Namibia
July 2013 - 260 kilometers out to Nhoma near the Botswana border on this dirt road
July 2013 - 260 kilometers out to Nhoma near the Botswana border on this dirt road
Home sweet home for 3 nights
Home sweet home for 3 nights
Classic South African made safari tent with en suite bath. Notice our dusty suitcases from the dirt roads
Classic South African made safari tent with en suite bath. Notice our dusty suitcases from the dirt roads
Laurie, Arno, and Kendrick, our San (bushman) guide
Laurie, Arno, and Kendrick, our San (bushman) guide
Found this springbok carcass while driving to our hunting grounds early morning
Found this springbok carcass while driving to our hunting grounds early morning
The blood stains showed where a pack of wild dogs caught the springbok in the night, then dragged it 5 yards where they killed it, then dragged the carcass 10 yards away
The blood stains showed where a pack of wild dogs caught the springbok in the night, then dragged it 5 yards where they killed it, then dragged the carcass 10 yards away
Cutting up the bones for roasting
Cutting up the bones for roasting
Preparing the fire
Preparing the fire
What looks like useless scraps to us is a feast for them, after knocking the dust off of it
What looks like useless scraps to us is a feast for them, after knocking the dust off of it
The roasted head would be taken back to the village to make soup
The roasted head would be taken back to the village to make soup
Crackin' open the bones to eat the protein rich marrow
Crackin' open the bones to eat the protein rich marrow
The little black bird in the tree is attracted to fire. I thought there was no way he could...
The little black bird in the tree is attracted to fire. I thought there was no way he could...
But he smacked him with the stick- he's still alive and flapping his wings
But he smacked him with the stick- he's still alive and flapping his wings
Until he snaps its neck and
Until he snaps its neck and
pops him in the fire. This tiny morsel ended up back at the village with the springbok head
pops him in the fire. This tiny morsel ended up back at the village with the springbok head
After a breakfast of champions we head off to hunt for spring hare
After a breakfast of champions we head off to hunt for spring hare
Futilely sticking really long sticks down their burrows in an attempt to snag one
Futilely sticking really long sticks down their burrows in an attempt to snag one
Their gathering endeavors consisted of snapping off a branch of hard, bitter "berries"
Their gathering endeavors consisted of snapping off a branch of hard, bitter "berries"
Making fire with 2 sticks
Making fire with 2 sticks
After 3 of them took turns spinning the stick rapidly, a burning ember appeared
After 3 of them took turns spinning the stick rapidly, a burning ember appeared
Voila!
Voila!
Is that a coke bottle falling from a plane?
Is that a coke bottle falling from a plane?
And now for our next trick, we'll make a snare to trap anything that happens by.
Here he's separating the fibers from a succulent's leaves
And now for our next trick, we'll make a snare to trap anything that happens by.
Here he's separating the fibers from a succulent's leaves
Then twisting the fibers to make twine
Then twisting the fibers to make twine
Setting the trap by connecting the twine to a tasty nut stuck in the ground
Setting the trap by connecting the twine to a tasty nut stuck in the ground
Now just add some sticks to hold the twine that will snag a leg or snout
Now just add some sticks to hold the twine that will snag a leg or snout
The finished product
The finished product
He really wanted my sunglasses - sorry Pops!
He really wanted my sunglasses - sorry Pops!
I really enjoyed hangin' with these blokes and watching them do their hunter gatherer thing. Laurie was such a trooper and hung tough for her wacky husband!
I really enjoyed hangin' with these blokes and watching them do their hunter gatherer thing. Laurie was such a trooper and hung tough for her wacky husband!
This dude might be illiterate, but his knowledge is vast. The young men in his village are too lazy to learn how to live off of the land, so this way of life is quickly dying out. They don't need to - the gov't gives them plenty of cornmeal for free.
This dude might be illiterate, but his knowledge is vast. The young men in his village are too lazy to learn how to live off of the land, so this way of life is quickly dying out. They don't need to - the gov't gives them plenty of cornmeal for free.
So we're out in the middle of nowhere and this guy starts digging
So we're out in the middle of nowhere and this guy starts digging
And pulls out this honkin' tuber
And pulls out this honkin' tuber
Let the scraping begin
Let the scraping begin
Heaps of moist fleshy muck
Heaps of moist fleshy muck
Now squeeze hard and let the bitter juice run down your thumb and voila -
the world's least refreshing drink
Now squeeze hard and let the bitter juice run down your thumb and voila -
the world's least refreshing drink
I asked him to show us which type of plant it was. He found one nearby and circled it. Such a tiny plant made that!
I asked him to show us which type of plant it was. He found one nearby and circled it. Such a tiny plant made that!
Off we go again
Off we go again
It's hot as hell! I can't believe you made me do this! You owe me! Yes dear - I love you baby!
It's hot as hell! I can't believe you made me do this! You owe me! Yes dear - I love you baby!
Another fruitless attempt at a spring hare
Another fruitless attempt at a spring hare
Our posse (we kept our pants on)
Our posse (we kept our pants on)
I felt like I was in one of those National Geographic specials I saw since I was a kid
I felt like I was in one of those National Geographic specials I saw since I was a kid
Back at the village - chillin' round the fire at dusk (they do a lot of that)
Back at the village - chillin' round the fire at dusk (they do a lot of that)
Life expectancy averages 45-50 years old. She's 49
Life expectancy averages 45-50 years old. She's 49
They start making babies in their early teens and average 5-7 kids each.
50% will die before they reach 15 years old, 20% will die in their first year
They start making babies in their early teens and average 5-7 kids each.
50% will die before they reach 15 years old, 20% will die in their first year
It was cozy having hot water bottles placed under our blankets while at dinner.
It got really cold at night so this was a nice touch
It was cozy having hot water bottles placed under our blankets while at dinner.
It got really cold at night so this was a nice touch
Driving along a sandy road the next morning. Here we were hundreds of kilometers
from the nearest paved road. It really felt like we had gotten away from it all -
indeed we were in the middle of bloody nowhere and loving it!
Driving along a sandy road the next morning. Here we were hundreds of kilometers
from the nearest paved road. It really felt like we had gotten away from it all -
indeed we were in the middle of bloody nowhere and loving it!
And then Arno stops the car and we start walking from the middle of nowhere and just head out into the bush. This time we're going porcupine hunting.
And then Arno stops the car and we start walking from the middle of nowhere and just head out into the bush. This time we're going porcupine hunting.
Burnt quills from a past hunt (they roast the porcupine to get the quills off before transporting back to the village
Burnt quills from a past hunt (they roast the porcupine to get the
quills off before transporting back to the village
They dug this hole with their hands and axes in order to stab the porcupine in the head. It takes 2 - 3 hours to dig a hole like this. Same technology for eons
They dug this hole with their hands and axes in order to stab the porcupine in the head. It takes 2 - 3 hours to dig a hole like this. Same technology for eons
Laurie in front of a Magetti nut tree
Laurie in front of a Magetti nut tree
Laurie with Arno's wife Estelle at their private waterhole that attracts elephants nightly
Laurie with Arno's wife Estelle at their private waterhole that attracts elephants nightly
July 2013 - The ubiquitous Springbok in Etosha National Park
July 2013 - The ubiquitous Springbok in Etosha National Park.
Gemsbok or Oryx. Their horns grow up to 3 feet long
Gemsbok or Oryx. Their horns grow up to 3 feet long
Waterhole out by the Etosha Pan (salt flat)
Waterhole out by the Etosha Pan (salt flat)
Waterhole right next to our lodge in the park - the scene was constantly
changing with different animals coming and going every few minutes
Waterhole right next to our lodge in the park - the scene was constantly
changing with different animals coming and going every few minutes
African Goshawks eat other birds, small mammals, and lizards
African Goshawks eat other birds, small mammals, and lizards
Although they may appear to be badly camouflaged, when in a herd, the zebra’s stripes merge into a big mass and make it hard for predators to single out individual animals
Although they may appear to be badly camouflaged, when in a herd, the zebra’s stripes merge into a big mass and make it hard for predators to single out individual animals
Black rhino - Black rhinos have pointed lips while white rhinos have square shaped lips. White can weigh up to 3 tons while black top out at just over 2 tons
Black rhino - Black rhinos have pointed lips while white rhinos have square shaped lips. White can weigh up to 3 tons while black top out at just over 2 tons
Honey Badger don't give a ... watch Youtube hit here (language warning)
The elephants in Etosha can drink up to 50 gallons of water a day!
The elephants in Etosha can drink up to 50 gallons of water a day!
Early morning scene at a waterhole. We were there during the dry season, so all the animals have to go to one to get a drink - the lazy man's safari!
Early morning scene at a waterhole. We were there during the dry season, so all the animals have to go to one to get a drink - the lazy man's safari!
Impala buck - enough reflections for ya?
Impala buck - enough reflections for ya?
We drove out onto the Etosha pan
We drove out onto the Etosha pan
Laurie watching imaginary wildlife next to our Daihatsu 4X4
Laurie watching imaginary wildlife next to our Daihatsu 4X4
Impalas can run at 50 miles an hour, about 10 miles an hour less than a cheetah
Impalas can run at 50 miles an hour, about 10 miles an hour less than a cheetah
Kudu bull
Kudu bull
They can weigh up to 800 lbs. and have horns as long as 72 inches
They can weigh up to 800 lbs. and have horns as long as 72 inches
Yellow Hornbills feed mainly on the ground, where they
forage for seeds, small insects, spiders and scorpions
Yellow Hornbills feed mainly on the ground, where they
forage for seeds, small insects, spiders and scorpions
Traffic jam Etosha style
Traffic jam Etosha style
Some are bloody huge - males get up to 10 feet tall and 16,000 lbs.
Some are bloody huge - males get up to 10 feet tall and 16,000 lbs.
Notice anything odd about the giraffe on the right?
Notice anything odd about the giraffe on the right?
His jaw was ripped open by a predator and he was ostracized by the others.
Since he couldn't eat or drink, his days were numbered
His jaw was ripped open by a predator and he was ostracized by the others.
Since he couldn't eat or drink, his days were numbered
The fort at Halali, Etosha
The fort at Halali, Etosha
Dik diks get their name from the sound they make when alerting others to danger
Dik diks get their name from the sound they make when alerting others to danger
July 2013 - We then drove back to the main road and then north to the Caprivi Strip.
This is Hakusembe River Lodge
July 2013 - We then drove back to the main road and then north to the Caprivi Strip.
This is Hakusembe River Lodge
On the banks of the Okavango River. The opposite bank is Angola
On the banks of the Okavango River. The opposite bank is Angola
Hundreds of kilometers of driving on tar roads through game
reserves in the Caprivi with lots of "Elephant Crossing" signs
Hundreds of kilometers of driving on tar roads through game
reserves in the Caprivi with lots of "Elephant Crossing" signs
A boat took us to Mazambala Island Lodge
A boat took us to Mazambala Island Lodge
For our last night in Namibia
For our last night in Namibia
Great food and a nice place to chill
Great food and a nice place to chill
Observation deck at Mazambala
Observation deck at Mazambala
View from the top
View from the top
Our last waterhole viewing in Namibia
Our last waterhole viewing in Namibia
Village in Caprivi on the road to Botswana
Village in Caprivi on the road to Botswana