17.08.2021: Take off
So here we are… finally ready, and off we go ☝🏼
To be honest, we had almost stopped believing this moment would ever come — but somehow, the adventure 🇳🇦 is really happening now.
The Audi was packed to the roof, and at 05:15 sharp we set off for Frankfurt. First “adventure” of the day: valet parking. Or so we thought. Turns out, it wasn’t much of an adventure at all — we arrived, a friendly guy in a reflective vest waved us in, and boom… the car was gone 🤷🏼♂️😂🤣💯. That easy.
Onwards. Check-in without queues (two people ahead of us — luxury!). At the counter we got the info: the first flight was only 50% full ☝🏼
With time to spare, we even treated ourselves to a proper airport breakfast 🤣😂 — absolutely wild.
And the flight? Unreal. We’ve never sat on such an empty plane before.
Oh, and speaking of planes… we’re officially in love. With Qatar Airways 🥰 What an airline — loads of space, incredibly friendly crew, and seriously amazing food on board. Okay, fine… the gin & tonic and the champagne helped too, I’ll admit it 😉🤙🏼
Touchdown in Doha, right on time, at 17:15.
After landing in Doha, we suddenly had all the time in the world to explore the freshly crowned World’s Best Airport (2021). And honestly — it’s mind-blowing. We spent nearly three hours wandering around and still only managed to see one of the five levels ☝🏼 (to be fair, two of them are hotel and wellness areas 🤷🏼♂️). The sheer scale of the place is phenomenal.
The girls quickly found their first souvenir — a beautiful little piece of Arabia in the form of a jewellery box — mission accomplished. Happy and relaxed, we waited for boarding.
This time the plane was a bit fuller, but somehow we still managed to score entire rows to ourselves. Sleeping stretched out, each in our own row — business-class vibes in economy!
Oh, and before I forget… did I mention we’re completely smitten with Qatar Airways? 🤣😂🤩🥰 Once again, everything was top-notch 🤙🏼 not a single flaw, nothing to complain about.
After a surprisingly good night (considering the circumstances), we touched down in Johannesburg at 04:00.
18.08.2021
…and that was the absolute highlight so far. At that hour, there was literally no one around. We wandered through transit completely alone — a surreal, almost cinematic moment.
The first people we encountered were security staff, re-checking our hand luggage that had already been cleared in Frankfurt. Sadly, the craft scissors — officially declared harmless back in FRA — didn’t pass the test here and were confiscated 🤦🏼♂️🤷🏼♂️. Goodbye, little scissors.
The absurdity peaked shortly after in the departure hall: around 50 passengers waiting… yet in the end, only 12 people — including us — actually boarded the final flight. A 50-seat Embraer 135, predictably and gloriously underfilled 😂🤣✈️.
Then came the magic moment. At 06:30, right on schedule, we were welcomed by our first African sunrise since 2018. And just like that — we were really here.
Standing on the runway, looking down at our own feet, feeling it sink in. Curious, excited, and wondering where this land will carry us next.
Right on time at 08:30, our VIP flight touched down (Max — I had to think of your brother and certain legendary photos 😂). We walked across the tarmac, passing the largest transport aircraft in the world on foot — #bigmeetsmall.
Our second home for the coming weeks was picked up in no time, and off we went — straight into left-hand traffic 🤪🤪 — heading for the capital, Windhoek.
Once we reached our first accommodation, we unpacked the essentials and set up the Toyota Fortuner — officially ready for Africa.
Then it was time to meet the city. We parked at Christuskirche, and within seconds, the infamous “nut mafia” appeared — Fritz and Joseph in person 😂. After a bit of small talk, they promised to keep an eye on our car while we explored downtown.
We wandered through the city, feeling surprisingly at ease — almost at home. No one bothered us, and when people did approach, they were warm, friendly, and refreshingly non-pushy.
After all the sightseeing, it was time to slow things down at our B&B. Pool time, pure relaxation — just drifting, unwinding, and letting it all sink in before heading out for our very first dinner in Namibia.
Reserved well in advance back in Germany, we walked into Joe’s Beerhouse full of anticipation. What a place. A truly iconic spot, packed with curious details and character — from an actual car to an eclectic bottle collection tucked beneath the bar’s roof. Every corner tells a story.
The food was fantastic, and we savored every bite. Full, happy, and completely exhausted, we made our way back to our accommodation. And then — the beds took over 💯. After everything the past hours had thrown at us, there was nothing left to do but surrender.
That night, we fell asleep happy and content — our very first sleep in Namibia…
