Namibia
Our stay in Namibia began with a guided short trip into the Namib Desert followed by three weeks of volunteering at a wildlife rehabilitation center.
Namibia is a country located in Southern Africa known for its dramatic landscapes including the vast Namib Desert, rugged mountains and expansive savannas. It shares borders with Angola to the north, Zambia to the northeast, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south. Namibia has a population of about 2.5 million people making it one of the least densely populated countries in the world. The capital city is Windhoek and English is the official language though Afrikaans, German and several indigenous languages are also spoken. Namibia is famous for its rich wildlife especially in national parks like Etosha where visitors can see lions, elephants and rhinos. The country is also known for the unique landscapes of the Sossusvlei and Deadvlei in the Namib Desert, as well as the Skeleton Coast with its shipwrecks and wildlife. Namibia is a stable democracy with a strong focus on conservation and sustainable tourism making it a popular destination for travelers seeking natural beauty and adventure.
In the Namib Desert we hiked up the Big Mama Dune and Dune 45 admired the Sossusvlei and Deadvlei and explored the Namib's Valley of a Thousand Hills. We also visited the Sesriem Canyon.
The three weeks of volunteering at the wildlife rehabilitation center were very enlightening for us providing valuable cultural experiences and insights into wildlife management from which we drew lessons and conclusions.