March 4, 2014

Etosha – The place of White Open Spaces

Main photograph: Yellow billed hornbill and full moon at Halali. Photo ©Annabelle Venter Etosha National Park covers an area of approximately 22 270 square kilometres and […]
March 31, 2014

Etosha Magic – Green, Wet and Amazing

Photographer, writer and general creative wonder Annabelle Venter recently embarked on a weekend tour of one of her favourite spots in Namibia (if not the world). […]
July 13, 2018

Ovambo – Life in the Slow Lane

April is a reflection. A reflection of a good rainy season. A reflection of tall, slender makalani palm trees in the crystal-clear surfaces of oshanas (meaning pans in Oshiwambo) brimming with fresh rainwater and lined with lilies. This year is no exception. And the Owambo Region in the north becomes one of the most scenic and inviting parts of the country. It beckons you to delve into its colours, flavours and vibrant liveliness. Immerse yourself in a heart-warming culture with which about half of Namibia’s population identifies. Linger off the beaten track by linking your Etosha trip with Owambo and make the most of the last days of summer.
July 17, 2018

Mika Shapwanale and the Strength of the Human Spirit

I had the good fortune to meet one such person. Mika Shapwanale, manager of the Mushara Collection east of Etosha.  On a recent visit to Mushara, Mika and I sat down in the shade of the trees and chatted about his journey in tourism. But it wasn't merely an exchange of the usual what do you do's. Mika is an exceptional person.
November 4, 2019

Wild things to see in Namibia

One often comes across the concept of Namibia being the ‘last frontier’ or ‘last true wilderness’. It piques the interest, does it not? And in so many respects these phrases are true. Namibia really is home to some of the last truly wild corners of Africa. Special places where man’s destructive and encroaching reach has not yet penetrated. Wild places for wild things to thrive. And even beyond these strongholds there exist sanctuaries and reserves for wildlife to roam, protected from “civilisation” and its consequences. Namibia is a wild place, and a wildlife lover's utopia.
December 11, 2019

Explore Kaokoland and the wild northwest

Kaokoland lures lovers of remote and wild places. Extending south from the Kunene River across a sparsely populated and harsh environment down to the Hoanib River, the area is home to the semi-nomadic Himba people. The rugged terrain tempts drivers who come to put their four-wheel-drive vehicles to the test as they negotiate challenging routes such as Van Zyl's pass. Other travellers hope to see the desert-adapted elephants, visit the impressive Epupa Falls, go to off-the-beaten-track destinations such as the expansive Marienfluss and Hartmann valleys, experience the wild and beautiful Khowarib Schlucht, and visit historic Witbooisdrift, site of a Dorslandtrekker monument.
December 11, 2019

Explore the coast

A strip of desert sand that stretches from the Kunene to the Orange rivers, hugging Namibia’s coastline north to south. The Namib Sand Sea, a UNESCO World Heritage Site stretching between the Kuiseb River and Tsau //Khaeb National Park, is a mass of rolling dunes in shades of gold, ochre, and honey, that tumble into the cobalt-blue water.