22 Travel Namibia Moro >> News · views · people · places · conservation · community · wildlife · culture SECRET NAMIBIA ¦ Q Where serves the best breakfast? " I love the sausages at Cafe Schneider in Livingstone Arcade. They do a great traditional Namibian breakfast - expect lots of meat!" ¦ Q How should I spend my morning? " A historical city tour is a great introduction to Windhoek. It explains our colonial past, points out interesting buildings and takes in one of our museums, which are all free. " If you want to shop then there is a craft market on Post Street Mall where producers sell their own goods. All the Photographers Marcel Jouve and Lily Yousry- Jouve have just published a book entitled Secret Namibia. The collection of pictures of Namibia's spectacular landscapes sits alongside informative text on the country's geology, fauna and fl ora. And if that wasn't enough, there is a guide to the best accommodation and a list of suggested routes. Secret Namibia is published by Struik. Insider's guide to Windhoek Interview Grace Kamuingona has lived in Windhoek since she was twelve and now works for the City Tourism Offi ce. Her knowledge of the city's facilities is one of the best in the business, so we asked her how to spend 24 hours in Namibia's capital. prices are fi xed so you don't have to worry about haggling. Or, if you fancy your own Namibian diamond as a souve-nir, there's The House of Gems which is a family- owned business". ¦ Q Now I'm hungry. Where to for lunch? " Thule is an upmarket restaurant with stunning views over the city. If you want to eat with the locals, then head into Katatura, Windhoek's former town-ship. Try Otjikaendu Den, Mama Hileni, Club Thriller or Tizombazu Restaurant. You'll always get a really friendly wel-come. If you want to do something a little different, try Iitumba. It's about three kilometres from the city centre. They do a lunch and quad biking deal, which is a lot of fun. And you get a great view of the city from the quad bike trail too". ¦ Q What should I do in the afternoon? " No competition. Everyone should go on our Katatura Tour. It's three hours long and will give you a real insight into Namibian life." ¦ Q And in the evening? " Joe's Beer House is popular. They serve every type of meat you can imagine, from buffalo to zebra. For some-thing a little more sophisticated try NICE. Or, if you can't drag yourself away from Katatura after your tour, a company called Face to Face will take you drinking and playing pool in the local shebeens". ¦ Q Finally, where should I stay? " Arebbusch is fantastic value and fi ve minutes drive from the centre of town. It does self catering and camping accommodation. There is a nice swim-ming pool and a restaurant. If you book in advance, they will even pick you up from the airport. " If you want to treat yourself, try The Olive Grove. I've just seen their new honeymoon suite, which has its own balconies and even a plunge pool". ¦ There's more information on Windhoek at www. windhoekcc. org. na Grace Kamuingona Working up an appetite for lunch. Quad biking at Iitumba MARY ASKEW MARY ASKEW

Travel Namibia 23 " It happened on a Sunday morning. You don't work normal hours in a park larger than the size of Wales, where wild animals require management, often at the most inconvenient times. I was engrossed in assembling equipment for working in the veld when a thumping sound from the nearby veterinary section reached me. It was followed by a clatter, then a tinkle of breaking glassware. Although other people may have been in the laboratories, the sounds I heard told of something unusual happening. To access the veterinary rooms, I walked along a corridor and opened a door leading into the large post mortem hall. The sight that met me peaked my adrenaline within seconds, making my pulse race and the hairs on the nape of my neck rise. Making its way towards me was a large male lion, which groggily stumbled and slipped on the smooth, tiled floor as it tried to find an escape. My presence drew a confused growl from the lion. I smashed the door closed behind me and ran towards the safety of another room, locking that door as I entered. I tried to calm myself and assess the situation. Piecing the scene together, I realised that the lion must have been brought into the laboratory in an immobilised state, and was now recovering unexpectedly from the anaesthetic. But where was the vet? Had the lion attacked and injured him? Why was the vet not there? Hu Berry was chief biologist at Etosha. Once, alone in the park's office, he came face- to- face with a confused and dazed lion. I scrambled through a window and ran to the vet's house. " The lion's awake!" was all I could utter. The vet grabbed his heavy calibre revolver and we sprinted back to the lab. Looking through the windows, we could see no sign of the lion. Entry was best through the rear door. The vet prepared a tranquilising drug and, holding the syringe in his hand, he took a medical trolley and pushed it ahead of him. I followed with the revolver. We moved slowly along the corridor and found the lion slumped on the floor of the post mortem hall. He staggered up when he heard us. The lion and the vet squared up to each other - the tail twitch and flattened ears told me what the lion's mood was, but luckily his muscles could not coordinate with his intentions. Telling me to distract the lion, the vet approached from the rear, using the trolley as a shield. I tried to steady the .44 magnum revolver at its huge head. The thought flashed through my mind that I might well miss the target and hit the vet. As if in a dream I saw the vet's arm extend and sink the sharp needle into the cat's haunch. A long minute passed before the powerful drug took effect. I stood motionless until my adversary's eyes glazed and the pupils dilated. The massive head slumped onto awesome paws. For a moment the vet and I stood there. Then he said matter- of- factly: " Alright, let's get some help to load him, and clean up the mess". Later we placed the great limp body under a shady tree on the savannah. After a check of his condition, we returned to the safety of our vehicle and watching our opponent groggily regaining consciousness.. for the second time that Sunday." The lion awakes Lion's eye glazed by the tranquiliser Hu Berry