Namibia News from Wilderness Safaris
Weather
This month we have been dominated, on a number of mornings, by easterly winds and we have noticed that as July approaches the days and nights are getting colder. The landscape is slowly showing its true desert features as we move towards the heart of the dry season.
Wildlife
Guests had 100% success rate in tracking rhino in June. Some days proved very challenging especially when the winds were blowing from early morning, erasing the tracks of any rhinos into barely discernible signs of their presence. However the skill and determination of our Save the Rhino trackers always produced good sightings. Raymond, one of the guides, always tells guests that tracking rhino is a matter of ‘patience and an open mind’ – and indeed these are qualities needed on the long days spent looking for these great animals. Fortunately this is the exception and not the norm and some days we have come across them in just minutes of leaving camp.
Camp News
Our new interior furnishings and decor for the main area and rooms have arrived and the place looks awesome. It has added more warmth and friendliness visually to the character of the camp.
Our bush dinners and surprise picnic lunches continue to wow the guests. The surprise sundowners done by the camp for the guests out in the bush are also received with much enthusiasm!
Guest News
‘A wonderfully warm & friendly camp, we have felt at home here. The staff is all exceptional. Nestor is a superb guide’ – Madden
‘We have had a very memorable stay. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming into their “family”. We have learned a lot about the conservation program which is so important, and we wish you well for the future.’– Sue Ogden
Staff News
DRC welcomes Aune Amoomo as a relief Assistant Manager helping out while Thereza Kahorongo is on maternity leave. We also welcome Annetjie Hebach who is on the housekeeping team and Simon as one of our new Maintenance Managers. New to the maintenance team is Trevor Florry and spicing up the staff kitchen now is Bertha Gases.
Serra Cafema Camp, like the other camps in Namibia, is still experiencing very warm days. Temperatures are soaring to 34 degrees Celsius. However, the westerly winds start blowing at midday every day, helping to cool things down a bit. The fog that creeps up in the mornings blanket the whole area and is a regular sight.
The team at Serra Cafema spotted several snake hatchlings in the surrounding area this month. These included puff adders and zebra snakes. One afternoon a member of staff, Denzel, spotted a small puff adder less than 15 cm long swimming from the southern bank over to the Angolan side of the river. We grabbed the pool net, took a few photos and gave him a lift across the river. Even when in water this little adder could still manage to curl its body into striking pose. Another fully grown adder was relocated to Angola as well, to avoid problems in the camp.
Serra Cafema was hectically busy this month with our 90-day programme of cleaning rooms, fixing, bringing in parts and overhauling camp to make it looking new and bright for the new season.
