October is Jackaranda month in Pretoria and the trees here in Windhoek, Namibia, is also in bloom. While spring came to the cape with mixed successes because of the late rain and cold spells it seems like spring is everywhere else and summer is upon us.

My yearly migration to Namibia saw me leaving operations once again in the capable hands of our office manager Warren Walker. It is always a kind of a homecoming when I leave South Africa for my country of birth, Namibia.

It was a long drive from Cape Town to Keetmanshoop, where I overnighted at the local Central lodge hotel. I can recommend this hotel for its friendly staff and clean rooms. The nearby Shooters pub/restaurant where I met the locals were also a very good experience as I learned more about farming in the area. Stumpf’s tyre repair workshop also is worth mentioning, the owner made me feel welcome as I went back to the hotel to rest, we had a long chat.

The next day feeling less fresh than usual I set off to Luderitz bucht, my aim to do a site inspection of the Luderitz nest hotel where my clients will be staying next year in April, it proofed to be the best place to stay with a hearty buffet I had there. Luderitz with its charming inviting German architecture and town’s folk was a good experience. They say you can experience four seasons there in one day and on my arrival the wind was howling with san been blown across the street, nothing as bad as the sandstorms I remember from my childhood at Walvisbaai, we know about sand storms there…

Kolmanskuppe , the diamond rush town of the early 1900’s was also an experience. Fascinating how determined the Germans were to make a living from diamonds in this desert town. It is a barren wild place with some firm buildings still ruling supreme though the desert will win at the end; the desert always wins at the end…

Aus with its only real restaurant of note namely Banhoff hotel had a good meal prepared for this tired soul.

Motorrad / motorbike tours is what we can offer our clients and one of the reasons for taking with my motorbike on this trip was to prepare a workable route for motorcyclists.

Watch this space as I will report back soon on the tours about to see the light of day under our Namibian tours section.

About the Author

In 1996, Marius du Plessis made a career change and started working at a medium sized tour company in, Cape Town. He qualified as a tour guide and was soon on his way to becoming a top guide. A year later he joined a big tour operator specializing in day tours and charters. It had always been Marius’ dream to run his own business and in 2007 he purchased his first touring vehicle, a Mercedes Vito, while still guiding full time. Renting his vehicle to the movie industry he realised the potential, so in 2010 he went on his own, and African Hoopoe Tours and Charters was born. With the 2010 FIFA World Cup being hosted in Cape Town, timing could not have been better. From these humble beginnings African Hoopoe Tours have grown from strength to strength.