Out of death comes life – observations at a waterhole
The first black-backed jackal makes his appearance less than ten minutes after nature conservation officials have pulled a dead giraffe bull from the man-made waterhole. Since this little predator cannot bite through...
The Etosha Pan holds fossils of mammoths, prehistoric antelopes and rhinos
There was a time when
mammoths roamed the area around the Etosha Pan. The South African mammoth (Mammuthus subplanifrons) was more
than 3.5 metres tall and weighed nine tons. Fossils of this species have...
Nature’s caprices – melanism and leucism
Nature has its whims...
It is not uncommon to see a black Gabar Goshawk, but you will rarely spot a white
Red-faced Mousebird. Up to 25 percent of Gabar Goshawks are black – i.e....
Puff adders responsible for most of the serious snakebites in southern Africa
Puff adders responsible for most of the serious
snakebites in southern Africa
Puff adders can be found in most parts of Namibia except for the dunes of the Namib Desert....
Innocent monsters – don’t be afraid of big spiders
Spiders are
disgusting, dangerous, frightening. That is what most people think of them and
therefore countless harmless and useful spiders are killed. With a few
exceptions the many species of spiders which occur in Namibia...
Peter Bridgeford: Conservation pioneer in Namibia
Peter and Marilyn Bridgeford arrived at Okaukuejo in Etosha National Park on 31 May 1976. They were in their mid-thirties and Peter had accepted a position as a tourist official with the...
Wildlife cinema in the oldest desert in the world
Owing to modern technology, live video streaming is now available of wild animals at a waterhole in the middle of the Namib Desert. From 6th of March 2019, anyone can use their...
Small gecko – loud voice
Anyone who has spent an evening in the Namib Desert or in the Kalahari must have heard the loud call of a barking gecko, especially during the summer months. Most visitors think that a...
The loudest insects in the world
The incessant chirping in the blistering midday heat is unbearable and almost painful. And yet the insects that produce the deafening high-pitched notes are rarely spotted. Many people know the sound but have never...
In the great outdoors we are merely nature’s guests – how to behave in...
Animals, big or small, and man have respected one another and lived in harmony for centuries. Inherently, animals are wary of people. If a certain line is crossed, at a distance unknown to us...