Self Drive Road Trip of Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. Manchester to Windhoek, Namibia May 2019

Self Drive Road Trip of Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. Manchester to Windhoek

Namibia is the perfect destination for a road trip, the roads are well maintained and the rout we would be using was predominantly on well maintained tar roads. 
For UK citizens there is the added advantage of driving on the same side of the road as we do at home. 
The roads in Namibia are well maintained and quiet. My only advise is not to drive at night as on the main roads lighting is poor and cattle are many!

Thursday 2nd May 2019.
On May the 2^nd  2020 I started my road trip to Namibia/ Botswana and Zimbabwe from Manchester Airport.
Namibia can be as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be. Apart from our flights we wanted this trip to be a cost effective as possible. 

Four of us were travelling to the Capital City of Namibia - Windhoek, but by different routes and using different airlines;

The Two younger member of our party were going via Doha with Qatar Airways Economy Class. The next time we would see them would be at the accommodation in Windhoek.

This flight was from Manchester Airport Terminal 2- the first leg Manchester to Doha, was 6 hours 55 minutes long on an Airbus. A short 2 hour layover at Doha Airport then the final leg, Doha to Windhoek. This was 9 hours and 40 minutes on the Dreamliner.  The report about this flight was that the first flight on the Airbus was very good, but that the longer leg on the Boeing Dreamliner was dreadful; seat hard and very cramped in Economy class.

I was travelling with my husband and our flight was leaving from Manchester Airport terminal 1. We were going business class with Lufthansa via Frankfurt and Johannesburg. When booking this flight the agent had ‘warned’  me that it was a code share and from Frankfurt we would be on South African Airways, she stated that as many people won’t use SAA she needed to check we were OK with this. We have never flown SAA before so thought that we would give it a go!

Firstly we checked into the Aspire lounge at Manchester. It was very nice and a decent space to wait for the flight to Frankfurt, this was on a Lufthansa Airbus 319, the business class just consisting of the middle seat being free, we did however have a very nice cold salad on the 1 hour 40 minute flight.

The 3 hour wait at Frankfurt was improved by the lounge facilities. The food choice was very limited and quite poor, but the help yourself German beer pump helped with the layover.

Frankfurt Lounge 

I was concerned as I boarded the SAA Airbus 330-600, but was very pleased when I saw the seat. The aircraft was 14 years old and due to this there was a lot of room and the seats were large. They were the lay flat design- just right for an overnight flight. 
As soon as we boarded we were given champagne and amenity kits. 
Take off was over 60 minutes late due to a strike by French or Swiss air traffic control. I was sure we would miss our connection in JoBergh. 
Once we took off the food service started – the food and drink choices were good, the crew was very pleasant and responded to the passengers needs quickly. Once made into a bed my seat was great and I woke up on approach to Joberg airport 11 hours later. 

South African Airways Frankfurt to Johannesburg 

South African Airways Frankfurt to Johannesburg 

South African Airways Frankfurt to Johannesburg 

South African Airways Frankfurt to Johannesburg 

As soon as left the aircraft, members of the ground crew were calling for passengers for the SAA Windhoek flight. It was being held as there were over 40 of us. We literally walked through the airport and onto a bus that took us to the Airbus A320. So we did make the flight, arriving at 11.25 –but our cases did not.

The cases would arrive on the next flight and should be at the airport after 1500. So we decided to come back to collect them once we had collected our rental car.

I have used Bushlore in the past and always found them to be reliable, with excellent vehicles.
The Bushlore rep was waiting with his airport pick up sign. We drove the 45 minutes to central Windhoek picked up the car and went to the local Pick n Pay to get supplies. Also to the bank to change £ into Namibian $. Getting a better rate that at home. 
Then we were back to the airport and the bags were ready for us…Hooray!!! 
So now we needed to find our firsts night accommodation; Dusternbrook Safari Guest Farm. The instructions on how to get to it were very poor, I think most people must get picked up and transferred to the guest farm. I did have an idea where it was and it was sign posted off the Freeway. We arrived just as the sun was setting. 

Bushlore Namibia 

Düsternbrook Guest Farm

Düsternbrook Guest Farm

The other two part members were waiting for us at the guest farm. 
I had booked a transfer for them and they had been picked up from the airport and quickly taken to Dusternbrook. They then went on the ‘Cats Unlimited’ Cheetah and Leopard drive.

Dusternbrook offers a variety of accommodation choices, as well as a camp site. 
The accommodation allocated to us was in the Colonial House, one room slept 4, in one double and two twins whilst the other room had a double and one single bed. Both of the rooms were ideal for families.

We enjoyed a drink at the outdoor bar, a hearty evening meal in the thatch covered outdoor dining area. The meal was served at a long table with all the other gusts and the farm owners. 
In the morning breakfast was served in the main farm house. The food served was simple home cooked food and delicious.

As we left the Guest farm we saw many animals, I would highly recommend this accommodation. 
To think that it is less than a one hour drive from the main city in Namibia – Windhoek- it is a delightful piece of tranquility.