Ong- what? Ongwediva, a growing town situated north of Namibia is our latest travel destination. I was recently in Ongwediva staying at a charming and affordable hotel called The African State House. The reason for being in Ongwediva was for the grand opening of Bennie’s Entertainment Park. The park is the first ever entertainment park in northern Namibia.

Namibia, which was recently the birthplace of Angelina Jolie’s bundle of joy, is home to a beautiful and unique environment inhabited by a plethora of fascinating wildlife. Inclusive of this environment is the Namib Desert that is poised at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. Northern Namibia is home to the Oshanas, which are perennial water basins and Ongwediva is part of the Oshana region.

Bennie’s Entertainment Park is an African style entertainment park featuring wild animals freely roaming the grounds. Some of these animals include gemsbok, monkeys and peacocks.

During my visit I decided that a peacock feather would be a perfect souvenir because of it’s distinctive colouring and easy carrying potential. The problem with my ideal souvenir was that there were no beautiful feathers lying around invitingly for me to swoop up. It seemed all the feathers were still in use.

Ordinarily I would have accepted the things I could not change and moved on. That day however, I decided to try my luck. I would creep up on an unsuspecting bird and pluck a feather off. My plan was to go unnoticed as I lingered around the peacocks under the guise of a swimmer.

At mid afternoon I set my plan into motion outfitted in a bathing suit and a swimming towel hanging precariously from my waist. I sped down the slippery slide a few times after which I exited the pool and made sure no one was on to me. With my quarry in sight I then crept ever so inconspicuously inching closer until my target was within my grasp.

I silently stretched out my arm trying to pluck out a single feather, when without warning the peacock turned around and began pecking. The first peck caught the bottom of my towel and before I could do anything my towel was yanked right off me. I jumped back, turned on my heel and bolted.

The bird gave chase and I continued to sprint for all I was worth, I looked back and was horrified to see the bird gaining on me with fierce determination. My attempt at discreetness had failed as people everywhere stopped what they were doing to stare at the spectacle but I didn’t care I was more worried about the poultry phantom that might peck me to death. I was approaching the pool and with no other option I prayed that peacocks couldn’t swim and lunged forward in to the cool blue water.

I surfaced unscathed and just in time to hear an announcement on the loudspeaker: “Will the lady in the black and white checked swimsuit please refrain from playing with the animals!” So much for discretion. I did not get my souvenir and I suspected that I would not be getting my towel back either. I decided the peacock could keep the towel as a souvenir of me it was an unflattering colour anyway.