We spent a few days in Windhoek. We really liked Urban Camp, and made some friends. There was a swimming pool, and Daddy liked the bar. We had to stay because the car needed some new parts. We got a new brake hose, 4 new tyres and coils to replace the air bags.

In Windhoek we went to the national art gallery. It was different to other art galleries because the art was not just paintings. The artists were all local and used ‘mixed media’, like newspaper, nails, string, beads, animal horns and wood. The art was all for sale too. My favourite piece of art was called ‘The seed of identity’ and was of a twisted horn. (Sorry, no photo!) I also liked one called ‘Etosha’ which was a scene of cows, made of twigs tied with string. There was one room that was filled with different pictures of rhinos. It was very good.

After this we went to the Museum. It was interesting, but a bit run down. Some of the lights didn’t work. These are some of the things that we saw/learnt:

• A house made by the Nama people, and made out of reed mats. It is the only one left as people now use modern materials.
• Some people get their grain by breaking into ant nests and stealing it!
• There was a wooden wagon with a canopy that early settlers used. The wheels were wooden with a metal rim to protect them. I think that this is the same sort of wagon that Laura and Mary used in ‘Little House on the Prairie’
• There was a rhino skin, that was very thick and hard. Daddy said some people used it for armour.
• There was a guano platform between Walvis Bay and Swakopmunda. People used to collect it and sell it for fertiliser! Guano is bird poo – I would not want that job!
• We saw musical instruments. I liked the honey bird whistle. People hollowed out an apple, and used it to call the honey bird. The bird takes the people to a hive and they all get honey. There were reed flutes that they left in milk when they weren’t being used.
• We learnt about growing and collecting Omahangu, which is millet. People turn into flour and then eat it as porridge.
• We saw how they made ostrich egg shells into necklaces by breaking them into little pieces, then shaped them into circles and drill holes. They change the colour to brown or black by frying it!