Video of vintage car wrecks outdoor display in Solitaire, Namibia

Video of vintage car wrecks outdoor display in Solitaire, Namibia

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Travellers are often delighted to find the village of Solitaire in the area that borders the Namib Naukluft Park, in the midst of the gravel plains of the Namib. Solitaire exudes a sense of warmth, and it is comforting for travellers to see other people, even if they are strangers, in the Namib.

Name

"Solitaire" is the name of the group of card games for one player only. It also refers to the solitude of the area and the town in the middle of the vast Namib Desert. We can only speculate that the name refers to the only means of entertainment for settlers in this lonely village.

History

Until 1848 the area that surrounds what is now Solitaire was called Areb, and was unused. In 1848 Willem Christoff van Coller bought 30,000 ha from the South West Administration to farm Karakul sheep. Mr. van Coller first built a small 2 room cottage and later added the main farm house, a stone kraal adjacent to the farm house and constructed a dam across the Tsondab river.

Sometime in the late 1840's Van Coller built the shop, which is still in use today. The shop also acted as the regional post office. In 1851 a church was added, making it one of the older churches in Namibia. An organ was put in the church in 1879.

When motorised transport replaced ox wagons, a hand-operated petrol pump was installed in front of the shop. In 1968 the farm 'Solitaire' was sold to Mr. Maritz. Today Solitaire is well-known for one individual: Moose, the informal 'Mayor' of the town, and a master of the culinary art of preparing 'Apfelstrudel', the German version of apple pie. Sadly, Moose died in 2014.

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Namibia: The Elisabeth Haus in Windhoek | Роддом Элизабет Виндхук Намибия

The Elisabeth Haus, the story of Windhoek's landmark

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. The means of transportation are slow and uncomfortable and there are hardly any roads worth mentioning. Serious illness becomes life-threatening in many cases because medical assistance often comes too late. Many expectant mothers find themselves in the same predicament.

It was against this background that German organizations called for the establishment of a maternity home in Windhoek. The appeal for donations was very well received in Germany. The first stone was laid on 20 October 1907 and the construction work was finished a few months later. As the lion’s share of the funds was raised by the Women’s League of the German Colonial Society chaired by the Duchess Elisabeth of Mecklenburg, it was named Elisabeth House.

In 1908 the Red Cross flag was raised for the first time and henceforth announced every birth. In the early years, when Elisabeth House stood all alone on the rise visible from far afield, the flag was the signal to many a father calming his nerves with a beer somewhere on Kaiser Street (Independence Avenue).

Then the First World War broke out. Nevertheless, an extension was added to Elisabeth House. The two parts were connected with a roofed passage. Since the weather vane on the turret was a stork, the maternity home acquired the nickname “the Stork’s Nest”.

Elisabeth House closed its doors on 1 April 1981. Altogether 12,669 babies were born there in the course of 73 years.

The historic building was proclaimed a national monument in 1986. It is now part of the Polytechnic of Namibia.

Source: Gondwana Collection

Two neglected but prominent German-colonial buildings, originally the maternity hospital for the city, converted into upscale offices of NUST top management. Labyrinth of add-on storage spaces & car-ports removed to reveal original structures, then linked with central glass lobby connecting east and west access areas. Parking re-configured into pedestrian walkway and seating areas to generate public open spaces and enhance building settings. Interiors preserved where structurally sound, with alterations in clear and sandblasted glass walling to distinguish new and old, as well as bring daylight into previously gloomy interiors.

ELISABETH HOUSE

In one complex Elisabeth House reflects an architectural symbiosis of two different buildings designed by two German architects of the colonial period. It was used as a maternity ward from 1908 to 1981, during which time 12 669 babies were born within its walls. The building is currently used by the Polytechnic of Namibia.

http://www.namibweb.com/monuments.htm

Elizabeth-Haus (Storch Str.)

Architect Gottlieb Redecker. Built in 1907 as a maternity home and named after Duchess Elizabeth zu Mecklenburg, wife of the President of German Colonial Company. Until the closure of the building as a maternity home in 1981, some 12 669 babies were born there.

In the Elisabeth House, Gottlieb Redecker and Wilhelm Sander created an architectural symbiosis of two different buildings and combined them into one complex. This structure is unique in Namibia.

The official gazette proclaiming the building as a national monument provides the following background: "The Elisabeth House was erected on the initiative of the Deutsche Kolonialgesellschaft as maternity home and was used as such up to and including 1981. The Women's Association of the Red Cross for Germans Overseas administered the maternity ward. Between 1908 and 1981, 12669 babies were born in this ward." The building, which was erected in 1907, was named after Duchess Elisabeth zu Mecklenburg, wife of the President of the Deutsche Kolonialgesellschaft.

Polytechnic of Namibia, new campus. Stone foundation. Older building: Large communal living and dining rooms. 4 nursing rooms, a nurse's room, an operating theater with 3 large round-arched windows, a kitchen and a store room in the southern wing. The extension to the south is connected to the older part by an ambulatory. Tower-like structure on the eastern side. Both parts have a veranda. Bronze plaque and information board. Stork sculpture on the roof. The first part had been erected between 1907-1908 by the architect Gottlieb Redecker on the initiative of the "Deutsche Kolonialgesellschaft" as a maternity home. Until 1981, 12,669 babies were born here under the administration of the "Frauenverein vom Roten Kreuz fuer Deutsche ueber See".

The German imperial government donated the land and the "Kolonialgesellschaft" raised funds for the construction. In 1912 parts of the stoep were walled in. Between 1914 and 1915, the extension of the building was erected after the design of Wilhelm Sander. During the same time, the house served as refuge for Germans. After its closure in 1981, the house was transferred to the Academy of Tertiary Education (now UNAM). Today, it houses the history centre of the Polytechnic of Nambia. First maternity ward in Windhoek. Other "Elisabeth-Haeuser" were built in Grootfontain and planned for Omaruru and Gobabis. Maternity ward, refuge. Higher education.

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Namibia: West Coast shipwrecks: "Atlantic Harvester" & "Atlantic Pride" | Кораблекрушения Намибии

Namibia: West Coast shipwrecks: "Atlantic Harvester" & "Atlantic Pride" | Кораблекрушения у западного побережья Намибии

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NAMIBIA

SKELETON COAST NATIONAL PARK

SHIPWRECKS

5. "Atlantic Harvester" wreck

Date: 27.05.1967

Location: Mercury Island

6. "Atlantic Pride" wreck

Date: unknown

Location: Between Huab and Koichab Rivers

One of the notable visible shipwrecks along the coast is the fishing schooner "Atlantic Pride", which lies between the Huab and Koichab Rivers.

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Namibia: The Vingerklip (Rock Finger) - the landmark rock in Damaraland

The Vingerklip (Rock Finger) is a tall, thin rock balanced on top of a hill. It is 35 m high and 15 m wide. It is a conglomerate monolith. Vingerklip Lodge is the nearest accommodation establishment.

Vingerklip Lodge YouTube video:

About 120 million years ago, when the super-continent of Gondwana broke up and South America drifted away from Africa, the southern African plate rose and increased the slope to the sea. The steeper slope made the Ugab River to flow faster, and it eroded more soil. For the next 100 million years the Ugab River cut deeper and deeper into the rock.

At the end of the ice age, 10 to 20 million years ago the sea level rose. The flow of the Ugab River slowed and filled the riverbed with over 100 meters of sand and rock. Two million years ago, during the northern hemisphere ice age, the sea level dropped again. Although the Ugab River once again flowed faster and cut into the previously deposited sediments the riverbed became progressively narrower.

The Ugab River was rich in dissolved carbonate. As the riverbed narrowed the carbonate glued rocks and sand into a conglomerate which was as hard as concrete.

As the riverbed continued to cut deeper and became narrower it formed terraces of decreasing heights.

Over the last 2 million years smaller rivers formed and flowed. The carbonate was washed away, leaving the hardened rock and sand in place. The Vingerklip is a part of an eroded terrace.

When looking south from the Vingerklip the different, flat terraces of the Ugab can be seen. The main terrace is the oldest and widest part of the riverbed. It is more than 160 metres above the present riverbed. A medium-aged terrace follows at 100 metres, and the youngest terrace rises only 30 metres above the modern Ugab.

Since this area does not get much rain and, the Vingerklip sits on a sound 44 meter wide base, it is unlikely to fall over in the near future as the "Finger of God" did in December 1988.

In 1970 American mountaineer Tom Choate was the first to climb the Vingerklip. His hooks can still be seen today. In 1973 the east side of the Vingerklip was conquered by free climber Udo Kleyenstuber.

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Namibia: Wlotzkasbaken near Swakopmund - holiday settlement at the west coast

Wlotzkasbaken was named after Paul Wlotzka - a sturdy Prussian coachman to German Senator Pridas’ survey party which capitulated to the invading South African Forces in 1915. Pridas’ party was appointed by the arbitrator, King Alphonso of Spain, to delimit the disputed boundary line between Walvis Bay, under British rule, and the former German South West Africa. As a German, Wlotzka was very fortunate to be able to join this party, probably due to his intimate knowledge of the coastal area. Paul Wlotzka then became a merchant, delivering mail and general necessities to surveyors working north of Swakopmund, using a four-wheel-horse cart, probably up to Cape Cross.

To store water and food for his horses halfway between Swakopmund and the Omaruru mouth, today Henties Bay, Wlotzka erected a little shed made of self fabricated clay bricks about 200 meters from where the beacon is. The exact date is unfortunately unknown. Unfortunately Mr Dougal Bassinghtwaight a later lessee of the plot was forced by the PUDB for unknown reasons to brake down the ruins of Wlotzkas shed and only the rest of the foundations can still be seen today. He obviously spent time fishing near his shed, and brag in the pubs of Swakopmund about the good fishing spot below the beacon of mile 20.

And the locality Wlotzka’s Baken was born.

Others followed suit to fish at the beacon and soon the first campers, like Risser from Osona and Gebser from Maltahöhe, came to stay in tents and makeshift accommodation over the Christmas holidays. In 1936 Risser erected a makeshift hut on today’s plot 45, and in 1938 Dr Waldemar Leitner built the first proper wooden chalet on plot 74.

There was an interval in happenings at Wlotzkasbaken during the Second World War due to the interment of men. It was only after World War II that the SA Administration roughly surveyed and allocated 24 plots to the first part time inhabitants of Wlotzkasbaken. These allocations were done by Mr L.A. Steyn from the Directory of Lands, and signed by a certain Mr Sonnekus. The levy was 5 Pounds and payable at the Magistrate’s Office in Swakopmund. Demand for plots grew and in 1955 Mr Drinkhuth from the Government surveyed 87 erven, numbering them in a rather unorthodox way, reserving plots 95 to 87 for Government use.

The only permanent residents in those days were Claude “Taddy” and wife Annemarie Wecke, grandparents of Peter Mathews. Taddy acted as unofficial mayor of Wlotzkasbaken, allocating plots to prospective lessees and showing them where to erect their dwellings. (See the Wecke story). Mr Wecke was officially appointed by the Administration in 1959 as caretaker to help the police and magistrate with rural sanitary implementations (memorandum BO 41/46). From that date he received a salary of R30.00 per month and was allowed to open a shop on his plot. From 1950 until his official appointment Mr Wecke fulfilled his duties without remuneration. In 1974 his monthly salary was increased to R 100.00, but due to old age he retired in 1975 and passed away in 1976.

The main road from Swakopmund to the north was directly adjacent to plots 5, 13 and 18 to 34 (re old map of 1955), which was unacceptable to the road ordinance of those days. Thus a new road further to the east was constructed in 1958. More space was gained and another 23 plots were surveyed between the old and the new road. Wlotzkasbaken now had 107 plots.

Until 1960 Wlotzkasbaken was administered by the Lands Department and applicants for plots had to have a police clearance with no criminal record. In 1960 the Peri Urban Development Board (further shortly PUDB) was established, which took over the administration of all small towns and villages in the territory. (SWA Administration letter dd 24-8-1972: As from 1 July 1972 Wlotzkasbaken was proclaimed as Peri Urban areaby Mr Franzen in terms of proclamation 45 of 1972. (“Wlotzkasbaken is met ingang 1 Julie 1972 as Buitestedelike Gebied verklaar. Die beheer berus dus nou by die Raad vir Buitestedelike Ontwikkeling.)

As from 1955 plots were leased for a period of five years. The one-year lease contracts came into effect shortly before independence in 1988. Unitl 1960 the annual lease payable was 6 Pounds (N$12), increased by Peri Urban in 1960 to R120, and then again to R150 in 1988.

At an unofficial meeting with the administration on the 10th of April 1964 the homeowners were represented by S.A.Engels, T.Demasius, A.Kiesewetter, D.Mathews, and H.Wilhelm

In a letter dated 20th October 1965 the S.W.A.Administration informed the homeowners that they did away with a waiting list of prospective buyers and that tenants could sell their houses from then on themselves.

1972 Wlotzkas unofficial committee consisted of the following members. H.J. von Hase, D. Mathews, J.H. Visser and W.G.L. Engling.

In 1975 on the 1st of October Adolf Syvertsen was made temporary caretaker with a monthly salary of R200.00. The tanks were leased to him at R 1 per annum and water was supplied at 70 cent per 200 liter.

In 1985 the beach near the beacon was demarcated with rocks to zone off a safer beach area with no vehicles allowed in the zone. It is not known who faced the bill. In 1989 Wolfi Zimmer arranged with Salz Gossow to rearrange the rocks to make the area smaller. Cost involved R 450.00 and paid by the homeowners. Over the coming years most of the rocks disappeared below the sand and only a few can still be seen. This year also saw the introduction of the first official water tanker, a 2 cubic meter unit, purchased by PUDB in Cape Town. (See water story) As Wlotzka developed and more pressure was put on the PUDB, they decided in 1985 that a committee consisting of tenants should be formed so that mutual matters should be discussed on a regular base. So on the 28th of December under the supervision of Mr Blaauw at 8 hours 30, just before the fishing competition started, the first official committee of the Wlotzkabakens Homeowners Association was elected and consisted of S.Engels (chairman), H.Hatz and W.Zimmer. The members were appointed for five years in an advisory capacity.

After demanding a balance sheet for the expenses of Wlotzkasbaken in 1986 it waslearned with dismay that R 5000.00 were spent to resurvey the area and cram 490 erven into Wlotzkasbaken. The Professor from Cape Town who was responsible for the scheme, allocated the job to his students and never saw Wlotzkasbaken in reality. Peri Urban memorandum 17/2W1 dd 21/11/1986. Make available: 490 residential plots 1 plot for administrative purposes 1 Business plot 5 open spaces Giving Wlotzka a village status was discussed but abandoned because the outlay was not according to standards and that there were enough empty erven available in Swakopmund and Henties Bay. In this year consent was given to aero plane owners to develop the old road north east of Wlotzka into a landing strip, Expenses and maintenance at own costs. Road names in memory of old inhabitants was also discussed but never materialized. Ronnie Rabie on plot 10 became the first owner ever to get directly connected to the water pipeline.

December 1986 also saw the founders meeting of Wlotzkabaken “Plot-Renting” Association. Present: J.Powell, M.Hatz, A.Herrle, Mrs.E.Stier, H.Hatz, K.Mc Namara, W.Zimmer, S.Engels, apology K.Eisenberg who also was the first secretary. From the 15th of December 1986 to the 3rd 0f January 1978, Nature conservation erected a tent on the open space and gave lectures and showed films on the coasts ecology. Since the first effort to divide Wlotzkasbaken into 400 erven failed, PU handed out another contract to the consulting firm Plan Medewerker to subdivide the erven to such an extent that a village status could be achieved. This again failed due to costs to develop sewerage and water supply.

In 1987 the first recorded financial statements were drawn up by Maelger & Mai, Otjiwarongo, (Manfred Mai). Voluntary subscription fee was R50 and paid by 74 homeowners, additional donations were made by Kopp and Blohm, R50 each. Surplus cash in bank account R 3931.56.

Again on the 10th of march a letter was received from PU stating that there would be a detailed investigation into declaring Wlotzkasbaken a township and the implementation thereof would be finished by April 1st 1989. The committee replied that the residents are not in favour as already outlined at previous occasions.

The 1988 Financial Report from Maelger & Mai states that only 5 residents paid subs. Subsequently a circular was sent to every ‘plot renter’, reprimanding them to pay the R50 subs per annum, “to enable us to improve facilities over and above those supplied by the State”. At the AGM the problem of free roaming dogs who became a hassle to many occupants was discussed and dog owners were reprimanded to control their pets more efficiently. Christmas 1988 also saw the first recorded arrival of Father Christmas by parachute at Zimmers home. The lease period changed from 5 to 2 years and the yearly rent was R 150.00.

In 1989 a letter from the Administrator General was received stating that the current status quo regarding the administration of Wlotzkasbaken would remain and no village development would be considered. No division of erven would be considered and no addition of permanent structures to existing buildings would be allowed. Property rights would only be considered once Wlotzka is proclaimed a village. The Advisory Committee received a donation of R 100.00 from PUDB towards their beach cleaning operation during the holiday season. Wolfi Zimmer arranged with Salz Gossow that their front-end loader should re arrange the black rocks at the swimming area, to make it smaller. The annual financial report showed cash in Bank R 8595.71 and a further R 250.00 was collected during the “Martepfahl” fishing competition.

1990 Independence year. At the AGM it was decided against security operations in Wlotzkasbaken, although a spate of burglaries had taken place. Main reason being that not everybody would contribute towards the expenses. Advisory committee consisted of H.Hatz, K.mc Namara, J.Powell, Wolfi Zimmer and Secretary Doris Zimmer. The financial report showed a surplus of R 16 459.42 in the bank. The members were also notified that a vehicle for waterman Mr Oosthuizen, for him to travel from Henties to Wlotzka, was bought for R 6000 by Wolfi Zimmer and that every homeowner should contribute R 60 towards this expense.

In mid 1992 a company applied for erecting a Marina at Blackrock Bay south of Wlotzkasbaken. Fortunately for the bay the project never got off the ground. During August a company called Marine Life Namibia applie for a site south of Wlotzka to put up a fish farm. Fortunately they were convinced that Henties Bay was a much better proposition but again this project died in its planning stage. During September Wlotzkasbaken was declared a village in the Government Gazette 479. Since there were too little permanent residents, this decision was reversed and Wlotzkas status was lowered to a settlement. In November PUDB asked the engineering company Bührmann & Partners to investigate the water supply to Wlotzka and to make recommendations on how to improve on the current situation. All thre proposals were far too costly and thus rejected. No financial statements were issued in that year.

Over the weekend 5 to 7 November 1993 members of the community erected 5 new water tanks and a new garage for our water lorry. Total costs N$ 44065.00. This year the Marterpfahl Fishing Competition showed a profit of N$ 4328.84. At the AGM the community members were officially informed that Wlotzka was a Settlement and the Advisory Council was abolished, however the committee changed it’s name to The Homeowners Association of Wlotzkasbaken. All assets, liabilities, rights and obligations would be transferred to the Erongo Regional Council who then would be responsible for the management of the settlement. Financial report showed a retained income of N$ 43342.51. The state was also requested to remove the dilapidated toilets on the beach, but the foundations were forgotten and can still be seen today. For the first time a Moto Cross event was hosted just north of the settlement and Father Christmas arrived at the Marterpfal as he still does today.

The first action of the ERC in January 1994 was to inform the residents of Wlotzka by letter that Permanent residents will be identified and registered as voters in Wlotzkasbaken and that the settlement should be open to all Namibians irrespective of their color, race or origin. On first of April the Ministry proposed that the current lease system should be abolished and that the erven would be rented out according to their size on a monthly base, payable yearly in advance. This was rejected by the homeowners. In April 1994 a meeting was arranged at the house of Wolfi Zimmer with Dr Libertine Amathila, then minister of Local Government and Housing, representatives of her ministry and the Homeowners Committee, after a copy of the following letter by the ERC to the ministry was received. a)”There are virtually no permanent residents living at Wlotskasbaken for the place to be proclaimed a settlement area. In fact it is only a holiday place for people living outside the Erongo Region.

b) There are 107 even or site rentals leased out on PTO basis of which 71 are occupied by Windhoek residents. Four of the erven / sites are occupied by South African citizens –

absentee landlords, listed as follows: Erven 35,55,71, and 98. It can be concluded that these people only use Wlotzkasbaken to exploit the Namibian fishing industry. Since they are only paying N$ 300.00 per annum on site rentals, they do not even contribute to the Namibian economy in terms of paying for hotels / bungalow accommodation etc. When visiting they may travel with all the necessary material, including food, in order not to spend any money in Namibia. There is no stipulation in a lease agreement on foreigners occupying sites on a PTO basis and we would like to be advised within a legal framework. Wlotzkasbaken is an exclusively white-only area, which is a disturbing factor in a Democratic Independent Country. To strike a balance, my council, at it’s meeting held on Friday 2 December 1993 resolved and recommended that:- - The Ministry of Regional and Local Government and Housing should demarcate more erven, or rather subdivide bigger erven into smaller units, to open up the area for all Namibians to enjoy or benefit from the privileges of their independence. - A solution is found on the question of lease agreements granted to people living outside Namibia, absentee landlords. After some facts about Wlotzka were explained to the minister she sounded positive regarding the future of the settlement, but that was the end of the story. Year end the SWABOU account was closed and moved to Standard Bank. Retained income N$ 69180.15.

May 1995 a circular was received from the ERC stating the following message: Please note that an application for the extension of lease period (yearly Basis) is the responsibility of all lessees and cannot be requested from this office. If the extension of lease is not requested by the lessee upon expiry it will be an automatic cancellation. The case was handed over to H.Diekmann and Ass. Who subsequently handled all applications. The same year a letter from Mr E.Wannemacher was received requesting that water was supplied from Wlotzkasbaken to his intended fishing lodge at mile 17. Like other intended projects before this one also never got off the ground. End of November the first analogue telephone boxes were installed by Telekom. The annual AGM saw the presence of Ms Gases and Mr Goethje from the ERC. S. Engels and J. Powell resigned from the committee and the following members were elected. K. mc Namara, W. Zimmer, E. Demasius, H. Diekmann, And P. Heckmair. Mrs. D. Zimmer vacated the post of secretary and was followed up by A. Schidlowski. Retained income N$ 89515.00 and Marterpfahl profit N$ 8525.00 . 1996 the first auditors namely Delloitte $ Touche were employed for the first time. At the AGM W. Zimmer resigned from the committee and J. Traut was elected in his place. P. Heckmair and clan organized the Marterpfahl party and fishing competition for the first time.

In July 1997 the ERC informed the committee that our request to obtain a lease agreement for the area where the garage is situated could not be considered due to plans to adjust the current town layout. In August 1997 the first official house was erected by the ERC for their employees who were responsible for water supply and rubbish removal in the future. A tractor with water trailer was supplied as well as a three wheeled Work Horse for the rubbish removal. Gerson Katambo was employed from September and during the holidays. In November 1997 improvements were made to the water tanks over a weekend by the following home owners. M.Trümper, W.Zimmer, R.Boehme, M.Ihms, I.Kiesewetter, F.Schidlowski and P.Heckmair.Gerson Katambo was employed on a permanent basis. Again a new development was planned at the Black Rocks by Mr Bergendahl of Eco Solutions and again like all before it failed. The Marterpfahl function showed a handsome income of N$ 50965.81.

In 2006 improvements were done to the refuse dump. Fencing material was donated by Peter Mathews and Gerdi Heussen and helpers extended the existing fence so that no debris would create an eye saw for wlotzka baken.

Wlotzkasbaken or Wlotzka's Baken (German: Wlotzka's beacon, often shortened to Wlotzka or Wlotzkas) is a holiday settlement on Namibia's Atlantic coast, situated approximately halfway between Swakopmund and Henties Bay. The area around the village lies within the Dorob National Park and features extensive lichen colonies. Founded as a holiday angling spot in the 1930s, Wlotzkasbaken developed into a settlement of unusual design and administration. Without any fences or boundary walls, privacy is achieved only by the distance between the houses. Titles in the village are held by the Regional Council and only leased to the residents. A legal battle ensued about how to expand the resort without disadvantaging lessees who built houses on land they do not own.

As the expansion of Wlotzkasbaken stopped in the 1970s when recreational developments were exclusively for Whites, it currently still has no residents of previously disadvantaged population groups. The place is named after a trigonometrical beacon, the only one that remained from a land survey along the Skeleton Coast in the 1930s. Paul Wlotzka, a member of the surveying team, chose this place to erect a storage structure to support his frequent horse cart rides between Swakopmund and Henties Bay. He soon discovered that the coastal waters boast an abundance of fish which he caught and sold.

His bragging about the find soon lured more anglers who pitched temporary structures during holidays since approximately 1936. In 1955, 87 erven were surveyed and leased to holiday makers. Later this number was increased to 110. Wlotzkasbaken was proclaimed a peri-urban area in 1972, and a village in 1992. A Government Notice from 1993 converted it back to a settlement area, denying the establishment of a Village Council for self-governance. The place is thus still under the direct jurisdiction of the Regional Council of the Erongo Region, a situation that has been described as a "burden".

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Botswana: Message from Okavango Expeditions: COVID test center in Maun

Dumela & Greetings from Maun,

We are delighted to inform you that Maun Airport will soon be able to offer a COVID test center in collaboration with the company Pharma Group.

We remind you that a visitor must provide a less than 72 hours negative PCR test when entering the territory of Botswana.

It is also necessary to carry out a test when leaving Botswana in order to present a negative test during transits in the various international airports.

There will be testing centers based at Maun Airport, Kasane & Gaborone Airports so that visitors do not have to be transferred to / from a testing center.

The test results will be ready within 2-4 hours.

It's best if visitors can arrive in Maun early on the final day of their stay, take the test and wait for the results to be able to proceed with departure, we recommend allowing 5-6 hours at the airport in case it gets crowded.

Alternatively for clients who do not want to go through the wait in Maun for test results, Pharma Group can arrange to send a nurse to the bush camp (additional costs).

Reservations for these tests can be made online www.pharma.co.bw and are BWP980 per person.

Customers will be able to book and pay online or pay by credit card or cash at the test desk.

The tests will be offered daily between 7:30 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.

We are looking forward to welcoming guests back to Botswana.

Cheers Clint & Pieter-ann and the Okavango Expeditions team

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Namibia: Baxu and the Giants | African ranger awards

Baxu and the Giants

A Short Film about rhino poaching triggering social change in a village in rural Namibia, seen through the eyes of a 9 year old girl.

Black rhinos are listed as endangered and this is mainly as a result of poaching for their horns. Despite the challenges the rhino faces, Namibia is home to the largest free-roaming population of black rhino. The northwestern area of the country is home to these great creatures and for the past two years, there has been zero poaching on communal land.

!Khubaxu, which means 'I come from the soil, is a reminder to us all that we are one with nature. The film Baxu and the Giants has been screened around Windhoek and tells the story of how rhino poaching triggers social change in a village in Damaraland, seen through the eyes of a nine-year-old girl. The film was commissioned by the Legal Assistance Centre to sensitize teenagers to the issue of poaching in Namibia.

Younger Namibians are taking a stand to fight against wildlife crime and raising awareness on the issue because the targeted animals are part of their heritage and pride of the country. The film not only impacted local Namibians but impacted primary school kids in Germany who fundraised about 410 Euros which was donated to Save the Rhino Trust in Namibia. The money will be used to support the rhino rangers who work tirelessly and walk long distances in harsh conditions to monitor the rhinos on communal land. To prevent the black rhino numbers from decreasing, everyone, both you and old, have a role to play in the protection of this species.

Baxu, a 9 year old girl in touch with nature and tradition but toughened by life in poverty, lives with her street-smart older brother Khata and alcoholic grandmother in a village in Damaraland. They live a peaceful life until strange men show up and cause change in the village. First the neighbour starts acting suspicious, then Baxu notices changes in her own household. Keen on finding out what Khata is hiding from her, Baxu investigates and learns that her brother started poaching, in order to improve his family's living conditions. Baxu has to make a tough decision - will she stay quiet or will she listen to the rhinos, the giants of the Savannah, who she talks to in her dreams and risk losing the people she loves the most?

The 2019 RMB Ride for Rhinos, which took place in July, marked the fifth year that riders donned their cycling gear and got on their bikes to pedal through the rugged, but scenic terrain of the Palmwag Concession.

While non-cyclists would not necessarily understand the attraction of sitting on a tiny seat and navigating your way over rocky and bumpy jeep and game tracks, there is a definite allure to it for those in love with the sport. The experience of noiselessly riding through the extraordinary landscapes of Damaraland with springbok, gemsbok and giraffe lazily watching you as you cruise past is priceless. The highlight of any day is a rhino sighting, which cyclists were lucky enough to have on consecutive days.

Saying goodbye to a long standing Trustee who truly served us well

Rob Moffett, Ongava Game Reserve Director Sales and Marketing, has been a Trustee of Save the Rhino Trust Namibia (SRT) since 2005. His unwavering passion for the protection of Namibia’s natural resources and the Critically Endangered black rhino has been a driving force in the steadfast commitment he brought to SRT in his tenure of 14 years.

Rob’s knowledge of the current challenges facing conservationists and the measures required to make a true impact, placed him in a key position to help direct SRT in a new era of uniting our limited resources with that of Government, Communities and other NGOs to ensure the continued management and protection of our rhino.

Regretfully, SRT received word from Rob that his business commitments have become too great for him to be able to continue as a board member and he will be leaving SRT at the end of September.

“We wish Rob all the best with his thriving career. He has played a vital part in SRT’s success, and as we celebrate 2 years of no poaching, we thank him for all he has done for SRT. He will be greatly missed”.

African ranger awards

The Paradise Foundation and the Alibaba Foundation jointly recognized the wildlife protectors in Africa on World Ranger Day. The 2019 African Ranger Awards was presented to 50 winners chosen from 17 countries to celebrate their passion, commitment, and dedication in protecting wildlife.

We are proud to announce that Lesley Karutjaiva, SRT’s Director of Field Operations, was one of the winners chosen for his tremendous conservation efforts, success in combating poaching, preserving habitats and stopping illegal wildlife trade.

The African Ranger Award seeks to raise awareness in the world about the need to conserve Africa’s wildlife, emphasizing the critical role that front-line rangers play in conservation. By sharing those real-life stories, this award aims to help stem the current decline in populations of Africa’s wildlife.

Africa serves as the last refuge to huge populations of wild animals and forests on earth, which has unfortunately been suffering from illegal poaching, trafficking and logging during the past decades.

An estimated 20,000 to 25,000 front-line rangers in Africa are risking their lives fighting against armed criminals in order to protect the invaluable natural wildlife there, with over a thousand killed in the course of their duty during the past ten years. These rangers are often exposed to extreme conditions doing incredibly dangerous jobs, but the attention and support they receive are barely enough. 

The Plight of the Rhino

Look at me, awaken the ancient past

Stare at me, I am disappearing fast 

The souvenir I am to life is to live on

The souvenir I am to your greed is my horn

My horn to protect and defend my life

My horn to protect and defend new life

My horn my real strength

My horn your superficial strength

Your ego I pay for with death

Is your carnal fantasy my only worth?

The beast in you I face fatal cruelty

Even to my humane human guardians you respond with brutality

How come for the weakness of your horn

My generations cease to be born?

How come for your ornamental pleasure

I have to perish at your order?

Jermain Ketji, 12 September  2019 

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Namibia: Palmwag Lodge & Save The Rhino news

Welcoming the new neighbors

SRT is delighted to welcome a new neighbours. Gondwana took over Palmwag Lodge & Camp and with it the management of the Palmwag concession area, a vast nature reserve that covers 5,500 km². The Palmwag Concession consists of the Torra, Anabeb and Sesfontein conservancies and borders the Skeleton Coast Park.

The Palmwag Concession is home to a healthy population of the desert-adapted elephant and black rhino. This is also where SRT field staff calls home at our Mai-go-ha base camp.

Gondwana combines its hospitality business with nature conservation and social commitment in a sustainable manner. This sentiment is shared by SRT and we look forward to a long and fruitful relationship.

Epic upscale of black rhino conservation

A recently published review of Progress (2012 – 2018) on the Conservancy Rhino Ranger Incentive Programme & Rhino Pride Campaigns illustrates how engaging and empowering local people through creative partnerships and cultivating pride is helping protect one of the world’s last wild rhino populations.

Between 1970 and 1990 roughly 97% of the world’s extant black rhino (Diceros bicornis) were wiped out to supply an illegal global trade in rhino horn. Listed as critically endangered by the IUCN, some populations began to recover in the late 1990s but have recently fallen victim to a resurgence of poaching which, if left to continue unabated, is estimated to result in the extinction of rhinos on the African continent within the next 10-20 years.

These realities have sent rhino range countries into a state of crisis management that has primarily called for increased investment in military-style enforcement strategies.

However, effective solutions will probably require a context-specific, stakeholder-driven mix of top-down and bottom-up mechanisms that engage and empower local people in rhino protection.

Namibia has long been a global leader in designing and delivering effective community-led conservation strategies. When community-based conservation started in the early 1980s amid a major commercial poaching epidemic in the Kunene Region in the northwest, the system was able not only to catch poachers, but also to put a stop to poaching within a few years. The subsequent recovery of most wildlife species including desert-adapted black rhino and elephant from near-extinction can be largely attributed to local communities and their leadership being directly involved in wildlife conservation, in partnership with NGOs and Government.

This early initiative evolved into the national government-led communal conservancy programme in which more than 50% of Namibia’s communal or state land is under community conservation status.

Record number of rhino adoptions

We are very happy to announce that 6 of our adoptive rhinos have found “parents”. We would like to thank these organisations and individuals for being part of the solution to securing the future of Namibia’s unique, desert-adapted black rhino. You can also make a difference!

Become a friend and supporter of SRT through the Adopt a Rhino programme by adoption a rhino for a one year period. ​​

Rhino Ranger Backpack project

The Rhino Rangers have dedicated their working lives to the protection of the rhino, spending the majority of their time in the field, covering large distances on foot and being exposed to the harsh elements of a desert environment. However, Rhino Rangers need to be equipped with field uniforms and gear, and those need replacement on an annual basis given the demands of the environment and the frequency of use. This has become a significant annual burden on the available budget. In recognition of this, and as part of our efforts to get Rhino Tourism to contribute towards costs of rhino conservation efforts and making the project more sustainable, Ultimate Safaris’ Conservation Travel Foundation launched the PACK FOR CONSERVATION programme in 2018.

Partnering with Cymot an online portal was created where guest travelling to Namibia, can purchase much needed field uniforms and gear on a cost recovery basis. The CTF facilitates the official handover of the uniforms and gear to SRT. Our hope is that this active and regular guest participation in the acquisition of these uniforms and gear will make this replacement and the continuing growth of the programme sustainable.

“We really wanted to offer a solution for guest's desire to do good and bring along ‘gifts’ when coming on holiday. Pack for Conservation speaks exactly to that and also offers the instant satisfaction of personally handing over ranger kits, making the issue of ranger kits sustainable and entirely supported by tourism. Ultimate Safaris conceived the idea and with the help of Cymot we were able to make it a reality. Since launching in July we have already raised in excess of N$ 50,000 in ranger kits, and we couldn’t be more excited by what lies ahead." Tristan Cowley [Managing Director, Ultimate Safaris].

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Namibia: Khorixas community celebrated 2020 World Rhino Day

Khorixas community celebrate World Rhino Day

Community members joined the march on Friday 20 September through Khorixas to celebrate World Rhino Day. The march was led by Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism, Bernadette Jagger and U.S. Ambassador Lisa Johnson, flanked by Save the Rhino Trust CEO Simpson Uri-Khob and USAID Country Representative Dr. Randy Kolstad.

More than 400 community members joined the march through Khorixas to celebrate World Rhino Day on 22 September 2019. The march was led by Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism, Bernadette Jagger, and U.S. Ambassador Lisa Johnson.

The march was a call for the protection of the rhino population. “Together, we must save Namibia’s rhinos from illegal poaching,” Johnson said in Khorixas at a ceremony to mark Rhino Day, which occurs on 22 September.

“Our hard work is paying off,” she said in her remarks at the World Rhino Day ceremony, which was hosted by the Namibia Nature Foundation and Save the Rhino Trust.

Community game guards and rangers

Remarks by U.S. Ambassador Lisa Johnson at the World Rhino Day Celebration

I am very happy to be here today with you all to celebrate World Rhino Day.  Many of you here are those who are responsible for protecting Namibia’s natural resources, including its rhinos, and you are to be congratulated on the Kunene region’s remarkable success in doing so in recent years.

Wildlife trafficking is a multi-billion-dollar illicit business that is decimating Africa’s iconic wildlife populations.  Many targeted species, such as the African rhinoceros, face the risk of significant decline or even extinction.  Between 2007 and 2018, over 9,000 African rhinos were poached.

U.S. Ambassador Lisa Johnson highlighting the successful partnership between the United States and Namibia in protecting rhinos at World Rhino Day in the Khorixas stadium.

Wildlife crime undermines Namibia’s economic prosperity and threatens the country’s natural capital resources.  It obstructs sustainable economic development, including the development benefits derived from legal, nature-based enterprises such as tourism. In Namibia, wildlife tourism is an increasingly important and growing industry that benefits both communities and the national economy.

Wildlife crime, including poaching, also erodes social stability and cohesion.  It impoverishes communities at the same time as robbing their cultural and natural heritage.  Communities that are dependent on natural resources are exposed to security threats and to the loss of their livelihoods and income.

The governments of the United States and Namibia have been working in close partnership to combat wildlife crime, including poaching and wildlife trafficking.

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