Differences in mentality

Differences in mentality between Namibians and Germans

Namibia is a destination that is very popular with German travellers. This is based not only in the beautiful natural landscape, but also in the history. In the 19th century Germany held a German protectorate in Namibia, so there are still locals who have German as their mother tongue. As the state was also occupied by the British and the Portuguese for some time, they also shaped the mentality of the Namibians. Together with the original tribes, an interesting mixture of peoples developed, which resulted in a multifaceted culture. Already when renting a vehicle the traveller comes into contact with the idiosyncratic mix of South West African and European mentality.

Friendly, polite and relaxed

The quality of service in Namibia is good, as many hire car centres have adapted excellently to tourists from abroad. The staff speaks a good English, which is partly due to the fact that English has been the official language since 1990. Some of them are even able to speak German due to their family roots. German is still a popular lingua franca especially among the white population. After entering the hire car office, the customer is greeted with a firm handshake. If the service staff or traveler is female, the handshake is often omitted. Instead, they nod to each other with an open smile. The conversation with the customer is polite and relaxed. Questions about the country are answered with pleasure, as Namibians are proud of the beauty of their nature and cultural landscape. Occasionally the rental is delayed a little, as time has a different meaning than in Germany. With a smile the saying is gladly proclaimed “The Germans have the clock. We have the time.” Even the occupation of the Germans in the 19th century could not change the congenial composure. A strict punctuality should therefore not be expected, which sometimes shows in shifted opening hours. This very organic way of dealing with time has its advantage for the customer, as he is also not expected to be 100 % binding with regard to agreed appointments. It is only important to roughly stick to agreements. If other circumstances arise, these are flexibly adapted. Appropriate politeness, on the other hand, is very important. This starts with opening the door for female customers or employees and ends with a charming manner that refrains from clear criticism and arguments.

A solid performance for an adventurous country

Namibia is an adventurous country where rental agencies offer a solid performance. It is usually taken care of with pleasure the wants and needs of the customer who is far away from home. With patience, the conditions for renting the car are explained to the traveller and the peculiarities of the Namibian traffic are presented, as there are some special regulations for the road traffic in Namibia. The road conditions are partly adventurous, that is why unpaved roads should only be driven with a reduced speed. Furthermore, always carry sufficient water and spare wheels in case of a breakdown. In some areas, a jeep is recommended, although many roads can easily be travelled without an off-road vehicle. Furthermore, driving in Namibia is done on the left side of the road. The traffic rules are very similar to those in Europe, with the four-way-stop intersections being a special feature. At these intersections there is no right before left. Instead, the vehicle that arrived first at the intersection drives first. After that, the next in line comes. To avoid misunderstandings, people sometimes use hand signals to agree on the correct order.