At the end of the year we went on an eye-opening trip to Namibia, on the southwest coast of Africa. We stayed in gorgeous desert resorts, saw majestic wildlife, explored the sand dunes, and ate local cuisine. All the while, we couldn’t help but marvel at the lack of safety precautions (an occupational hazard of ours!) There are many countries where there are no safety mechanisms in place, and no responsibility for establishments to keep their facilities safe. Although it was a once-in-a-lifetime trip and we enjoyed it immensely, we’re also happy to be back, surrounded by public safety measures. We’d like to share some of our photos and experiences!

Unlike in the U.S. where victims of negligence can be compensated and wrongdoers held accountable, countries without the checks and balances of personal injury law can be very dangerous places. After long days of exploring, it was a real treat to retire to our desert resort and relax while overlooking the vast Namib Desert and savanna. It is a beautiful, scenic country, but not very safe–not just because of wild animals of all shapes and sizes, but because of the accommodations. Floors were prone to be slippery and basic safety measures that we have come to expect in the United States are missing. In one of our resorts we had our own private pool–which we nicknamed the “plunge to your death pool.” Perched on the edge of a rocky cliff, there was no railing, no fencing, and the steps to lower yourself into and out of the pool were slippery. One misstep and we would have be sent plummeting down into the abyss!

Probably the most unforgettable part of our journey was the days we spent on safari. We were lucky enough to see three of the “Big Five” – lions, elephants,  and rhinoceros – as well as zebras, giraffes, antelope, and kudu.