The guide Craig and group (all with wide-brimmed hats) on the walk to "Doodvlei" or dead pan, stopping to talk about the fauna and flora. This pan, over 10 000 years old, is full of life in the form of insects, reptiles, mammals and a variety of endemic plants found here and no-where else. The dunes in this part of the Namib are unshifting due to the prevailing winds blowing 50% form the east and 50% from the west, as well as the stabilising effect of the !Nara melon which is an important source of water and nutrients for the mice and Oryx antelope of the area as well a being an effective medicinal plant for the local Bushmen.
Breathtaking views from atop Dune 45...worth the walk!
The landscape around the Kuiseb Canyon truly lives up to its name of "The land God made in anger" the result of what is though to have been the Americas "crashing into" Africa
The Spitzkoppe, Namibias "Materhorn" is a place of indescribable beauty, revered by locals as a spritual place. The photographic opportunities and small bushmens paradise make this an essential stop on any trip to the south-west corner of Africa.
Twyfelfontein (doubtful fountain) is Namibias first World Heritage site proclaimed in June 2008 to protect over 2000 rock etchings made by the San peoples alomost 5000 years ago.Local Damara guides take us on the "Lion Man" walk setting the scene and building a picture of this place as it was. The shamanistic etchings made by tapping quartz on the sandstone conglomerate are wondrfully preserved as seen below.
The Cheetah sanctuary at Otjitatongwe below provides an opportunity to view and photograph these magnificent and elusive cats. Namibia has the highest concentration of these animals in the wild - 2000 and the lowest concentration of people - just 2,1 per square kilometre.
For many the highlight of the tour was the time spent in Etosha National Park. Here Tubby photographed this magnificent Kudu batchelor herd "down at their local" with a large bull Elephant at Halali Camp waterhole. The camp was named after the trumpet call to end the hunt during the days when big-game hunters came to this area in search of trophies. Today the name stands as a testimony to Namibias efforts to protect its wildlife heritage.
Namibias national animal the Gemsbok or Oryx seen here at Okaukuejo Camp waterhole with a group of Blue Wildebeast or Gnu. This camp allows for visitors to sit at night and observe animals like Black Rhino, Hyena, Lion, Giraffe and many many Elephant coming down to drink at night. Watching these species interracting with each other is an awesome experience.
Namibias national animal the Gemsbok or Oryx seen here at Okaukuejo Camp waterhole with a group of Blue Wildebeast or Gnu. This camp allows for visitors to sit at night and observe animals like Black Rhino, Hyena, Lion, Giraffe and many many Elephant coming down to drink at night. Watching these species interracting with each other is an awesome experience.
Dune 40 Sesriem -The red colour comes from the red sands that get blown in from the Kalahari.
