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“Since that episode in the desert I drink anything – and with gusto.” He jumps up as I carry our drinks to the table, waits until I am seated and pours for us. Dr Klaus Baron von der Ropp is a lawyer by profession and a gentleman of the old school. In October 2012 he came to Namibia to once again meet the people who came to his rescue on 13 December 1975 after a four-day odyssey in the desert. “Even today, after almost 40 years, I am still infinitely glad and grateful that I was found.” 

Namibia´s entire coastline is a protected conservation area. Four National Parks border each other to protect the flora and fauna, as well as the unique desert landscape from the high tide mark on the beach, up to 100 kilometres inland.

On 14 December 2017, Namibia will take centre stage at the world-famous Christies Auction House in London. A painting by Thomas Baines, dating back to 1864 and capturing a turning point in pre-colonial Namibian history, will fall under the auctioneer’s hammer. The painting is expected to be sold for £200 000 to £300 000, equivalent to 3.6 to 5.6 million Namibian dollars.

On 8 and 9 December, the 2017 Nedbank Desert Dash played out from Windhoek to Swakopmund. And for the first time, the Gondwana Collection Namibia had two teams to participate in the action packed event. The Gondwana Dust Devils finished the race in an excellent third place in the 4 men team category. 

Riding through the desert landscape, with nothing but your bicycle and headlamp to guide you through the dry, harsh terrain. Darkness stretches its daunting fingers into every direction, making you wonder what is hiding in the shadows… Intimidating, isn’t it? The Desert Dash, while exhilarating, challenging and absolutely thrilling, is most definitely not for the feint hearted. 

The Gondwana Care Trust’s initiative MealForTwo has made its first official move in support of two charitable organisations at the beginning of December. This has allowed the MEGS Soup Kitchen, Senior Park Old Age Home as well as to start the festive season in the best possible spirit. 

It was a month of mixed fortunes for Namibia’s economy, with improved rankings in two international ratings but a downgrade by Fitch. Parliament approved an additional budget of N$4.1 billion (about 61.5 million Euros). Inflation for October dropped to 5.2 percent compared to 5.6 percent in September. Only a few rainfalls were recorded in November, after good rains a month earlier.