Raphael Kessler

Namibia is one of Africa's youngest countries, only gaining its independence in 1990. Formerly know as South West Africa and a part of South Africa it is one of the world's largest diamond producers. Although it is quite a large country, it has a very small population, only 1,750,000. 

I crossed from South Africa into Namibia at the Orange River, just along from Fish River Canyon, the world's second largest canyon, after The Grand Canyon.

The Namib desert is one of the nicest I have seen, as it often has a an orange or red hue to its sand. As we were heading along a road through the desert there was a great view of the orange desert with yellow flowers at the side of the road, under the unmistakable African sky (photo 1). The dunes around Soussesvlei (photos 3 - 5) are some of the worlds largest.

At Cape Cross Seal colony there were several hundred thousand seals along the shoreline (photo 1). As it was during pupping season there was a horrendous stench of rotting placentas as well as crushed newborn pups. The pups that were waddling about (photo 2) were really cute, with jet black fur and big black eyes. As many of the seals barked and grunted, some appeared to be kissing (photo 3).

In Etosha National Park I was fortunate enough to see two Cheetahs (photo 1 & 2), judging by their behaviour as they were being harassed by a black backed jackal we surmised they were probably with young cubs. I also saw white rhino, red hartebeest (photo 3), elephants (photo 4), wildebeest / gnu (photo 5), giraffes (photo 6), zebras (photos 7 & 8), as well as seeing nature in the raw when black backed jackals tore apart a zebra (photo 8) and hyenas and vultures devouring a wildebeest (photo 9).