There was no congestion and chaos at the major northern bus stops and taxi ranks both Friday and Sunday as travellers returning from their holiday destinations have seemingly smartened up this ear. 

Travellers from the northern regions, who are returning southward for work and school, were not left stranded or clamouring for any available lift this year.  

Most of them seemed not to worry about transport. When New Era visited the two places where they get buses, at Okatana Service Station and the Aupa Indongo Open Market in Oshakati, it was not packed compared to previous years.

Bus drivers say clients have smartened up as many of them started returning back to work on Monday already.

Amini Sem, a long distance bus operator, who operates between Oshakati and Windhoek said travellers from the north are now clever, they have learned their lesson from previous years. 

He said they don’t wait for the last minute anymore and now travel back just after Christmas or the end of January. “We are only charging them N$330 per person from here to Windhoek, which is a normal price,” he said.

Another bus driver, Thobias Ananias told this publication that all buses that travel to the coast were full but they were still waiting for some buses to arrive on that day.

“These few people sitting here will not sleep here. They will get buses today or later in the evening,” explained Ananias.

He added that they are charging N$400 to Walvis Bay.

Those travelling longer distances such as Oranjemund, Luderitz and Keetmanshoop are the ones who seem to be struggling to get transport. 

Some however expressed frustration that they have been severely inconvenienced by the lack of transportation, as they wanted to travel back to the coast while others needed to be dropped off at various towns along the B1 road.

Lahja Kandiwapa said she was at Okatana Service Station since 07h00 on Friday with her three children who need to return to Oranjemund for school, but moved to Aupa Indongo Open Market as there was no transport at Okatana. By 14h00, she still could not get transport. Kandiwapa said she suffered the same fate on Wednesday. 

“We cannot get transport. I am worried my children will not make it on time to prepare to return to school. I hope today [Friday] they will get. If I do not manage, I will have to send them to Windhoek to continue their journey from there,” she said. 

- vkaapanda@nepc.com.na