Two Weeks in South Africa and Namibia: Joburg, Cape Town, Sossusvlei and Kruger
Apr 3, 2017, 3:28 pm
#46
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Austin, TX -- AA Life Platinum; QF Life Silver; UA Silver
Posts: 5,462
Amazing Namibia pics! Going there next month, likely doing Windhoek -> Sossusvlei -> Swakopmund -> Windhoek. But I've left things late (going to be there over a weekend) and the lodge inside the park is already full..
Apr 3, 2017, 11:19 pm
#47
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: YVR - Vancouver, with most winter weekends in Whistler.
Programs: Aeroplan 35K, Alaska MVP, Marriott Titanium / Lifetime Platinum, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 4,609
Wow - that was a great report.
There's no question that Namibia driving is a sport best shared. I was happy to be apart of the "advice" column in making this happen.
There were some great photos in Namibia - I can easily say that MrsWT73 wouldn't have appreciated as many stops for photos!
Travel safe to Burma - you'll get another round of great photo opportunities there.
There's no question that Namibia driving is a sport best shared. I was happy to be apart of the "advice" column in making this happen.
There were some great photos in Namibia - I can easily say that MrsWT73 wouldn't have appreciated as many stops for photos!
Travel safe to Burma - you'll get another round of great photo opportunities there.
Apr 4, 2017, 6:13 am
#48
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: TPA
Programs: DL Diamond, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,256
Thanks so much.
Thank you. Yes, renting a lens was definitely the way to go. It's not a lens I'd use often so I wouldn't be able to justify the purchase. Plus renting lets you try out some lenses you may never be able to afford otherwise!
Apr 4, 2017, 6:18 am
#49
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: TPA
Programs: DL Diamond, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,256
When I started planning my trip about two months out, the inside lodge was sold out and the campsite was nearly full. I emailed the lodge a few times before the trip to check for cancellations, with no avail as well.
Wow - that was a great report.
There's no question that Namibia driving is a sport best shared. I was happy to be apart of the "advice" column in making this happen.
There were some great photos in Namibia - I can easily say that MrsWT73 wouldn't have appreciated as many stops for photos!
Travel safe to Burma - you'll get another round of great photo opportunities there.
There's no question that Namibia driving is a sport best shared. I was happy to be apart of the "advice" column in making this happen.
There were some great photos in Namibia - I can easily say that MrsWT73 wouldn't have appreciated as many stops for photos!
Travel safe to Burma - you'll get another round of great photo opportunities there.
Apr 13, 2017, 5:00 pm
#50
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: DCA
Programs: AA Plat Pro, UA Silver, DL Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,851
Solid photos as usual. Folks, this is a great dude to travel with btw, as you never feel obligated to take any pictures yourself, you just get his post-edit ones on Dropbox and show em off to your friends, LOL. They're so good they almost make all those annoying treks around Venice's bridges worth it for those sunset pictures last year.
Leopard in silhouette is amazing.
ney
Leopard in silhouette is amazing.
ney
Apr 14, 2017, 6:10 am
#52
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: TPA
Programs: DL Diamond, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,256
USAA includes the CDW. Discount codes aren't valid with Hertz Namibia, so whatever the price is, is what you pay. USAA also provides free unlimited kilometers, which apparently is normally limited. Just make sure you show them the printout if they bring it up.
You can sign up for USAA for free and use their website/code to book (to include kilometers and CDW), you don't need to open an account and you don't need military affiliation to have an online ID.
Personally, I would suggest opting for the super waiver and the tire/windscreen waiver when you rent. I had mine for 3 days and it was about $40 extra total for all 3. Namibia rentals charge quite a bit more for excess vs US. Even with the super waiver, they authorized over $2,500 USD on my card. That would've been significantly more had I not opted for the super.
Then again, I was alone so maybe I went a little overboard in terms of protection.
You're welcome to message me if you have any questions!
You can sign up for USAA for free and use their website/code to book (to include kilometers and CDW), you don't need to open an account and you don't need military affiliation to have an online ID.
Personally, I would suggest opting for the super waiver and the tire/windscreen waiver when you rent. I had mine for 3 days and it was about $40 extra total for all 3. Namibia rentals charge quite a bit more for excess vs US. Even with the super waiver, they authorized over $2,500 USD on my card. That would've been significantly more had I not opted for the super.
Then again, I was alone so maybe I went a little overboard in terms of protection.
You're welcome to message me if you have any questions!
I picked mine up at the Hilton Windhoek as it was cheaper to take a cab into the city and rent the next morning in order to save a day off the rental. They tried telling me I was limited to 150km/day but they made a photo copy of my rental printout which stated unlimited. Haven't heard back (going on a month now) so I assume we're all good in that regard.
My opinion (and this is coming from someone who typically travels with a super tight budget)... don't cheap out and get a sedan, go for the truck. The experience will be so much better with it plus you'll be able to trek the final 5km at Sossusvlei yourself instead of paying and waiting for one of the shuttles. 4km of that ride are easy and only about 1km is very soft sand, so don't stop. Switch it into 4L and keep your foot on the gas and you should be fine.
Apr 14, 2017, 6:15 am
#53
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: TPA
Programs: DL Diamond, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,256
Solid photos as usual. Folks, this is a great dude to travel with btw, as you never feel obligated to take any pictures yourself, you just get his post-edit ones on Dropbox and show em off to your friends, LOL. They're so good they almost make all those annoying treks around Venice's bridges worth it for those sunset pictures last year.
Leopard in silhouette is amazing.
ney
Leopard in silhouette is amazing.
ney
Jul 8, 2017, 12:12 pm
#54
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Highlands, Scotland
Programs: EK,BA,QR
Posts: 547
Just to add to all the "thank you's"! Many thanks - just loved the TR - so interesting, never a boring second! Just wish I'd half of your photography skill. I'm starting to plan our trip to SA next March and you have given me lots of ideas.
Enjoy your future travels - it really is a wonderful world!
Enjoy your future travels - it really is a wonderful world!
Jul 9, 2017, 4:19 pm
#55
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: TPA
Programs: DL Diamond, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,256
Just to add to all the "thank you's"! Many thanks - just loved the TR - so interesting, never a boring second! Just wish I'd half of your photography skill. I'm starting to plan our trip to SA next March and you have given me lots of ideas.
Enjoy your future travels - it really is a wonderful world!
Enjoy your future travels - it really is a wonderful world!
Enjoy your time in SA!
Jul 13, 2017, 2:15 pm
#56
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Charlottesville, Va. USA
Posts: 1,752
ChiefNWA, thanks for an outstanding TR and incredlible pictures! My wife and I leave for SA in the middle of Sept. We have forwarded your tr link to the other two couples who are traveling with us and are not Fter's.
Jul 13, 2017, 5:20 pm
#57
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Highlands, Scotland
Programs: EK,BA,QR
Posts: 547
Thank you for that, I am sure that we will enjoy our holiday there.
Just wondering if you have been to my part of the world - the Scottish Highlands - it's a wonderful place for photographers!
Oh, and by the way, I gave my husband the link to your report - he was as impressed with it as I was, so thank you once again, on his behalf.
Jul 13, 2017, 9:16 pm
#58
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Long Island, NY
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Gold
Posts: 732
Great trip report ChiefNWA
"A picture is worth a thousand words" as they say! Well, your pictures took my breath away...
The blue sky in your pics is fantastic...
and the sand dunes in Namibia look like a different planet altogether
"A picture is worth a thousand words" as they say! Well, your pictures took my breath away...
The blue sky in your pics is fantastic...
and the sand dunes in Namibia look like a different planet altogether
Jul 14, 2017, 11:40 am
#59
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Bargara Australia
Programs: VA, SQ, IHG, HH,ALL, Europcar
Posts: 1,530
Wow. Thank you for this, this is essentially my dream trip! Namibia has been at the top of my list for a while. My desktop background image is a rotating series of images of the Namib Desert from space, including the one below (my favorite). Something about the contrast of barren desert and ocean that fascinates me. I don't even remember how I even heard of Namibia for the first time, it might have been the Long Way Down documentary, but I've been obsessed with it ever since.
I've been chickening out despite a fairly cheap and convenient premium economy fare on VS to JNB from MIA through LHR that is still around. Partially because Joberg doesn't interest me at all, and partially because I'd be going on this one solo and that's a bit daunting since it'd be the first time I did Africa, or really anywhere outside of the typical major cities.
This really is my dream trip though, just driving through Namibia. Ideally do Sossuvlei, then Walvis Bay and up the skeleton coast. I'm a huge space/astronomy nerd so the idea of going from Broward County where I can barely see the brightest stars to somewhere that is just pitch black with billions of stars gets me excited. I did Saba in the Caribbean not long ago which was as pitch black as I've gotten yet.
Not sure I could spare two weeks but this really stoked the Namibia fires. I do most my traveling solo which has never been a problem but for some reason something like this just seems so tough.
This report was incredible though Chief. I'm bookmarking this just to go back and look at all the photos and remind me why I want to do it.
I've been chickening out despite a fairly cheap and convenient premium economy fare on VS to JNB from MIA through LHR that is still around. Partially because Joberg doesn't interest me at all, and partially because I'd be going on this one solo and that's a bit daunting since it'd be the first time I did Africa, or really anywhere outside of the typical major cities.
This really is my dream trip though, just driving through Namibia. Ideally do Sossuvlei, then Walvis Bay and up the skeleton coast. I'm a huge space/astronomy nerd so the idea of going from Broward County where I can barely see the brightest stars to somewhere that is just pitch black with billions of stars gets me excited. I did Saba in the Caribbean not long ago which was as pitch black as I've gotten yet.
Not sure I could spare two weeks but this really stoked the Namibia fires. I do most my traveling solo which has never been a problem but for some reason something like this just seems so tough.
This report was incredible though Chief. I'm bookmarking this just to go back and look at all the photos and remind me why I want to do it.
If you want to go to Windhoek how about flying there direct, lots of airlines do from Europe
Jul 16, 2017, 9:19 am
#60
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: TPA
Programs: DL Diamond, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,256
Thank you for that, I am sure that we will enjoy our holiday there.
Just wondering if you have been to my part of the world - the Scottish Highlands - it's a wonderful place for photographers!
Oh, and by the way, I gave my husband the link to your report - he was as impressed with it as I was, so thank you once again, on his behalf.
Just wondering if you have been to my part of the world - the Scottish Highlands - it's a wonderful place for photographers!
Oh, and by the way, I gave my husband the link to your report - he was as impressed with it as I was, so thank you once again, on his behalf.
Thanks for the kind words.