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Home to the ancient Namib Desert, Namibia is known for the unusual and the mysterious. Austrian naturalist and botanist, Friedrich Welwitsch was awe-struck when on 3 September 1859 whilst in southern Angola he came across a plant unlike any he had previously seen. So overcome by his find, he is said to have fallen to his knees and stared. He noted: “... I am convinced that I saw the most beautiful and magnificent botanical wonder that tropical southern Africa can present.” 

Gondwana Collection has won the “Namibia Sustainable Development Award 2017” in the category “Best Social Media”. The award acknowledges the lodge group’s efforts to create public awareness of sustainable development via social media. This initiative of the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia, the Sustainable Development Advisory Council and the Hanns Seidel Foundation is a biannual event.

A highlight of a visit to Swakopmund is a guided 4x4 trip into the Namib dunes with someone who is familiar with the ancient desert and its creatures. An area that looks barren to the untrained eye soon becomes home to an array of intriguing creatures. Tommy Collard will also ensure that you have a good laugh along the way.

One of the biggest global companies in the mining sector, Anglo American, celebrates its hundredth anniversary this month. Time to reflect on its founder, Sir Ernest Oppenheimer, who started South Africa’s diamond dynasty. Anglo American’s wealth is inseparably intertwined with Namibia’s diamond sector and Anglo’s subsidiary, De Beers.

In some years thousands of armoured bush crickets are run over on Namibia’s arterial roads at the end of the rainy season, when winter is on its way. The spiky, almost black insects are about three centimetres long and occur only during the summer months. One of their defence mechanisms is to squirt their yellow blood. Many people find them disgusting. Colloquially this cricket is referred to as dickpens (Afrikaans for fat stomach).

You may have noticed signboards indicating the Tropic of Capricorn alongside the road south of Rehoboth and the Kuiseb Pass. Actually, in Namibia the Tropic of Capricorn cuts across the Erongo, Khomas and Omaheke regions! The signs have become more colourful over time as stickers are continually added by travellers who have stopped to acknowledge 23˚ south. But what is 23˚ south?

The new building of the Paukeni Kindergarten close to Hakusembe River Lodge was officially opened on 12 September 2017. Gondwana Collection necessitated the reconstruction of the building through the Hakusembe Community Development Fund. A jungle gym was also constructed for the kids inside the fenced school yard. 

Outjo is often referred to as the gateway to Etosha and it is customary to stop for a bite to eat en route to the national park. A favourite stop is The Farmhouse – for its delicious homemade cakes and pies, laid back atmosphere and outdoor courtyard.

Elemotho, the Namibian singer-songwriter, is a contemporary storyteller, weaving his global understanding into his lyrics, while keeping his heart firmly embedded in African soil. There’s a deep and earthy African element in Elemotho’s songs, stemming from his experiences growing up on a farm under the vast blue skies and in the endless landscapes of the Omaheke. His days were shaped by the stories his grandmother told around the fire, the song and dance of the Batswana, and the tunes from the radio.

Sophia Snyman has in past years unravelled the secrets of indigenous plants like Namibian myrrh, oil from fruit of marula and mopane trees, and Kalahari lemon seed oil. She used them to produce special body care products under the brand Desert Secrets Namibia. Her products are sought after locally, but also in South Africa and Europe.