March 28, 2024

Giving Plastic Pollution a Cute Face

Seals are popularly known as the dogs of the sea. This is because seals and dogs are physically similar and therefore classed in the same carnivore sub-order called Caniformes (meaning dog-like). Even their behaviour is similar, as seals are known to be playful and intelligent. Not surprisingly, humans can easily relate to seals as the marine version of man’s best friend.
March 29, 2024

Dwarf Lions of the Desert

The ancient Greeks referred to the chameleon (chamai leon) as dwarf or earth lion because of the fighting spirit the small creature revealed when attacked. Given the fact that the embryo develops underground – the female digs a hole for the eggs and the young have to literally dig their way out – these tiny creatures fight for their survival from the word go.
June 1, 2024

A Photo Essay of Etosha From East to West

It’s difficult to describe Etosha National Park to someone who has never been there before. Of course, you can tell them what types of animals they might see, the kind of vegetation, or even try to explain the sheer vastness of the pan. Yet, it is impossible to convey the feeling you get when you are here — the excitement of watching a large male lion cross the road in the first rays of the morning sun, the sense of sheer desolation while observing a lone gemsbok walk across the dusty pan, or the peacefulness of watching giraffes in a field of purple-flowered wild sesame, pulling the plants, roots and all, from the ground and devouring them mid-air.
June 2, 2024

Need-to-Knows before your safari in Etosha

Plan your dream safari with essential tips and advice for exploring Namibia’s stunning Etosha National Park. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know before your trip, from navigating rugged roads to observing wildlife etiquette and finding amenities at Etosha Trading Post. Discover must-follow safety guidelines to ensure both your protection and the animals' well-being, plus recommended detours like Otjikoto Lake for an unforgettable adventure.
June 3, 2024

Whispered luxuries and wild encounters at Onguma Game Reserve

As the sun set on the final evening of our visit, our hearts were as warm as the play of colour on the horizon. Under the sprawling canvas of a fading African sky, where hues of crimson and lavender melt into twilight, makalani palms sway to a gentle breeze, accompanied by the silhouettes of a tower of giraffes as they slowly amble along – a puppet show of shadows against the evening glow.
June 4, 2024

Exploring Animal Movements: Unravelling the Rhythms of the Wild

Can a landscape exhale and inhale with the ebb and flow of life? Do animals adjust their movement patterns in response to shifts in resource availability? These fundamental questions regarding the characteristics of wilderness also extend to fenced areas and national parks. The evidence unequivocally confirms that animals pay little heed to man- made borders, whether they be physical fences or legally designated boundaries.
June 5, 2024

Rocking Damaraland: A Journey through Namibia’s Geological Wonders

I love rock formations. Perhaps inherited from or spurred on by my mother, who would pick up pebbles and stones wherever we went on family trips through Namibia. From an early age, I was encouraged to peer tentatively at the ground or marvel at mountains. High school geography wasn't all it cracked up to be, I didn’t become a geologist. Every road would have led me to this eventuality, writing a love letter to Damaraland and her rocks.
June 6, 2024

Suricates: nature’s highly social little guards that are too cute for their own good

Standing on its hind legs, keeping balance with the help of its tail, and holding its front legs together against its chest and stomach, the little mammal scans the open grassland and the blue sky. Suddenly its eyes are fixed on something high above. It takes me some time to spot the small black silhouette high up in the sky, which turns out to be a vulture gliding across the firmament. Yet no alarm call sends the other members of the group scrambling for safety. The little guard seems to know that this silhouette does not mean danger.
June 7, 2024

Rhino Guardianship Certificates: The future of sustainable conservation financing

In a pioneering move for conservation and sustainable finance, Namibia has introduced its first Nature Positive certificate through a collaborative effort between Save the Rhino Trust Namibia (SRT) and the innovative technology firm Wadappt. This groundbreaking initiative utilises blockchain technology to verify conservation efforts, marking a significant advancement in the fight against wildlife crime and habitat destruction.
June 8, 2024

Things to do when travelling across Damaraland

Explore the best things to do in Damaraland with our travel guide, featuring must-see attractions like Twyfelfontein, the Organ Pipes, and the Petrified Forest. Learn about the unique craft shops run by local artisans, where you can find authentic souvenirs and support rural communities. Enjoy a stop at the charming Petrified Forest Coffee Shop and stock up on essentials in Khorixas. This article provides practical tips for travelers and insights into Damaraland's local culture, highlighting unforgettable experiences and the region’s hospitality.
June 9, 2024

Tracking Namibia’s Endangered Black Rhinos: A Rugged Journey into Damaraland’s Wilderness

It’s a cloudy and crisp morning, still dark. The proverbial rooster has yet to crow. On an open game viewer we go slow and steady down Grootberg mountain. Just as the first light of dawn appears, a soft rain breaks. That is not ideal for rhino tracking but we remain optimistic, and soon enough the rising sun dries up the fine droplets, marking the start of a rugged journey into the habitat of Namibia’s endangered black rhino.
June 10, 2024

Honeymoon Camping at Epupa Falls

I always had a stereotypical notion of the perfect honeymoon: sandy beaches, scuba diving adventures, perhaps jetting off to somewhere exotic like Zanzibar. It never occurred to me that travelling locally, that camping or even gravel trails could make for a dream honeymoon. For my husband, the latter defined perfection, and so that was what we did. Providently.
June 11, 2024

From Swakopmund’s sands to Amsterdam’s canals: A Tern’s 8,429-kilometer Odyssey

Follow the remarkable journey of a Common Tern from the salt flats of Swakopmund, Namibia, to the coasts of Amsterdam, Netherlands. This in-depth exploration details the impressive 8,429-km migration and the terns’ annual 20,000-km flights between hemispheres. Through field notes and rare sightings, learn about the challenges, habitats, and conservation needs of these migratory seabirds. Discover the efforts of dedicated bird ringers and the global network tracking the lives of these avian travelers.
June 12, 2024

What were you thinking?

Like being on the ocean, there are huge, ever-changing big-sky vistas to get your head around. Your ears take on a new sensitivity in the beckoning silence, though even in the desert the birdlife is astonishing. The body adapts to the Namib massage – local shorthand for the unending corrugated road surfaces which shake both vehicles and people to pieces. And then there is that most elusive of Namib sensations: the “singing” dunes, vibrating with soo-oop-wa. “The sand shrieks beneath your feet”, wrote John Marsh who first described the Skeleton Coast in his 1944 book.
June 13, 2024

Capturing Damaraland’s Essence with Ultimate Safaris

Damaraland is a place of contrasts - the harshness of the Namib Desert softened by the resilience of life. Desert-adapted elephants roam the dry riverbeds, their wrinkled hides reflecting the sun’s intensity. Gemsbok and springbok move gracefully, their survival strategies honed by generations and seemingly unaffected by the desert climate.
November 6, 2024

Why Ruacana Waterfall

Ruacana Waterfall is not a destination that tops the “why you should visit Namibia” click-bait lists. In fact, it rarely even makes the list, if I think about it. Why is this natural wonder, situated on the stretch of the Kunene River downstream toward Swartbooisdrift, so often left off itineraries proposed by travel agents? Le Roux van Schalkwyk explores...
November 6, 2024

Pofadder Cave

If tourists contemplate a visit to Pofadder Cave close to Grootfontein, they should be warned in advance: anyone who is afraid of the dark or has an crippling fear of confined spaces should think twice before they venture into the second largest cave in Namibia. Some prior experience of abseiling is also recommended. Luckily, although it is a very shallow cave, I realised from the outset that it would be wise to film the cave with the guidance of experts: entomologist and spelaeologist John Irish and geologist Nico Scholtz were great choices both in terms of expertise and guidance.
November 7, 2024

The land before time: Desert Rhino Camp

Explore the vast, rugged beauty of Damaraland at Desert Rhino Camp, where ancient landscapes meet conservation efforts to protect the last free-roaming desert-adapted black rhinos. Experience the camp's meticulous design and comfort, guided by expert trackers through an untouched wilderness. Journey into a timeless land where rare wildlife and local communities converge, celebrating a deep connection with nature that resonates across generations.
November 7, 2024

The Spirit of the Dragon and this thing called life: Dragon’s Breath

While Namibia is best known for its wide-open spaces, the country is also a paradise for cavers who explore its darkest depths, especially the ones that some adventurers find irresistible. Even the well- known Otjikoto Lake near Tsumeb is nothing but a large cave with a missing roof.