Back to Kaokoland: catching up with the elephants

Africa » Namibia » Kaokoland
October 19th 2006

Published: October 19th 2006

For reasons that I’m not sure I’ll be able to convey to anyone who has never been to the big open spaces of Africa, I fell in love with Kaokoland during my work on the desert-dwelling elephant project there in August. Truly, to paraphrase, I can "never shake the ancient dust of Africa off" my boots. It’s not a kind environment. The adage “if you don’t like dust, don’t go to Kaokolan... Read Full Entry

Photos are below

Photos: 29, Displayed: 21

Comment Follow (30) Message

Elizabeth Weir

Weir travels

I decided in early 2006 that I'd had enough of the London rat-race and the career thing - at least, for the time being - and that I'd like to take some time out: "me time", as it were; time to do at least some of the things that I'd been thinking about doing over the last few years but hadn't been able to fit in around work and client demands. So here I am: backpack to the ready (to be honest, it had never really been put away after my '93-'94 round-the-world trip), and a gazillion ideas about how to fill the next xx months..... (And, no, I've no idea when I'll go back to the "real" worl... full info

Blog Options

Top Photos Blog Map

Print Version

[blog=96378]

[blogger=12073]

WKM-20 approaching the car

...until a tap on the windscreen brought him up short. He shook his ears in confusion and meandered off

gemsbok

the Purros store

sunset over the Mudurib waterhole

lion spoor at Gunamib Poort

mid-morning barn owl

telecommunications in Kaokoland

This was left by the SA army after the Angolan war and is reputed still to work, though I confess we didn't try it out!

Anika and WK-9 (aka the Biltong Thief)

Called WK-9 to follow Keith's elephant naming convention, yet reflect the Doctor Who character, this well-kempt mutt joined us at breakfast one day... but we came back later to find the biltong supply had vanished

20th October 2006

Rosalind
non-member comment

since the August trip
Fabulous, Elizabeth! I admit that part of me has not yet left the Hoarsib. It is facinating to see the coming rains and to hear more about our 'charges'. I look forward to revisiting in the future and in the meanwhile to hearing your further adventures and return to your reality. ' I am reminded of a friend, sharing my own delight in exageration and fantasy, who used to begin her stories, 'In my consensus reality ... '

24th October 2006

Helen Nall
non-member comment

Another great blog entry from Elizabeth - it's like following Phillias Fogg around the world from my armchair! Superb photographs - good enough for magazines. Was in London Thursday night for the Cartoon Art Trust awards - brilliant fun and hysterically funny, with all the names like Matt from the Telegraph. Saw Donald for coffee Friday (wow- he's lost a lot of weight) and then dashed on the underground to have an early lunch with Colin next to Temple tube. Great to see him; told him we'd been offered two labrador bitch pups (from two diff litters) and turned both down.... he said if he'd been in our shoes...!! If you get a chance can you make enquiries about 18 yr olds doing what you're doing? Rob does his A-levels this year and is looking at doing a gap year and is interested in South Africa / Namibia. Just thought you might pick up some info about gap year students being accepted. He is working on a farm in Shropshire at the moment. Hope you are well - we miss you!We are all fine; children are huge, especially Georgie who looks like Tom Kitten with buttons popping off her clothes at times! Lots of love, Helen.

Tot: 0.301s; Tpl: 0.01s; cc: 25; qc: 141; dbt: 0.1812s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 2; ; mem: 1.7mb

Do not copy images or text from this page without requesting and receiving permission. All rights are reserved by the author and photographer.

Contact Elizabeth Weir (Weir travels) - a lack of a response does not mean that you have permission to use material from this page.

Back to Kaokoland: catching up with the elephants

Copyright Notice: All Rights Reserved