Oshikango
10 MAY 2023
It was an early start this morning in order to catch the bus going to the Angolan border with Namibia at Santa Clara. The friendly Macon bus driver checked we were all OK and kept an eye out for us at each stop along the way.
The road to the border is straight, tarmacked and crosses barren shrub line passing through abandoned settlements and small villages. In this part of Angola, people are herders and live a subsistence life living in village compounds surrounded by wooden stacked fences.
Crossing the border from Angola to Namibia
In Santa Clara, you can walk from the bus stop to the Angolan border. I was hassled by a couple of men wanting to exchange money and show me where to go. It's perfectly safe to engage them in business and give them a small gratuity. Changing money here is the best rate and they can help to ease the transition through the border. Once my passport was stamped I was ushered into a car belonging to some Angolans travelling to Namibia - again perfectly safe. They drove me to the Namibian border where I lined up to get the visa. I filled in a form whilst waiting and got a tourist visit for a month with no issues. The Namibian police on the border were very helpful - advised me about changing money and onward travel. All very smooth and trouble free. As it was late afternoon, by the time I entered Namibia, I chose to stay the night in Oshikango at the Piscas Motel. This is situated behind a bar belonging to the same owners - although a little shady, the motel is an oasis built around a garden at the rear. A lovely place to relax and sleep for 400N including breakfast. I was served the biggest portions of salad and chips in the whole of Africa....
Oshikango
Oshikango is an interesting border town with a large Angolan population. There are many people sitting and hanging around in the main street, who seem to be trying to find a way to make a living there. Along this street are a range of trading warehouses selling food stuffs, electrical items and building construction materials run by Indian, Chinese, Angolan and Namibian merchants. Its a real melting pot of people from all walks of life.