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It is the year 1907. Settler families in German South West Africa live on remote farms and in small villages far apart from one another. Serious illness becomes life-threatening in many cases because medical assistance often comes too late. Many expectant mothers find themselves in the same predicament. Childbed fever is rife and infant mortality is high. It was against this background that a maternity home was established in Windhoek, the Elisabeth House.

Foot patrols are scouring the dry bush of Etosha National Park day after day. The patrols are looking for poachers. Rhinos, though threatened with extinction, are the main target of poachers who operate in the world-famous park. Now the members of the patrols have a place right there in the bush where they can rest for a few days, take a shower and replenish their provisions. 

Pillars of smoke rise from the bush, but the farmer remains surprisingly calm. Namibia’s farmers used to react with immediate alarm when they detected a whiff of smoke somewhere on their land. These days the almost sole cause of smoke is charcoal production. Strict regulations are in place to prevent grass fires, which can also be devastating for neighbouring farmers. Charcoal production is still a rather young industry in Namibia, but it is already internationally recognised and also well regulated and organised. 

Take a few strips of high quality raw meat, coat it with vinegar, salt, coriander, black pepper and sugar and hang it in an airy dry space protected from flies. About two weeks later your biltong is ready. The mouths of most Namibians and South Africans water at the mere thought of well-seasoned dried meat. It’s hardly surprising that Windhoek’s annual Biltong Festival held in July attracts thousands of visitors each year. 

When one sees the local Rundu inhabitants wading through the Okavango on foot, it is clear: Unfortunately, boat trips for guests at Hakusembe River Lodge have been stopped temporarily. This is due to the low water levels in the river. The Chobe River might also be affected and with it the activities at the Chobe River Camp.

Did you know that Namibia has the largest known intact meteorite in the world! The Hoba Meteorite was declared a national monument in 1955. Today, it can be visited on the Hoba West farm between Tsumeb and Grootfontein in the Otjozondjupa Region; a rare opportunity to touch a shooting star.

The first of November marks a new beginning for the Gondwana Collection, when all of its 821 employees become shareholders. This milestone in the history of the company is part of the recent restructuring of the Gondwana Group with Gondwana Holding Limited now acting as the group’s holding company.