Windhoek, You Need A Land Rover...

[andit]

Hi guys,

Was in Windhoek Namibia last week when a massive downpour hit (something like 70mm (2 3/4 inches) of rain in about 40 minutes). This caused the Klein Windhoek River, which runs right through the city, to come down in flood. C-Lux 1, 28mm, f/2.8, 1/250 sec, ISO 100.

Very little information is coming out of Southern Africa at the moment about severe flooding that has displaced countless people and caused massive damage, not to mention loss of life. Countries that have been severely affected are Angola, Namibia, Zambia, Malawi, Madagascar and worst hit is Northern Mozambique. Just to give you an idea, the Zambezi River at Katima Mulilo is flowing in the region of 6.11 meters above normal, while the Okavango in the Caprivi region has been measured as high as 9 meters.

Thanks for looking,
Andreas

[stuny]

Andreas -

I'm used to hearing of huge downpours in arid regions having immense, temporary flooding. How often does this happen in Windhoek and the rest of southern Africa? This is a good action shot and good reportage.

You’re well? Your brother and niece? We’ve not heard form Hans in quite some time.

[andit]

Hi Stuart,

Thanks for your reply. The rain that has hit Southern Africa this year can be described as the heaviest in at least 60 years. Just to give you an idea, the Kuiseb River in Namibia has pushed all the way through to the Atlantic. The last time that this river flowed right through the Namib desert and into the ocean was some 60 odd years ago. I drove the Trans Kalahari Highway through Botswana last week. Spectacular.... The Kalahari can only be compared to a botanical garden at the moment - it's awesome.

Strangely enough though, here in South Africa, particularly here in Nelspruit (were basically at the junction of South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique), we have had virtually no rain this year. We normally average about 800 mm of rain in the period December to end March. This year we have had less than 100.

Mozambique and Madagascar have been hardest hit by the floods. They went through 3 cyclones (hurricanes in your part of the world) in the last month. Especially the northern parts - from Beira up north into the Nampula province.

Next time you guys decide to visit Namibia, I'll be there to greet you. I'm relocating back to Windhoek over the next two months. To make it easier for you guys, you can avoid flying in via South Africa by flying to Frankfurt in Germany, and then with Air Namibia directly to Windhoek. They have just received brand new aircraft - Airbus A340's - so you can fly pretty much at ease. Hans and Keila are doing well. I'll give him a kick in the pants for not sending you mail - lol...

Andreas