FlyWestair October 2019
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Check out 5 cool places in Windhoek on pg. 38
CONSERVATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT IN NAMIBIA
A R E N A M I B I A’ S C A R N I VO R E S AT R I S K?
A R E N A M I B I A’ S C A R N I VO R E S AT R I S K?
MINING AND THE
ENVIRONMENT
H U M A N -W I L D L I F E
CONFLICT
GA INING INSIGHTS INTO GAINING INSIGHTS INTO
2019
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CONSERVATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT IN NAMIBIA
“But how could you live and have no story to tell?”
2019/20
Vo l 2 8
is for Awesome... and Ads.
NETWORK
THE GREEN ECONOMY A review of Namibian Trade and Industry
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A Manufacturing Basket filled with Opportunities...
NAMIBIA TRADE DIRECTORY 2019/20
Read this issue online!
This is us. extraordinary Namibian stories. publishing. content generation. content marketing. print. film. digital.
CONTENT IS
are compiled by Venture Media’s content team, in partnership with Tribefire Studios and freelance contributors.
THE SECRET LIVES OF WILD ANIMALS
and also
by Tribefire Studios
1
contents
Table of
CONTENT IS FIRE
01
And collaboration is the future. FlyWestair Magazine is a compilation of Namibian stories sourced by Venture Media that entertain and surprise with interesting topics, introducing you to a new generation of trendsetters and Namibian influencers.
WELCOME ON BOARD 10
05
Read more about travelling with FlyWestair – a scheduled passenger service by Namibian-owned Westair, the first private company to achieve this historic milestone.
THE PEOPLE BEHIND FLYWESTAIR
06
We share the stories of the individuals who are the real force driving the success of the airline, from the pilots to the crew to the maintenance team.
EXPLORE THE CITY MARKETS
10
Every month with Charene Labuschagne. October is all about The Shed, an eclectic market that takes place 15 minutes east of Windhoek once every few months.
HOME IS WHERE THE HEAT IS
12
Remy The Quill entertains us with his take on Windhoek. Engaging, funny and offbeat; his unique writing style and honesty is a breath of fresh air.
FLYWESTAIR DESTINATIONS 13
13
We celebrate FlyWestair destinations and give you some top tips of what to do, see and discover when you touch down with us. In this issue: Cape Town in 5 words.
MEET THE NEW BEER KID
15
You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the amount of unique culinary and beverage artisans that can be found in Namibia. A new craft beer brewer stirs things up in the capital.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
16
Find out where you need to be in the capital city this month. Send us your event suggestion to fly@venture.com.na and we will be sure to feature it in upcoming issues. Please note that event suggestions need to be sent two months in advance.
ART-IST
21
Living on the arty side of life is popular in Windhoek, but did you know that the biggest theatre in Namibia is actually in Tsumeb? Find out all about Teaterhuis.
21 2
ROYAL HUSTLERS Wessie van der Westhuizen talks business and personal philosophy as O&L’s new CEO.
22
MASTER YOUR DESTINY
25
Jazzing things up in Namibia. Get inspired by Suzy Eises, a soulful saxophone master with some serious star power.
THE TRIBE
27
We get to know Adora with The Tribe as she shares her story of new beginnings, going through hard times and rising above it all.
ECONOMIC PULSE
28
Local economic researcher Eric van Zyl discusses whether change is on the horison for Namibia’s economy in the Namibia Trade Network’s Economic Pulse, a monthly series on finance and the economy.
FASHION FIERCE
32
Fashion fundi Rukee Kaankunga talks denim dynamics with Assumpta Gahutu and her proudly Namibian denim brand - AG Premium Jeans.
LOOKING GLOBAL
38
36
Global issues with local impact. Willie Olivier unpacks renewable energy and how the world has been forced to embrace green technologies to meet the increasing demand for power from expanding populations and growing industries.
5 COOL PLACES
38
See, eat, drink, Instagram. Discover five really cool places in Windhoek with us this October.
HOW TO MAKE A LIFESTYLE CHANGE
41
Klara motivates tired, uninspired urbanites to take back their personal health. She (mostly) practices what she preaches.
PHOTOGRAPHY FEATURE
44
Celebrating beauty is a passion of ours, so we’re always so happy to engage with others that share in that passion. Our photographer for the month captures the detail and spirit of architecture in Namibia.
MS KNOW-IT-ALL
32
49
Random facts that will leave you smiling...or just scratching your head.
WELLNESS ON FLYWESTAIR
51
Kirsty Watermeyer explains how unprocessed emotions have the ability to undermine our well-being. Let it go!
INSTAFAMOUS
55
Your chance to become Instafamous. Share your pics using the hashtag #flywestair and you could see your image featured here next month.
FAST FACTS
56
For a quick lowdown on Namibia, check out FlyWestair’s Fast Facts. Did we miss something? Send an email to fly@venture.com.na
44 3
NEED TO KNOWS www.flywestair.com
How to buy
a ticket online Choose your ticket
Select which tickets you would like to purchase. We offer multiple fare options such as: Saver, Classic or Premium
Passenger details Please enter names as they appear on passport or travel documentation LOGIN to upload passenger details from previous booking.
Fill in your payment details in our DPO paygate to make final payment.
How can you make
a payment?
Eros Airport, Ondangwa Airport, Oranjemund Airport
Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)
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Additional flight information / rules Read up on all our additional information regarding terms and conditions, and tick the selection box once completed to continue.
Transaction confirmation will be sent to passenger email entered.
You can also purchase
from:
• Windhoek Eros Airport Office • SkyLounge Eros Airport • Ondangwa airport office • Oranjemund airport office • All major travel agents
Check-in
prior to flight Online check-in opens 24hours before departure of the flight on www.flywestair.com Check-in opens 1h 30min before domestic flight and 2 hours before international flight. Check-in CLOSES 30min prior to flight
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Welcome on Board
FlyWestair
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elcome on board this Flywestair flight. A special welcome to you if this is your first experience of our two month old scheduled flights to Oranjemund and Ondangwa. An even warmer welcome if you are one of the special guests on the new scheduled flight taking you across our borders to the southern tip of the continent, Cape Town. If you are sitting back and relaxing in the comfortable seat of the Embraer jet that will take you to your destination or back home to Windhoek, you would by now have met some of the Flywestair ground crew. They are an important part of the Flywestair team, trained and committed to give you a pleasant experience from the moment you walk into the Eros airport terminal looking for the Flywestair counter, to boarding your flight. These people are the ones that ensure that your check-in is seamless and efficiently performed. They ensure that your luggage is correctly labelled and loaded onto the aircraft, catering is packed and that the aircraft is serviced and fueled so that your flight can depart “on time”. The Flywestair ground crew care about you, our passenger, and their number one priority is to ensure that you have a seamless and efficient airport experience
before you step onto a specially rolled out red carpet to board the aircraft for an “on time” departure. The entire FlyWestair team is extremely happy to start servicing an additional route to Cape Town this month. We are doing it differently. This is a schedule aimed at providing a convenient and stress-free travel option to our passengers, because we fly out of Eros Airport in Windhoek and via Oranjemund to Cape Town. Eros Airport is situated in the heart of Windhoek and has been the home of Westair for 52 years. We even offer our passengers a good cup of De Luxe coffee in the Sky Café or the Executive Lounge after you have checked in. We strive to maintain this seamless and friendly FlyWestair experience from check-in to boarding. Once the aircraft is airborne it is about one hour’s flight to Oranjemund, a 30-minute turn around with passengers getting off in Oranjemund and others boarding for Cape Town for the second leg of the flight. All in all your total travel time door to door from Windhoek to Cape Town should be quicker and safer than any other option. We hope you enjoy reading our in-flight magazine. Please feel free to take a copy with you and give it to a friend once you have read it from cover to cover. We are looking forward to welcome you on board again soon.
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Who is the Real Force behind Westair? In the next few months those who make FlyWestair possible will be introduced to you, one by one. You will meet our pilots, our ground-crew, those who work behind the scenes in finance and operations, in maintenance, as trainees and strategists, deal-makers and groundbreakers. Meet the first of many faces behind Westair.
Karel Jankowitz
Mapurakuume Mbaroro
“We’re not fixing problems for today, we are doing it for tomorrow. Continuous improvement, that’s what I’m striving for,” says Karel, Chief Quality Assurance Manager of the Westair Group, who describes his position at the company as “the guy standing next to the road with a torch, pointing out the rocks and the holes so that you don’t fall into them.” His passion for aviation is what led him to Westair in the first place. “I already worked here when I was still at school. I would come to wash airplanes and clean tyres with the hope to go for a “flip” (a quick flight).” That passion for the industry hasn’t subsided, only matured. “You see the grey hair? It is a very satisfying job, but you have to have it, you have to be a bit OCD, just a tiny bit. Because if you don’t follow the rules and regulations, and something goes wrong, they can close the company. It’s that serious.” Karel’s background is in mechanical engineering, but that was not really what he wanted to do. Instead he chose to become a pilot while working as an aircraft engineer. He has since worked in almost every position at the company, getting a sound understanding of how the company works. “The fact that I get paid for doing my job is actually a bonus.”
Starting out as a sweeper when Westair was still a small company with only about 50 employees, Mapurakuume couldn’t help but become interested in the aeroplanes and eventually worked his way up to become one of the technicians in the maintenance team. “My managers are really the best guys you can work with. They can handle any situation. You say you are stuck, they say ‘try it this way’. You can even call them at night when you are stuck; they will help.” Coming from a rural background, airplanes were things Mapurakuume saw high up in the sky. “In my village, I am the only one who works on aircraft. They ask me many questions.” Now he is working towards obtaining a mechanical engineering licence. “Every aircraft is different, every aircraft you have to get to know from the start.” His passion for perfection in his work often sees him driving back to the hangar at night to check that his work was correct. “Working with aircraft is difficult and stressful, but interesting. To me, it is a good thing.”
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Elmarco Hoff
Hendrik Du Bruyn
“It was a bold move, but it was an opportunity to enter a new market,” says Elmarco Hoff, who is the Financial Controller at Westair. “Although we’ve been in aviation for so long, the airline industry is slightly different now. It’s a different ball game.” Originally from Windhoek, Elmarco was recruited by Westair when he came home after finishing his degree in BComm Financial Accounting at Stellenbosch University. About the new direction the company is taking and about the new endeavour with FlyWestair, he says, “I bought into the idea, recognising the growth potential, and there was a need. Where there’s an airline there’s definitely growth. I find that exciting.”
“I am a very loyal person, so I stick to where I am, but I have to say, I’m also very happy. The company looks after me, so from my side I look after the company,” says Hendrik, who as Workshop Manager ensures that everything in Westair’s hangar runs smoothly. “It’s important to me that the guys under me also have a positive attitude. I see that as part of my role in the company.” Hendrik has worked at Westair for 21 years, knowing from the start that he wanted to work with planes. “I was never so much into the flying part. Working with my hands was my passion.” With all the changes happening at the company, Hendrik says he is enjoying the growth. “We are in it together, the challenges and the growth, we jump in and make it work.”
Francois Hugo
Dannika Ham
“I know it’s going to be exciting, we’re scoring goals, we are doing things that should have happened long ago in the aviation industry,” says Francois Hugo, Managing Director of Signa, a subsidiary of Westair. Educating the next generation of pilots is a passion for Francois, who headed the metamorphosis of the Westair Flight Training Academy into the Signa Aviation School in 2014. “I had a vision for how we could build and structure it, because there were no customer service orientated flight schools in Namibia at the time and that’s what I wanted to do,” he adds. “The name Signa is Latin for standards. And that is our ultimate goal, to be the highest standard of aviation training not just in Namibia but in the world.” Now Francois enjoys seeing the next chapter of Westair’s legacy play out. The addition of the large Embraers to Westair’s fleet provides him with further challenges and rewards. “There’s nothing better than taking someone who has never flown an airplane before through the training process and then be there when they make their first solo flight.”
“The cool thing about Westair is that there are so many opportunities and I really appreciate that I can grow with the company,” says Dannika, Charter Coordinator, whose passion for flying put the twenty-year-old on a determined path from a very young age. “The thing with aviation is, it’s a passion, not a choice. It’s a lot of study work, and as a pilot you never stop studying and you always get tested, because you have people on board and it’s their lives in your hands.” Dannika began working at Westair as a means of supporting her passion for flying. She is busy obtaining her Private Pilot License and says, “My funds were running low and what’s better than working in the aviation industry?” Dannika was already familiar with Westair after a threemonth stint with them during her Grade 10 holiday. “They really helped me out, that’s why I’m trying to give back what they gave me. Doing a good job, sometimes putting in the extra hours, just trying my best.”
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Ondangwa - Toivo ya Toivo
Eros Airport
Oranjemund
W NE
!
Cape Town
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NE W
! now fl yin g to Cape Town FLIGHT SCHEDULE: FROM
TO
DAYS
DEPARTURE
ARRIVAL
Eros Windhoek
Ondangwa - Toivo Ya Toivo
Mon, Wed and Fri
06:30
07:30
Ondangwa - Toivo Ya Toivo
Eros Windhoek
Mon, Wed and Fri
08:00
09:00
Eros Windhoek
Ondangwa - Toivo Ya Toivo
Mon, Wed and Fri
17:45
18:45
Ondangwa - Toivo Ya Toivo
Eros Windhoek
Mon, Wed and Fri
19:15
20:15
Eros Windhoek
Ondangwa - Toivo Ya Toivo
Sun
17:00
18:00
Ondangwa - Toivo Ya Toivo
Eros Windhoek
Sun
18:30
19:30
Eros Windhoek
Oranjemund
Mon, Wed and Fri
09:30
10:40
Oranjemund
Cape Town
Mon, Wed and Fri
11:15
12:30
Cape Town
Oranjemund
Mon, Wed and Fri
14:20
15:30
Oranjemund
Eros Windhoek
Mon, Wed and Fri
16:00
17:10
Eros Windhoek
Oranjemund
Sun
13:00
14:10
Oranjemund
Cape Town
Sun
14:40
15:55
Cape Town
Oranjemund
Sun
16:50
18:00
Oranjemund
Eros Windhoek
Sun
18:30
19:40
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Explore Windhoek’s markets
W
Focus: The Shed
indhoek’s markets are always a fun and vibrant addition to a weekend to-do list, with new market line-ups emerging regularly. Not only is it a great excuse to gather friends and family for quality time to mix and mingle, it also spurs the growth of small, local businesses - after all: Local is Lekker. We’ve compiled a list of our favourite Windhoek Markets and why you shouldn’t miss them. Check out our countdown in each installment of FlyWestair Magazine. A rare occurrence but definitely worth the drive: The Shed is a seasonal market held every three or four months, each time with a different theme or seasonal celebration. A fifteen-minute drive eastward out of Windhoek will lead you to a massive windmill doing its tumbling dance. Next to it, in the two-storey silo, you’ll find the friendliest vendors selling everything from organic greens to handmade home decor. Crafty, creative, quirky, fun. That’s the vibe they’re
going for and they are definitely succeeding! Among them is a small-batch winery selling aromatic Shiraz and lippuckering Witbiltz, there is a dynamic German farming couple with authentic salamis, biltong and prime Namibian steak, there are ceramics, art and hobbyist crafters with handmade bags and scarves. You can easily spend your entire Saturday morning there, your coffee and obligatory apple strudel only briefly interrupted by a foot massage in a quaint teepee. It’s a lovely event for friends and family. HOW TO GET THERE: 30 km east of Windhoek on the B6 road toward Hosea Kutako International Airport (directly opposite the turnoff to Dordabis). The Shed Goes Pop Art on 19 & 20 October, be sure not to miss the fun! It’s best to follow its Facebook page for updates. Charene Labuschagne
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Home is where the
heat is
The one thing I did not expect to miss about Namibia.
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indhoek, for me, has always been the place that I wanted to leave. There are many reasons for this. When I was growing up here I remember thinking about how small it was, how it was possible to drive around the city in less than a day. I remember how disappointing it was to know that the Namdeb Building in the centre of town barely met the skyscraper requirements set by New York or Tokyo. The shops closed too early. The only gaming arcade in town was too expensive for my siblings and I to visit. There was a public pool, but we could not swim. We did not have all the distractions that children from other big cities seemed to have. Green parks with rust-free swings, bicycle trails, cul-de-sacs where you could ride a scooter or play some projectile sport. Mostly, though, I remember thinking Windhoek was a large geographic transit lounge for people on their way to something better. I, however, felt like I was the only person on my way to something worse. I thought Windhoek was purgatory, a middle ground for judgment. I was either going to some faraway heaven or I was going to be condemned to hell. Because of the heat I felt as if I was halfway through my punishment.
Recently, when travelling through Germany, I have been asked numerous times what Windhoek is like, and what I like about it. Without thinking, without pause or hesitation, I said I liked the heat. When I landed in Frankfurt the skies were flat and grey - early autumn weather, the pilot said. In the ensuing days the sun broke through only a handful of times. There were some warm days, but warm is not a temperature I know. I am used to blasting heat - hot, hotter, hottest. Is, ja! I really said I missed the heat. I missed the cool mornings that evaporate into bright, sunny days, the afternoons that shimmer with light, and the sunsets that trail red, orange, pink, and violet hues in their wake. I said I missed how hot Windhoek is.
No one chooses a harsh environment as home without being special (or a little touched in the head) and Windhoekers are as special as they come. Hardy and humorous, tempered by the heat.
You have to put aside all ideas you have about what you call hot until you arrive in Namibia. I was born in a tropical country, and like an equatorial flower I was used to rain and humidity. Namibia is something different. The heat is constant and insidious It is best thought of in the standard degrees of comparison - hot, hotter, hottest. It never fluctuates. Back then, to me the heat was quite unbearable. It dried my youth, scorched the skin and blighted the landscape. A cool day was still a hot day. A sweltering day was normal. What I wanted was a way out: away from the heat, the dust, the transit lounge, a way out of purgatory. In many ways my life so far has been an adventure in learning to like home. Once, in Taipei, in the wintry depths and rain I thought of Windhoek’s elusive rainfall and how comforting it was to know that the sun would come out again. When I lived in Cape Town the weather’s mood swings were discombobulating. I never knew what to expect. Another
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time, on a sunny day that suddenly chilled with rain, I yearned so desperately for the certainty of Windhoek’s heat. Strange, but true. I yearned for purgatory.
But that was shorthand for something else. It is not the heat that makes Windhoek what it is. It is the people who have chosen the city as their home - an optimistic and amusing people. No one chooses a harsh environment as home without being special (or a little touched in the head) and Windhoekers are as special as they come. Hardy and humorous, tempered by the heat. I remember being on a drizzly street in the centre of Berlin thinking about the summer weather in Windhoek and realising that I missed what I least expect to miss about Windhoek. Purgatory was no longer purgatory. Home is where the heat is.
Rémy Ngamije is a Rwandan-born Namibian novelist, columnist, essayist, short-story writer, and photographer. He also writes for brainwavez.org, a writing collective based in South Africa. He is the editor-in-chief of Doek!, Namibia’s first literary magazine. His debut novel The Eternal Audience Of One is available from Blackbird Books and Amazon. His short stories have appeared in Litro Magazine, AFREADA, The Johannesburg Review of Books, The Amistad, The Kalahari Review, American Chordata, Doek!, and are also forthcoming in Azure. More of his writing can be read on his website: remythequill.com
FlyWestair Destinations
CAPE TOWN IN FIVE WORDS
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hy Cape Town? If you don’t know the answer to this question, you’ve obviously never been there. Below are five reasons to visit the Mother City on your next trip. 1. BEACHES
With its pristine white sand and crystal clear blue waters, Cape Town has some of the world’s most beautiful beaches. It’s also the place where oceans meet, offering a diverse range of beaches dotted all along the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean side. Each beach has its own character, often mirroring the vibe of the locals who frequent it. 2. WINE The city is literally on the doorstep of the Cape Winelands. Visit one of South Africa’s oldest wine farms, Klein Constantia, and taste the famous Vin de Constance, favoured by the likes of Frederick the Great, Napoleon Bonaparte and King George IV. Or go on a tour of the scenic wineries and taste the lip-smacking wines of the Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek areas. 3. FOOD Immerse yourself in the culinary centre that is Cape Town. The city is littered with excellent eateries that offer everything from Michelin starred restaurants to the wide variety of small eateries that make up the Eastern Food Bazaar. 4. MOUNTAIN You can’t talk about Cape Town without mentioning Table Mountain. The iconic mountain that forms the backdrop to the Mother City is a significant tourist attraction. Take the cable car to the 1000 metre high plateau or work up a sweat hiking to the top on one of the many trails. 5. NIGHTLIFE At night this seemingly sleepy city comes alive offering something for everyone, whether its laid-back drinks at the Waterfront or jamming on a packed dance floor to some underground electro beats. Cape Town’s city centre is rich in great bars, especially on Long and Bree streets which are safe and busy, and there are plenty of taxis to take you home in the early hours of the morning. FlyWestair now offers flights from Eros Airport to Cape Town International, via Oranjemund. See our flight schedule on pg 9.
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respect the ear
99FM Windhoek Rehoboth Okahandja 104.5FM Oshakati Ondangwa Ongwediva 99.8FM Walvis Bay Swakopmund 94.1 FM Otjiwarongo 101.7 FM Tsumeb
stream live on 99fm.com.na 14
Meet the
T
NEW BEER KID
he newest kid on the craft beer block is Tholch, a microbrewery started by three brothers who share a love of good beer. Established back in 2017, members of the public had the chance to taste some of these beers only at weekend markets held in and around Windhoek. However, the company received its distribution licence in September this year which means that you will start seeing a lot more of Tholch.
Tholch was born. The striking name is a combination of the three brothers’ names. But essentially it is still a oneman brewing operation because both brothers reside in Germany. They assist with marketing, design of logos and support in the technical aspects of brewing. Thomas Mechnig brews each beer in the Tholch range to perfection. There is a Munich-style Helles, a pale lager with a grainy, sweet malt aroma and a softly rounded palate. Then the IPA that has intense fruity aromas with citrus and floral notes that jump out at you. The latest in the range is the Summer Wheat which has the ingredients of a wheat beer but is brewed in an ale style. With its fruity aroma, crisp taste and low alcohol it was specially crafted for Namibian summers. Golden cold brews made to be knocked back. Every so often a limited edition beer will be launched. It will vary in tune with the seasons - a heavier bock beer, for example, will be brewed during the winter months.
With its fruity aroma, crisp taste and low alcohol it was specially crafted for Namibian summers.
It all started when brewer Thomas Mechnig received a home brewing kit as a gift. Even though the beer that he produced with the kit was not all that great it ignited an interest in brewing. After studying books by American and German craft beer gurus, he started experimenting with his own styles. By combining the different brewing methods of the two countries he created beers that were to his liking. After experimenting in the kitchen for a while, he eventually had to move to the garage when he acquired a larger brewing system. The excellent feedback from friends who tried his beer planted the seed to start a microbrewery. He roped in his two brothers, Oliver and Christopher, and
The Tholch range of beers should be hitting the shelves of select bottle stores from the end of this month, so be sure to keep those thirsty eyes peeled. Le Roux van Schalkwyk
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4 October 2019
3 October 2019 Kicking off October is Future Females, “Who run the world? Girls” - duh! The empowering female-centric initiative is presenting CrackIt on Social Media on Thursday, 3 October 2019 with co-founder Lauren Dallas leading the seminar on analysis, campaign analytics and proper strategy for digital marketing. An opportunity for female entrepreneurs to gain insightful knowledge of marketing in the social media age. The seminar starts at 18h00 at the Vintage Coffee Shop in Windhoek. Tickets are available at Today.com.na
In Oranjemund for a quick business trip? Why don’t you make your way to the OMD 2030 Night Market at the OMD Hub on Friday, 4 October 2019 from 18h00 till 22h00. Find the perfect gift, a keepsake or taste scrumptious treats, but most importantly, get acquainted with the local community.
What’s happening. It’s spring! We’re fully aware of that because our eyes are puffy, our sinuses irritated and through the dusty air we can barely make out the mountains surrounding Windhoek. But nevermind, it’s spring! Meaning our favourite time of the year is finally on the way. With the festive season beckoning, we have to utilise these last few months for preparation: to experience the new, stretch the limbs and do like nature does - blossom into (social) butterflies.
Tapiwa Makaza in his student film NDF Survival Kit
4 October 2019 Summer is just around the corner and we’re pumped to get moving, not for weight-loss (that’s so pre-selfcare) but for mindfulness and health. The inaugural Zumbathon is here to shake and move everyone. Taking place at the Safari Court Hotel and Conference on Friday, 4 October 2019 at 18h00, the perfect workout for all even has a theme - the 70s. Dust off your leotards, those leg warmers you’ve been dying to wear and head on over for a day of endorphin spiking nostalgia.
5 October 2019 It’s awards season in Namibia and some of us are still feeling the NAMAS 2019 glow, but there’s a new kid in town - the Namibian Theatre & Film Awards 2019 (NFTA 2019). The prestigious awards celebrate and honour the hard work of creatives in the fields of film and theatre. After a breakthrough year in film for Namibia, the short film category is dominated by Baxu & The Giants and The Invisibles. As for feature films, Hairarab and The White Line boast nominations in several categories. Crowd favourites and soldout successes such as Every Woman and Fences have bagged multiple nominations and compete for the most coveted awards. The fringe production Fell as well as A Raisin in the Sun, staged by UNAM, have also earned several nominations, competing against bigger productions that were staged at NTN. The Namibian Theatre & Film Awards are a biennial event and by now seem long overdue. Local theatre and film productions have seen immense growth in the past two years and boundaries have been pushed. It’s time to acknowledge the hard work. It all goes down on Saturday, 5 October 2019 in Windhoek at the National Theatre of Namibia. Not to worry if you do not have an invite, the event will be televised.
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Tristan Gassert
5 October 2019 You don’t fancy watching the Namibian Oscars in your pyjamas on a Saturday night? Well, Old Mutual has got you covered. The first-ever Cap Classique & Champagne Festival has come to grace Windhoek with bubbles galore that same evening - quite fitting. This exclusive event invites champagne enthusiasts, and those who like the finer things in life, to discover and indulge in the world’s favourite celebratory drink. The bubbly is pouring from 15h00 till 22h00 at the Windhoek Country Club and Resort on 5 October 2019.
5 October 2019 If you can’t get enough, the fun workout moves to the coast, to get all of our coastal Namibians fit and environmentally aware as well. Zumbathon Beach Clean Up 2019 pairs fun fitness with cleaning up our precious beaches for the benefit of the Namibian Dolphin Project dedicated to conservation and research. The fun ensues on 5 October 2019 at 10h00 at Bay View Resort Hotel Namibia.
12 October 2019 It’s a month of celebration and goodwill and ChiNamibia follows suit with the 6th Children’s Arts And Cultural Festival on Saturday, 12 October 2019 at Zoo Park. Here’s an excuse to visit Zoo Park after aeons, huh? The foundation’s talented community, who foster the preservation of culture through artistic development, encourage all to come and enjoy art, music, dance, performance, crafts, etc.
10-20 October 2019
17 October 2019 We didn’t forget the music fans. Albert Frost will be bringing the blues to Windhoek. Fans of the SAMA awardwinning Rock musician will be pleased to finally get to see the legend after unfortunate delays and setbacks at the Wolfshack on Thursday, 17 October 2019. The “South African Hendrix” hits the stage at 20h00.
Unlike any other Namibian film produced so far, #LandoftheBrave, a crime thriller by visionary writer/ director Tim Huebschle, will be screened for 10 days at Ster Kinekor Namibia at the Grove Mall from 10 October till 20 October 2019. Be sure to see this history-making Namibian feature film, which no doubt will stir emotions, induce goosebumps and entertain us.
25-26 October 2019 Closing off the month - not that it needs any introduction - is Oktoberfest! The annual beer-lovers’ festival will bring German traditional beer, food, music and games to Sport Klub Windhoek. The festival opens on Friday, 25 October at 17h00 and ends on Saturday, 26 October 2019 at 23h00. You’ll walk away with one word etched in your mind forever: prost, meaning cheers in German, but loosely translated to “drink as much beer as you can”.
October is jam-packed, so we advise choosing your events wisely. Don’t tire yourself out just yet, keDecember is almost here. Lavinia Kapewasha
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COME TASTE FOR YOURSELF Come and relax just the way you like at the Midgard Taste Festival. As the outdoors come alive with a variety of live music shows and an array of food and drinks, the stage is set for you to experience the weekend in your own unique way. For the active outdoor enthusiasts, Midgard offers stunning routes to enjoy cycling, running or hiking. A friendly game of tennis is always a popular pastime, as well as cooling off in one of our clear blue pools. Whether you see the Taste Festival as a break with friends or a family getaway in the countryside, the activities are endless for everyone. Accommodation available. For more information, contact us on: Midgard.res@ol.na | 061 431 8000 or find us on Facebook.
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Teaterhui
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A boutique hotel and performance hotspot in Namibia’s largest theatre
et you didn’t know that the largest theatre in the country is located in Tsumeb. Strange, isn’t it? One would have thought that it would be Windhoek’s National Theatre of Namibia (NTN), but it’s not. With 535 striking scarlet seats inside a massive auditorium, the Van Riebeeck Theatre, now known as Teaterhuis (“theatre house” in Afrikaans) dwarfs the NTN.
The theatre was built in the middle of the previous century in the familiar modern aesthetic most buildings of the era are known for. Recently though, the floating concrete canopy above the entrance was closed up and became part of the owners’ four bedroom penthouse, with the harmonious addition of columns in the more classical style providing support from below. It stands as a monument to the mining heyday that catapulted Tsumeb to the size it is today. The theatre and the gymnasium across the street were owned by the mines, but the theatre is now privately owned. Teaterhuis currently serves as a coffee shop, venue and boutique hotel. The latter has ten wellappointed rooms, of which two are luxury rooms with views over the adjacent park grounds.
Namibia’s largest theatre house is now home to a coffee shop, events venue, theatre and boutique hotel.
Some of the rooms started out as massive storage rooms on a mysterious mezzanine floor with no stairs leading to them. Some could only be reached by nimbly walking across the ceiling, high above the theatre floor, from the projector room to the stage. As a venue, the theatre has hosted South African artists like Joe Black. According to the owners, their dream would be to show movies at the theatre, but purchasing movie rights is currently much too expensive. Check them out on Facebook for more info or to stay updated on future events. Nina van Zyl
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ROYAL HUSTLERS Wessie van der Westhuizen - Started from the bottom, now he’s here.
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man who is as passionate about work as he is about living a purposeful life, Wessie van der Westhuizen is an inspiring leader and CEO of Ohlthaver & List, Namibia’s biggest privately held group of companies (outside the mining sector).
Van der Westhuizen was born in the south of Namibia but grew up in the coastal town of Walvis Bay from the age of seven. After completing school he moved to South Africa. He was initially interested in sports physiotherapy as a career option but as fate would have it, this rugby fan was drawn to the fishing business instead. His passion and grit thrived as he rose through the ranks in the industry. While initially working to earn pocket money during his studies, he fell in love with it. “I don’t know how that happened. I completely fell in love with the fishing industry and ended up being there for 20 years,” Van der Westhuizen says. He worked at Irvin & Johnson, one of South Africa’s largest fishing companies, where he also began studying after he was identified as a high flyer by his employer.
1900’s, started this [company], and if you look at the magnitude of the O&L group of companies today, you know what was achieved through their legacies,” he says. Van der Westhuizen shares more on these values, and how he hopes that every Namibian joins hands to collectively change the future of the country: “We don’t believe in taking the cheap seats, sitting on the side and complaining about everything. We believe in collectively changing the future of people, and O&L’s purpose of Creating a Future, Enhancing Life is exactly that. And we don’t only mean for us as a business and our employees, but for every Namibian.”
We believe in collectively changing the future of people
TAKING O&L INTO THE FUTURE Van der Westhuizen became CEO at Ohlthaver & List in July 2019. This appointment came after sixteen years of working for the O&L divisions Hangana Seafood and Namibia Breweries Limited. In his new position he aims to continue the Ohlthaver & List legacy as the group of companies celebrates its 100-year-anniversary in October 2019. “It’s a huge honour and privilege to continue the legacy. How two gentlemen with a dream came here in the early
Van der Westhuizen’s own leadership philosophy resonates with these values. “My goal is to have a positive impact on people and to unlock their full potential, so I would definitely look for a purposeful person understanding the responsibility of leaving a legacy and making a difference.”
On a personal level he is a firm believer in being passionate about what you do in order to have a good quality of life. “You need to work very hard, but you also need to have fun. You must have fun in what you are doing. I hear people say they are going to work, but for me it’s: I’m getting up every morning to go and live my purpose.” And his philosophy on success? “If you are purposeful and you have a lot of fun in what you are doing, but you are also doing it for the good of people and for reasons much greater than yourself, that for me is definitely a recipe for success,” he reiterates. This article is based on an interview with Wessie van der Westhuizen on 99FM. Tune in to The Royal Hustlers on 99 FM every Monday to Friday at 07h35.
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uzi Eises, a soulful saxophone master who has proven her star power, is one of the hottest properties in the Namibian music industry.
Suzi hails from a very musical family. Her uncle, Dennis Eises, is a celebrated Namibian musician, so music has always been a part of who she is. 99 FM MYD spoke to Suzi about her expectations and learning to become fearless. MYD: Your star status is rising. How did you become a saxophonist? SE: It all started when I was sixteen. I saw the high school band perform at assembly and I was really amazed at how they played. I already played the piano, but when I saw the saxophone, I asked the director if I could please try it. I learnt it in high school and after school I went to London to attend a course – that’s when I got into jazz music. In 2011, after I left London, I had my first public performance in Namibia with my uncle, who played the piano. MYD: What was response like?
this is how I need to look.” We get distracted a lot, but we are from Namibia, we are in a small country. It is quiet. I think we should focus on that. Focus on the true spirit of Namibians. When we focus too much on others, it gets in the way. MYD: Do you have a personal philosophy for life or a mantra that you live by? SE: There’s this quote by Maya Angelou that says, “Nothing will work unless you do,” and I feel that is so true. I used to struggle with being lazy. So I can play my instrument, but if you understand music, you really have to spend hours and hours and hours practising, and I struggle with that. So that quote helps me to know that if you want to be somebody, if you want to do something, you have to work, you have to work on yourself.
Suzi Eises: Working hard and all that jazz
MYD: What advice would you have for anyone who is struggling in their life right now? SE: I once watched Oprah say that there is no such thing as a mistake. Whatever you do personally, spiritually, mentally, physically, it’s not a mistake – it’s part of the plan. Sometimes we need to be broken in order to be beautiful.
the
SE: It was really good. I am very lucky to have my uncle because he is tough and he knows the music industry. MYD: Would you say that you have high expectations of yourself? SE: Wow, yes I do. People see me as a celebrity, a queen or something, but I don’t see myself that way. I still see myself as a little girl, trying to play music. But because of the response, I expect so much of myself. MYD: How do you think we can build our identities in the arts? SE: I think we shouldn’t fear to really represent who we are as Namibians. I think a lot of how countries in Africa like to follow other trends, Western culture and things like that, and I think it’s so important for us to be fearless and be who we are. MYD: How do we become fearless, Suzi? SE: There are a lot of things thrown at us. You look at the Western world and you say, “Okay, this is how I need to be;
MYD: That reminds me of something I recently heard that sometimes you go through really difficult times, but you have to choose to be better or you are going to be bitter. Suzi, do you have a message for Namibia? SE: I think that in order for you to be successful and happy, you need to be patient with yourself and with other people. Another thing to remember is that focus is so important. Remember what you want to be, not what other people want you to be. And then have faith.
Suzy’s story is part of a series celebrating Namibians in partnership with Master Your Destiny. Read more in the MYD Journal at: www.issuu. com/99fm/docs/99fm_myd_book_2018 Instagram: @suzyeises
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Errol Geingob
THE TRIBE Adora - The Golden-Voiced Star Conquering Namibian Music
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multi-talented musician, Adora is undoubtedly one of Namibia’s finest artists.
Her golden voice makes her stand out in the Namibian music industry, but her grit and sheer determination to succeed are what have made her grow consistently as a performing artist.
this is just my humble plea for Namibians to rise above the circumstances. I always think about the people who are, you know, a little less fortunate than we are, and hence the shacks on my cover,” she says.
Adora shares her story of new beginnings, going through hard times and rising above it all.
‘Rise’ wasn’t necessarily an easier project to complete, she says, but putting it together was a smoother process than her first album. “We had more time to plan and we had more time to strategise and make sure we put a good effort into it. The first project I had to release as soon as I could because you only have so much shelf time in the industry.”
Her second studio production, ‘Rise’ (named by her father), is a testament to the rebirth that comes after troubled times. In particular it was inspired by the current financial troubles Namibia is facing, and Adora says it’s a reminder for Namibians to rise above it all. “We’ve been complaining so much the past year and
For Adora, music should always touch people and it should have more impact than popularity. “I always try to speak what I really feel, and when artists express their heart through music, I think that is what makes music, because before it is a banging song, it should be a timeless song,” she muses.
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She applauds younger musicians who are rising to take their spot in the limelight. She has gone as far as working with aspiring musicians - which has most often resulted in hit songs. “I think bringing something new is a little overrated, but I really wanted to work with humble artists and to be quite frank, I didn’t think about who to work with but I sort of just let things go with the flow, and now I’ve worked with Jayden, Kalux and Jaliza,” she says, adding that the popular names are not what she chases when plotting a collaboration.
makeup and glamour of show business. Apart from that, Adora produces another show, ‘The Album Crunch’, a platform for artists by artists to talk about their albums.
I always try to speak what I really feel,...
Adora also produces and stars in a reality show hosted on YouTube. ‘Diamonds In The Rough’ is a collaboration with fellow musician Tulisan. The show reveals a different side of Adora, minus the
These are the projects that Adora has been keeping busy with when she isn’t conquering the music scene with her unstoppable energy and passion for performance.
Watch The Tribe on One Africa TV (GoTV 90, DStv 284, DStv Now, TV2Africa.com) every Friday at 21h30 and repeat shows on Wednesdays at 07h00 and on Saturdays at 17h30. Alternatively, listen to The Tribe on 99 FM every Friday at 19h00, and follow The Tribe on Instagram @thetribenamibia and on Facebook @TheTribeNamibia.
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Change on the
I
horison?
n last month’s issue we unpacked the origins of the current economic crisis gripping Namibia. We recounted the combination of external factors and domestic policy errors that contributed to the economy overheating, which has resulted in the depressed climate we find ourselves in. The latest quarterly GDP update (Q2) from the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) indicates that the Namibian economy contracted by 2.6% y/y in the second quarter of 2019 and yearto-date output is below that recorded for Q2 2015. The Bank of Namibia (BoN) now expects the Namibian economy to contract by 1.7% in 2019 and to grow by only 0.8% in 2020. Should these forecasts prove accurate, and it seems likely, it would mean that Namibia will have experienced the real GDP per capita decreasing during the five years between 2016 and 2020. The increase in headline unemployment from 27.9% in 2014 to 33.4% in 2018 provides further evidence of a slide in general living standards.
a start in what is likely to be an arduous process of regaining investor and business confidence.
REVIVING THE NAMIBIAN ECONOMY The policy direction embarked on in 2015 and 2016 damaged investor and business confidence and is arguably responsible for the duration of the crisis. This loss of confidence is glaringly obvious in the 53.5% drop
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in gross fixed capital formation (capital investment) between 2015 and 2018. Regaining confidence is, in our view, key to emerging from the current crisis. And the Namibian government concurs. In April the president inaugurated a high-level panel (High-Level Panel on the Namibian Economy or HLPNE) tasked to advise him on how best to revive the Namibian economy. The 22-member panel is currently serving on a voluntary basis (i.e. unpaid) until the end of March 2020, a relatively limited timeframe in which to attempt to solve the myriad of challenges that the country faces. Nevertheless, the panel has, by all accounts, been proactive, dedicated and focussed. One of the first tasks the panel set for itself was to arrange an Economic Growth Summit aimed at restoring business and investor confidence as well as showcasing opportunities for investment in Namibia. The HLPNE hoped to achieve the former goal by expediting guidance on the empowerment and investment policies (NEEEF and NIP Act) that have clouded the investment landscape in Namibia for a number of years. This focus aligned well with IJG’s views that these particular policies have played a major role in prolonging the current recession by deterring investment. The natural outcome of policy clarity should be improved business and investor
Economic Pulse
confidence as known risks are easier to plan for than unknown ones. Of course, the regulations imposed by even well telegraphed policy could still be detrimental to business and investor confidence. It is safe to say that partial success was achieved by the HLPNE when the president declared at the summit that the compulsory 25% ownership pillar is to be removed from the empowerment framework. In its previous guise this pillar required that 25% of all businesses should be owned by Previously Disadvantaged Namibians (PDNs), which was met with much resistance. The framework will now only be mandatory when dealing with government and state-owned enterprises. The president said that the framework would be tabled within six months from the date of the summit, thus the end of January 2020. We at IJG see this as a partial success pending the tabling of the final version of this legislation. The above-mentioned announcement is an improvement in terms of guidance and policy clarity from Government, but whether or not this is enough to have the desired impact on business and investor confidence will only be revealed with time. EASIER ACCESS TO WORK VISAS Along with the pronouncements on the empowerment policy came similar guidance on the NIP Act, public procurement policy and the drive to attract highly skilled labour through easier access to work visas. In addition
to this, a broad array of investment opportunities and infrastructure challenges were promoted at the summit, with the aim of attracting direct investment from abroad as well as domestically. In IJG’s view the policy clarity and directives announced at the summit are a decisive step in the right direction and demonstrate the ability, and political will, behind the HLPNE and Government’s aim of reviving growth in Namibia. These efforts build on the improvements seen in fiscal prudence over the last two years and thus constitute a start in what is likely to be an arduous process of regaining investor and business confidence. Warren Buffett is quoted as saying, “It takes twenty years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it.” We can firmly say that the process of rebuilding Namibia’s reputation as a stable and investable jurisdiction has begun, but many more hurdles will need to be cleared before Namibia again experiences growth levels which produce vast improvements in living standards.
Eric van Zyl Eric van Zyl is the head of research at IJG, an established Namibian financial services market leader. IJG believes in tailoring their services to a client’s personal and business needs. For more information, visit www.ijg.net.
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OMAANDA. In a sense…
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maanda had me at coffee table books. Yes, books, not book. It was love at check-in.
Of course the welcoming party of zebras in their splendid graphic design also made an impression. As did the understated but oh so carefully put together English Patient meets Out of Africa elegance of the architecture and interior design. But those books… What exactly, I contemplated as I sipped the zingy iced tea welcome drink and my eyes drifted to the big blue sky floating up from a perfect infinity pool, does the term “luxury” and “boutique” mean here, in the context of the bush? (I still wanted to ask for the ice tea recipe.) Would it refer, as per dictionary, to 1) - a state of great comfort or elegance, especially when involving great expense or 2) - an inessential, desirable item which is expensive or difficult to obtain? Or is it 3) - a pleasure obtained only rarely? It was around this time that I noticed the first book. It was quietly and elegantly lying on a coffee table in one of the “being spaces” that the lodge seems to consist of: Havana Legendary Cigars. And in another being space: The Art of Flying. Large, absolutely dashing. Leonardo da Vinci... The door to our room was a custommade specimen of exotic origin as every nook and cranny of this esthetic dwelling seems to be. And then, just as
Lux Living
you want to make up your mind, the space inside reserves and calms down. Impeccable, the attention to detail that you would not even notice if you were not there to notice. You would just feel at absolute ease and very satisfied and you wouldn’t even know why. Another book casually graces a lower shelf of the writing desk. The World of Departures - Richard David Story. Lunch. There are pleasing round shapes - of tables, fire pits and platters. And from every possible perspective: the bush, of course. For dinner gemsbok by the waterhole and prepared in a manner that was previously not believed humanly possible. Dinner and a show. Yes, yes - the courtesies and kindnesses, everybody knows your name and you are wished well and welcomed on fine, thick paper and every little thing is thought of. But there is a fireplace that sits between the bath and the bedroom and this, this is a pleasure rarely obtained. The time and place and space to savour big, beautiful books about things unthought of before, an indulgence in art, words, pictures and thoughts put together so spectacularly. To look up from said book to see the wilderness of Africa going about being as it would have even if you didn’t exist - these are pleasures rarely obtained. What I leave with is not an exact answer to the definition of boutique, luxury lodge, but rather an elusive impression of textures, the way the light fills a space, the lines and shapes of things, the gravity of books and the rare pleasure of a deep but subtle sense of being. Christine Hugo
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Queen of Denim
assumptagahutu.net
Assumpta Gahutu’s AG Premium Jeans Are Taking Over
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AM Photography
Left: A collaboration with another Namibian brand, Yashena Textile Accessories.
assumptagahutu.net
Above: AG Premium Jeans are made for women of all shapes and sizes and the price of a pair won’t break the bank. Right: Assumpta Gahutu’s denim business is doing so well that she has plans of opening shop in Lagos, Nigeria.
I
t’s undoubtedly a closet essential for anyone who is serious about fashion, so it’s no surprise that entrepreneurs across the world have tapped into the booming business of denim. Namibia’s Assumpta Gahutu is no different.
Joining the long list of denim entrepreneurs globally, Gahutu, through her business AG Premium Jeans, has been supplying Namibian women with denim jeans that are customised to fit different shapes and sizes while being trendy and budget friendly. WHERE IT ALL STARTED Like many business ideas, AG Premium Jeans started by identifying a gap in the market. Gahutu herself had trouble finding the right fit in local stores and realised that many other Namibian women were facing the same dilemma. Not only was it hard finding the right fit, but the cost of good quality jeans was an equally frustrating feat. DESIGNING DENIM Gahutu conceptualizes the design of each and every pair of jeans and briefs a design and production team based in the Philippines that produces the final product.
SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING An Instagram star of note, Gahutu brilliantly uses her online star status to market her business on social media. Boasting a whopping 156 000 followers on Instagram, Gahutu has over time learnt the tricks and trade of social media. “I’m so grateful for Instagram. I basically started wearing my jeans and tagging AG Premium jeans and everything just blew up from there,” she says. The official Instagram page of AG Premium Jeans is a celebration of all kinds of women wearing AG Premium Jeans, showing just how representative the brand is.
...denim jeans that are customised to fit different shapes and sizes while being trendy and budget friendly.
Producing the jeans has its challenges but Gahutu is happy with the way her product turns out after each order. “I fight with these people every single day but in the end they give me exactly what I want. Before they design anything, they send me seven samples before making the final product so I can make sure the cut and style is fine and the texture is what I’m looking for”, she says.
THE RISE OF AG PREMIUM JEANS
It’s only been a year since she launched the brand. Today Gahutu has a growing list of loyal customers not only in Namibia, but beyond the country’s borders as well. “I’m so grateful for the support that I’ve been receiving, business is going way better than I expected and it’s such an amazing feeling to see so many people wearing my jeans”, Gahutu says of the growth her brand has seen since 2018. She has slowly been entering the Nigerian market and has plans to explore more opportunities there. She also plans to eventually open up a shop in Lagos to complement her online store. Follow Assumpta Gahutu on Instagram @assumpta and follow AG Premium Jeans at @ag_premiumjeans or visit the official website assumptagahutu.net. Rukee Kaakunga is a Windhoek-based Concept Engineer, PR Consultant and fashion writer. Contact her via Twitter @rukeeveni or Instagram @rukeekaakunga.
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hroughout maritime history the leaders of those amazing ships that sailed to new worlds and explored them were referred to as captains. This was a position that was held in the highest regard. A captain was usually someone who spent his entire adult life on a ship, working his way up through the ranks. Another interesting fact was that in many cases a captain was appointed by the monarch of a country and tasked to explore new routes. The tradition of captainship was adopted by the aviation industry during the world wars. So what makes a modern airline captain? Is all of the responsibility still randomly bestowed onto the captain of the modern airliner by some unseen Aviation King? The answer to this question is contained in one word: Training.
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Years and years of training and experience are required before the sole responsibility for passenger safety is bestowed on a captain. The road to captainship usually starts when an aviation-minded individual commences initial flight training as a student pilot with the goal of obtaining a private pilot licence - the PPL. This usually takes around 3-6 months and 45 hours of flight training. The PPL allows him to fly an aircraft on his/her own for private purposes. It also allows the aspiring captain to qualify for the next step in the training process - the Commercial Pilot Licence. The Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) is the prerequisite for becoming a pilot for a commercial airline. This course requires the candidate to have gained a thorough knowledge of ten theoretical subjects and passed written exams with a pass mark of at least 75%. Two hundred hours of flight training are required before the candidate can apply for the stringent practical examination. The typical duration of training is approximately twelve months. The young commander then becomes eligible to gain the experience needed to obtain the ultimate licence - the Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL). All airline captains are required to hold an ATPL. In order for an aspiring captain to acquire this golden ticket, he needs to gain 1500 hours of flight experience, which typically takes 2-5 years, and pass a further 10 written exams, administered by the Civil Aviation Authority according to the regulations of the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO). Goal achieved! Captainship obtained, right? Wrong. After all the arduous training and examinations, commercial pilots spend many, many more hours in aircraft, flight simulators, perfecting their skills. They are evaluated every six months before they may finally achieve the rank of captain
Avaition Road | Eros Airport | Windhoek +264 83 339 0094 | info@signaaviation.com www.signaaviation.com NCAA ATO 00077
So, we can all agree: the road to becoming the captain of a modern airliner is neither an easy nor a short one. Next time you see four stripes on a uniform, you might tip your hat to them. They are after all, the keepers of your safety and comfort while onboard the ships of the skies. Francois Hugo
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Harnessing the
SUN’S ENERGY, WIND AND BIOFUELS
D
ecreasing fossil fuel reserves, volatility in the oil market and especially global warming have forced governments and industries across the globe to embrace green technologies to meet the increasing demand for power from expanding populations and growing industries.
While NamPower, Namibia’s power utility, has a most commendable record for reliability and security of electricity supply, the country relies heavily on importing electricity from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and other members of the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP). Annual imports averaged 38% between 2010 and 2017, but increased to a staggering 73% in 2018, the highest since independence in 1990. This was as a result of the low level of the Kunene River which affected electricity generation at the Ruacana hydropower plant and the availability of cheap energy on the dayahead market.
Namibia is, however, endowed with an abundance of sunshine, especially during the winter months which are characterised by clear blue skies. Much of the country also enjoys high levels of radiation which create the ideal conditions for using the sun to generate renewable energy.
More recently, the reliable strong winds are also being harnessed to generate electricity.
Large-scale, expensive projects to reduce the country’s reliance on imported electricity have been put on hold fortunately. Serious questions have been raised about the viability of the offshore Kudu gas field, while the Baynes hydropower plant on the Kunene River has been postponed in light of the country’s economic downturn.
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GOING SOLAR
Renewable energy sources steadily gained momentum when NamPower, the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Electricity Control Board initiated the Renewable Energy Feedin Tariff (REFIT) programme in 2015. It was designed to attract private investment for the development of renewable energy resources and 14 Independent Power Producers (IPPs) were licenced to produce 5 MW each – a total of 70 MW.
NamPower has also solicited a number of IPPs through requests for proposals, quotations, sealed bids and open tenders. Omburu at Omaruru, the country’s first large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) plant with a capacity of 4.5 MW, was commissioned in May 2015. Renewable energy generation received a major boost when the country’s largest solar PV plant to date, the 37 MW Omburu solar PV plant east of Mariental became operational in June 2019. It is the first renewable energy power plant to be procured through a tender process.
Solar panels at Wolwedans in the NamibRand Nature Reserve
WIND POWER Because of frequent fogs our coast does not enjoy the same hours of sunshine as the interior, but it has its own advantage for power generation – the prevailing southwesterly wind. With average wind speeds of over 40 km/h on summer afternoons, the southern coastal town of Lüderitz has become a world-famous destination for kite and windsurfers from across the globe. Several kite and windsurfing world records have been set at the Lüderitz Speed Challenge which the town has been hosting since 2007. More recently, the reliable strong winds are also being harnessed to generate electricity. The country’s first wind farm, the 5 MW Ombepo Wind Farm at Lüderitz, was commissioned in September 2017.
LOOKING AHEAD NamPower is committed to developing renewable energy power plants and will invest N$3.5 billion in three such projects between 2019 and 2023. The utility will build a 20 MW solar PV plant at Omburu near Omaruru at a cost of N$500 million. To further boost solar energy generation, IPPs will be procured to build 20 MW solar PV parks at Gobabis and Rehoboth. Biofuel, renewable energy from encroacher bush, has enjoyed considerable attention in the past few years. With nearly one third of Namibia affected by bush
encroachment, the generation of power from encroacher bush not only provides electricity, but also improves the capacity of agricultural land, creates employment and stimulates economic growth. NamPower’s 40 MW biofuel plant near Tsumeb will cost N$1.9 billion and is scheduled to become operational in 2022. It will require over 200,000 tonnes of biomass a year, or 5 million tonnes over its 25-year lifespan. The utility will also build a 40 MW wind farm, which is expected to become operational in 2022, near Lüderitz at a cost of N$1.1 billion. There are further plans for a 50 MW wind farm, to be developed by an IPP, which will increase total wind power generation to 95 MW. In line with NamPower’s 2019 to 2023 Corporate Strategy and Business Plan the utility and IPPs will generate 346 MW, or close to 44% of the country’s projected generating capacity of 795 MW, from solar power, wind and biomass by 2023. This would be nothing less than a commendable achievement – just eight years after the country’s first major solar park became operational in 2015. It is also a major step towards the ambitious target of providing 70% of the country’s energy mix from renewable resources by the year 2030, reducing reliance on imported electricity and meeting the country’s growing electricity demands. Namibian freelance journalist and travel writer: Willie Olivier
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5 COOL PLACES in Windhoek
1. SO INSTAGRAMMABLE Our top pick to go take a pic for the month of October is the Supreme Court of Namibia in the capital. The eclectic architecture gives it a unique edge amongst other buildings in the CBD. It is nestled between old and new, old being the historical buildings that host the National Museum and the Goethe Institute and new being FNB’s Parkside headquarters and Freedom Plaza. The dramatic shadowy “wings” on either side of the Supreme Court’s main building make for a wonderful backdrop for photoshoots. Check out our cover image! Where? Find the entrance via the parking lot at the Goethe Institute in Fidel Castro Street.
2. HAPPY HOUR On the western side of the Freedom Plaza building is a cool new spot in Windhoek - Café Prestige. With great coffee and light meals it is the ideal place for a quick business meeting or to get together with friends during the day. On Thursday and Fright nights you can indulge in the wine list for Happy Hour. They now also host Diva Night every Friday from 5pm-8pm where they feature a Best Female Pop playlist. Enjoy a N$5 discount on house wines by the glass and N$15 off all bottles of wine while you take in the city vibe around you. Where? Freedom Plaza, Rev Michael Scott Street, Windhoek (between the Hilton Hotel and the FNB Parkside building).
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3. COFFEE CATCH-UP Looking for something beautiful? Well, we highly recommend Olivia’s Kitchen at Am Weinberg Estate. The coffee is exceptional and the lunch menu is fresh and dynamic. The stunning interior and surroundings will also help lift the mood. Catch up with friends over a coffee or get the gang together for lunch. Their shop also offers great organic treats and artisan food items. Grab a cute cupcake on your way out for your daily guilty treat. Where? Am Weinberg Estate, 13 Jan Jonker Road, Klein Windhoek.
4. DINE-OUT Droombos, 3.3 km east of Windhoek on the road to Hosea Kutako International Airport, is not just a beautiful events venue and luxury lodge, they also have a gorgeous restaurant and lounge, with a menu to match! They serve breakfast and lunch from Tuesday to Sunday, and dinner from Tuesday to Saturday. We were pleasantly surprised by the black charcoal chicken dish that emerged from the kitchen on a recent visit. Creative and delectable! Book a table and enjoy. Where? Drive 3.3 km east of Windhoek on the B6 and you will find the turn-off on your right (just after the old train bridge over the road).
5. SHOP IT Wecke & Voigts department store has been around since 1892… that’s 127 years worth of retail experience! Today you can find their beautiful stores in Independence Avenue and in The Grove Mall. A wide selection of upmarket products will leave you spoilt for choice. Fashion, homeware, gifts, wines, beauty products and so much more. Get your Levi jeans, a Samsonite suitcase or a new pair of Birkenstock leather sandals (yes, they’re back in fashion). It’s all in one fabulous store. Where? Gustav Voigts Centre, Independence Avenue and The Grove Mall of Namibia. Elzanne McCulloch
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advertorial
5 REASONS NAMIBGRENS IS THE PERFECT WEDDING VENUE It’s a day you will never forget, and choosing the venue is the most important decision once you have chosen the bridegroom. When you decide to have your wedding at NamibGrens Guest Farm, you are choosing a place that is so much more than just a venue. Here are five reasons why you need to pick NamibGrens as your wedding venue: 1. THE STUNNING SCENERY OF THE FAMOUS NAMIB-NAUKLUFT One of the most important aspects of choosing your venue is whether it is a beautiful setting. NamibGrens is located in the mountainous Namib-Naukluft landscape, and the farm has many romantic lookout points to say your I Do’s, plus dramatic backdrops for your photos. 2. THEY’VE GOT YOU COVERED WITH FURNITURE, DECOR AND TENTS There’s enough to worry about without sourcing tables and chairs, and renting table cloths, cutlery and glassware, and getting it back to the supplier. NamibGrens provides all of the above for weddings on the farm so that you don’t need to spend more money and effort to get what you need. 3. THERE IS A TON OF ACTIVITIES TO KEEP THE IN-LAWS (AND EVERYBODY ELSE) OCCUPIED Weekend weddings are much more fun and give you the opportunity to mingle with all your guests and spend time with everyone. NamibGrens has beautiful hiking trails, exciting 4x4 trails and four plunge pools to cool down in. 4. THERE’S ENOUGH SPACE FOR EVERYBODY TO HANG OUT Getting married on a farm means there is space galore. All of the accommodation options are within walking distance, but still far enough apart for a little privacy. Get away from the hubbub and wind down in your spacious and comfortable luxury villa. Or hang out with the young crowd at the camping site. 5. IT’S HALFWAY BETWEEN WINDHOEK AND SOSSUSVLEI The activities don’t need to end! For guests coming from afar, it is a great option to take a few days after the wedding to drive to Sossusvlei to experience one of Namibia’s most famous landmarks, the Dead Vlei and the highest dunes in the world. Enquiries: 081 127 8659 info@namibgrens.com www.namibgrens.com
NamibGrens Guest Farm will help you create the wedding of your dreams.
The First Steps:
How To Finally Make a
I
Lifestyle Change.
t’s Spring. And then it will be summer and the holidays. Is there something - a little personal mind / body goal - you’d like to succeed in before this year makes its fastapproaching French exit?
Well, here’s a spoiler: You can totally do it. To ensure success, you need to take a smart(er) approach. No more BS. NOTHING WILL CHANGE IF NOTHING CHANGES. DELETE “CAN’T” FROM YOUR VOCABULARY. Fear of the first step, we all know it. A universal phenomenon that serves to protect us from the pain of failure. But “Failure” is nothing more than a label… the only difference between a failed attempt and a successful attempt is the name we choose to give it. When we realise that staying stuck, not trying, not moving, is worse than the fantasy failure You don’t have we’ve anticipated in our mind, we’ll make a change. And we’ll be filled with regret for having taken so to sign up for a long to leap! YOU ARE YOUR OWN HEALER. NO ONE IS COMING TO SAVE YOU.
marathon, quit gluten, begin intermittent fasting and join Strava to turn your life around.
You don’t have to eat more vegetables if you don’t want to. You don’t have to work on your sleep routine and be mindful of your sugar intake for the sake of someone else. Skip the workout to stay on the couch. You can overeat in public - don’t wait until you’re alone. Spend hours scrolling your phone if you like, don’t bother lying about it. There is no parent keeping a score, there is no competition, no winner of wellness. Nobody really gives a sh** how you spend your time. At the end of the day the only one who lives with the consequences of your daily choices is you, and you alone. SELF-CARE ISN’T A ONE SIZE FITS ALL. FIND YOUR OWN FIT. You don’t have to sign up for a marathon, quit gluten, begin intermittent fasting and join Strava to turn your life around. Be wary of trends and moulds that make us feel like we have to change our shape to fit in them. Find out what works for you, even if what you discover is unsexy, offline, and barely noticeable from the outside. Health is personal and cumulative. The repetition of small actions create health in the body. What you do everyday matters more than what you do once or twice a year when everyone is watching. In the next FlyWestair issue, Klara will cover “5 surprising reasons you’re not losing The Weight, despite your best efforts.” Klara Mudge is a Nutritionist and Health Coach who works in Windhoek and Cape Town with corporates and individuals to optimise wellbeing and boost productivity. She writes for a number of leading health and wellness publications and speaks a lot about the physical effects of psychological stress. Her gift is to distill the principles of optimal health down to their most fundamental basics, ones that are accessible and easy for us all to follow. Find Klara on her offbeat Instagram feed (@bothsidesbuttered) where she shares straight-forward, evidence-based nutrition and lifestyle advice.
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LEGAL PRACTITIONERS, NOTARIES & CONVEYANCERS PRACTICAL WISDOM, TRUSTED ADVICE
+264 61 38 8850 info@ferasmuslaw.com.na 5 Conradie street Windhoek
advertorial
SPOIL YOURSELF
AT AM WEINBERG BOUTIQUE HOTEL
W
ith excellent service, luxuriously comfortable rooms, food to die for and an exceptional wine list; you’ll never want to leave once you’ve booked into Am Weinberg Boutique Hotel.
Offering 31 luxury hotel rooms and 10 luxury double volume Oasis Lofts of 64m2 each, the rooms are designed in such a way to offer the utmost in comfort, but also give a homely feel. Making every room feel like it is a home away from home. At Am Weinberg the dining experience focuses on tapas made up of international cuisine; the idea behind serving these small portioned meals is the wonderful intimacy that is born out of sharing meals. Nothing complements a meal like a glass of exceptional wine. With a wine list consisting of upwards of 60 different wines, a lot of which are Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards winning wines including an extensive collection Champagnes, Proseccos and South African MCC’s, your tastebuds will not be disappointed. The stylishly laid-out wine lounge is the perfect setting for any meal. The popularity amongst locals and guests of Am Weinberg’s Sky Lounge speaks for itself. To accompany those beautiful Namibian sunsets, the Sky Lounge offers tasty designer cocktails and exquisite views over the city. The perfect way to round of a long day. Deriving its name from the vineyards that were planted here more than a hundred years ago in order to make wine for the Roman Catholic mission station, today Am Weinberg Estate is associated with luxurious living. Apart from the Am Weinberg Boutique Hotel, the estate also comprises of some of the best culinary establishments in the capital, a five star Spa, luxurious residential townhouses, as well as prime office suites and conference centre. If you’re wondering where to stay in Windhoek, look no further.
+264 61 209 0900 reservations@amweinberghotel.africa www.amweinberghotel.africa
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CAPTURING
spirit and detail
H
ailing from a farm near the small town of Koster in the North West Province of South Africa, Dewald van Helsdingen is an architectturned-architecturalphotographer now residing in Namibia.
He discovered his passion for architectural photography while working in an architect’s office. “My architectural experience helped me realise the amount of effort and detail that goes into a project to get it built. With this experience and my passion for photography I aim to provide my clients with a complete set of images capturing the concept, spirit and detail of each project.”
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Martin Amushendje
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My architectural experience helped me realise the amount of effort and detail that goes into a project to get it built.
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He is currently based in Windhoek, from where he travels to capture projects all over the globe. Dewald and his wife, a fellow architect, and their two, well-travelled curious Boston Terriers share a hunger for new adventures. They like to take the road less travelled and to camp out under the stars and enjoy the vast landscapes of Namibia.
Facebook Website
@dvharchitecturalphotography www.dvhphoto.com
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extraordinary Namibian stories.
This is us.
avid campers.
photographers. coffee drinkers. social media fundies. publishers. chatters. content creators. selfie takers. editors. snapchatters. designers. travellers.
NAMIBIA TRADE DIRECTORY 2019/20
cturing led with ities...
NETWORK
THE GREEN ECONOMY
2019/20
managers.
A review of Namibian Trade and Industry
apsiring rhino savers. bloggers. film makers. explorers.
Vo l 2 8
writers.
organisation established as a voluntary association to support ests of environmental NGOs and their work to protect Namibia’s ersity and landscapes. The NCE currently has 65 members and mprising environmental NGOs and individuals running nationally icant environmental projects and programmes.
CONSERVATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT IN NAMIBIA
and supporting conservation he natural environment.
CONSERVATION
rule breakers.
AND THE ENVIRONMENT IN NAMIBIA
www.n-c-e.org
hor Sponsor:
A R E N A M I B I A’ S C A R N I VO R E S AT R I S K?
A R E N A M I B I A’ S C A R N I VO R E S AT R I S K?
MINING AND THE
ENVIRONMENT
Ms Know-It-All
On the origin of
words…
H
ave you ever wondered why we call that soft(ish) rectangular piece of paper we use to blow our noses with a tissue? Is it because of the sound we make when we sneeze? As in: ah-tea-shoo!
The answer is actually much more interesting, and relates to the fascinating way in which language changes over time. The English word tissue comes from the Old French word tissu, which meant ‘woven’, which in turn developed from the Latin word texere 1(‘to weave’). But how on earth did we go from weaving to something we use for blowing our noses with? By the time the Latin word was adopted by the French, it denoted a rich, intricately decorated material that the posh people of the olden days had. Did they use it to dab at their nostrils? We don’t know. Evidently, though, these fancy pieces of cloth must have been grabbed in haste at some point, snotled 2 on and stuffed back in pockets, slightly crumpled and far less fancy.
H U M A N -W I L D L I F E
CONFLICT
If this all sounds a little difficult to believe, remember that the original meaning of tissue is still in use today. We use tissue to refer to a group of cells. Our cells are all woven together in an intricate 3 way to make up our bodies. So perhaps the true meaning wasn’t completely lost, merely adapted.
Also proudly supported by:
GA INING INSIGHTS INTO GAINING INSIGHTS INTO
2019
THE SECRET LIVES OF WILD ANIMALS
FlyWestair October 2019
www.flywestair.com
1
READ ONLINE
Sounds like another English word we know, right? Hint: it is also related to cloth.
2
Sometimes, there are no words.
3
Funny story: Intricacy and tissue are related! Tissues with golden threads delicately interwoven = intricate.
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Unprocessed emotions have the ability to undermine our well-being.
Tamarcus Brown
D
id you know that your body keeps a physical memory of all you’ve experienced? Memories might fade in the mind, but they live on in our bodies and behaviour patterns.
Because the body stores emotions, moving and breathing creates space and helps us process these feelings on an energetic level. Yoga has understood this connection for centuries. The movement you’ll do in a Yoga class could be assisting you to release the sadness stored in the hips or the anger stored in the liver.
If you’re not sure, think about how tight your neck and shoulders become when Moods and behaviour were for a long time thought to you’re stressed. If you need the science to back it up for be purely brain functions and the result of unbalanced you, take a look at the work of pioneering neuroscience neurotransmitters, but then it was discovered that we researcher Dr. Candace Pert, who found that emotions have more neurons in our stomachs than in our brains. It’s trigger the release of special compounds known as also a well-known fact that our brains don’t only include peptides stored by the body, whether in a the grey matter in our head, but also our tissue, organ or muscle. Pert was quoted as entire spinal column. Our bodies and our saying, “I think unexpressed emotions are brains are so interlinked you can’t separate Our bodies and literally lodged in the body.” one from the other, and when you move and our brains are so stretch the body, you affect the brain and interlinked you Our bodies might become tight and stiff as mood in return. we age, but this is not necessarily because can’t separate one of ageing, but perhaps because of the many Now, you might not be able to move right experiences we are adding to our life story. from the other, and now, that is if you paid attention to the Some of these experiences we deemed when you move and safety instructions on board this flight and ‘negative’ and they are the ones we like to are safely strapped into your seat, but there stretch the body, bury… deep and far away. are many ways you can aid the release of you affect the brain your own stored emotions. Just becoming But the problem is, emotions need to be and mood in return. aware is the first place to start. From expressed. If we don’t express them they awareness you can find many techniques can build or fester, they can drain our energy that help you move towards homeostasis and create emotional imbalance and burnout, eventually in the body. Mindfulness and simply slowing down is one, leading to disease. taking a deep breath and allowing yourself to be alone with yourself is another. So right now, take a moment to Unprocessed emotions have the ability to undermine our delight in the wonder that is you. Listen to the sound of overall well-being. And while we’re not here to find blame, your breath and your heartbeat. Know that nobody has it the truth is that many of us learnt to repress emotions, all figured out, and that the work to release it is worth it… especially the ones seen as negative, in order to fit in and don’t give up. be loved and accepted. It’s a defence mechanism that is Kirsty Watermeyer not working. The kind we need to pull out by the roots. Kirsty is a Yoga and Meditation Coach, a Transformation So how do we pull it out by the roots? There are many Facilitator and Writer. Contact her at ways. Personally I love movement for just this purpose. kirsty@seednamibia.com
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advertorial
Standard Bank Sky Lounge at Eros Airport
S
ituated in the heart of the Namibian capital Windhoek, Eros Airport is to many Namibians a modern meeting place. It is a place where tourists, politicians, bankers, lawyers, miners, families and aviation enthusiasts come together. All having a common need or interest in aviation or to just travel by air. Eros Airport does not carry its relevance in terms of its share of global air passenger volumes; it does however carry enormous relevance in Namibia for Namibia. On a daily basis scheduled passenger flights operate out of Eros Airport linking the Namibian capital with Ondangwa, Rundu, Katima Mulilo, Walvis Bay and Oranjemund. Passengers are Namibian icons, role players, movers and shakers with some returning home to North for the weekend, whilst others may return from their latest development project at the coast. Eros Airport is also the corporate airport of choice for most business and corporate aircraft entering and leaving Namibia. Business jets from around the world carrying high net worth individuals, corporate executives and politicians descend into Eros as the most convenient corporate airport in Namibia.
The Standard Bank Sky Lounge is the first and only available passenger leisure and VIP lounge facility at Eros Airport. Having identified a need for luxury facilities aimed at the executive end of the Namibian domestic and international passengers; Standard Bank Sky Lounge is positioned to service all local and international VIP passengers moving through Eros Airport. The Lounge is situated on the top floor of the terminal building with views out onto the flight line and mountains surrounding Windhoek. Services inside the lounge includes free wifi, bar service, coffee supplied by Deluxe Coffeeworks and a wide variety of food and entertainment options.
Offering to passengers and lounge visitors a comfortable and relaxed airport experience with comfortable seating and facilities. Passengers are greeted at the check in counter. Ushered to the lounge and when it is time for their departure; taken by a Sky Lounge representative through security screening to the aircraft. Aimed at offering a hassle and stress free travel experience.
For further information or bookings you can reach us at: Standard Bank Sky Lounge and Cafe - Eros Airport 081 124 1575/081 291 4362 annagret@theskylounge.net/ jamie@theskylounge.net
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Namibia Property Appraisers CC
Accredited Assessments Residential properties Commercial properties Industrial properties Agricultural valuations Sworn valuations Accredited at all major Financial Institutions Principal Valuer Adri Holz National Diploma: Real Estate (Technicon South Africa) Sworn Appraiser
Windhoek Office +264 81 127 1221 info@namibiaprop.biz Gobabis Office +264 81 128 8655 rural@namibiaprop.biz Find us on Facebook & LinkedIn
LEFT TO RIGHT
INSTAFAMOUS
The selfie-games were on point last month, that’s for sure! We’re celebrating you, our guests on FlyWestair flights. Smile. Strike a pose. Snap that pic. Upload to social media. Any social media. Tag #flywestair. Become Instafamous in our next issue or win a free return flight!
@gabrielfessy was the first lucky winner in our competition with this selfie of him and a friend on board our Embraer. “Top class Airline in Nam.” Thanks for the shoutout! We hope you enjoy your free return flight.
1.
2. “The amount of travel I get to do is probably my favourite part about working and living in a remote diamond mining town in the south of Namibia. One of the greatest perks is when airlines like Westair treat you like royalty!” Shine bright like them diamonds @jen_adv! PS: Congrats on the competition win. 3.
@priskilla_s captioned this epic #selfie with: “It was a red carpet experience. I felt like a VIP and I definitely love living the jet life.” Thank you Miss P, enjoy that free flight!
4. Big city life from above. We love your poetic caption @fullyblessed_paheye: “Power beyond the sky has set me free.” Thanks for flying with us!
5. Amazing view from the top caught on cam by @shanna_ rae_bushboundgirl on a flight down south to OMD! 6.
@lindataljaard, your selfie game is lit girl! Thanks for sharing and tagging. Keep ‘em coming.
Win with #flywestair!
Take a photo on your flight with FlyWestair and post it to social media tag us or use the hashtag #flywestair and you could win a free return flight on one of our routes. T&Cs apply.
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CAPITAL: Windhoek
INDEPENDENCE: 21 March 1990
CURRENT PRESIDENT: Hage Geingob
Secular state
Multiparty parliament Democratic Division of power between constitution executive, freedom of religion legislature and
90%
Christian
judiciary
Freedom of the press/media
MAIN SECTORS:
BIGGEST EMPLOYER:
46%
Agriculture
MINING:
FASTEST-GROWING SECTOR: Tourism Diamonds, uranium, copper, lead, zinc, magnesium, cadmium, arsenic, pyrites, silver, gold, lithium minerals, dimension stones (granite, marble, blue sodalite) and many semiprecious stones
MONEY MATTERS
17%
NATURE RESERVES:
of surface area
HIGHEST MOUNTAIN: Brandberg OTHER PROMINENT MOUNTAINS: Spitzkoppe, Moltkeblick, Gamsberg PERENNIAL RIVERS: Orange, Kunene, Okavango, Zambezi and Kwando/Linyanti/Chobe
EPHEMERAL RIVERS:
Numerous, including Fish, Kuiseb, Swakop and Ugab
CURRENCY:
The Namibia Dollar (N$) is fixed to and on par with the SA Rand. The South African Rand is also legal tender. Foreign currency, international Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Diners Club credit cards are accepted.
TAX AND CUSTOMS
All goods and services are priced to include value-added 15% tax of 15%. Visitors may reclaim VAT.
ENQUIRIES: Ministry of Finance
Tel (+264 61) 23 0773 in Windhoek
TRANSPORT
Public transport is NOT available to all tourist destinations in Namibia. There are bus services from Windhoek to Swakopmund as well as Cape Town/Johannesburg/Vic Falls. Namibia’s main railway line runs from the South African border, connecting Windhoek to Swakopmund in the west and Tsumeb in the north. There is an extensive network of international and regional flights from Windhoek and domestic charters to all destinations.
5,450 km tarred
LIVING FOSSIL PLANT:
BIG GAME:
Elephant, lion, rhino, buffalo, cheetah, leopard, giraffe antelope species mammal species (14 endemic)
reptile species frog species bird species
ENDEMIC BIRDS including Herero Chat, Rockrunner, Damara Tern, Monteiro’s Hornbill and Dune Lark
DRINKING WATER Most tap water is purified and safe to drink. Visitors should exercise caution in rural areas.
37,000 km gravel
HARBOURS:
Walvis Bay, Lüderitz
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MAIN AIRPORTS: Hosea
airstrips Kutako International Airport,
Eros Airport
RAIL NETWORK: 2,382 km
narrow gauge
TELECOMMUNICATIONS: Direct-dialling facilities to
100 inhabitants
Welwitschia mirabilis
20 240 250 50 676
ROADS:
lines per
200 ENDEMIC 14 vegetation zones plant species 120 100+ species species of lichen of trees
INFRASTRUCTURE
6.2 telephone
FLORA
ECONOMY Mining, fishing, tourism and agriculture
ENVIRONMENT
PHYSICAL
824,268 km²
FAUNA
GENERAL
SURFACE AREA:
ON NAMIBIA
MOBILE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM: GSM agreements with
221 countries
117 countries / 255 networks
INFRASTRUCTURE
SOCIAL
FAST FACTS
13,650 people 4 medical doctor per
privately run hospitals in Windhoek with intensive-care units
Medical practitioners (world standard) 24-hour medical emergency services
POPULATION
2.5 million 400 000 inhabitants in Windhoek (15% of total)
ADULT LITERACY RATE:
85%
DENSITY: 2.2 per km²
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE:
English
14 regions 13 ethnic cultures 16 languages and dialects POPULATION GROWTH RATE:
2.6%
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS:
over 1,700 schools, various vocational and tertiary institutions
TIME ZONES GMT + 2 hours
ELECTRICITY 220 volts AC, 50hz, with outlets for round three-pin type plugs
www.travelnewsnamibia.com
FOREIGN REPRESENTATION More than 50 countries have Namibian consular or embassy representation in Windhoek.
conditions: www.wolwedans.com/lodges-camps/rates/
The Residents Special is available at all Wolwedans camps and lodges, excludes drinks, sustainability levies and park fees. Please visit our website for terms and
Wolwedans is more than a collection of camps. It’s a collection of dreams. Its ethos lies in setting an example in sustainability and continually fulf illing its commitment to the conservation of the NamibRand Nature Reserve. For bookings contact our reservations department at Tel: 061 – 230 616 or e-mail us at reservations@wolwedans.com.
...simply out of this world
www.wolwedans.com
T’S & C’S APPLY
FROM MONDAY TO SUNDAY
20 NOV – 20 DEC 2019 10 JAN – 10 MAR 2020 20 MAY – 20 JUL 2020
DISCOUNT
66%
RESIDENTS SPECIAL
INVESTING IN A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR ALL NAMIBIANS Debmarine Namibia is proud to be a global leader in marine diamond recovery.
