"Small town Namibia at its best" Karibib by CatherineReichardt

I like Karibib.

I used to visit Karibib several times a year on business, and compared to the other places in West and East Africa that I used to have to travel to in the course of my work, it was a veritable paradise!

Karibib is about midway between Windhoek (most tourists' point of entry to Namibia) and Swakopmund: small by international standards, but a large dot on the map of Namibia. It is the regional centre for the largely agricultural Erongo district, and is also sustained by a small gold mine and several highly visible white marble quarries that produce monument stone.

Even as a fan, I concede that there's nothing particularly remarkable or 'must see' about Karibib. It is however, a pleasant stop on the major (for Namibia) tourist route between Windhoek and Swakopmund - I strongly suggest driving rather than flying between these two centres to get a real sense of the country. It is also the gateway to the beautiful Erongo region and stunning Spitzkoppe (see my travel tip) and wonderfully obscure but historic Otjimbingwe (again, see my travel tip).

I would recommend it at least as a stop to catch your breath, grab a bite to eat, visit the excellent Henckert Tourist Centre (which does particularly good jewellery using Namibian semi-precious stones) and stretch your legs as you rediscover what small town life is all about.

• Pros:Easily accessible, friendly and the ideal pit stop en route for Swakop
• Cons:No major tourist attractions - but that's part of the charm!
• In a nutshell:The longer you spend here, the more I suspect you'll like it!