North of Mariental, this dot on the map seems little more than a large farm. It marks a petrol station and a general farm store, even if the latter has the farm's own workers in mind, rather than the odd lost tourist. However, you might be surprised to learn that in the 1930s and '40s there were two hotels, several shops, a post office and a bank here.

Uhlenhorst is typical of many small Namibian towns that were once important, but faded with the advent of communications and good roads into mere shadows of themselves. If you come this way, then stop at the store for excellent homemade biltong – and perhaps to see the owners' large collection of pet ducks and even a few swans. Not the obvious pets in the Kalahari.

With more time to spare, seek out the nearby farm, Jena, which is on the west side of the C15 or MR33 between Uhlenhorst and Hoachanas. From here Heidi von Hase runs a cottage embroidery industry, the Anin project (anin means 'birds' in the local Nama language), employing about 300 women of the 'Red Nation' Nama people. They handmake a wide and intricate range of embroidery and linen, including bedlinen and tableware. All work from home and come from in and around the tiny village of Hoachanas – nearby at the junction of the C21 and C15 (MR33).

Crafts like these are increasingly benefiting the economies of some of Namibia's poorer areas – so go on, buy something whilst you're here! For details, or to make an appointment to visit the farm shop, contact Anin Namibia, P Bag 13094, Windhoek; tel: 063 265331; fax: 063 265332; email: anin@mweb.com.na; web: www.anin.com.na. If you're not passing through, seek out their stall at the craft centre in Windhoek, or you can find their products both at Anib Lodge and at Haus Sandrose in Luderitz.