January 30, 2018

The Great Debate: A future of hope for rhino conservation

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Text: Elzanne Erasmus Photographs: Chris Botha [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It was the third year in a row that I found myself driving across the breathtaking Damaraland landscape. The […]
April 23, 2018

Khaudum National Park Boasts the Most Environmentally Friendly Ranger Stations in Namibia

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Text and photographs: Dirk Heinrich [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”50884″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Many challenges had to be overcome during the planning and building of the new ranger station and […]
April 24, 2018

Experience the Wild West at the Kanaan N/a’an ku sê Desert Retreat

Your stay at the Kanaan N/a’an ku sê Desert Retreat is bound to be memorable. The 35 000 hectares of land served as a sheep farm before it was gradually returned to its natural state. The Kanaan N/a’an ku sê Desert Retreat shares 36 km of its border with Namib- Naukluft National Park. Its desert landscape is characterised by the same rust-coloured dunes and dramatic grey clouds when a thunderstorm approaches.
April 25, 2018

How to Travel Green the Namibian Way

Two sites in Windhoek are currently being prepared as the first carbon offsetting nurseries – one at the Dagbreek School for the Intellectually Impaired and the other at Farm Okukuna near Goreangab Dam, which forms part of the City of Windhoek’s Food Security Programme.
July 4, 2018

Namibia’s National Parks: Where Do All the Skeletons Come From?

Namibian journalist Dirk Heinrich explore the infamous and tumultuous desert coastline, its secrets and epic natural phenomena. Explore the hidden wonders of yet another 'park on the fringe', be regaled by epic stories of survival and enthralled by the wildlife and nature that not only survives but thrives in one of the least-explored, most enigmatic and mysterious corners of this majestic land, the Skeleton Coast.
July 4, 2018

A sense of Home and Hope: Landscape-Level Conservation

From towering sand dunes and ragged mountaintops to canyons carved deep into the earth and underground lakes, lush tropical vegetation to searing deserts, dry riverbeds to oases in the truest sense of the word. From the cold Atlantic Ocean to perennial rivers and floodplains, thundering waterfalls to the silence of the savannah grasslands. The landscapes of Namibia have inspired many who have had the privilege to set foot on this land. A source of life and livelihood, it is the land of immense diversity. Where you will find incomparable sunsets and space for the soul to breathe. It is the place we call home.
July 17, 2018

Life Skills From the Camel-Thorn Tree

On a recent trip to Wolwedans I found myself in awe of the thriving desert life. It hasn’t rained here in the last five years, but that doesn’t mean that this part of the world has come to a standstill. Au contraire. We discovered life, and more significantly, growth in the desert. Inspired by the acacia forest we came across I dug up some interesting facts about the hardy camel-thorn tree. My motto for 2018 is “Be as tough as a camel-thorn.” Here is why:
July 17, 2018

Joining Forces and Uniting Conservationists

Conservationists and biologists are usually, through the nature of their work, people who work in isolation – especially those that are field based. Communications between individuals or even organisations may be limited to formal information exchanged via publications, workshops or social media. Events that unite multiple people, structures and organisations in a personal and interactive manner, a sort of one-on-one interaction in the desert, swamp, ocean, savannah or wherever they might be working, are rare. 
July 17, 2018

Neuras – Wine and Wildlife Estate

Bright green vineyards are set against a harsh desert backdrop. Neuras Wine and Wildlife Estate mainly consists of stony desert or savannah grassland but nevertheless, it is an oasis in every sense of the word. Because the estate sits on a geological fault that creates a near-perfect terroir for cultivating grapes. Five springs provide pure water, while the mountains shield the earth from the unforgiving desert wind and the alkaline soil is just right for vines.
September 13, 2018

Fuelled by Passion – The RMB Namibia Ride for Rhinos

What does it take to save the rhino? The list is long - tracking teams, vehicles, food, uniforms, binoculars, support staff and supporters, among many other things. But the most essential element needed to save the rhino is passion.
September 21, 2018

The Greater Fish River Canyon Landscape

Landscape-level conservation is a Travel News Namibia series aimed at raising awareness of this highly effective conservation outlook. The first article, an introduction to all five appointed landscapes in Namibia, was published in the 2018 Winter Edition of Travel News Namibia. As a NAMPLACE project, landscape conservation received government funding from 2011 to 2016. Despite this limited timeframe, the intention was for each landscape to take stock of what has been learned in a 5-year course and use it as building blocks to continue conservation on a big scale. However, certain challenges still remain.
November 27, 2018

Lion Conservation and Sustainable Use

Namibia has a population of about 800 lions, similar to the period 1965 to 1980. Over the past 25 years, a fluctuating population in the Kunene Region in the northwest has increased from 20-30 animals to about 140-160. It is the only really significant lion population outside of protected areas in Namibia. The rest are all contained within national parks, except for small populations in some private wildlife areas.