This is a unique biome in Africa, one where desert meets bushveld. The overarching feeling in Namibia is adaptation. The more you learn about the desert, mountains and pans the more respect you have for the animals that inhabit them. Thousands of elephants, predators, rhinos roam freely but look closer and you start to see behaviour unlike anywhere in Africa. I worked with 2 friends who have spent over a decade filming and observing the desert lions – it is remarkable how they have adapted to survive. Where else in Africa will you find brown hyena and lions hunting amongst seal colonies on the coast? It is fascinating to learn about desert adapted animals and plants. How do sandgrouse and Damara terns survive, how do desert elephants teach the next generation about finding water and how has Welwitschia evolved in this arid region? I also have a deep respect for the community empowerment initiatives that drive conservation efforts in Namibia. A unique privilege in Namibia is meeting and learning from KhoeKhoe and San tribes who have a ‘PhD’ in desert biomes including survival, medicinal plants and animal behaviour. This region is a hidden gem!
