Location: Windhoek, Namibia

Summary: On January 30th, I focused on recuperating from the previous day’s incident and making my way to Okaukuejo to meet the family who could help me recover from the losses. It was a long drive—around 500–600 kilometers—but I arrived around 3 p.m. and was grateful for their support.We got in touch with the honorary consulate in Windhoek, and they laid out the process for obtaining an emergency passport, which would take about a week. I now had the necessary forms, instructions, and guidance to get started. It was reassuring to have a plan, even though the details of the emergency passport itself were still to be confirmed. I decided the next day I’d head to Windhoek to replace my phone and computer and get things moving again. The Koch family’s property was comfortable, and their help was invaluable. It felt good to have some stability after the chaos of the previous day.

Location: Oshakati, Namibia to Rundu, Namibia

Summary: On January 29th, I left Oshakati heading toward Rundu and then north toward Botswana. I stopped briefly in Ondangwa for supplies, but about 15 minutes out of town, a car with several men forced me to stop. They attacked me, took my phone, laptop, and my travel documents, including my passport, international driver’s license, and yellow fever card. Thankfully, I wasn’t physically hurt, and the situation de-escalated when one of them decided they had taken enough and left.Shaken, I went back to Ondangwa to report the incident at a police station. With their help and some support from my nephew Gerhard, I canceled my devices remotely to prevent further damage. The robbery changed my plans—I could no longer continue toward Botswana that day. I decided to head toward Okaukuejo, just north of Etosha Reserve, and found a safe, comfortable place to stay despite heavy rain. It was a dramatic and unsettling day, but I made it through and got the help I needed.

Location: Oshakati, Namibia

Summary: On January 28th, I spent the day in Oshakati, northern Namibia, getting my car serviced. I arrived early at the Toyota dealer, and they replaced the rear brake drums and shoes along with performing routine maintenance. Communication with the service staff was frustrating—they didn’t keep me updated, and I had to figure out when the work was done myself.Afterward, I returned to the hotel and met two couples traveling through the region—one from Cape Town and one from Maun, Botswana. We had great conversations about travel and routes, and they advised me against taking the northern road I had planned, citing poor conditions and potholes. Their advice influenced my route decision for the next stage of my journey. By the end of the day, my car was fully serviced and ready to go, and I felt prepared to move on the next morning.