219 results found for: paul van schalkwyk

A short word about tall giraffes…

Resplendent in a reticulated patchwork of sepia, amber and beige, these sinuous goliaths weighing in at as much as 1 360 kilograms (3 000 pounds), tower above Etosha’s thorny acacias, brandishing their super-long willowy necks, staring at you curiously through their gleaming drop-dead-gorgeous eyelashes

Waterhole pecking order

The best plan of action when visiting the Etosha National Park, rather than rushing around in search of lions, is to spend time at each waterhole watching the different animals come to drink

Mysterious Namibia

As I walk among the burnt sienna rock slabs at Twyfelfontein, contemplating the meaning of the hunter-gatherer engravings etched so many thousands of years ago, my guide answers my roving thoughts with a philosophical “Only our ancestors know.”

The status of Namibia’s Hartmann’s zebra

Historically, Hartmann’s zebra had a continuous distribution range extending from Mossamedes in Angola to just south of the Orange River in South Africa. In Angola, Hartmann’s zebra occurred in the Iona National Park immediately to the north of the Kunene River. In earlier times this sub-species also occurred in the Cape Province of South Africa.

Discover Kaokoland

Your voyage of discovery through Namibia will literally take your breath away, as the country has it all – from dramatic landscapes, abundant wildlife and a population that is friendly, culturally diverse and photogenic – to an excellent road and tourist infrastructure and oodles of elbow room.

Forging a model for ecotourism – Sperrgebiet National Park

A little over a decade ago only a handful of conservationists and diamond prospectors were familiar with the unique beauty of the 26 000-square-kilometre Sperrgebiet. When the area was proclaimed a national park in 2008, it was a dream come true, giving conservationists the opportunity to showcase one of the last true wilderness areas in the world, while at the same time protecting it from a flood of tourists and their inevitable footprint.

Winter weather – The yellow season sets in

Welcome to the cool, dry season! It takes just about six weeks after the final rains in April for the grass in the veld to fade through grey to yellow, creating great waving swathes of golden meadows stretching as far as the eye can see – stark, beautiful and matched with clear, brilliant-blue skies overhead.

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.

Are Namibian Fairy Circles Euphorbia Tombstones?

Fairy circles in the Namib Desert have fascinated people for centuries – from Himba traditions to more recent scientific theories, we have formed numerous different explanations for how these enigmatic circles of sand came into being. Several recent theories revolve around competition among plants or termites, or both. A scientific study this year went back to one of the original theories for fairy circle formation, and found some compelling evidence to support it.

Namibia with wings

From stark desertscapes to lush woodlands. Rugged mountainous terrains to smooth, uninterrupted coastline. Namibia is as geographically and topographically diverse as it is culturally. The land of endless horizons. That is how we have known, and marketed, Namibia since our young country’s birth. Our great expanse of sights and delights is unsurpassed.