Hitchhiking in Botswana: Maun to Windhoek

19^th to 21^st of October and 26^th of October, 2018.

Hitchhiking in Botswana: Maun to Windhoek        

Monica very gently drops me off outside Maun so I can hitchhike. I was a long time ago since I almost cry saying goodbye to someone. Before she leaves, she takes a picture of me holding my Namibia sign.

A few minutes later, a car stops. It is a single cabin pick-up, and there is a couple inside. I do not know if they are drunk, because it is very early in the morning, but the guy (who is driving) asks me: “Why are you holding a sign written Namibia?” Why in the hell do you think I am holding? Hãm? It is not because my name is Namibia and I want you to know, that is for sure. But Lei, they probably are just joking with you. Damn if they are they have to be very good actors, because they just did not laugh as they really looked intrigued by my answer. So the conclusion that me and Jakob reached after all is that I should’ve asked them: What is you brain capacity exactly? Who the hell is Jakob? You will know right now.              

Jakob is this coolest guy ever who gave me a lift until Windhoek that day and with whom I also spent the weekend. He is from Denmark, but not Copenhagen (to make it clear), and he is taking some months out to travel around a few countries in Africa. I am pretty damn lucky that he decided to leave Maun a bit later that day, otherwise I would miss the opportunity to have such a great weekend.              

We get along very well since the beginning and I trust him since the beginning, otherwise I would not accept his lift until Windhoek, due to the over eight hours travelling (plus the border time), we would get there definitely at night. We spend the whole way talking about everything and making fun of each other, like old friends. And we make a plan where I will visit him in three years, counting from now, so he cannot get married until there. Because even that we know we are just good friends, people change a lot when they get married and most of the partners nowadays are crazy jealous, so…              

Then he asks me where will I stay in Windhoek, to what I answer with a CS. Jakob mentions that he also uses CS but had not time on the last few days to arrange one in Windhoek. I offer to ask my host if there is space to one more person, because both (Jakob and my CS host Nick) look really nice people. Nick says that there is no problem, Jakob can come. Yay!              

So now the only concerns that Jakob I have is if we also will have the same connection with Nick, who are already hosting another girl for the night. And we could not be more lucky!              

Nick is not just a host, he is also like a good old friend, who Jakob and I are coming back to visit. He is just this lovely guy, very kind and peaceful, but who also has the same crazy and joker spirit as us. Since the very first night we are very welcome and feel like at home.

We have a wonderful weekend, going around the town and having fun. Nick is also the funniest tourist guy ever, and apart from the tourist places, with quite an effort, I convince them both to climb one of the mountains which surrounds the town. The mountains make some great views when you are just travelling around or simply also decided to climb one of them. And the sunset is beautiful from there.

Sunday afternoon Jakob has to leave and carry on his Namibia journey. We also include Nick in our three years visit plan, so the three of us should meet in Denmark again.    

Windhoek is a cute small town, which as much as Gaborone in Botswana, does not look like a capital, which in my opinion is a great thing. You have the beautiful old church in the middle of the town; a nice garden just in front of it (which can be closed sometimes and when is like that, do not break in just to take a picture as we did); and just around the three museums: two very old beautiful buildings, and one, supposedly a gift from China, a new and modern building. And here I partially copy Mr. Fache words, from The Da Vinci Code (2006) – “A scar in the face of Windhoek.” Then you have all the mountains to climb, some pubs and coffees shops, a lot of malls, and if it is your thing, you have casinos.              

I stay one more night, just because I had planned like that. Nick and I just relax the whole day and watch A Knight’s tale at night. Just someone as nice as Nick would suggest that movie.              

Next morning, Nick drove me out of town. I was not very sad to say goodbye because my plan was going further North, to Terrace Bay, and then once I was coming back South, to Luderitz (where I would do my volunteer work), I could spend another night in Windhoek and see him again. But I still had the feeling that I did not wanted to leave. And to make ti worse, he said a very simple thing but that for me, sounded like the cutest one ever: “You do not need to go. I can show you some pictures of Swakopmund…”. Nick was the first guy, in a long time, that I really wanted to hug.              

When I came back from my Northern trip (which you will read about it next week), we had such a great time together again. And again I did not wanted to leave. If was not for the whole volunteer work thing already settle, I would gladly stay a few more days with him.              

But I could not, so I left. Next morning, again, he drove me out of town, this time in the opposite side, South, and I started to hitchhike again.