self-drive safari a very realistic possibility, and there is a plethora of options to keep you and your family entertained.

Visit Namibia’s Etosha National Park, snack at German bakeries, and delve into the very unique geology and natural wilderness that only Namibia can offer.

Oh, did I mention a large majority of Namibia is Malaria FREE?  A very nice change to the rest of the continent north, don’t you think?

So where would you go if you wanted to get away or dare I say, hide?

To living the life of a celebrity,

Jeremy

p.s. Here is the next best thing to adopting a child that doesn’t live with you http://wildsafariafrica.com/budget-safari/owambo-volunteer-etosha-n-p-safari/

You may want to take a seat for what I’m about to tell you.  What I’m about to share is going to get you very excited.

Are you ready?

I’ve been spending my nights and early mornings fostering a relationship with a very special lady.  Her heart is so filled with love it makes me jump with joy.  Her passion so drowning it makes me cry.  I swear, since meeting this beautiful woman, the birds and bees are still buzzing in my lovely garden.

This is why I have to ask you this:

Have you ever wanted to travel abroad and spend a portion of your vacation participating in activities centered on furthering a charitable cause?

http://wildsafariafrica.com/budget-safari/owambo-volunteer-etosha-n-p-safari/

Voluntourism was born when one Volunteer spiced up their travels by intimately placing themselves into a unique culture and/or environment offering their services.

Gain more by giving more.

A Colorado veterinarian, and experienced traveler to Africa, recently contacted me about how she could donate her skills, vet supplies, along with her time to further help Namibia’s big cat populations.

She shared stories of treating lions in Zimbabwe; working with South African’s on the project and when I heard about the personal fulfillment she received from her work, it turned me into a believer.

Her enthusiasm and commitment for animals got me jazzed.

And this is exactly one, of many, forms of voluntourism.  She utilizes her time, talent, and treasure and in turn, she receives gratitude, recognition, and a transformative experience that ultimately continues to change her foundation.

That is why I’m so pumped about my new partnership with Oonte OVC Centre.  It allows you, the traveler, an easy path to give a little –to take home A LOT.

Do you have the skills to:

Be flexible?

Reach out to children spiritually, physically, or pshyco-social support?

Teach health, personal hygiene, goal setting, and leadership?

Help in the garden?

Aid with the preparation and cleanup of meals?

Do you have the desire to:

Connect intimately with a foreign community?

Learn a new culture?  A new Language?

To utilize your skills and talents?

To feel enriched?  May I dare say…Spiritually Elevated?

If you’ve answered yes to the majority of these questions, then my new, EXCLUSIVE, Lend a Helping Hand and Dip Your Toes Safari is just for YOU!

http://wildsafariafrica.com/budget-safari/owambo-volunteer-etosha-n-p-safari/

Get groovy and give back to gain much more,

Jeremy

P.S. I will donate US$100 to Oonte for every person who goes on this safari with me.

P.P.S.  My special lady is Meme Petrine who manages Oonte.

A traveler torn between choosing to self-drive OR take an escorted tour once said, “My only concern is we would be driving and passing by points of interest and not even know that we should stop and take a look.”

Yes, that is true.

The highly acclaimed travel writer Paul Theroux distinguished travelers and tourists by saying, “Tourists don’t know where they’ve been, travelers don’t know where they’re going.”

In today’s world, most people are forced to be “simple” tourists because of time constraints.  I say “simple” because without a brilliant guide and local connections YOU’RE a fish out of water that may, or may never, swim in the pool of great memories.

The New Age of escorted tours, GROUPS are much SMALLER than the traditional motorcoach filled with forty camera toting tourists.

Today, a great escorted tour averages in size (between 2-6 travelers) meaning a more INTIMATE and EXHILIRATING experience you desired!

Also, expect to be CHAUFFEURED around –and in places like Africa where animals (you wanna take memory cards worth of photos of) run wild, and destinations are of great distance between each other, trust me…

You WANT to be chauffeured!

On the other hand, self-drive tours require more time than most people are willing to give up AND that can mean YOU might miss things.

One way to counter the possibility of missing points of interest, purchase a COUNTRY SPECIFIC guidebook.

And of course a map.

Between the two, you’ll minimize your chances of missing key attractions –Assuming you spend hours in preparation.

DON’T be the one returning home only to realize you should have gone there! Or done that!

A finely polished “local” escort WILL provide a more enriching travel experience – the kind that only an INSIDER can offer.  You may be a tourist, but the “local” escort eliminates your ignorance.

If you are absolutely content on a self-drive tour, it is essential to work with an operator to aid in the planning your route, help you decide on lodges within your budget, “guide” you to must see places of interest, etc…

When all said in done,

You will receive a personally prepared set of documents bound together in a folder, including your itinerary, short biography of the creator, a customized travel guide, and examples of the activities/wildlife you may encounter, passport/visa information, suggested clothing and equipment, health issues, cultural considerations, and a list of suggested reading.

Join Jermibia’s escorted tours and receive -http://wildsafariafrica.com/budget-safari/

To creating a self-drive OR escorted safari EXCLUSIVELY to your desires,

Jeremy

P.S. Jermibia’s Wild Safari is currently working towards creating a partnership with Oonte Educational House for Owambo Orphans, where YOU will have an opportunity to volunteer with Namibia’s finest youth!  Stay tuned…

P.P.S. Group size between 2-6 people sounds perfect for the family.  Reserve an escorted tour exclusively for your family OR suggest your own escorted itinerary.  Tell me the dates, and we’ll make it happen!

Travelers react to poverty differently. For many (especially US travelers) it is their first time witnessing extreme poverty.

Snotty nosed kids, tattered clothes, shoeless children, toothless mothers begging and dangling malnourished babies off their hips, lepers crippled, the blind holding their hands out without direction are all common sights throughout the developing world.

A medieval vision to spook the mind.

Some find it easiest to ignore, others break down and cry, some take photo’s to raise awareness; others ignorantly hand out gifts without thought of the future.

A couple weeks ago a traveler planning to visit Namibia mentioned on tripadvisor she would “like to take with us some gifts for children…Also the best place to hand these gifts in so that they go to where they are most needed.”

I recommended to ‘barter’ and ‘trade’ for souvenir’s – as an ALTERNATIVE – suggesting it is a bad idea to just give hand-outs to children and adults.

Surprised, my comment sparked in uproar with other’s in the Namibia, tripadvisor community.

In response, one comment said, “All very well bartering until you find a remote school where the kids don’t have shoes…Apart from the warm glow I get from bringing a little happiness into someone’s life, I don’t really look for anything in return.”

This reminded me of something.

DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS! – National Parks are glittered with these signs. There is a reason for it; if you feed a wild animal today, will you feed it tomorrow? And the day after? Because if you don’t YOU will KILL them!

The same goes for when travelers react to extreme poverty by handing out free-bee’s to feel better about their emotions.

These uneasy emotions are the most NATURAL of feelings and I would be worried if you didn’t feel bad.

However, when travelers react this way it becomes a destructive, self-righteous mission, that is neither good for the people in the developing world OR yourself.

Developing countries are in a critical time in history; either they will grow into a productive, contributing member of our globalized world, or they won’t.

Children are cute –even when they’re wearing tatters. Not too many people think the same about a mangy grown man begging.

Do the people, of what ever country you visit, the kindest of favors – give BUT only if you receive something in return. Trade for souvenirs at the craft market, exchange photographs, sample a meal, or ask to tour a homestead – in exchange for your gift.

That way you can GIVE, feel positive about your deed, boost your karma, AND receive something in return, making them feel like they had to WORK for what they got. THIS single act will benefit both that person and the cultural mentality shared, working towards a productive, self-sufficient future. It’s a win –win situation and stories will be told on each side, guaranteed.

To creative giving,

Jeremy

P.S. A portion of your Safari payment is donated to the Uukwaluudhi people and children at Nambula Combined School – the school I had the pleasure of teaching English.

Read the following:

Food Crisis in Niger, AIDS in Uganda, Somali Journalists Are Assaulted and Jailed, Shaky Rule in Madagascar Threatens Tress.

These are the top New York Times news headlines for Africa.

Pretty depressing huh?

Did you notice that none of them are about Namibia?  So why is Namibia never in the news?

Here are just a few of the more obvious reasons:

• In many respects, colonialism was a huge benefit to modern Namibia.  Colonialism built many of the SCHOOLS children are taught in today.

• Colonialism built many of the ROADS, paved and gravel, both of which are in excellent condition and regularly maintained to the point the Fishing Industry’s main port at Walvis Bay links with the Trans-Caprivian Highway connecting with Central Africa and its many countries (Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, to name just a few).

• The WATER is potable, thus can be drunk in over 90% of the country, a huge benefit in maintaining a healthy population.

• ELECTRICITY is prevalent and powered by Namibia’s own power plants.

• Crime is LOW.

• Located between two of the world’s oldest deserts makes the arid environment a perfect ingredient to MINIMIZE diseases such as cholera, typhoid, malaria, and yellow fever – Again helping maintain a healthy population.

• Namibia is the first country in the world to incorporate the PROTECTION of the ENVIRONMENT into the constitution, thus eliminating future issues in that topic and making it a place home to more animals than people!

• Since its Independence in 1990, the country has remained stable, GROWN productive, and peacefully elects heads of state every five years.

• The government HAS A GOAL properly named “Vision 2030” in which it aims to have Namibia’s Industrial sector competing with the 1^st world, its population increased to 3 million, and its population educated and skilled in the work force.

So I ask again, why is Namibia never in the news?

An old wise man once said “plan for the future by first building a solid foundation.”

To building that solid foundation,

Jeremy

P.S. What are people saying about Wild Safari Africa? Read for yourself – http://wildsafariafrica.com/testimonials/

An African marathon. This is not your typical safari.

The pitter-patter of bare feet slapped against the paved two lane highway.  The cool blanket of fog hung low in the sky.  To their left were the fiercely cold waters of the south Atlantic.  To their right mountains of sand, drifting and scurrying across the highway; it was the Namib Desert and they were running an African marathon.

The number “041” was printed beneath the Lucky Star logo.  The boy ran next to a taller girl whose stride was longer than his.  Another man drifted off the two bare footed runners; he wore cross-training shoes, a hat with a small brim, sunglasses, and his nose was covered in pasty-white sunscreen. It was both their dreams to run in an African marathon.

Together, the three strangers pushed and pulled each other closer to the finish line.

Once I had volunteered at a track meet in the town of Tsumeb, Namibia.  African’s competed against the whites.  The whites had shoes and starting blocks.  Only some of the African’s wore shoes.

The advantages of one group were the disadvantage of the other, yet the races were close.

At another time a student of mine in the village had talent.  The first race I saw Maria run, was on a make-shift track, around a few trees, a pile of stones, and finishing past a line drawn in the dirt.  She dodged herds of goat and went around the stray cow; all without shoes.

Her talents got her on the Namibian national team.  She joined the Namibian team in Botswana to compete.  She came home with a Bronze.  She was disappointed by her performance, she knew her speed was quicker, however they made her wear shoes that slowed her down.  She was much faster without shoes, sprinting across the ground in bare feet, her everyday “shoe.”

At today’s African marathon,

these kids came from the far corners of their country, from the deepest of villages, to the town of Swakopmund to run a marathon.  Some were lucky to have shoes, some fit while others were a size too large or too small, yet they were still worn.

Annually, Etosha Fish hosts the Lucky Star Marathon between Namibia’s coastal towns of Walvis Bay and Swakopmund. It’s the best African marathon I have ever seen. Open to the public, hundreds of Namibian students flock to the event and compete against other Namibians and foreign nationals from across southern Africa, Europe, and America.

It is an incredible opportunity to experience, whether you’re running or casually relaxing and cheering on the athletes.

I had recently read a quote simply saying “life is a marathon, not a sprint.”

Namibia, Africa is a place that follows this motto better than anywhere else on earth.  The athletes run with passion and celebrate with ease.  No hurries, no worries.  Namibian students study hard in hopes of a better future, a future where one day they may be able to buy their own shoes. Perhaps to compete in another African marathon.  Winning is recognized, yet it’s the travels and new journey’s these young Namibians experienced that sprouted the most smiles.

For many of these athletes, this was their first time visiting Swakopmund and the ocean!  Their collective spirit was contagious.  Our bus ride home, back to the village, was filled with joyous stories, stories that continue to be relived each and everyday.

However, that was their story. This is your story:

http://wildsafariafrica.com/budget-safari/namibian-marathon-wildlife-safari/

Will your story fill the room with contagious joy?

To running without shoes,

Pass the baton, and forward this story on to all your friends who run. Especially those adventurous ones who might be interested in running an African marathon.

And remember “life is a marathon, not a sprint.”

There was nothing more enjoyable than to sit back and listen to the San Bushmen speak in clicks and clacks.  Their physical features are undeniably different than most southern African clans of the Bantu descent, making them something of an anomaly.

Recently I read an article in the Denver Post stating a recent study of African genetics by an International team from the University of Pennsylvania.  The team claimed the San of southern Africa are the most genetically diverse peoples on earth.

They went a step further and boldly stated the San homeland, the Kalahari Desert, could have very well been the exact spot where modern humanity began.

The San Bushmen are the last remaining indigenous people of southern Africa.  They are nomadic, and sustain life entirely by what the land provides: Hunting and gathering.

Their wisdom of survival has been well known and shared with British and South African military special opts teams for centuries.  Their tracking skills are better than any other clan in all of Africa, and perhaps the world.  Their perseverance is legendary.

If it is true that the Kalahari Desert is the place where modern humans were born, is it then possible it may be the place where humans survive an apocalyptic collapse?

Their ancient wisdom is thought to have been around for 30,000 or more years.  Not a single generation has been denied this wise knowledge of the land, and perhaps is the only reason why the San Bushman continues to live in their traditional customs.

It is so good; there is no reason to change… unless the “taker” culture (you and me) coerce them into change.

In 2002 many San groups were forcibly removed from their ancestral land in the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park (Botswana) to clear way for government endorsed diamond mining.

This directly threatened to forever extinguish their traditional hunter-gatherer lifestyle.

However…

The Bushman won a historic ruling in 2006 against the government of Botswana, permitting them to return to their ancestral land.

With access to water minimal, along with the lure of modern life, many did not return.  They freely chose to stay in the areas surrounding settlements, and once these people are gone, so is the ancient wisdom that will be lost forever.

The uncertain future the Kalahari Bushmen face is as bleak as our own.  But without sharing our wisdom to younger generations, they have to start from scratch.

To sharing wisdom,

Jeremy

P.S. The two best countries to visit and interact with the most genetically diverse peoples on earth are in Namibia and Botswana.

P.P.S.  I guarantee you’ll come home a much wiser person.

Namibia is the first country in the world to incorporate the protection of the environment into its Constitution.

As of December 2, Namibia has once again democratically voted for President.  Hifikepunya Pohamba succeeded once again in taking his SWAPO party into office for a second term.

For the first time in Namibia’s history, the ruling SWAPO party was significantly challenged by the Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP.  With RDP’s official emergence in 2007, the SWAPO party was rattled and at the time appeared to be a significant threat.

Voter tension tightened as the polling dates neared.  There was speculations of intimidation to occur (with RDP calling for UN Peacekeepers, which never came) and in the months prior to November, rumors swirled about the possibility of Namibian schools being closed nearly two months before their scheduled end of the year to ensure polling stations would be open for assured success.  They never closed early and intimidation was rare.

RDP wasn’t popular enough to win the election, however proved to be an opposition party who is here to stay.

Namibian Safaris are some of Africa’s best and the country itself is like no other African nation.  Open skies sparkling more stars than one has ever seen, endless savanna’s continue uninterrupted for miles, and more animals than there are people all make Namibia a perfect place to get in touch with your wild side.

Wild Safari Africa salutes President Pohamba for his victory, as well as SWAPO’s powerful contender RDP for their gallant and courageous efforts.

A government whose top priority is environment needs the recognition it deserves.  On safari in Namibia is stepping into one of the true last frontiers on earth.  It’s harder to remain in urban centers (because they’re just not that big!) than it is to find yourself surrounded by amazing wilderness.

To “going green” and keeping Namibia wild and untouched!

Jeremy

P.S. For more information about President Pohamba and the Rally for Democracy and Progress buy my book!

He was both surprised that I was an American and that I was not interested in hunting any of Africa’s big game.

“You’re probably green or something” he said.

I was simply glad he had picked me up from the side of the road.  I had worked slowly all the way from Swakopmund, hundreds of kilometers hitchhiking, and had been in four vehicles before he had come to a skidding halt and made it my fifth.

“I’m an idealist” I told him.  I knew Outjo, the town we were moving towards, was the gateway to Etosha National Park and asked him, already knowing the answer, if there were any good places to hunt in the area.

He was speeding into the sunset like the car had been stolen.

I was shocked when he told me he had a game farm and “you know the real problem?” he asked me, answering his own question before I had time to respond, “cheetah.”

He was a white Namibian telling me his struggles to ranch and own a game farm while the cheetahs are preying upon his investments.  “And then that American lady at CCF (Cheetah Conservation Fund) is telling the world the cheetah are no more, while their populations are increasing because they are killing my animals” he said somberly.

I thought his story was interesting, seeing as the CCF works directly with farmers, and as the government encourages many farmers to move from cattle ranching to game farming as a means to both conserve Namibia’s natural wildlife and attract tourists.

I asked him if cheetah predation was a problem with his livestock as well.  He responded with ease, telling me that with livestock there are certain procedures one can take to ensure the safety of his animals; the use of Anatolian shepherds as guard dogs, hiring a shepherd to follow the animals, and fencing and corral at night.  “But the wild game, there is nothing.  You know, last year I put 200 impala on my farm and in less than a year I was left with only 20” he said.

“Is it only cheetah that are your problem?  What about other big cats? I mean you are near Etosha” I questioned him.

He had no problem with lions or other smaller cats.  He experienced occasional leopard kills, however, he didn’t mind leopards.

“ You see, the cheetahs, if they can, will kill every day.  Leopards, like lions, will feed on a single kill for several days, until it is finished.  Cheetahs they kill, eat what they can that day and move on.  They prefer the fresh meat” he explained.

“So what is the solution?  What can you do?” I asked.  He told me he had made several visits to CCF and they kept giving him the run around.  “The only solution is to kill them” he said without hesitation.

I knew that if farmers see their livestock being harmed or endangered by a predator they were in their legal rights to take the predator out.  I asked him about this, and he told me, that I was right and all the kills had to be reported with the government.

“I bet many kills go unreported” I said.  His eyes glowed above a small grin before he looked forward into the sun we were traveling.

At Wild Safari Africa we are dedicated to protecting animals such as the cheetah.  Instead of hunting wild game with rifles, we bring our high powered cameras to take amazing killer shots.  And when we get home we hang our trophies on our wall.  Did you notice I said trophies?  That’s right, plural.  It’s much cheaper to print multiple photos than mount an animal’s head or get an entire body stuffed.  And much more practical too!

Although, the cheetah population is flourishing in Namibia, Namibia remains one of the few countries in the world home to such healthy populations.  Let’s keep it that way.  Together, we can do our part saving the fastest land mammal.

Wild Safari Africa partners with foundations like the Cheetah Conservation Fund, making your dreams of up-close and personal interaction with some of Africa’s most majestic animals a reality.  You too, can help save the cheetah.  To learn more about the Cheetah Conservation Fund visit, www.cheetah.org.

Keep things young and wild!

Jermibia

P.S.  Only thinking about a safari?  Answer Wild Safari Africa’s 6 Most Important Questions to better decide on where, what, when, how, and why you want to Safari with Jermibia.

P.S.S. The story above was from this past July when Wild Safari Africa founder, Jeremy “Jermibia” Allen was in Namibia writing the first edition of his guidebook to Namibia.