Seasons

It is interesting to visit a new place and stay long enough to see the seasonal changes. I arrived in Namibia during their summer. I was here for fall when most people I know were welcoming spring  in the US. Time has now marched along and straight into winter. The days are shorter and the nights colder.

Namibia has over 300 days of sunshine per year but that does not mean it is necessarily warm. Nights are now getting down to the high 40s. Daytime temps this week have been in the low 70s. My little rondaval hut heats up pretty well during the day because of the fiberglass roof in the bathroom but by morning it has cooled considerably. We have only an outside dinning area. In the evening folks arrive to dinner wearing coats and hats. When I first arrived at CCF it was shorts and tank tops.

The wildlife has changed somewhat as well. Rarely do we see a snake now and the gecko is no longer living in my bathroom. It seems the baboon population, that lives near the dinning hall, has doubled in size but fewer warthogs are around. There are lots of Red Hartebeest and Oryx but not many Elands. Steenbok and springbok are abundant.

A few nights ago I left a 6 pack of beer outside my door figuring it would get nice and cold during the night. I woke to the rustling of the plastic bag and quickly opened my door to see what was snooping around. A big black and white porcupine had bitten through the bag AND through a can of beer. He was having himself a little party until I startled him and he waddled/staggered quickly away. The porcupines have become regular guest the past few weeks.

I have not seen a leopard in over two months but people have been spotting them again recently. I am sure they have been around but the grass was so high they were hard to see. Now the grass is dying back. Staff here say that we might not see rain again until December. The waterholes are already drying up. When I was first here we had monitoring cameras up at 10 or 12 waterholes. Now it is down to five and at least two of those will soon be dry.

There are also more young animals around. Today I saw 6 adult giraffes and one young one. Yesterday we saw 3 very young giraffes in a group. Jackals are abundant. We see them out on the reserve and hear them vocalizing every night.

I have only two weeks left in Africa. It is one of the most or (maybe the most) captivating places I have ever visited. My pal, Abi, will arrive in 2 days. I am excited to share this place with her.

It has  been a grand adventure.