Windhoek Namibia Travel with Baby – Rest Day and Travel Mishap

Julie

2025-04-07

Windhoek Namibia Travel with Baby – Rest Day and Travel Mishap

A surprise travel mishap gave our family an extra day in Windhoek, Namibia. how we made the most of it during our world travel with baby.

Main Journey

We were supposed to leave Windhoek on a 24-hour Intercape bus ride to Livingstone, Zambia — the gateway to Victoria Falls. The tickets were booked way in advance, all set. But just days before departure, we got a curt email from Intercape saying the route was closed. No explanation. Just “Route Close.” We tried to find another bus company, but even Rome2Rio showed nothing but Intercape. So we scrambled to book flights via South Africa.

Problem solved? Not quite. While we had booked the new flight for the 27th, we mistakenly reserved our guesthouse checkout and airport taxi for the 26th — same as our original bus departure. Luckily, we double-checked the itinerary the night before and caught the mistake in time. So now, with one more full day in Namibia, we had nothing to do… except enjoy it.

Events

With nothing scheduled, we decided to walk to the shopping mall we had visited the day before. It took about 20 minutes on foot — not too far, and a nice way to see the city without rushing around. Windhoek is quiet, calm, and easy to explore on foot during the day.

First stop: soft serve ice cream. It was so good yesterday that we promised ourselves a double round today. We bought three cones right away. Honestly, Sweetie probably had most of mine too.

Then we checked out the souvenir stalls outside. The quality of the handmade goods really stood out — wooden animal carvings, pottery, colorful bowls. If we weren’t on a world trip with limited space, we probably would’ve taken a few things home.

We also ducked into a PEP store, thinking it was just a clothing shop. Turns out, they had everything — including plug adapters. The same one we bought in Cape Town for 100 rand was only 18.99 Namibian dollars here. And the exchange rate? Exactly the same. That stung a bit.

Back at the guesthouse, we used up the last of our groceries for one final Namibian BBQ. Pork belly, marinated chicken drumsticks, grilled mushrooms, and Sweetie’s favorite — corn. Everything was seasoned just right and cooked over the open flame one last time.

After dinner, we packed down again — two backpacks, one diaper bag, and a small carry-on. We also donated our BBQ gear and camping supplies to the guesthouse. Felt like saying goodbye to a small chapter of the trip.

Tips for Traveling with a Baby

Even a simple scheduling mistake can get complicated when you’re traveling with a little one. Here’s what helped us navigate the surprise extra day in Windhoek:

Always double-check dates together. It only takes a second to cross-check flights and checkouts as a couple. This saved us from a very early and unnecessary airport trip.
Bring backup snacks. Sweetie saw the ice cream stand and wanted it instantly. Having small snacks helped us avoid a full-blown sugar meltdown.
Stay somewhere walkable. Being able to stroll to the market, mall, and back made the day feel full without being tiring — perfect with a toddler in tow.
Trim down gear as you go. We donated bulky gear we no longer needed. Traveling light with a baby means making space wherever you can.

Local Travel Tips

If you’re planning a trip to Namibia — especially Windhoek — here are a few tips we wish we had known earlier:

Confirm your Intercape route early. These buses are reliable until they’re not. Route closures happen suddenly, and they won’t give you many details.
Don’t count on alternatives. In many parts of Southern Africa, Intercape is the only long-distance bus option. If they cancel, flying might be your only choice.
Shop smart at PEP. Whether it’s adapters, baby clothes, or snacks, PEP has solid prices. Way cheaper than big cities in South Africa.
Use up groceries before flying. Airport food is expensive and not always baby-friendly. Better to prep a simple meal or snack ahead.

Travel Reflections

We didn’t plan to stay an extra day in Windhoek, but it felt like a gentle pause in the middle of a packed journey. The kind of day you don’t schedule, but remember — soft serve twice in one day, unexpected laughs while souvenir shopping, and a perfectly grilled corn cob for Sweetie.

Sometimes, it’s the delays that slow us down enough to really see the place we’re in — and the people we’re with.