We were motoring over the veld to an area where we were to disembark to walk and stalk springbok, when a shout went out, “AAAARDVAAAARK!”

Namibia is a liberating, pristine, rugged, soulful destination. Part of enjoying the best of Namibia while on holiday can mean being smart, alert and aware of road safety.

The Namib Desert has wonders that come in many forms, some of which are small, easily overlooked creatures such as the golden mole.

Travelling with children in Namibia is guaranteed to create memories that last a lifetime. Namibia offers plenty of family activities throughout the year, but many visitors bring their children to the southern hemisphere in December and January during the long summer break, and target the national parks and beaches. Namibia is politically stable and, with its small population, less crowded at this time of year than most other destinations.

A region of mysticism and muti, where traditional ways of doing and deep-rooted culture still enjoy priority over modern influences, Namibia’s deep north is an area that is unexplored in many ways.

Popular wisdom and speculation tell us that the ancient Egyptians domesticated the African wild cat Felix lybica 5 000 years ago into what today are our household pets. If you look at any source, you’ll find references of how the cats were caught and put into granaries to keep mice and rats in check. Why they stayed there is not known and how they became pets of the Egyptians is also not known. But the cat did have a special place in Egypt where they were worshiped as gods, and I’ve seen statues of their likeness at the Temple of Karnak at Luxor.