News

You are only successful if you make others successful. This is the motto amongst the leadership of the Gondwana Collection Namibia. With this in mind, courses have been presented since January of this year at the Gondwana Training Academy at the Kalahari Farmhouse in Stampriet. 

White stripes on a black background or black stripes on white? Although our perceptions may differ, we can all agree that the zebra has one of the most striking coats seen in the animal kingdom. Two species of zebra occur in southern Africa: Burchell's (or plains) zebra Equus burchellii and mountain zebra Equus zebra. Both Burchell's or plains zebra and the mountain zebra subspecies, Hartmann's mountain zebra Equus zebra hartmannae, which is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) Red List of Threatened Species, are found in Namibia.

We had barely taken over Camp Chobe in March, when the heavy rain and masses of water arrived. But with rain, come blessings. Our new lodge in the Zambezi Region has been renamed Chobe River Camp, and we now know what awaits us in the rainy season. Our lodge team on site has received support and reinforcements. 

Over the years, the Canyon Roadhouse has become a ‘must-do’ stop in southern Namibia. It has just had a facelift, its Roadhouse red being exchanged for sky blue and sunshine yellow, and its rooms gaining fresh paint and a total refurbishment. 

Charge, fire, charge, fire, charge, fire. Armed Basters put up fierce resistance against the attacking German soldiers. The battle started before sunrise and has been raging the whole day, now the sun is already low on the horizon. It is just as well, because the Basters have reached the end of their tether, they are running out of ammunition. With certain death staring them in the eye, they turn to God and ask for help. And a miracle happens: the Germans start retreating. – Every year on 8 May the Rehoboth Basters commemorate this historic event at the battlefield of 1915. 

2017 has brought good rainfalls to large parts of Namibia. In places the rain was even above average and the gift from above was a great relief for the whole country. For some, however, it had disastrous consequences – especially in areas where the landscape hadn’t seen a drop of rain yet and was still suffering from the drought. A young couple from Austria, on their first visit to Namibia, had to sit tight in a spiky Ana tree amidst the whirling muddy floods of the Omaruru River for six hours until a police helicopter came to the rescue. 

Over the last weekend in April, over 78 ambitious mountain bikers met for the 7th annual Klein-Aus Vista Mountain Bike Challenge. The various stages were marked by difficult terrain, steep climbs and a few head-to-head races. More than half the competitors participated in the marathon and took on the full 60km challenge, while the rest of the group rode in the half-marathon of 33km. 

Namibia’s rainy season continued to the end of April improving water levels of major dams though some areas northwest of Omaruru received little rainfall. The mining sector featured prominently during the annual mining conference and expo. Government announced that an updated version of the economic empowerment draft law – NEEEF – is in preparation.

Rivalling the legendary braai (barbeque) as the most popular outdoor southern African cooking tradition, the “potjie” like the braai, provides an opportunity for an enjoyable social and culinary event as families and friends gather around the fire. The potjie has an interesting history going back to the first Dutch settlers and has over the centuries become an integral part of southern African culture.