ONGWEDIVA – Take Windhoek out of the equation, then you have Oshakati with about 11,600 registered pick-ups roaming the streets of Oshakati and Ongwediva.
Speaking to people from Windhoek, one is more convinced to believe that no other region will beat Omaheke Region when it comes to pick-ups.
The farmers from Omaheke are known to be pick-up lovers, same with the high theft of especially Toyota pick-ups whom at times end up in Omaheke Region. Thus the perception that Omaheke is bakkie paradise.
However, consulting the statistics released by the Roads Authority (RA) on a quarterly basis, this belief is proven to be wrong. In fact, the Omaheke Region is so low on the cards with about 3,800 registered pick-ups.
The combined figures of the four northern regions are even deadly with more pick-ups than anywhere in the country. Eenhana has about 2,900, Ondangwa with about 4,300 and Outapi with about 4,300 registered pick-ups. Adding Oshakati at 11,600 pick-ups will give a combined total of about 23,100 pick-ups registered and operated in the northern regions alone.
When the time comes to purchase a mode of transport, one could be faced with the choice between a normal motor car and a bakkie. The word ‘bakkie’ is a Namibian and South African nickname for a pick-up truck.
Bakkies have traditionally been the preserve of the male of the species; rugged, manly chariots that can conquer mountains or transport slaughtered beasts to feed the family. Yet as women have gained a greater foothold in the working world, many of them are breaking the stereotype by “picking up” a pick-up. In fact more woman are seen behind the wheels of bakkies in Oshakati and surrounding areas.
The argument always used to be that motor cars are more economical on petrol than large bakkies. This is now starting to be less valid. In some instances, motor cars are becoming heavier on their gas consumption, as they become more luxurious, faster, and more powerful. Bakkies are now being manufactured far lighter on petrol than before, and are sometimes lighter on gas than their smaller, normal motor car counterparts.
Bakkies are great for families that regularly go home to the village for holidays or weddings – a typical Namibian way of doing things.
Because of the power of these vehicles, they are able to pull heavy loads such as trailers with extra luggage and caravans and various other heavy things.
More bakkies in the North are seen pulling trailers with cattle for farming purposes or as donations at a wedding. Bakkies are able to drive on difficult terrain, such as sand and rocks, making them enjoyable for off road destination use.
The reasons for so many pick-ups in the northern regions is the fact that the people of the North are farmers and needs pick-up to move their goods around.
It goes without saying that a bakkie has far more space and cargo carrying capabilities than a normal motor car, and is therefore more favored by people who need to carry large loads.
The cargo bed at the back of the bakkie is useful for anything else that needs to be transported which is of reasonable size.
Other reasons advanced by locals are the infamous efundja (flood), which occurs annually during the rainy season.
The amount of water pushed from Angola into Namibia, floods most of the inhabitants’ land, thus making it difficult to move from one place to another. The use of pick-ups becomes an automatic choice, as opposed to a sedan vehicle that would not be able to manouvre through the water.
The beaches at the coastal towns call for some pick-ups to be used for leisure during fishing trips or the excursions on the dunes or the occasional drive by the beach. As such Swakopmund is trailing way behind Oshakati with 6,400 while Walvis Bay is at about 6,500.