Surviving Your Long-haul Flight to Namibia

Travelling to the land of the brave can quite literally be a pain in the bum. A long-haul flight and layovers tend to dampen the mood of wanderlust long before the plane wheels have even come to a halt on the runway. The long trip to Namibia is definitely worth the water retention and insomnia, but just in case you get some serious long-haul blues, we’ve got your guide to staying sane while on the plane.

1. Stay hydrated: This means both getting in enough water (and an occasional Gin and Tonic for sanity), and cutting back on your salt intake. Water retention is always an issue on a long flight and becomes visible as your ankles begin to swell. Holler at the air hostess and tell her to keep the H2O coming – getting up to run to the bathroom is a great excuse to stretch those legs and get blood circulation back into said swollen ankles. 
2. Beat the bloat: Some airways tend to stuff you with unnecessary snacks and meals simply to give the illusion of value for money. You don’t need that sandwich at 4 pm. Remember that you’re not burning any energy while seated on the plane, so pack your favourite healthy alternatives instead. Celery, carrot and cucumber sticks are great to munch on and a fruit or two will offer those vital vitamins. There’s nothing worse than metaphorically rolling off the plane from a 14-hour carbo-load flight. 
3. Support your back: Those little pillows the airlines offer are perfect for supporting your lower back. Prop it snugly between you and your seat and make use of a personal neck pillow when you want to catch some Zs. It’s more sanitary to use your own anyway.
4. Prep your entertainment: Charge up all your devices and download as many movies and series as possible. Be sure to bring your own quality headphones and forget about getting work done on your laptop. Elbow room is not a thing in on any flight, especially in economy. 
5. Stay sanitary: Airplanes are virus incubators but there’s no need to be a melodramatic germophobe. Wipe down your arm rests and tray table with disinfectant wipes and sanitise often – especially after leaving the toilet. 
6. Try getting some sleep: If you’ve checked all the above mentioned off your list, it’s probably time to snooze. Order a chamomile tea and recline with an eye mask – the delicate skin under your eyes will thank you by not transforming into puffy bags. Here, the debate on window versus aisle seats comes in: you decide on whether leg space or a headrest is more important for successful slumber. Enjoy that in-flight nap!

Once your plane comes to halt in Namibia, all your worries will stay behind in the stratosphere. Now, an adventure of a lifetime awaits you in our beloved homeland. It’s surely worth every kilometre and seat-kicking toddler.

Text  Charene Labuschagne

Visit our PLAN YOUR TRIP – FLY section for more information on airlines in or to Namibia.