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Namibia! How I had longed to visit that country. When I stepped off the aeroplane on that warm September morning, and walked to the terminal building, there was a feeling of excitement and anticipation. "I am here. At last, I am in Namibia."

Windhoek is a beautiful city. Being small gives it the charm of all small towns. Being the Capital, gives it dignity. Being modern, gives it style. Being historic, gives it depth and character. The people are friendly. They are helpful and they smile when you speak with them. I felt safe walking in the shopping area.

The hotel was easy to find. My room was luxurious. Windows from ceiling to floor, overlooked a tropical garden, with a swimming pool. There were spa baths, too, from the natural hot springs in the area. Dinner was delicious, with fresh vegetables and tender Namibian beef.

Exploring Windhoek was my first task of this trip. I prefer to walk, and here it is easy and safe. Some historic buildings remain, including the museum, which displayed artifacts of life as it was lived by the European settlers about one hundred years ago. Some older, villa-style homes are still lived in, and have lovely gardens. This is the desert, and the exotic plant life - euphorbias, aloes and cactus plants - is fascinating, enhancing the exotic atmosphere. Brilliantly flowering bougainvillea and palm trees grow well in the warm sun.

Namibia has frequently been struck by meteorites, and a display of a series of solid iron meteorites discovered in the desert, has been erected like a modern sculpture in a plaza in the city center.

The country runs efficiently. I read in my guide book that the hotels, businesses, city management, including the hospital is run on international standards, with highly qualified staff. The roads were built in early colonial days (it was once a colony of Germany) and are still excellent. General standards set in those times seem to have continued. With good roads to look forward to, I decided to try long distance travel.

The main motorways are all gravel roads. They are firm, well graded, and wonderfully wide. No lined demarcate the center of the road. Bearing in mind the amount of vehicles I encountered on my journey to find dinosaur footprints, there really is no need for them. When you see another vehicle miles ahead, you know it is there, and the driver of that vehicle knows you are here. Dust, of course, when you finally do pass, waving as you do. But it soon settles as the car moves on, into the distance.

The

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