Namibia

A lovely example of a Quiver tree from our "sundowner" tour in the Kulala Desert of central Namibia. The curlicue clouds were an unexpected but highly appreciated bonus.

An Oryx (Gemsbok Race) the true spirit of the desert embodied in an antelope. The male can weight up to 460 lb and stand four feet high at the shoulder. The horns average 42 inches in length but interestingly, the Oryx rarely uses them to defend itself from predation by lions and spotted hyenas, instead preferring to escape this evening's dinner table by flight. It can survive on as little as 1.4 quarts of water per 100 lb a day and allow its body temperature to rise from 99.5 degrees to 113 degrees if necessary.  (Source: The Safari Companion by Richard Estes).

The Kulala Desert Lodge in central Namibia. Our home for two quiet and peaceful days. After dark, the southern night sky was simply indescribable, to include the Southern Cross and other astronomical delights. What a rare treasure for the soul.

The porch view from our cabin at Kulula Desert Lodge.

This hand painted wonder was rediscovered by one of the guides from our Kulala Desert Lodge a few years ago. The image is sealed onto the rock using the egg whites from the local birds. The meaning of the image to others of long ago was - walk this way towards plentiful food and water. The age of the image is not certain. The cave housing this gift from an ancient time is in the mountains, in the background of the first photograph of the Kulala Desert Lodge above. 

An example of a "Fairy Circle" a round patch of ground within which nothing will grow. Scientists supposedly remain baffled as to why, however the locals believe their ancestors used to dance in these patches and thus they remain sacred ground. 

Sossusvlei Dunes of the Namib Desert. Our guides offered that these trees died in a drought about 900 years ago. As there are no bacteria in the desert, they have not decomposed and look like they did hundreds of years ago.

Charming wind scoured patterns of different colored sand particles. Sossusvlei Dunes of Namibia.

A Pied Crow (corvus albus) hanging about at Sossusvlei but God only knows why.

A Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) chasing our boat for another free fish dinner offering. Walvis Bay, Namibia.

A male Namibian Rock Agama (Agama planiceps) posing nicely for me at Twyfelfontain (an ancient site for rock engravings, containing some of Africa's greatest prehistoric art). Namibia.

Twyfelfontain engravings. Damaraland, Namibia.

Homeowner at the Himba village. Damaraland, Namibia.

Young lady from a traditional Himba (tribe) village in Namibia.The Himba have retained their ethnic individuality and culture in a country becoming more and more western with each passing year. The women cover their skin and even their hair in red ocher (a mineral oxide mixed with clay and sand) and rancid animal butterfat, creating a reddish appearance. Their morning beauty ritual takes several hours, and though they wear little clothing, their jewelry and hairstyle are of great importance to both men and women alike. Himba women do more of the physical labor than their men, building homes and carrying buckets of water. 

Himba mother and child. Namibia.

At the end of our visit, the ladies engaged in a song and dance in our honor and it was a unique experience. Afterwards, a few gathered to chat amongst themselves and I got a chuckle to see one lady in the back of the group trying to discretely use her smart phone. The Himba take what they need from the western world and also continue hang on to what is vital in their own culture. I wish then nothing but the very best in their cautious and measured journey to join "modern" society.

Locals near the Lodge at Palmwag. Price for the photograph was one can of Coke. Fair enough.

Bottle tree ( Pachypodium leafii) on the road near to the Palmwag Lodge, Damaraland, Namibia.

"Tuka" is fishing again however when you are the Lodge Manager's pet,  you can get away with a lot of mischief. Palmwag Lodge, Damaraland, Namibia.

A beautiful Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) throwing us a suspicious glance before heading into the bush. Near to Palmwag Lodge, Damaraland, Namibia.

Mom and the kids near to Palmwag Lodge, Damaraland, Namibia.

Eastern Yellow-Billed Hormbill (Tockus flavirostris) hanging about our camp.  Etosha, Namibia.

Two lionesses out for a stroll in Etosha,  Namibia. Yes it would be nice to say one was indeed growling at the brave and fearless photographer but the truth is she was actually yawning.

She was about 15 feet from the rear bumper of the Land Cruiser.

Our guide drove us to another game viewing spot later this day, where a year earlier a foolhardy Chinese tourist had exited his vehicle to get a "better" shot of a lioness. He was killed in a matter of seconds and dragged off into the bush. Good Luck finding ANY Internet reference to this event as it was of course very bad for business. (Namibia has 50% unemployment but every government Minister and there are quite a few of them -  drives a new Mercedes).

No buts about it - nothing but Zebra butts.

A secretary bird (Sagittarius serpentarius). Named as such as their feathers used to adorn women's hats. An odd looking bird that makes an efficient living killing snakes. Etosha, Namibia.

Sparing Springbok (Anticorcdas marsupialis). Etosha, Namibia.

A curious Black-Backed Jackal (Canis mesemelas) approaches our vehicle early one morning. Etosha, Namibia.

Why does the chameleon cross the road? To get away from a Land Cruiser full of tourist all vying for that special Kodak Moment. Poor creature, it was chased up a tree by the guides in hopes of getting us a better shot. They did this while hanging off of the vehicle as one is not permitted to walk on the ground in Etosha Park and this prohibition is taken quite seriously (see lioness photograph above) by the guides and most living tourists.

Steenbok (Raphicerus campestris). My favorite photograph of the trip - I love the pattern inside the ears and the tiny horns. In the scrub that makes up a lot of Etosha, Namibia.

A pair of Oryx in a strange milky colored pond.

One of the many ship wrecks on Namibia's infamous Skeleton Coast. The graveyard of tens of thousands of sailors over the last four plus centuries.

The Right of Way is entirely negotiable in Etosha Park.

A millipede milling about the dinning area of Anderson's Camp, Etosha, Namibia.