Swakopmund is a pleasant town for many activities around, but even more for a day off. Doing some shopping, having a coffee in a nice cafe or just stroll around the streets with plenty of well-maintanand colonial buildings.
A little spot, just south of the Tropic Of Capricorn sign, on the vast Namib desert marked as fuel station on the maps, but it’s far more than that. Not only fuel, snacks, cool beverages and cold beers are served here. It’s also the place for the most famous apple tart in Namibia. The German baker, who introduced that delicious dessert midst in the desert, passed away a few years ago. His apple tart stays for many more generations, hopefully.
The big eye-catcher are the old-timers and trucks standing around the fuel station. In colorful rusty conditions they attract people for a stroll between them and take a few shots for remembering.
Not much to tell about the magnificent landscape around Sossusvlei area. It’s a Must for every Namibia newbie, so certainly i brought my parents here too. Take a bit time to feel sun, wind and sand on your skin.
Guiding my mom and her husband trough Namibia, i didn’t only want show the touristic spots of the country, but also bring them closer to real life. A soup kitchen project in Katatura/Windhoek supported by my friend Barbara, was a good start.
In the „Home Of Good Hope“ approx. 600 children daily get food, explains Monica, the founder of project. When we arrived groups of children, some in school uniforms, waited in front of the house from corrugated iron sheets. Under the eyes of helpers the kids washed their hands in bucket filled with soapy water before entering the big gloomy room. Inside wooden banks were provided, sorted in rows like in a church. Monica and her few helpers clapped in their hands and started to sind church songs with the kids, doing little daces with them, cheering them up to praise the lord, although there is no differences made by religions of the kids coming in. The only difference is made by school kids, who gets served first because the have to be in school on time. Four Swedish girls came in to help serving the simple, but nourishing meal. They’re in Windhoek as exchange from nursing school and volunteering the soup kitchen today. In front of the building was a table with watery juice and apples cut in small pieces.
We brought from children clothes from home. Immediately they were sorted and given to kids attending this morning the soup kitchen. Some wear it with proud when the left the building. Amongst other things i discovered boxes for first aids, and indeed, a boy came with a wound on his leg. One of the helper cleaned the wound, put desinfection fluid on it and covered it. All in completely routine. Still all the laughter in our ears we left that place with good impressions.
Marangu. There’s not much to say, but only to enjoy that calm, tranquil village on foot of Mt.Kilimanjaro. For a long weekend i could enjoy the hospitality of these friendly people and had a little inside of their daily village life.
Early morning. Cool, pure air surrounds the highest mountain of Africa. With the first sun rays, light clouds start to gather around the peak. In the next hours the clouds get thicker and hiding Kilimanjaro behind it. The climate here is just perfect for coffee plantages. We learned the process after harvest coffee beans, peel the skin off the beans, roast it over fire and grind it to fine powder. Much fun, but also hard work and very interesting to see.
some of my more recently works in portraits
„I like to drive rough and wild by quad bikes, but many groups coming rather for the fun of selfies, than pure adventure“
„We travel from events to events, from party to party,
to ensure safety for the party people“
It was sheer luck to meet that Zambian beauty. We had not only a grand time with beer and pizza, but also big fun with a couple photo shootings. Mumba posed and moved naturally in the rough landscape of Zambia. But just see for yourself…
Es war grosses Glück diese Sambische Schönheit zu treffen und ein Privileg sie fotografieren zu dürfen. Bei Bier und Pizza besprachen wir die Shootings und setzten sie in den vergangen Tagen um. Mit viel Spass und einer herzlichen Natürlichkeit bewegte sich Mumba vor der Kamera und der rauen Landschaft von Zambia. aber seht doch selbst…
rene bauer photography 