Leaving Oshakati and Sorting Out Car Insurance
Good day. January 29th. Leaving Oshakati, going towards Rundu and then heading north to get closer to Botswana. So off I went at a reasonable time. I did also try to find a place for car insurance because I didn’t have any and it isn’t really required in Namibia, but only people that get hurt, I think, are covered, but not third party material damage. And it’s only about third party because whatever happens to my car happens to my car, such it is. So made a stop in Ondangwa at a Chopies, which is a grocery store, just to get a few nibbles and bits.
A Suspicious Car and a Costly Mistake
So I was well on my way until 15 minutes out of Ondangwa. I was actually overtaking a black car and that car later on passed me by. While they were passing me, there were several guys in that car — couldn’t tell if it was three or four. The one in the left front passenger seat had his window open and was really pointing at my car like there was a big problem, something you would normally want to be concerned about. One of the things I had a few seconds to think about was that I had my car serviced the day before, which I wasn’t totally enamored with how that all came about. So when they pointed to that and then stopped, I decided I should stop as well. Well, that’s the biggest mistake of my trip so far.
The Robbery
As it turned out, one of the guys came to me after I stopped and imposing himself right next to me, said, “You made a very big mistake.” Then he grabbed me, after which he grabbed my phone and tried to wrestle me to keep me down. Another person came up behind him and was able to grab my bag — the bag that I take into the hotel every night — and wrestle that away from me while I was trying to hold on. I tried to punch the big guy in his face, but he was ahead of me by going for my throat and trying to choke me. In the meantime, one of the other guys turned the car around, drove up next to my car, and pointed out to the others that there was enough to be had already and they should go. Well, that saved the day.
Passport, Phone, and Papers Taken
The big guy had grabbed my shirt, which had a zippered pocket on it, and basically tore it off. That pocket contained my passport, my international driver’s license, and my yellow fever card — all necessary things to travel. I was not a happy camper, but I was not hurt. They took my phone, they took my computer and papers from the vehicle that I really still need. You kind of go into shock, I guess, or whatever you want to call it. So then they drove off. I contemplated following them but didn’t think that was a good idea.
Filing a Police Report
After I gathered myself, I decided I should go to a police station and get a police report. That meant going back to the town I just came from. I found a police station eventually and they were very low-key, with very few people — mostly ladies — helping out. I was able to use one of their computers to reach Nathan, to send him a message and get some more information about other phone numbers and emails that I needed. Eventually, within a few hours, I was able to discontinue my phone and my computer through the cloud. I don’t know how all that stuff works, but I think that made it so that not too much damage could be done. They also did not get any money or credit cards, anything like that — just the electronics.
Changing Plans and Finding a Place to Stay
It was a puzzling day. The moment that happened, I could no longer go to Botswana or anywhere else for that matter. After that was all sorted out, I figured one thing I could do was get some help from the people I was going to visit in Namibia anyway. But I had to get to Okauchana for that, which is about 70 kilometers from the border and five kilometers north of Windhoek, but still 700 kilometers from where I was. So with Gerhard’s help, my nephew, I was able to get those people’s numbers and figured I better start driving in that direction. I drove another hour or two and found a little place just north of the Etosha Reserve — a great place to stay, even though it was raining cats and dogs. It was a good place with some nice food and a manager that was in the listening mode.
A Day That Changed Everything
So that was my day. January 29th — a day that changed everything, where I made a wrong turn, or a turn for the wrong reasons. I could have done so many other things, but life happens, I guess. Thank you for coming along, and I hope this never happens to you.
