Exploring the South (Part 2)

Southern Namibia, to me, is characterized by wide open spaces which of course I thoroughly enjoy. The landscapes seem so vast especially relative to the more congested north. In the north sometimes it is hard to get a breath. Even though there is a lot of open space, there are a lot of fences and no matter how hard I try, I am always in sight of a homestead. The south though is made up of huge grazing areas and uninhabitable terrain. It is a whole other country.

Not too far out of the town of Keetmanshoop is a rare forest made up of Quiver Trees. Quiver Trees occur throughout Southern Namibia and parts of South Africa but few other places have such a dense concentration. The Quiver Tree gets its name because it was traditionally used by the Nama people to make quivers for their arrows. The Quiver Tree is in the aloe family and pretty much resembles a typical aloe plant but with long branches and a big trunk. The forest is beautifully set amongst soft grasses swaying in the wind and reddish tinged rocks. With that said, here are some photos from around the area.

A typical Quiver Tree, Aloe Dicotoma, or Kokerboom in Afrikaans. Like no other tree I have ever seen before.

It was too easy to waste away an afternoon walking in the forest and admiring the odd shapes and colors.

Paired with another stunning Namibian sunset and strange clouds, the forest made one feel as if on another planet.

In the desert south, this is considered a dense forest; welcomed regardless. Outside of this small stand of Quiver Trees the landscape consists of nothing but rocks, sand, and grass.

Not the most charming wildlife I have seen in Namibia to date. The name of this marmot-like creature is not coming to me at the moment but they are a common sight around the forest.

Outside of the forest lies the Giant’s Playground, a place with naturally occurring piles of boulders. Another good place to waste away a morning wandering amongst a strange landscape.

A sucker for high places.

This picture was taken shortly after this cat got a hold of my leg. It is amazing that I still had the determination to snap a picture of the culprit. Just kidding, I still have both my legs. The farm that the forest is on also houses several semi-domesticated cheetahs.

Well, that is pretty much the extent of my adventures in the south. From here, after a workshop in the capitol, I will be taking holiday through Zambia, Malawi, and desert trekking in Namibia. The blog will lay dormant for some time but when I am back I'm sure that there will be plenty to update you on.

Kala po nawa!