Wrapping up our Namibia rental car journey with our baby— currency exchange fails, and a heartfelt goodbye to our trusty car.
table of Contents
- Main Journey
- Events
- Tips for Traveling with a Baby
- Local Travel Tips
- Travel Reflections
1. Main Journey
Today marked the end of our Namibia road trip—our last day with the rental car we’d come to rely on so much.
The plan had originally been to drive all the way from Walvis Bay to Windhoek in the early morning and return the car before noon, since the office closed early on Sundays. But we’d adjusted our route and arrived in Windhoek the day before, which gave us the rare gift of a slow morning.
Sweetie was in a great mood. She’s been obsessed with the phrase “like a big sister” lately. It started when we’d try to brush her hair or tie it up and tell her, “Let’s do it like a big sister.” Today, that worked like a charm—she came running over with a huge smile, ready to have her hair done.
Before heading to the rental car office, we had one important errand to run: find US dollars.
2. Events
During our time in Africa, we’d used up almost all the US dollars we’d brought from home. We didn’t expect to run out—originally, it was plenty—but a last-minute tour in Madagascar had hit us with a brutal credit card fee, so we paid in cash. That wiped out most of our reserve.
Now, with more countries ahead of us and visa fees looming, we really needed to get our hands on some more dollars. So we headed back to the same shopping mall we visited the day before, hoping the currency exchange booth would be open.
It was. But… no dollars.
The woman behind the counter told us they had no USD in stock. Slight panic. We checked Google Maps and found another exchange outside the mall. We rushed there—but same answer: “No dollars today.” There wasn’t much else we could do.
Sweetie, on the other hand, was living her best life—zooming through the mall with her usual toddler speed. Ever since we arrived in Africa, we’ve been nervous about letting her run too freely in public, but she doesn’t care. When she sees space, she runs.
After all that, we figured we’d earned a little treat and stopped by the soft-serve ice cream shop we’d spotted the day before. For 6.99 Namibian dollars (about 600 KRW), it was enormous and delicious. Totally worth it.
3. Tips for Traveling with a Baby
Slow mornings are gold.
If you can structure your travel days so you’re not rushing around in the morning, do it. Babies feel your energy—and a relaxed start sets the tone for the whole day.
Errands can be an adventure.
Whether it’s currency exchange or grocery shopping, bring snacks, allow time, and expect delays. Sweetie doesn’t care what we’re doing—she just wants to move, play, and be involved. We try to make her part of every mission.
Don’t skip little joys.
A simple ice cream, a warm bath, or a well-timed nap can flip a tough day into a good one. When traveling with a baby, the little things matter a lot.
4. Local Travel Tips
Returning your rental car in Windhoek:
We returned our car to Thrifty. They expected the fuel tank full and the car reasonably clean. We’d done a quick rinse the day before, and they didn’t charge us for cleaning. Just a tip: if your pickup location warned about car cleanliness, it’s good to play it safe and give it a wash.
Taxi prices in Windhoek:
Our first taxi ride in Namibia! The Thrifty staff told us it would be about 10 NAD per person. We confirmed the price with the driver, who quoted exactly that. No haggling needed. The driver was a hip-hop loving local with swag to spare—and the ride was smooth.
Having no car in Windhoek is rough.
Right after returning the car, we felt it—life without wheels is instantly more complicated. Just doing a grocery run became a challenge. Windhoek isn’t particularly walkable, especially with a baby and shopping bags.
5. Travel Reflections
It’s hard to say goodbye to a car that’s been with you through so much.
We’d driven over 4,000 kilometers—through desert dust, over bumpy gravel roads, into sunrise and sunset, from South Africa into Namibia. And through it all, our little car (we called it “Ppabang”) held up like a champ. No flat tires. No breakdowns. Just the occasional dusty dashboard and a whole lot of memories.
Sweetie was surprisingly emotional about parting with the car. She kept looking back at it as we walked away, waving and saying goodbye. That hit me harder than I expected.
For us, this road trip wasn’t just about reaching destinations. It was about the rhythm of the road, the family moments in between, and the space it gave us to grow together.
That night, we cooked a tomato chicken pasta at the hostel. Nothing fancy, but full of veggies, warmth, and gratitude. We might not be the most frugal backpackers, but with a toddler, good food feels like a necessary luxury.
And so, our road trip chapter came to a close.
From South Africa to Namibia, 11 days on the road.
A car, a baby, and a sense of freedom that’s hard to put into words.
Leave a Reply