Book Reviews

Etosha Self-Drive

Routes, Roads & Ratings Text and photos by Anja Denker

HPH Publishing is proud to present the latest addition to its acclaimed Self-Drive series, Etosha Self-Drive by Anja Denker. This indispensable guidebook opens up the wonders of Namibia’s Etosha National Park like never before, offering a comprehensive and detailed look into one of Africa’s most spectacular self-drive destinations. Inside, readers will find everything needed to make their adventure through Etosha both effortless and memorable. The book features newly crafted, highly detailed maps and HPH Publishing’s signature route ratings, which have been enthusiastically embraced by fans of the Self-Drive series. These ratings provide an in-depth look at the best paths to take, tailored to enhance the experience of every traveller, from the veteran explorer of African landscapes to the newcomer eager for a first taste of wilderness adventure. Anja Denker’s text is complemented by her stunning visuals, capturing the essence and beauty of Etosha National Park on every page turn. Etosha Self-Drive stands as the essential guide for anyone looking to soak up the unique beauty and thrill of navigating Etosha National Park by themselves, ensuring a journey filled with discovery and awe at every corner.

Here One Moment

By Liane Moriarty

“A riveting story so wild you don’t know how she’ll land it, and then she does, on a dime.” – Anne Lamott

Life is full of twists and turns that you never see coming. But what if you did? The plane is jam-packed. Every seat is taken. So of course the flight is delayed! Flight attendant Allegra Patel likes her job – she is generally happy with her life, even if she cannot figure out why she hooks up with a man she barely speaks to – but today is her twenty-eighth birthday. She can think of plenty of things she would rather be doing than placating a bunch of grumpy passengers. There is the well-dressed man in seat 4C who is compulsively checking his watch, desperate not to miss his eleven-year-old daughter’s musical. Further back, a mother of two is frantically trying to keep her toddler entertained and her infant son quiet. How did she ever think being a stay-at-home mom would be easier than being a lawyer? Ethan is lost in thought; he is flying back from his first funeral. A young couple has just gotten married; she is still wearing her wedding dress. An emergency room nurse is looking forward to traveling the world once she retires in a few years, it is going to be so much fun! If they ever get off the tarmac…Suddenly a woman none of them know stands up. She makes predictions about how and when everyone on board will die. Some dismiss her. Others will do everything they can to make sure her prophecies do not come to pass. All of them will be forever changed.

Footprints of Hifikepunye Pohamba

Ondjila Eyi Ndaenda

The official autobiography of Hifikepunye Pohamba. As told to Ellen Ndeshi Namhila

This book presents an autobiographical deposition of the political accomplishments and tribulations in the life of Hifikepunye Pohamba, a Namibian politician and freedom fighter who belongs in the category of iconic Pan-African nationalist pioneers. It provides a retrospective perspective on his arduous journeys of life and raises several germane questions that would help subsequent generations to better comprehend the sociopolitical dynamics of the African anti-colonial movement. As a homegrown nationalist who pioneered the African independence social movement, Pohamba narrates his eventful journey into exile, where, together with his comrades, he enlisted military, financial and humanitarian support for SWAPO to launch and sustain the armed liberation struggle. The book enlists specific tribulations he encountered during his respective struggles on the road to independence and nationhood, as well as the challenges and opportunities presented by the specific conditions that characterised the attainment of independence. His political and diplomatic work in Zambia, Tanzania, Algeria, Egypt and Angola, as well as with nongovernmental organisations such as the United Nations and regional groups, makes his autobiography not just a Namibian story but a welcome addition to the Pan-African literature of leading pioneers of decolonisation.

Now Now

Short stories from Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe Edited by Rémy Ngamije

In this bold collection of short stories, four siblings spend a nostalgia-filled and truth-revealing night in their grandparents’ house before it is sold; a couple considers the bloom and doom of their relationship in the Namib Desert; a young mother struggles to breastfeed her newborn infant while confronting uncomfortable truths about her marriage; a postapocalyptic Windhoek reveals intimate ways of surviving; rain in Northern Namibia brings much needed water and dreaded terror to the land; the life cycle of a frog traces a story of attraction and love; a man reflects on a life lived and potentially lost after a violent encounter; a bar filled with boredom becomes the backdrop for a rumination on time’s passage; fire and anxiety burn without pause – and with great humour – in Cape Town; three portraits of war provide glimpses into the lives lived through and around conflict; two young boys discover the meaning of friendship in a small town; and a protest ushers in new and uncomfortable truths for Namibia’s young and restless generation. Written with heart, curated with care and designed with love, the 2023 Doek Anthology features emerging and award-winning storytellers from Namibia, Eswatini, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe that will surely become important voices in African literature.

- Elmarie Kotze