Windhoek

We returned to the main road north and after re-inflating the tyres hightailed it to Windhoek so we could apply for our Zambian visas first thing Monday morning.  This will save us from driving all the way south to Gabarone, the capital of Botswana, to get them.

We decided it best to stay at a hostel in town for ease of access as the nearest camp-site was on the outskirts.  Ever since the Landy was broken into in Cape Town, Duncan and I have taken turns going in to check in at places to stay while the other one of us waits with the Landy and all our stuff (I'm the paranoid one).  The first two hostels we tried were full and we ended up at a sweet guesthouse complete with secure parking about 10 minutes walk from the Zambian consulate.   Just after we checked in the local police arrived to take a statement from a Dutch couple who arrived just after us, and had the backseat window of their rental vehical smashed and a bag stolen while the car was parked on the road outside for the five minutes they took to check in!  A sign in the room warned that Windhoek was like any other big city (although its not that big) except with 45% unemployment.

Its a nice city though, clean and compact.  People are friendly.  We're enjoying a day lazing around the guest house garden reading while we wait for the visas to be processed.  Tonight we're going out for a restaurant dinner.