When the lilies appear, so does the red-spotted lily weevil
The black weevil with the 2 mm spots in bright red or orange climbs up the stem of a Sandhof lily (Crinum paludosum) without haste and starts to feed on the pedicel. A few...
The one that digs with its teeth
After rainfall, when the land is wet, they start digging. The soil is loosened with the teeth and pushed backwards with the front legs. The hind legs shovel the damp earth still further to...
Rain makes Etosha come alive and bloom
Like the rest of Namibia, Etosha National Park starts to blossom again when the long-awaited rains finally arrive after several years of drought. Nature is waking up and new life begins. Plants appear in...
Crustose, foliose and fruticose lichens of the Namib Desert
A single head-sized rock is like a colourful miniature garden. Measuring just a few millimetres, the fragile orange-red fingers of the Namib Sun (Caloplaca elegantissima) seem to cling to the stone. The Lüderitz Cobblestone...
The Western Marbled Emperor
After the first good rains from December to February they suddenly appear – in their hundreds. They are seen especially in places where strong sources of light remain switched on all night. For just...
Lions, leopards & other cats
The preparations for a trip to Africa are in full swing – poring over books and watching videos. Evenings are filled with nature documentaries and friends recount exciting safari experiences they had the previous...
Fluffy little balls hovering above fresh green
Less than a metre from the bottom of dried-up Avis Dam on the outskirts of Windhoek, chirping little red and black balls of fluff seem to hover above the fresh greenery. Every so often...
Rhino custodians named Conservationists of the Year
Namibia’s Black Rhino Custodianship programme was launched 25 years ago to increase the number of black rhinos by ensuring better protection against diseases, natural disasters and poachers. Another aim is wider distribution and to...
Fishing in Goanikontes: relaxation with a thrill
Sport fishing has always been a popular pastime in Namibia. Surf fishing on the coast or hooking a tiger fish from one of the rivers in the north makes any angler’s heart beat faster....
Drought affects return of the Blue Cranes
The only green seen in Etosha National Park in northern Namibia is that of the mopane trees at present (end of November 2019). Not a single blade of grass is left, not even a...