Issue 27 | February 2024
Victoria Falls Take me home! Your free copy
FROM APRIL 2024
adventure | lifestyle | discovering etosha national park | conservation | art | economic pulse | feel good stories
OUR MINING EFFORTS ARE FOR THE GOOD OF OUR COMMUNITIES We work with our stakeholders to ensure that communities thrive, sustainably, through enabling quality healthcare and education. At Namdeb, we are about more than mining. We are about mining for good. NAMDEB. GOOD TODAY. BETTER TOMORROW.
From the Publisher
Stories in FlyNamibia Magazine.
FIRE
This is us. Namibia Travel News
www.travelnewsnamibia.com
FISH RIVER CANYON
“But how could you live and have no story to tell?” - Fyodor Dostoevsky
A
is for Awesome... and Ads.
SUMMER 2023/24 | Vol 32 No 1
Conquering the
Read this issue online!
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Venture Publications (Pty) Ltd. PO Box 21593 Windhoek Namibia info@venture.com.na
Disclaimer: Please note that while every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the content within this magazine, Venture Publications Pty Ltd and FlyNamibia accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions. The views expressed by individual authors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or FlyNamibia. All material, including text and images, is the property of its respective authors and cannot be reproduced or used without explicit permission from Venture Publications Pty Ltd.
extraordinary Namibian stories. publishing. content generation. content marketing. print. film. digital.
CONTENT IS
are compiled by Venture Media’s content team, in partnership with Tribefire Studios and freelance contributors.
Hiking SORRIS SORRIS
Khaudumand Nyae Nyae
The Last True Wilderness
VOLUME 32 No 1 SUMMER 2023/24
Aawambo Pottery | KAZA Elephant count | Zambezi Birding N$45.00 incl. VAT
CONSERVATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT IN NAMIBIA 2023
T H E G R E AT E R E T O S H A C A R N I VO R E PROGRAMME A TRIUMPH FOR
THE STORY OF NAMIBIAN BUSH
GIRAFFE C O N S E R VAT I O N I N NAMIBIA
TURNING PROBLEMS INTO OPPORTUNITIES
T H E N YA E N YA E PA N G O L I N P R O J E C T N A M I B I A’ S C L I M AT E
A N D T H E N E E D T O A D A PT T O A N U N C E R TA I N F U T U R E
and also
by Tribefire Studios
FLYNAMIBIA FEBRUARY 2024
1
OUR STORYTELLERS Meet the voices behind the incredible stories we share with Namibia each month. The pages of FlyNamibia are a collaboration of Namibian minds and passions and we hope you find a narrative that speaks directly to you amongst them.
61
29 Danie Van Wyk
Dr Marelise Calitz
Investment analyst passionate about all things related to capital markets, Formula 1, and alpacas.
An educational psychologist focused on interconnected brain, mind, body, spirit development, treating delays from 1 month to old age.
21
57
14 19 22
25
Charene Labuschagne
David Bishop
Maggie Forcelledo Paz
An aspiring astronomer, who enjoys gazing at the stars and sharing science research stories.
Broadcast Editor, voracious reader, sometime writer, cyclist, swimmer, climber, family man, and coffee lover.
99FM News & Content Editor. Passion and dedication to keep the nation abreast with what’s happening on national and international level.
34
62
58
36
Elise Kirsten
Travel writer and content consultant. Elise loves wild spaces, conservation and exploring both simple and luxurious settings.
2
Victoria Nakafingo
Art director, writer and presenter, she tells stories out of pure necessity for expression. Namibia is her favourite subject.
Agnes Shivute
An environmental consultant with interest in indigenous flora, nature enthusiast, Namibia Botanical Society awardee and aspiring author
Sophie Tendane
Passionate writer, journalist, communication graduate, and founder of an NGO focusing on climate change awareness. Love foreign affairs and enjoy writing stories that speak to the heart.
Rukee Kaakunga
A Windhoek-based communications specialist, blogger and freelance fashion writer. Contact her via email: rukeekaakunga@gmail.com
Table of
CONTENTS 14
22
33
40
Content is Fire
01
FlyNamibia Magazine’s Storytellers
02
Welcome on Board
09
Love Local
10
Life on a Table
13
10 Minutes with Local Tastemakers
14
Look/Listen
17
HOME: Dopamine Decor
18
Reflections: A News Editor's View
21
Foodies: Green Basket Cafe
22
Understanding the Leap Year
25
Discover the Top 5 Experiences in the Zambezi Region
26
Going (Back) to School
29
Discovering Etosha National Park
30
99FM Royal Hustlers: Desmond Nikanor
33
Luxury Meets Landscape in the Cape Winelands
34
Fashion Fierce
36
Enhanced Connectivity for Tourists
39
Photography Feature: Arne Kurscheidt
40
Education and community well-being boost
47
The Brief
48
Revolutionising Streaming for Africa
51
Omake Moment
52
Toufic Beyhum: Amoji
54
MUNNAM Discusses Pandemics and Chronic Diseases
57
Business Beyond Profit
58
Economic Pulse
61
The Marula Tree: A Cultural Hub and Natural Resource
62
Insta-love
65
Did you Know?
67
Love Namibia
68
58
Need To Knows. with FlyNamibia
How to buy
a ticket online www.flynam.com
Select your flight Select which tickets you would like to purchase: destinations, travel dates, morning/afternoon departure. We offer multiple fare options such as: Saver, Classic or Premium
Additional flight information / rules Read up on all our additional information regarding terms and conditions, and tick the selection box once completed to continue.
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You can also purchase
from:
a payment?
Cash payment at: Eros Airport, Ondangwa Airport, Oranjemund Airport
Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)
Online card transaction
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Windhoek Eros Airport Office Ondangwa airport office Rundu airport office Katima Mulilo airport office Hosea Kutako airport office
Check-in
prior to flight Online check-in opens 24 hours before departure of the flight on Fly Namibia Check-in opens 1h 30min before domestic flight and 2 hours before international flight. Check-in CLOSES 30 min prior to domestic flight and 50 min prior to international flight.
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Luggage
restrictions Items NOT allowed in hand luggage:
MAX 20kg Per person
Lotions and aerosols above 100ml, flammable aerosol, sharp objects, i.e. nail files, nail scissors, Leatherman, matches. See full conditions of carriage by scanning the QR code
FLYNAMIBIA FEBRUARY 2024
5
DOMESTIC & SAFARI FLIGHTS Katima Mulilo Ondangwa
Skeleton Coast Park
Bwabwata National Park
Rundu Mokuti
Etosha National Park
Otavi
Nkasa Rupara National Park
Khaudum National Park
Tsumeb
Ongava
Mudumu National Park
Grootfontein
Twyfelfontein Otjiwarongo
Waterberg Plateau Park
Dorob National Park
REGIONAL FLIGHTS
Okahandja
Swakopmund
Windhoek
Walvis Bay
Gobabis
NamibNaukluft Park
ANGOLA Mariental
ZAMBIA
Keerweder (Sossusvlei)
Victoria Falls
ZIMBABWE
NAMIBIA Keetmanshoop
Walvis Bay
Windhoek
BOTSWANA
MOZAMBIQUE
Lüderitz
Ai-Ais/ Richtersveld Transfrontier Park
Oranjemund
SOUTH AFRICA Cape Town
with FlyNamibia Contact The Call Centre | +264 83 339 0011 Schedule as per date of going to print. Please check the FlyNamibia website to stay updated on flight destinations, routes and schedules. 6
DOMESTIC FLIGHTS DEPARTURE
FROM
TO
ARRIVAL
DAYS
07:30
Eros - Windhoek
Ondangwa - Toivo Ya Toivo
08:30
Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun
09:10
Ondangwa - Toivo Ya Toivo
Eros - Windhoek
10:10
Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun
16:00
Eros - Windhoek
Ondangwa - Toivo Ya Toivo
16:50
Fri, Sun
17:40
Ondangwa - Toivo Ya Toivo
Eros - Windhoek
18:30
Fri, Sun
11:00
Eros - Windhoek
Katima Mulilo
12:25
Wed, Fri, Sun
13:10
Katima Mulilo
Eros - Windhoek
14:40
Wed, Fri, Sun
07:00
Eros - Windhoek
Oranjemund
08:15
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri
13:15
Oranjemund
Eros - Windhoek
14:30
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri
07:15
Eros - Windhoek
Lüderitz
08:15
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri
13:30
Lüderitz
Eros - Windhoek
14:30
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri
REGIONAL FLIGHTS DEPARTURE
FROM
TO
ARRIVAL
DAYS
07:30
HKIA - Windhoek
Cape Town
09:30
Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun
18:10
Cape Town
HKIA - Windhoek
20:10
Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun
15:00
Walvis Bay
Cape Town
17:00
Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun
10:20
Cape Town
Walvis Bay
12:20
Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun
10:15
HKIA - Windhoek
Victoria Falls
12:15
Tue, Thu, Sat
13:15
Victoria Falls
HKIA - Windhoek
15:15
Tue, Thu, Sat
Launching 4 April 2024
SAFARI FLIGHTS BY WESTAIR DEPARTURE
FROM
TO
ARRIVAL
DAYS
10:00
HKIA - Windhoek
Keerweder
10:55
Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat
11:20
Keerweder
Swakopmund
12:10
Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat
12:50
Swakopmund
Twyfelfontein
13:30
Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat
14:00
Twyfelfontein
Ongava
14:40
Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat
15:05
Ongava
Mokuti
15:30
Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat
16:00
Mokuti
HKIA - Windhoek
17:00
Tue, Thu, Sun
10:00
HKIA - Windhoek
Mokuti
11:00
Tue, Thu, Sun
11:30
Mokuti
Ongava
11:55
Tue, Thu, Sun
12:20
Ongava
Twyfelfontein
13:00
Tue, Thu, Sun
13:30
Twyfelfontein
Swakopmund
14:10
Tue, Thu, Sun
14:50
Swakopmund
Keerweder
15:40
Tue, Thu, Sun
16:05
Keerweder
HKIA - Windhoek
17:00
Tue, Thu, Sun
07:30
Eros - Windhoek
Rundu
09:00
Mon, Wed, Fri
16:00
Rundu
Eros - Windhoek
17:30
Mon, Wed, Fri
*HKIA - Hosea Kutako International Airport
DISCOVER NAMIBIA
2 7 6
5
4
1 3
8 9 10
11
25 24 23
12 14
13
16
17
15
18 19
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13.
Popa Falls Resort Onkoshi Resort Namutoni Resort Halali Resort Okaukuejo Resort Olifantsrus Camp Dolomite Resort Terrace Bay Torra Bay Khorixas Camp Waterberg Resort Gross-Barmen Resort Mile 4 Campsite
20 21 22
8
+264 61 285 7200 / +264 64 402 172 reservations@nwr.com.na www.nwr.com.na
14. Sun Karros Daan Viljoen 15. Sossus Dune Lodge 16. Sesriem Campsite 17. Naukluft Camp 18. Hardap Resort 19. Duwisib Castle 20. Shark Island Resort 21. Fish River Canyon & Hobas Camp 22. /Ai-/Ais Hotsprings Spa 23. Mile 72 24. Mile 108 25. Jakkalsputz
WELCOME ON BOARD
For the love of our
COUNTRY AND OUR PEOPLE Dear Passenger, Welcome aboard this FlyNamibia flight during the vibrant month of love. February holds a special place in our hearts, a time when we honour the profound affection for our majestic land and the spirited, inspiring individuals who are the soul of Namibia. It is this unyielding spirit, this Land of the Brave, that we celebrate in each edition of our inflight magazine. The onset of February has been marked by an exciting transformation within our team. Our ground and airport personnel are now donning meticulously designed new uniforms, radiating elegance and professionalism. But the spotlight truly belongs to our cabin crew, whose striking new red attire is nothing short of breathtaking. With these vibrant changes, we usher in 2024, embracing new beginnings and fresh experiences. A thrilling development this year is the launch of our new route, bridging Windhoek with the awe-inspiring Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. This natural wonder, known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya, or "The Smoke that Thunders," is a spectacle on the world stage, a sight that captivates and enchants. Starting from 4 April, we will connect these two jewels of southern Africa every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, further knitting the fabric of our shared heritage and friendship.
Your unwavering trust and support fuel our commitment to excellence and innovation. As we journey through 2024, we reaffirm our dedication to providing you with unparalleled service and a seamless travel experience. We eagerly anticipate the pleasure of welcoming you aboard our flights time and again, ensuring that each journey with FlyNamibia is memorable and enjoyable. FlyNamibia's wings spread wide, connecting the heart of Namibia with the world. From Eros Airport in Windhoek, our aircraft soar to domestic destinations such as Ondangwa, Katima Mulilo, Lüderitz, and Oranjemund, and to regional hubs like Cape Town International from Hosea Kutako and Walvis Bay International Airports. For the adventurers, FlyNamibia Safari, operated by Westair Aviation, offers an intimate glimpse into the wild heart of Namibia, with flights linking major attractions including Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, Twyfelfontein, and the iconic Etosha National Park. Your journey with us is just a call or a click away. Bookings are available through major travel agencies, our contact centre at +264 83 339 0011, or directly on our website at www.flynam.com. We are here to ensure your travel is smooth, enjoyable, and unforgettable. With heartfelt gratitude and warmest wishes, The FlyNamibia Team
FLYNAMIBIA FEBRUARY 2024
9
LO C AL O V E
Unique local lifestyle brands we're loving, and why you should too
DROOMBOS
We love their unique approach to events. Picture this: you are hosting a conference, and the dedicated team at Droombos turns your vision into reality, infusing the gathering with big ideas and smart applications. With their bespoke menus and catering options, state-of-the-art audiovisual facilities, unique team-building activities and indoor and outdoor spaces, Droombos sets the stage for conferences, corporate functions, launches and much more. Stunning on-site accommodation completes their offering, ensuring that your event at Droombos is more than just a meeting – it’s an experience. +264 81 872 2613 / +264 83 288 8352 / +264 61 250 238 reservations@droombos.com.na / events@droombos.com.na www.droombos.com.na
IETSIEMEER We love their ample space for large families or groups. With exclusive use of the property on a selfcatering basis for up to 28 guests, Ietsiemeer Beach House was designed to emulate a homely ambience, creating an ideal setting for extended family gatherings or long weekends with all your friends. The house’s enclosed courtyard is ideal for outdoor socialising and braais, regardless of the weather. With a spacious kitchen, a dining and living room overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, comfortable and luxurious bedrooms and direct beach access, your group can go big during their Henties Bay getaway. Reservations: +264 81 141 0702 or ietsiemeer2@gmail.com www.ietsiemeer.com @ietsiemeer
10
EMSSENCE We love their natural skincare range. The Emssence PURE range is formulated with only the best natural ingredients, including sausage tree extracts from the north of Namibia. Tested over two years before entering the market, the PURE cleanser, toner, Kigelia day & night cream, facial serum and hair growth & scalp serum all care and protect the skin against Namibia’s harsh climate. The Emssence PURE range is gentle yet effective, locking in moisture while allowing the skin to breathe. Make the shift to this natural range and look forward to your daily skincare routine. Shop Emssence products at the Maerua Superspar health section. sectionm@emssence.com @ems.sence @emssence
THE VILLAGE We love the return of The Village Sunday Market. Kicking off the 2024 schedule on 21 January and running every Sunday, the city’s most loved market is back with a bang. Diverse stalls showcase arts and crafts, from pottery to leather goods. Fashion enthusiasts can revel in the clothing and jewellery options, while foodies can indulge in the very best of our capital’s cosmopolitan cuisine. Expect even more variety with live music performances and local artisans as The Village Sunday Market is levelling up to bring more good vibes to the new year. 18 Liliencron Street, Windhoek www.villagewhk.com @village_garden_whk
Are you a Nam or SA based lifestyle brand? List your label with us for only N$1,000 per month for 6 months | fly@venture.com.na
FLYNAMIBIA FEBRUARY 2024
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12
Foodies
CHICKEN BREYANI There are many different ways to make a Breyani. Every culture has its own method and ingredients. My Breyani is a mixture between the Cape Malay version that I learnt from Cass Abrahams and the Indian version I learnt from Sheila Morar.
INGREDIENTS 1 kg chicken pieces 6 potatoes, quartered 4 carrots, sliced
MARINADE 250 ml yoghurt 1 tin of tomatoes, chopped Salt to taste 8 cardamom pods 3 sticks cassia Hentie Burger
6 whole allspice 6 whole cloves 10 ml ground cumin 5 ml ground coriander 5 ml turmeric 10 ml ginger, grated 10 ml garlic, crushed
INSTRUCTIONS
15 ml curry powder (fragrant masala)
•
Mix the yoghurt, tomato, salt and all the spices and marinade the meat and vegetables for at least 30 minutes.
•
Fry the onions in oil, drain and set aside.
•
Put half the rice into a large, thick-based casserole (cast iron with a flat bottom works well) and spoon half the lentils on top of the rice. Cover with the marinated meat and vegetable mixture, add the remaining rice and then the remaining lentils and cover with the fried onions. (Sheila put grated carrots on top with the fried onions.)
•
Dab with butter. Mix the saffron with boiling water and pour over the dish. Cover with a tightly fitting lid and bake in the oven for 1 hour at 180°C. Pierce with a fork to test if the potatoes are soft. Serve with a yoghurt sauce.
2-3 chopped green chillies 6–10 curry leaves (optional) 3 large onions, sliced 30 ml vegetable oil 500 ml basmati rice, parboiled for 10 minutes and drained 250 ml brown lentils, boiled and drained 100 ml butter 250 ml boiling water Pinch of saffron (optional)
Discover more of Antoinette's delicious recipes in Life on a Table To order your copy contact Bonn Nortjé at Venture Publications: bonn@venture.com.na
FLYNAMIBIA FEBRUARY 2024
13
Tatjana Lohmann
As social media evolved, I became more inspired to create content that could motivate others to embrace a healthier lifestyle. 14
10 Minutes
T
with local tastemakers
he days of looking beyond our borders to international content creators and relatable influencers are numbered. As the creator community in Namibia grows and ever more men and women are highlighting the places, products and lifestyles we can truly associate with, Tatjana Lohmann stands sentinel. She has been at it for a while, gradually growing a community of body-positive, food-loving and adventure-hungry Namibians since her high school days. When she is not creating lifestyle and fitness content on her Instagram @tatjana_lohmann, the blonde busy bee works as a trade marketer in the fast-moving consumer goods industry, where she gets to apply her creativity and strategic thinking. This career choice came as a calling. “I explored various options and tried to find my true purpose. It was only when I entered the marketing space that I felt a sense of fulfilment and excitement,” says Tatjana, who is predominantly self-taught and aims to level up her Higher Certificate in Marketing Management to the next big milestone: a degree. Her creativity and passion for creating beautiful and inspirational content comes from a truly earnest place. Tatjana admits she was never athletically inclined until the urge to feel comfortable in her own skin came as a siren call. But the journey to falling in love with being fit was a winding one, as they so often are. The creator recalls being disheartened when the initial cardio and studio workouts brought her no joy. When Tatjana began lifting weights, it was as if the brunt of exercise was lifted and transformed into a truly enjoyable experience. The new-found love did not come without its setbacks, as the joy of moving her body was met with obsessive restriction. Tatjana says, “This sparked binge eating and an
unhealthy relationship with food for me,” something many women who grew up envying thigh gaps are challenged with. Striking the balance was imperative. And so, Tatjana’s message became clear as day: fit bodies come in all shapes and sizes and living a balanced lifestyle is a lot more rewarding than a restrictive one. Back when Tatjana began creating and sharing on Instagram, she admits, “It was just about sharing photos of my meals and gym selfies.” Today, her feed is a well-rounded mix of recipes, travels, homemaking and workouts, all thoughtfully conceptualised and creatively portrayed. Tatjana’s account successfully strikes the balance of a healthy lifestyle that leaves room for all the joys in life, including much -needed social media breaks, spending time caring for her plants and pets, and experiencing the best in local vegetarian food and activity-based holidays. “You can sign me up for camping, going to a lodge or any adventure in Namibia,” says Tatjana. Her favourite kind of breakaways are usually planned around the activities that are on offer, like hiking or climbing the cliffs at Naukluft to get to the water pools. Travelling for Tatjana means sightseeing while being active, creating content, but also disconnecting from social media to truly take in the moment. Sounds like a masterclass in balance! Tatjana’s love for creative photography manifested itself into an incredible opportunity. Starting off as a photographer for local fitness clothing brand Kat Active, she fell in love with the range’s durable fabric and flattering fit. Fast forward, and the ambassador has her very own line under the Kat Active brand called the Mighty Collection. “I hope that even on your low days, when you put on these clothes, you feel like the mighty woman you are.” Charene Labuschagne
TATJANA’S TIPS FOR ASPIRING CONTENT CREATORS: 1. Stop worrying about strangers, friends or family who will judge you. I understand, at times it can get a little embarrassing when you are recording in public, but the more you do it, the better it gets. 2. Instead of overwhelming yourself with all the social media platforms out there, choose one, maximum two and build consistency on there first. 3. You do not need expensive equipment to start. A phone with a camera is all you need. The rest can follow. The creator industry in Namibia is still in its early days, but I am eager to see it grow and flourish. I wish for more professionalism and mutual respect in the creator space. As creators, we should value our work and skills as a business. And as brands, we should recognise and reward the creators for their services.
FLYNAMIBIA FEBRUARY 2024
15
Unlocking potential through partnership Announcing the launch of FNB Commercial’s partnership with the Harambe Entrepreneur Alliance, known as the Harambeans. Who are Harambeans? Harambeans are visionary innovators from Africa who are working together as one to unlock the potential of Africa. Over the last decade, Harambeans have created a series of tech-enabled ventures which have collectively generated over 3,000 jobs and raised over $1bn. Unlocking the potential of our entrepreneurial clients The aim of the partnership is to give our FNB Commercial clients access to an online learning platform, the Harambeans Lab, which provides entrepreneurial support at no additional cost to clients. About Harambeans Lab In an effort to pass on the wisdom and experience of Harambeans to the next generation of African innovators, the Harambeans Lab is an online content platform that offers valuable insights from Africa’s leading innovators. This platform provides guidance on how to initiate and expand high-growth ventures across the African continent. As of Q4 2023, the Harambeans Lab features over 140 short-form video interviews with more than 60 prominent African innovators representing countries such as Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe. If you’re an entrepreneur interested in unlocking your potential, please contact your FNB Commercial Banker to find out more.
Sign Up Today FNB – Get the help you need of Namibia Limited. Reg. No. 2002/0180. A subsidiary of FirstRand Namibia Limited
LOOK / LISTEN
Our monthly round-up of good books, podcasts, channels, movies and series.
WHAT WE'RE READING Colourless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami In his 13th novel, acclaimed Japanese author Murakami poetically unpacks the life of Tsukuru Tazaki. His four best friends from school all had colours for last names; only Tazaki’s last name had no colour in it. One day, his friends announced that they no longer want to see or talk to him, ever again. Since that day Tsukuru has been floating through a colourless life, unable to form connections with anyone, until he meets Sara, who tells him that the time has come to find out what happened all those years ago. Goodreads score: 3.87/5
A Word Child by Iris Murdoch Hilary Burde had a troubled childhood, but he was really smart with languages to the point of being enrolled at Oxford. A controversial accident robs Hilary of completing his studies. Fuelled by obsessive guilt and self-depreciation, he is confined to a mundane office job in London. When the man whom he has harmed reappears as his superior, Hilary hopes for redemption and a new life, but finds himself haunted by a ghostly repetition. A Word Child will have you scream out of frustration, cry because of Hilary’s terrible luck and laugh at the antics of an odd main character. Goodreads score: 3.88/5
WHERE WE'RE TUNED IN Sorelle Amore Free Human series After years of sharing tools and tricks to becoming a content creator, YouTuber Sorelle Amore built a high-grossing online business focussed on courses in finance and photography, travelled across the globe, wrote a book and documented it all authentically. In a near 180-degree shift, Sorelle set out to create the Free Human Series, which launched in February of 2023. In the series she shares her own journey – as well as extensive interviews with digital nomads and the unconventionally employed and successful – to leave the hamster wheel behind and become a truly free human. Our favourite episode: “My crippling anxiety led me to finding freedom” - ft Free Human Julia Wheeler
Armchair Expert Fascinated by the complexities of human nature, hosts Dax Shepard and Monica Padman invite listeners to explore diverse personal stories, focusing on the struggles and triumphs that foster growth and improvement. Shepard brings unique qualifications to this quest: over ten years of sobriety, a background in anthropology, and extensive improv training. Embracing the spirit of 16thcentury scientists, he seeks to uncover universal human truths, eschewing traditional scientific methods for a more conversational, exploratory approach. Our favourite episode: Matthew McConaughey
WHAT WE'RE WATCHING No Hard Feelings
Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones
When Maddie finds an intriguing job listing, it seems like her financial woes will be gone, and she won’t be losing her childhood home. Wealthy helicopter parents hire Maddie to “date” their very awkward and inexperienced 19-year-old son, Percy, before he leaves for college. What should have been easy money for Maddie, turns into an unexpected challenge filled with cringeworthy and comedic relief.
In this docuseries, National Geographic Fellow and author Dan Buettner travels to five regions across the globe to uncover the secrets of centenarians. In Japan, Italy, Greece, Puerto Rico and California, unique communities seem to have cracked the code to long, healthy and vibrant lives. Dan dissects the diets and exercises of these “Blue Zones”, but more profoundly, their mindset and lifestyles that inspire viewers to seek balanced and fulfilling lives.
Tomatometer: 70%
Tomatometer: 100%
FLYNAMIBIA FEBRUARY 2024
17
DOPAMINE DECOR It’s my home and I’ll decorate it how I want to
T
he song lyrics “It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to” are applicable to much more than just parties. What is yours – be it a party, a social media account, or in the case of this article, your home – gives you the right to do with it whatever you want, provided it does not harm others, of course. And if you are going to cry because you want to, draped over a sofa listening to “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac on repeat, one thing will surely cheer you up: dopamine decor.
Textbook Dopamine Decor
Dopamine via Colour
Forecasted as one of the top home design trends of 2024, dopamine decor is a natural development from last year’s dopamine dressing fashion, characterised by vibrant colours, tactile textures and injected with nostalgia. Architectural Digest quotes Saniya Kantawala, principal designer at Saniya Kantawala Design, as follows: “This trend brings back memories of a carefree childhood when the bedroom walls had your favourite celebrity posters, playful signages, eccentric lights and objects that elicit a deep sense of joy.” A quick Google search will reveal a rather maximalist approach to dopamine decor, with more-is-more furniture and bright, contrasting colours. Yet dopamine – the neurotransmitter or chemical messenger which, when released into the brain, induces feelings of happiness – is completely subjective. If too many textures, over-filled living rooms and abundant gallery walls are unsettling to you, let this be your cue to explore what does indeed stimulate dopamine to you, and only you. Let’s look at some alternative approaches to designing your home around what truly makes you happy, without bordering kindergarten territory. COLOUR: The dopamine decor textbook insists that loud, bright colours make us happy. However, if you tend to become overstimulated by colour-blocked tangerine and turquoise (I don’t blame you), it does not mean you should discard colour entirely. Sad beige homes are where interior dreams go to die. The colour theory can guide you to include the hues that spark joy for you. Instead of covering a feature wall in saturated Barbie pink, try including a musk or elderberry shade of pink in elements like picture frames or closet doors. Green is known to evoke feelings of safety and growth. Hues like sage and malachite can surely do the trick just as well as a highlighter green can.
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Home
Dopamine via Texture
Dopamine via Nostalgia NOSTALGIA: Family heirlooms are the best way to inject a sense of nostalgia into your space. Imagine the sofa in your granny’s house – where you spent many Christmas eves unwrapping gifts – reupholstered and holding pride of place in your living room. Perhaps your parents have safeguarded painted portraits of your great grandparents, which you could reframe and hang on a gallery wall. If you are not in the running for inheriting heirlooms, or the ones up for grabs did not age well, try tapping into the design details that stay etched in your memory from childhood, and implementing them with modern twists. Wallpaper patterns can be immortalised in scatter cushions or old film negatives repurposed into bedside lampshades. Furniture and decor pieces that link back to fond memories, be they vintage or newfound, can effortlessly inject dopamine into your living spaces. TEXTURES: The feelings evoked by tactile touch make it arguably one of our strongest senses. If, like me, fluffy things make you happy, try including them in your frequented spaces, like a faux fur throw at the foot end of your bed. Curtains and rugs are the perfect opportunity to bring more texture into the home. A plush, tufted carpet as the first thing you step on every morning is sure to induce dopamine, regardless of which side you get out of. Handloom-style linen drapes add incredible dimension, compared to flat, textureless curtains. Dopamine-inducing textures do not have to be the kind you physically touch every day. For example, even plants play their part in bringing character to a space. CALMING ENERGY: This is the part where you read up a little bit on feng shui. It is complex, but not as far-fetched as you might think. One practical way of making your home more calming through the principles of feng shui is to leave space for you to move around freely. If you continuously bump into the corner of a console, or find yourself having to navigate around other objects in your home with caution, odds are they are bringing the opposite of calming energy into your home. If a mix of colours, textures and nostalgia instil a sense of calm in you, by all means. It is your “party” after all. Our homes can be the sanctuaries we retire to when the outside world gets a bit too much, yet we must remember that a coat of paint and velvet sofa can only go so far in injecting calming, joyful energy into our spaces. The vibes you bring into your home play probably the most important role in making it a calming, dopamine-inducing space, or precisely the opposite.
Dopamine via Feng Shui
Charene Labuschagne
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A News Editor's View
Beyond the roses Embracing love and appreciation beyond Valentine's Day
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ebruary is traditionally known as the “Month of Love” and by now you’ll already have been besieged by flowers, jewellery, chocolates, and even biltong and power tools that have somehow made their way to the “romantic” display shelves in each and every store you visit (that is if you can find them among the Easter displays that have also been up since 26 December), and are likely sick to death of the colour red! Far be it for me to begrudge the commercial opportunities offered by Valentine’s Day, but I prefer the idea of expressing my love and admiration on more than one day a year, which leads me to the topic of this month’s column. There is an episode of Doctor Who which I often think about, and a specific scene in that episode, in which the doctor takes Vincent van Gogh forward in time to visit an art gallery and see what an impact his work and his life really had (you can watch the scene by scanning the QR code at the bottom of the page, but you might want to have a tissue or two handy…). By all accounts Van Gogh, considered by many to have been one of the greatest artists to have ever lived, died believing that his life’s work had not amounted to anything. He ended his life in 1890 by shooting himself in the chest, dying two days later from the injuries sustained, while thinking himself a complete failure despite evidence (contained in archived letters) that his brother Theo was desperately trying to explain to him the public acclaim and praise that his work was attracting.
you get to know what people think about you while you are still around to hear it. While you would hope that the kind of people who would attend your living funeral would be the kind who actually do care about you deeply, the argument could, I guess, be made that those in attendance may not have the courage or may simply be too embarrassed to be saying what they really believe or feel knowing that you are there to hear it. And while the idea of inviting people to your living funeral may strike some people as a little too much of a “if you really care, comment on my post and share this status on your profile” scenario, the good news is that it does not have to be that complicated – phone your mother/father/sister/brother/ estranged best friend; tell your coworker you appreciate the help they lent you or just that they are looking especially good today (yes, men like to hear it too); send an email, SMS or WhatsApp to someone you have not spoken to in a while, letting them know you are thinking of them; leave a positive comment on one of your acquaintances’ social media feeds; take the time to ask the cashier/ grocery packer/car guard how they are feeling – and mean it!
Don’t wait for Valentine’s Day. Don’t let people be like Van Gogh, going through their lives not knowing how much they are loved or cared for or that what they do does actually make a difference, tell them!
What I take away from the episode is that so many people die not knowing how important they were, perhaps not on a global scale, but to the people they met and whose lives they touched while they were alive, and sadly, sometimes even to those closest to them. What I am also reminded of each time I think about the episode is how easy it would be to change that. How often do we hear the lament, “I wish I’d told them when they were still here,” or “If only I had let them know how much they meant to me,” when all it would take is telling them!
Don’t wait for Valentine’s Day. Don’t let people be like Van Gogh, going through their lives not knowing how much they are loved or cared for, or that what they do actually makes a difference… Tell them today! Thank them for just being them and let them know that they matter, because sadly, unlike the Van Gogh in the video, there is no doctor coming to fetch us in his Tardis to show us how important we really were!
Until next month, enjoy your journey. David Bishop
There is a growing trend internationally, and not just for people suffering dread diseases or who know they are at or nearing the end of their life, to host so-called “living funerals” or “FUNerals”, with the services of death doulas being increasingly in demand, and apps like MyGoodbyes being developed to help with the arrangements. The idea is that
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Green Basket Cafe
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Foodies
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rickling water fountains is the soundtrack as you step into the Green Basket Cafe in Katima Mulilo. The feeling of entering a secret garden with frangipani trees, ferns and monstera plants is matched by the calming atmosphere of this quaint eatery. The buzz of the nearby town is almost muted, the damp and warm air being the only reminder of your location in the far corner of Namibia’s northeast panhandle. Situated next to the Caprivi Adventures office and acting as a comfortable waiting area for guests embarking on excursions, the cafe is also open to the public and serves refreshing drinks, including the quintessential Rock Shandy, as well as scrumptious grub. Options for eating out in this town are rather limited, making the Green Basket Cafe a crown jewel in the tapestry of Katima. Tuck into their selection of sandwiches, ranging from a classic ham, cheese and tomato to a filling fried egg BLT open sandwich. Or come hungry and devour a loaded Dagwood burger, amongst their variety of chicken and beef choices. Generous wraps and fresh salads round off their lighter meal selection, but it is the ultimate Namibian schnitzel with mushroom sauce that will have you returning multiple times during your stay around Katima Mulilo. With free Wi-Fi and delightful coffee and cakes, a digital nomad could easily spend a few hours in the tranquil garden catching up on emails. For the adventure-loving visitor to Katima Mulilo and surrounds, the Green Basket Cafe is your refuel-and-revive station before (and after) setting out to explore the region and its many natural and cultural wonders. Charene Labuschagne
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Understanding the leap year
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s we step into the new year, many of us are making detailed plans to reach our goals. Whether it is learning something new, overcoming a personal challenge, or saving money, we usually have a well-thought-out plan for 365 days. But sometimes, there is a surprise – an extra day is added to our calendar. This seemingly exceptional event has both historical and astronomical significance. It has long intrigued people and has raised questions about the nature of time, ultimately leading to the creation of the calendar as we know it today, where each fourth year has 366 days. A leap year is the result of two principal time cycles on Earth. One is the time Earth takes to make a full spin on its axis, which is exactly one full day, and the second is the time it takes to orbit around the sun, which is a year. Earth revolves around the sun in 365.2522 days, which is known as the astronomical year. But since there are only 365 days in a calendar year, what happens to the remaining quarter? Well, this is where the leap year comes in and saves the day. Every year we set aside the quarter day until the fourth year, when we have enough quarters to make up a full day, which is then added to February. And with that, we have regained synchronisation… or maybe not quite. It was the Egyptians who first figured that a year is 365.2522 days by watching the stars, especially Sirius, which would noticeably drift off track. Many years later, astronomers under the Roman emperor, Julius Caesar, also figured out the drift and created the Julian calendar, incorporating the leap year system. This calendar approximated the leap year at 0.25 days by adding a day every four years. This reform aimed to synchronise the calendar with Earth’s orbit around the sun, ensuring a proper alignment of seasons. However, the Julian calendar slightly overestimated the solar year. After rounding off to the quarter day, there are still 0.0022 days in a year to account for – a seemingly minute difference. However, over long enough periods it adds up, pushing the whole system out of sync by 3 days within 400 years and leading to a gradual misalignment between the calendar and the astronomical year. By the 16th century, this discrepancy had become noticeable and so the Gregorian calendar, introduced by and named after Pope Gregory XIII, came into existence. To address the imbalance, several new rules were introduced. The first is that a year is considered a leap year if it is divisible by 4. But, and this is what distinguishes the Gregorian from the Julian calendar, there are two exceptions: number one is that a leap year cannot fall on a year that is divisible by 100; however, number two stipulates that if a leap year is divisible by a 100, it should
also be divisible by 400 for a leap day to be added. That is why there was a leap year in 1600 and 2000 but not in 1700, 1800 and 1900. This adjustment resolved the accumulated error, ensuring that the average length of a calendar year stays closely aligned with the actual length of the astronomical year. Still, in the long run, we will have to adjust our calendar once more. The present Gregorian calendar would be nearly ideal if Earth’s rotation rate, the orientation of its axial tilt, and its orbital speed around the sun were all constant. But in actual fact, the rotation rate increases somewhat each time there is an earthquake – an effect which, however, is outweighed by Earth’s gravitational pull from the sun and moon, which slows it down. And while that slowing down rate is not noticeable to us who are living today, if we go back in time, right before the Cambrian explosion of life (that is some 540 million years ago), a day was a little shorter than 22 hours – meaning the axial spin has slowed down significantly over the past 500 million years or so. And at the time of Earth’s formation some 4500 million years ago, a day was actually only about seven hours long! As the days get longer, the calendar years shorten, because Earth spins less often on its axis during its journey around the sun. So, at some point down the line, we will need to cut back on the leap days and eventually eliminate them altogether. In a few million years, the average length of a day will have gained the 56 seconds it currently falls short of the full 24 hours, so no leap year will be necessary. And still further on, each day will be longer than 24 hours by that amount, and our remote descendants will have to introduce a leap year which requires the subtraction instead of addition of a day to keep the calendar in line with the astronomical year. The concept of leap years has extensive implications in other fields of science besides astronomy, as well as in culture. Astronomically, leap years ensure the synchronisation between our calendar and Earth’s orbit, facilitating accurate astronomical calculations and observations. In science, accurate measurement of time is crucial in fields such as physics and technology, while in culture, the leap year has had wide-ranging effects on societies, their traditions, superstitions and folklore, but also on economic cycles. The introduction of leap years indicates humanity’s continuous attempts to comprehend and coexist with nature. In the development of our calendar system, we tried to accurately track time, navigate the seasons and synchronise our activities with the rhythms of the sky. The current calendar – including the leap year – is the result of that diligent study over thousands of years, reminding us of the complex interactions between our lives and the cosmos. Victoria Nakafingo
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Discover the
TOP 5 EXPERIENCES to enjoy in the Zambezi Region
The Zambezi Region, a lush and vibrant wilderness in Namibia, beckons adventurers with its abundant wildlife and captivating landscapes. If you are planning a trip to Namibia, don't miss out on the must-do activities that this region has to offer. Here are our top five recommendations for unforgettable experiences in the Zambezi Region.
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1
GAME DRIVES It is no surprise that game drives top our list of must-do activities in this African paradise. With the possibility of encountering the Big Five and a plethora of other fascinating creatures, a slow cruise through the bush is an absolute must. While the dense foliage may present a challenge, spotting incredible wildlife is all the more rewarding. For the best wildlife sightings, head to Bwabwata, Mudumu or Nkasa Rupara national parks. Keep your eyes peeled for African wild dogs, elusive leopards and majestic lions. And during most seasons you can expect to encounter a delightful family of elephants during your drive. Other game include red lechwe, impala, kudu, bushbuck, tsessebe and even the elusive sitatunga. Be ready with your camera to capture breathtaking moments.
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BOAT CRUISES Nothing tops a sunset boat cruise. Whether you are on the Zambezi, Kwando, Linyanti or Chobe river, this is always the most awe-inspiring way to experience the region. Cruise along the winding waterways, past lazing pods of hippos and observing families of elephants on the banks. Drink a toast to a day filled with thrilling activities and to your good fortune to be in such a remarkable place. Most lodges and camps offer boat cruises, making it easy to experience this breathtaking activity.
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NATURE WALKS Walking on the wild side finds its true meaning in the Zambezi. Guided nature walks present a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with nature. Led by experienced guides, these walks allow you to explore the bush and discover the hidden wonders that lurk behind every tree. The exhilarating feeling of being so close to the surrounding wildlife is awe-inspiring.
ANGLING ADVENTURES Where there are rivers, there are fish, and the Zambezi's intricate waterways are no exception. Tiger fishing is a popular activity in the region. Known for their muscular bodies and razor-sharp teeth, tigerfish provide a thrilling challenge for freshwater game fish enthusiasts. Most lodges promote catch-and-release policies to ensure that the tigerfish continues to thrive. Ask for advice at your chosen lodge or campsite to find the best fishing spots. Most accommodation establishments in the region offer this exciting activity and guides are well-equipped to help you make the most of the adventure.
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BIRD WATCHING While the Zambezi Region is renowned for its wildlife, it is also a haven for bird enthusiasts. The area boasts a colourful array of bird species, from shy waterfowl to proud birds adorned with stunning plumage. You don't need to be an avid birdwatcher to appreciate the avian wonders that call the Zambezi home. The best times for bird watching are early in the morning and late in the afternoon when these winged beauties are active, perched or gracefully fluttering among the treetops. Of particular interest are Slaty Egrets, Hartlaub’s Babblers, Greater Swamp-warblers, Chirping Cisticolas and Swamp Boubous. Other noteworthy species include Coppery-tailed and Senegal Coucals, Wattled Cranes and Rosy-throated Longclaws. The much-loved African Fish Eagle, Carmine or Little Bee-eaters, Woodland or Pied Kingfishers and Goliath Herons are always favourites.
Visit our website for updated routes and schedules:
First published in the Summer 2023/24 issue of Travel News Namibia magazine. Subscribe to Travel News Namibia here: www.travelnewsnamibia.zinioapps.com
FlyNamibia between Eros Airport in Windhoek and Katima Mulilo three days a week.
TO KATIMA MULILO AND BEYOND
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Wellness
Going (back) to school
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A guide to new beginnings
rade 1, the first day of high school, starting with tertiary education, a new or first job, starting a new study course or engaging in the excitement of a gap year after school… These are all new beginnings.
It is difficult for parents to understand the emotions of their children when they start their school career with grade 1 and all subsequent phases. This experience is different for all individuals, even those in the same family. Parents often do not remember their emotions and experiences around starting their school career, and the environment, pressure and circumstances around the learning organisation is drastically different than a generation ago. “All grown-ups were once children… but only few of them remember it.” (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince, 1995) Although the above is true, it is also true that our brains enjoy predictable change tremendously and will grow and develop to adapt accordingly. A little bit of stress encourages brain development and growth, and this opportunity for growth should be embraced by all generations. Our brains and bodies only change with some amount of pressure. Unfortunately, too much unexpected change can be very stressful and ultimately harmful to our brains and bodies. Ensure that all that can be controlled is under control before your child’s (or your) first day at school, whether primary, secondary or thereafter.
and assist rather than criticise and rectify. “It is only with the heart that one can see clearly. What is essential is invisible to the eye.” (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince, 1995) In order to encourage your child (or yourself), reward effort rather than achievements. As a new endeavour such as starting a new school career has the potential to spur growth, having a growth mindset is essential. “The growth mindset contrasts with the fixed mindset in that rewarding actions rather than adjectives leads to a growth mindset.” (Huberman, 2023) Your child (or you) will be encouraged to take up big and difficult tasks if the action is rewarded but will avoid tasks that are perceived as too difficult if the adjective or noun is rewarded. “I love how hard you are trying to enjoy this day” is thus more effective than “You are the best grade 1 today!” Encourage yourself to embrace growth with every new learning by rewarding the effort you put into it and not your accomplishments. Do the same for your children. Enjoy growth! Dr. Marelise Calitz
Most of all, remember to tap into your child’s world… and your own. Recognise and appreciate feelings and try to support
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This is Namibia
Discovering the
Etosha National Park
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This is Namibia
The internationally renowned Etosha National Park – undoubtedly Namibia’s most popular tourist attraction – is the heart of the north-central region. The park serves as the ultimate stopover before heading for the arid northwest, the water-rich northeast, or the largely unexplored culturally rich Land of the Aawambo People.
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tosha owes its unique landscape to the Etosha Pan, a vast, shallow chalky white depression of approximately 5 000 km2 that forms the heart of the park. Once a large inland lake fed by the early Kunene River and rivers from the north, it began drying up about 3 million years ago when the Kunene was diverted to the Indian Ocean. A series of waterholes along the southern edge of the pan guarantee rewarding and often spectacular game viewing. In good rain years the pan fills with water draining southwards from Angola via a delta-like system of shallow rivers and oshanas, drying out in the winter to become an austere expanse of white cracked mud, shimmering with mirages and upward spiralling dust devils.
What we call Etosha today was proclaimed as Game Reserve No 2 in 1907 by the then German Governor Friedrich von Lindequist. With subsequent additions it became the largest game reserve in the world, covering a vast area of ±80 000 km2. For political considerations its size was progressively diminished, until by 1975 it had been reduced by 77 per cent to its present surface area of 22 912 km2. Nevertheless, it is still one of the largest game reserves in Africa. Of the 114 mammals species found in the park, several are rare and endangered, such as black rhino and cheetah, and the lesser-known blackfaced impala, which is endemic to northwestern Namibia and southwestern Angola. Etosha’s current population of black rhino represents one of the largest populations of black rhino in the world. Other large mammals in the park include elephant, giraffe, blue wildebeest, mountain and plains zebra, hyaena and lion. Cheetah and leopard complete the trio of ‘big cats’. Antelope species range from kudu, gemsbok and the large and stately eland, to the diminutive Damara dik-dik. Smaller mammals include jackal, bat-eared fox, honey badger, warthog and the ubiquitous ground squirrel. For the greater part of the year (the dry season) Etosha’s animals and birds are dependent on about 30 springs and waterholes. These provide excellent game viewing and photographic opportunities. A good policy before setting out is to enquire from camp officials what the current game movements are. During the rainy season, the bird life at the main pan and Fischer’s Pan is well worth viewing. Etosha’s vegetation varies from dwarf shrub savannah and grasslands, which occur around the pan, to thorn-bush and woodland savannah throughout the park. Eighty per cent of all of Etosha’s trees are mopane. West of Okaukuejo is the well-known Sprokieswoud – Fairy, Phantom or Haunted Forest – the only place where the African moringa tree, Moringa ovalifolia, grows in such a large concentration on a flat area. Etosha is open throughout the year and is accessible by tarred roads via the Andersson Gate on the C38 from Outjo, the Von Lindequist Gate in the east from Tsumeb on the B1, the Galton Gate in the west from Kowares on the C35 and the King Nehale Gate located on the Andoni plains just north of the Andoni waterhole, which provides access from the northcentral Owambo regions on the B1 from Onyati. Find more Namibian travel inspiration at www.thisisnamibia.com Follow @thisis_namibia on Facebook and Instagram for extraordinary Namibia travel stories.
TO ETOSHA AND BEYOND Visit our website for updated routes and schedules
FlyNamibia Safari between Hosea Kutako International Airport to Keerweder Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, Twyfelfontein, Etosha - Ongava, Etosha - Mokuti and Rundu.
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Windhoek to Victoria Falls
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The excellence compass
esmond Nikanor claims to be extra… ordinary! His advice for others wanting to live a life of excellence and His peaceful childhood and stable home success is to focus on the inputs. fostered a steady calmness that has made him a In a volatile world, what successful is in your control? Not h u m a n promotion, validation resources or even opportunity. specialist in one of the “Stick to what is in your Senior Manager HR and Strategy, NDTC toughest industries: control,” he says. “Stick to diamonds. being on time. Whatever you do, do it excellently, The Namibia Diamond irrespective of the outside Trading Company (NDTC) environment. Let the collects raw diamonds, output deal with itself. I sorts and values them have found that it always before selling them on does.” for Namibia’s benefit. This highly specialised Even though working with industry requires careful diamonds requires skill management of its and experience, Desmond uniquely skilled human finds it humbling. “What capital. As the HR and makes it most precious,” strategy manager at he says of the diamonds NDTC, Desmond has a they work with, “is that responsibility to uphold a we had nothing to do level of excellence. with it apart from being Namibian.” The NDTC has “The human resources the mandate to manage that you find [at NDTC] the natural resource, are highly specialised and Desmond has the people... They use their mandate to manage the experience, their gifting human resources. “The and their talent to look at NDTC relies on the skills of a diamond and determine those people. That’s really its value,” he tells 99FM the privilege that I have – with pride. “It’s such a to serve in this area.” niche skill, it’s almost like an art.”
Desmond Nikanor
Desmond has had bad leaders and good leaders and managed to learn something from all of them. His motivation and drive are internal. “I have this internal GPS,” he says. “It’s not a map, it is a compass... Very early I started [to discover] my purpose.” More recently, that purpose has come to include a young family. Now, Desmond finds it even easier to pursue excellence. “I am motivated by what it is that I need to do and in doing it excellently, well and diligently.”
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La Petite Ferme Where luxury meets landscape in the Cape Winelands
Photography Credit: Elise Kirsten
Poised against the majestic Franschhoek mountains in prime wine country, only an hour from Cape Town, La Petite Ferme commands a breathtaking view over the valley and offers an elegant sanctuary to those in the know. While this boutique hotel describes its accommodation as “traditional country-style luxury”, don’t be misled into thinking that La Petite Ferme, which translates to “The Little Farm”, embodies simple rusticity. Instead, it is a refined and tranquil retreat, with exceptional service – even by five-star standards.
TO CAPE TOWN AND BEYOND Visit our website for updated routes and schedules
FlyNamibia between Walvis Bay International Airport and Cape Town four days a week.
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It was a chilly September weekend when I visited, which is not atypical for the Cape. My husband and I, however, were happily ensconced in a boutique hotel that ensures guests are exceptionally comfortable at all times.
On arrival, we were offered a welcome drink. I selected a glass of Variation, a blend of Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvèdre, all grown on the premises and handcrafted by winemaker Wikus Pretorius. After explaining a little about the property and enquiring if we would like to do a wine tasting or enjoy a meal in the restaurant that evening, operations manager Samantha Swart led us to our room. We stayed in one of the five luxury Vineyard Suites, each with its private plunge pool. The hotel also offers five Manor House Suites and the newly opened Winery Suites, each with shared pools. Crossing the lawn in front of the restaurant, we walked under a gorgeous old oak tree and along a gravel pathway. Samantha unlocked the glass door to our unit, named Moresque, large and invitingly warm, with expansive windows that give you a staggeringly picturesque view over the valley. The room had a modern, uncluttered feel with warmth and character imbued by the art and the textures of the fabric on the headboard and the blanket at the foot end of the bed. Small touches like the on-trend marble coasters also added to the contemporary feel. The private plunge pool may be your favourite feature in summer but in the cool weather, mine was the crackling fireplace. While my husband explored the grounds, I lay on the couch watching flames flicker, as content as a napping cat. Besides the fireplace, a small example of attention to detail in the room – which caused me to feel almost euphoric – was
the choice of puffy yet flat pillows on the bed. In general, five-star hotels seem to think that the closer your head rests to heaven, the better. This is not true in my case, and I usually end up with a sore neck. When I complimented Samantha about the selection, she grinned and said, “I fought for those.” Later that evening, I was privileged to enjoy the finest plate of food I’d eaten in 2023 at La Petite Ferme’s restaurant. Head chef Lance Peters’ extraordinary samoosa starter showcased a complexity of flavour that elevated it far above the regular triangle of pastry that you might find at a corner café in the Cape Flats, and yet it remained true to its origins. The rest of the meal was just as mouthwatering and complimented by a bottle of Variation. The service and attention to detail are extraordinary at La Petite Ferme and when I asked marketing manager Lizelle Lazarus, “What are the most frequent compliments that you receive?” she responded without hesitation, “Our friendly, heartfelt service and the views!” My experience echoed these sentiments, and I was hardly surprised that the hotel received four accolades at the 2023 Haute Grandeur Global Hotel Awards, including Best Small Hotel in Africa. It was also named Best Luxury Boutique Hotel in South Africa and its restaurant Best Luxury Boutique Hotel Restaurant in Africa at last year’s World Luxury Hotel Awards. Positioned perfectly above the bustle of Franschhoek’s quaint Franco-inspired village, La Petite Ferme has easy access to the valley’s art galleries, fine restaurants and wine estates and the surrounding mountains also offer an array of hiking and mountain biking trails. However, once you set foot at La Petite Ferme you’ll find it hard to leave. Elise Kirsten
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Transforming wardrobes with
ROMANTIC ELEGANCE Aruasis Corsets
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Photography Credit: Shotbyalpo; Dipphotos
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s a fashion garment, the corset has transcended its historical role as a restraining undergarment meant to help women “snatch” their waists to socially acceptable standards.
Today, the corset has become a fashionable wardrobe staple worn as outerwear by many fashionistas. In Namibia, Aruasis Corsets is helping women add a bit of romance to their wardrobe with this timeless piece. Founder of the fashion brand, Isaura Roberto, sells corsets and guides her clients to style the pieces to suit their personalities. In a recent interview, the budding entrepreneur revealed the inspiration behind her foray into the world of corsets. “My passion for unconventional fashion inspired me to get into the business of corsets. I adore bold, glamorous and sexy styles, and I believe that corsets empower women to exude beauty, confidence and elegance.” Isaura emphasises the corset’s role in helping women embrace their femininity. “Wearing a corset improves posture, making you more poised and, consequently, looking and feeling good,” she notes. From her style perspective, Isaura says that corsets require minimal styling and are perfect for casual and more formal settings. “There is a corset for every occasion, from the most luxurious pieces to the more casual ones, and even some for corporate and formal looks. For me, there’s no rule book for styling a corset. Whatever you wear it with, it elevates your look, unlike a T-shirt or basic top. My only tip would be to match your colours appropriately.” Historically, corsets have been criticised for their impact on body image. The corset can cause damage if not used correctly as a waist training tool. At Aruasis Corsets, it is all
about promoting body positivity while celebrating a timeless fashion garment. “Corsets have existed since the 16th century. While they can be harmful when used wrongly, they are also seen as symbols of body positivity as they boost the confidence of those who wear them properly,” says Isaura. She adds that corsets can help women with body image issues to look at themselves in a positive light. “It completely changes the structure of your figure, giving you a beautiful shape and elevating confidence.” In terms of accessorising corset-centric looks, Isaura recommends minimal styling. “The only accessory I would recommend are earrings. Corsets already grab enough attention – they don’t need much elevation,” she says, adding that too many accessories can ultimately ruin the look. While trends come and go, the corset has stood the test of time. It has transformed over the years, with adaptations to current trends, but its general appearance has remained unchanged. Isaura sees the corset as an iconic fashion piece that will continue to inspire women who wish to embrace their femininity. “Women want to look good and feel good in their skin. Corsets represent femininity, and since they have been around for a very long time, corsets continue to complement whatever style is in fashion at any given time.” Notable Namibian celebrities who have effortlessly embraced the corset look include Maria Nepembe, Dillish Mathews, and Robyn Nakaambo. This month of love, consider tapping into your sultry side by incorporating a corset into your wardrobe. If you are already a corset connoisseur, explore new styles, from denim to silk, lace to pleather. There is a perfect style waiting for everyone. Rukee Kaakunga
FLYNAMIBIA FEBRUARY 2024
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Stay Connected. Purchase your Tourist Package. Experience the Land of the Brave with MTC. Get and activate your SIM card with your passport
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Promotion only valid from 01st December 2023 to 29th February 2024
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Enhanced Connectivity
for Tourists to Namibia
E
very holiday season is marked by an influx of tourists from across the world visiting our shores. The Namibian hospitality and tourism industry is always looking to add value to the experience of these holidaymakers wanting to embrace and explore our country of contrasting beauties. To that effect, Namibia’s premier digital enabler, MTC, has improved its service offering with tailor-made connectivity solutions for tourists choosing to sightsee the width and breadth of Namibia. Introducing the Leisure and Premium tourist packages – exclusively available at the MTC outlet at Hosea Kutako International Airport. The Leisure package, specially designed to offer affordable connectivity for visitors staying less than 30 days, and the Premium package, tailored to offer up to 30 days of connectivity, include data, free voice and SMS bundles to ensure that travellers to Namibia stay in touch with their loved ones, no matter how far they are from home. “These service offerings are specifically tailored to enhance tourists’ experience with cost efficiency and flexibility, and to be an essential travel companion for seamless communication on the journey. As you travel through Namibia, we invite you to feel at home with MTC Leisure and MTC Premium. Whether you are exploring the vibrant cities, scenic landscapes or cultural wonders of Namibia, these bundles ensure you stay connected, entertained and informed throughout your journey.” – Elton Katangolo, MTC GM: Sales and Customer Services. ABOUT MTC MTC was established in 1995 in a joint venture between the Namibian government (through Namibia Post and Telecom Holdings Limited, or NPTH, which held a 51% majority) and
two Swedish entities, Telia and Swedfund. In 2004, Swedfund and Telia sold their 49% shareholding to NPTH. In 2006, Portugal Telecom acquired a 34% shareholding in MTC. Portugal Telecom (through its subsidiary Africatel) offers fixed, mobile, multimedia, data and corporate solutions. MTC’s initial strategy was based on providing mobile services (first wave of the information era). The company realigned its strategy in response to a growing demand for web and ecommerce services during the internet era (second wave). After 2006, the third wave heralded smartphones, mobile applications and cloud services. In 2018, MTC became wholly owned by NPTH. On 19 November 2021, MTC was listed on the Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX), which saw a change in shareholding structure with private retail and institutional investors taking up 40% of MTC’s shares and NPTH retaining 60% ownership. MTC mobile network covers 97% of Namibia’s population and provides 87.4% of Namibians with access to mobile broadband. This makes MTC the dominant participant in Namibia’s telecommunications market, positioning it as the country’s digital driver of change.
To subscribe and activate a tourist package, dial *148#, follow the prompts and enjoy the endless possibilities of quality network connectivity across Namibia.
FLYNAMIBIA FEBRUARY 2024
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Photography Feature
ARNE KURSCHEIDT Arne Kurscheidt is a 23-year-old hobby wildlife photographer from Cologne, Germany. After a trip with his family to Namibia when he was 15, he fell in love with the country, its people and wildlife.
Arne Kurscheidt
“My first time in Namibia was in 2015 when I was on holiday with my parents for three weeks. Being 15 at the time, it felt like such a big adventure being so far away from home. During our trip, I was able to spend some time with the local people as well as experience the joys and beauty of being out in the African bush. I immediately fell in love with the country,” Arne says. Once back in Germany, Arne felt there was a big piece of him missing as if it was left behind in Africa’s southwestern corner. He was adamant about coming back and started making plans to do volunteer work once he graduated from high school. Finishing his schooling in 2018, Arne remained true to the promise made to himself and was soon on a plane heading to Namibia. “I worked as a volunteer from August 2018 to July 2019 on a farm close to Otjiwarongo. The work formed part of an environmental education programme where I learned and simultaneously taught about Namibian wildlife. The various animals and plants fascinated and amazed me.”
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Photography Feature
Arne visited Namibia again from August to November last year. Apart from seeing friends and travelling, he spent some time helping at a school project, called Tangeni Shilongo Namibia, in Swakopmund’s DRC neighbourhood. He also helped out at the Pangolin Conservation & Research Foundation.
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Encouraged by his father, Arne’s interest in photography started from a very young age. “I love capturing moments, especially when it is out in nature,” he says. Arne shoots on a Fujifilm X-T5 and is self-taught in his art. The images featured are from his last visit to Namibia. Although he takes photos of other subjects, he prefers photographing the natural world. “What I love about wildlife photography is not only to preserve the moments but also to capture the beauty of nature and to share it.” Follow Arne's Instagram account @a.kurscheidt_photograph to see more of his work.
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Photography Feature
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B2GOLD NAMIBIA SHOWCASES HOW GOLD MINING CAN POSITIVELY TRANSFORM LANDSCAPES, CREATING A POST-MINE CLOSURE LEGACY.
The Pivot
OVER THE PAST 4 YEARS, B2GOLD’S FARM ERHARDTSHOF, LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE OTJIKOTO MINE, HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED FROM A NON-PRODUCTIVE COMMERCIAL FARM INTO A LARGE-SCALE MAIZE AND WHEAT PRODUCER. In 2019, the development of the first phase of the pivot
under irrigation. In 2023 the project delivered a harvest of
irrigation project commenced, comprising of 60 hectares
close to 1,000 tonnes of maize. This project will become
of pivot irrigation systems. Since then the project has been
a meaningful contributor to Namibian food security in
expanded further and by the end of 2024, the project will
the future. It also creates a sustainable business that will
have been expanded to 180 hectares of commercial land
continue operating beyond the Otjikoto Mine’s existence.
DRIVING CHANGE
OUR 4 CSI PILLARS
health | education , arts and culture | livelihoods | environmental sustainability
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Local agricultural initiative boost
EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY WELL-BEING
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healthy diet is the cornerstone of a successful school career and in the Kavango West Region the Mungongi Agricultural Project has played a pivotal role in supporting local schools through food sponsors thanks to surplus harvests.
The Mungongi Agriculture Project grows a bounty of fresh vegetables such as cabbage, onions, tomatoes, green peppers, watermelon, pumpkin and more. This project has become the heart of the Musese village, where it is situated. Through the project, water is provided to the community, employment opportunities for individuals from the community have been created, and now school food donations have been added to the list of benefits deriving from this project. It is a true example of the power of community support and caring for others, enabled through public-private partnerships. Situated near the mighty Kavango River, an area where agriculture tends to thrive thanks to an abundance of water nearby, the Mungongi Agriculture Project employs traditional irrigation methods and has seen bountiful vegetable harvests that are sold in areas such as Rundu, Nkurenkuru and nearby communities. Previously, when harvests exceeded expectations, founder and manager of the project, Steven Mungongi, noted that this success meant extra pressure on them, because without adequate cool storage facilities the surplus production faced the unfortunate fate of going to waste. Recognising the potential impact on local communities, Mungongi Agricultural Project took a proactive step by donating a portion of their harvest to two schools.
Ntara Combined School and Olavi Sivhute Kangumbe Combined School were the recipients of this sponsor and explained that it was no ordinary sponsor because its impact has been invaluable. The principal of Ntara Combined School, Florinus Mpareke, explained the timely nature of the donation as learners were preparing for their examinations. In his words, “The sponsor has made a meaningful difference in the lives of our learners. Learners camp at the school during examination preparations, so your contribution is invaluable.” Kasanga Johannes, a Grade 11 learner at Olavi Sivhute Kangumbe Combined School, shared his perspective on the impact of the sponsor during the camping period, saying, “The sponsor played a major role – we appreciate the generous contribution.” Mungongi Agricultural Project received a significant boost from Debmarine Namibia, equipping them with essential agricultural tools. The collaborative efforts between Mungongi Agricultural Project and Debmarine Namibia showcase the positive outcomes of public-private partnerships, as well as highlight the significance of community support. As these agricultural endeavours contribute to the welfare of local schools, they underscore the potential for sustainable practices to bridge gaps and uplift educational experiences in Namibia. This project demonstrates how local agriculture can extend far beyond the boundaries of food production to positively impact other fields such as education, thereby fostering a sense of community well-being.
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A monthly wrap-up of News Worth Knowing NAMIBIAN PASSPORT RANKED 65 BEST IN THE WORLD
ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. The ranking is based on data provided by the International Air Transport Association, which maintains the world’s largest and most accurate database of travel information and is enhanced by the Henley and Partners research department. TRIGON METALS SET TO COMMENCE UNDERGROUND MINING AT KOMBAT
WITH
Namibia’s passport has been ranked 65 globally, according to the latest Henley Passport Index, granting visa-free access to 80 countries. This is a slip from the 62nd ranking last year which can be attributed to a reduction in the number of countries its citizens can visit without a visa after the United Kingdom introduced visa requirements for all Namibians late last year. Within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Namibia’s passport performs strongly. In comparison with neighbouring nations, Namibia ranks 5th, sharing the ranking with Lesotho. Seychelles holds the highest ranking in the region and the continent with a global ranking of 26 and the ability to travel visa-free to 156 countries. Mauritius, South Africa and Botswana are all ranked 30th, 53rd and 59th respectively. Meanwhile, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola have the lowest rankings in the region with 94th and able to travel to 46 countries and 88th and 53 countries each. While Somalia holds the lowest ranking in the continent with a 99th ranking. France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, as part of the European Union, align with Japan and Singapore in having the best passports globally. Citizens of these six nations enjoy visa-free access to an impressive 194 destinations out of 227 worldwide. Holding the top position on the index for the past five years, Japan and Singapore continue to dominate. The Henley Passport Index is the original, authoritative
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Trigon Metals announces preparations for the first phase of underground mining in early 2024 at Kombat mine, targeting an average copper grade of 2.6% over a 10-year mine life. This follows the completion of the dewatering of the underground mine, initiated in September 2023, with the company commencing an underground training program for staff in December 2023. “In 2023, we initiated open-pit mining operations at the Kombat Mine. In 2024, the underground Phase 1 will recommence, targeting an average copper grade of 2.6% with a 10-year mine life,” Trigon has announced. The company revealed that Epiroc Namibia has delivered brand-new underground utility vehicles, as the company gears up for the start of underground operations in early 2024. “The first phase of underground mining is scheduled to kick off in early 2024, and Underground training programs will continue for the next few months to ensure that our team is well-prepared to navigate the specific challenges associated with underground mining,” the company said.
Jed Richardson, President and CEO of Trigon, mentioned last year that the expansion of the mill’s throughput and the imminent initiation of underground mining are expected to triple the production profile while reducing production costs and enhancing profitability. “Now that open-pit mining has achieved commercial production, processing 1,000 tonnes per day of ore and shipping 250 tonnes of concentrate a week. It is important to understand work is well underway to expand the mill’s throughput and commence mining from the underground, leading to a tripling of production profile while lowering production costs and amplifying profitability,” said the CEO. In July and August 2023, the company installed two powerful 2.5MW submersible pumps in the main shaft at Asis West. Additionally, 7.2MW of emergency backup generators were put in place to guarantee uninterrupted power supply, a critical factor for efficient mining activities. Richardson noted that the water extracted from the mine is potable and is directed into an open canal that feeds reservoirs near Windhoek. Trigon undertook an extensive hydrogeology study to comprehend the water dynamics associated with the mine, demonstrating a commitment to environmental responsibility. Kombat Copper Mine in Namibia produced 901 concentrate tonnes in the month of October at a grade of 29.2% copper and 241 g/t silver. “In a month that saw the plant reach commercial production and our first concentrate sales, concentrate production topped expectations. We are on track to record an operating profit on October’s production and are very pleased with the efforts of the team and the performance of the mine and mill,” Richardson said.
The award, received by the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), recognises the country’s dedication to fostering innovation, cross-continental collaboration and entrepreneurship. This follows as Namibia’s startup ecosystem registered growth in the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2023 report. The country jumped three spots to secure its place within the top 90 globally. According to the report, Namibia is ranked in a highly competitive part of the index, where the gap in score between positions 82nd and 89th is 1%. “Given its ranking towards the bottom of this group, the opportunity to further improve its ranking next year is optimal,” the report reads. Namibia also retained its position as the second ranked country in Southern Africa, with a two-spot jump, Namibia is now the ninth best ecosystem in Africa while Windhoek is ranked the 651st ecosystem after an increase of 49 spots globally.
NAMIBIA WINS BEST STARTUP ECOSYSTEM IN AFRICA AWARD
“Regionally, Windhoek climbed by one spot to rank fourth in Southern Africa, overtaking Pretoria, South Africa. Windhoek maintained its rank in Africa at 22nd,” the report reads.
Namibia was awarded the Best Startup Ecosystem in Africa award, confirming the country’s commitment to its entrepreneurship resilience and supportive business environment.
The Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2023 report was conducted by StartUpBlink, a global start up map and research center that works to gain insights about trends affecting the global start up ecosystem.
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Advertorial
The new Showmax is
REVOLUTIONISING STREAMING FOR AFRICA
T
en months after MultiChoice, Comcast’s NBCUniversal and Sky announced a joint streaming vision for Africa, the new Showmax is here, featuring a refreshed brand and a massive content line-up, all delivered on a powerful new streaming platform.
At the heart of the new offering is the world’s first standalone Premier League plan for mobile, with all 380 games offered live on Showmax Premier League for just N$69 a month. In addition, there are two more Showmax plans available to customers in 44 African countries: Showmax Entertainment on mobile for an unbelievable N$39 a month at launch, as well as the Showmax Entertainment plan, with a monthly price change of N$89 to N$99. “There are currently just over 450 million smartphones in the hands of individuals across Africa… and more than 250 million avid football lovers on the continent,” says Marc Jury, CEO of Showmax. “Showmax Premier League is a game-changing product that gives individuals a ticket to the football they love, wherever they are, on the device they always have with them, at a price that’s impossible not to love.” “Africa is incredibly important to the Premier League and our clubs; 20% of TV audiences on any given matchday come from Africa,” says Richard Masters, Premier League CEO. “We are delighted with this Showmax initiative, which puts the Premier League in your pocket at a new price point so that millions more can enjoy our fantastic competition.” Core to the success of Showmax’s streaming ambitions in Africa is a new technical platform that is robust and built to scale. With the launch of Showmax, the Peacock streaming platform will be active in more than 70 countries and is continually enhanced by the combined expertise of thousands of engineers. The world-class platform has brought millions of viewers popular events such as Super Bowl LVI, the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 final, the Olympics and WrestleMania 39.
range of stars and stories across multiple genres. With no fewer than 21 new Showmax Originals launching in February alone, there will be more than 1,300 hours of Showmax Originals produced in the coming year, representing a significant 150% increase in production output compared to the year before. Complementing this powerful African content slate is an international offering that will give viewers cause for celebration. As a result of MultiChoice’s partnership with Comcast’s NBCUniversal and Sky, Showmax is guaranteed an ongoing supply of the world’s most popular titles from the media giant’s renowned brands, including Universal Pictures, Focus Features, NBC, Peacock, DreamWorks Animation and Telemundo. Showmax’s content offering is further boosted by its focus on the African market and strengthened by the vast creative and commercial presence already established by MultiChoice. “Nobody understands Africa like we do. Showmax is putting the continent first with a powerful streaming service that will revolutionise streaming in Africa in 2024,” says Calvo Mawela, MultiChoice Group CEO. With the content and platform providing strong foundations for the new Showmax, ease of access for customers is another key business priority. As the first streaming service in Africa to make mobile downloads possible for offline viewing and the first to launch a mobile-only plan, Showmax has now delivered incredibly competitive new price points, with a growing network of payment options available to customers. The new Showmax app will become available in app stores from 23 January 2024 onward, as part of a staggered migration process across 44 markets. This is an ongoing process that starts next week and will be completed in February this year. Existing Showmax customers will begin receiving communication with information on how to access the new app this week and by 12 February 2024 the new Showmax will be live in all markets.
Alongside the Premier League, the new Showmax also opens the door to a thrilling entertainment universe spanning a wide
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Omake Moment with the Namibia Trade Network
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Unveiling health beyond horizons
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Dr MacQ’s revolutionary medical excellence
n the vast expanse of remote environments or amidst the hustle of a traveller's journey, ensuring access to quality healthcare can be a daunting challenge. Dr MacQ, a trailblazer in remote medical solutions, rises to the occasion, delivering tailored healthcare solutions for diverse sectors, including tourism, mining, exploration, remote farming communities and touring sports teams and athletes.
PROACTIVE CARE Local health authorities often mandate annual food handler check-ups, a process that becomes cumbersome in areas devoid of nearby healthcare providers. Dr MacQ takes a proactive approach by dispatching its doctors annually to conduct these check-ups onsite. This not only ensures compliance with health regulations but also fosters engagement with staff, addressing their overall health concerns and well-being.
BRIDGING THE HEALTHCARE GAP One of the most pressing challenges in remote areas is the limited access to quality medical assistance. Local clinics, often situated an average of 45 km away, lack doctors and essential medications. Dr MacQ revolutionises healthcare access by offering on-demand telemedicine consultations at any time of day. This not only caters to the acute and chronic health conditions of staff in various sectors but also extends its services to tourists navigating the complexities of managing health issues in a foreign land.
Imagine a mining site where not only the machinery is welloiled but the workforce is routinely checked for health, ensuring a robust and thriving community. Dr MacQ’s commitment to regular health check-ups goes beyond meeting regulatory requirements; it is a testament to a holistic approach to wellbeing, where prevention is as crucial as cure.
Picture this: a mining community, miles away from the nearest town, where employees toil under the blazing sun. In such challenging environments, the need for immediate medical attention cannot be overstated. Dr MacQ’s telemedicine services become the lifeline, providing timely consultations, medical advice and even prescriptions, ensuring that health concerns do not become insurmountable obstacles. EMPOWERING ONSITE OPERATIONS Maintaining employee productivity and reducing operational costs are paramount concerns for organisations in remote areas. Dr MacQ addresses these challenges by providing onsite medication kits tailored to specific activities and regional risk profiles. Imagine a remote lodge where medical assistance is not just a phone call away but physically present, contained in a customised kit to address common ailments and chronic conditions. This proactive approach not only ensures the immediate availability of treatment for routine and chronic illnesses but also eliminates the need for costly transportation and staff rotation to access medical facilities. For tourists exploring remote landscapes, Dr MacQ’s commitment to superior customer care shines through by offering reassurance and advice on managing health issues in unfamiliar territories. A sprained ankle during a hiking expedition or an unexpected bout of illness becomes manageable with the right medical support, right there on the spot.
ANYTIME, ANYWHERE HEALTHCARE Dr MacQ’s network of online doctors, supported by a robust platform, extends its reach to patients across Namibia. The convenience of having a “doctor in your pocket” allows individuals to optimise their health in unfamiliar environments. Whether you are a miner in a remote excavation site or a farmer in a secluded community, the assurance of immediate medical consultation can make all the difference. In the realm of sports, where agility and peak performance are paramount, having a medical support system that travels with the team becomes invaluable. Dr MacQ becomes a seamless part of the touring experience, offering not just medical consultations but also personalised care plans to keep athletes in their prime. REDEFINING ACCESSIBILITY In the ever-expanding landscape of remote environments and global travel, Dr MacQ emerges as a beacon of medical care, offering tailored solutions that prioritise health, wellbeing and peace of mind. Whether on a mining site, a farm in the countryside, or a sports tour halfway across the globe, Dr MacQ ensures that healthcare is not a challenge but a readily available resource. With a commitment to breaking down barriers and providing accessible healthcare solutions for those in remote or transient settings, Dr MacQ embodies the vision of “health within reach”. The journey to optimal health should not be hindered by geographical constraints, and Dr MacQ stands at the forefront, shaping a future where healthcare transcends boundaries, ensuring that no individual is left without the care they deserve.
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Photography Credit: Supplied by Artist
Toufic Beyhum Amoji
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a picture. Through his process, Beyhum not only identified the power of iconography, but also recognised the pivotal role that African tradition plays in contemporary visual culture. Much like it inspired revolutionary art movements in the past, it maintains a robust connection to visualising human emotion and expression, even in the digital age.
Considering there are infinite variations and combinations to communicate with emojis, Beyhum took interest in exploring the dialect created in Namibia, and Africa in general. He conducted a casual survey to characterise emoji preferences and digital behaviours, which developed into the concept Amoji – short for “African emoji”. He found that everyone he spoke to is familiar with and uses emojis, with the exception of a few who refer to them as expressions. The majority use black emojis as opposed to light or neutral-coloured ones and the most popular ones are the smiling face with heartshaped eyes, the face with tears of joy, the grimacing face, the pleading face, the winking face with tongue, the crying face and the grinning face with squinting eyes.
In Amoji, Beyhum materialises universal digital icons into physical objects inspired by Namibian culture. The exhibition will be showcased at The Project Room on 9 February.
oufic Beyhum connects with his surroundings through the camera lens. The professional creative director and amateur photographer (by his own humble estimation) has always been candidly observant – whether on his daily commute in Berlin or attending Friday prayer in London – and is constantly in search of behavioural and sociological patterns and trends. Beyhum deliberately refrains from intervening in his environments, so as to provide his viewers with an honest, reportagelike account of the secrets that lie in the cultures that he encounters. Since relocating to Namibia, Beyhum continues to follow his natural urge to observe and report. While he encountered a unique culture in Namibia, he noticed that influences of digital communication have made their way through the fabric of society, in which Namibians, too, are speaking the universal language of emojis.
To visualise this phenomenon, Beyhum chose a comparatively primitive approach, in which he made it tangible and focused on capturing natural physical gestures that occur behind the mask of a particular emoji, rather than confronting it digitally. He collaborated with two local artists to create six emojis in the form of wearable traditional African masks, made from locally sourced material. In the months that followed, he drove around the country with the masks in a trunk and presented them to people, requesting them to select one for
Flexed Biceps is faceless yet instantly recognisable. Captured in daylight, the image shows the exterior anatomy of an arm with tense, flexed biceps. The arm pokes through the centre of the backdrop – a stretched, yellow and blue hive-patterned fabric. In the emoji world, the icon connotes physical and mental strength. While that interpretation is true to the image, Beyhum extends the meaning by contrasting elements from classical Western and African art. Historically, Western art placed significance on accurate realism and physical perfection, while African art focused on symbolism, cultural beliefs and functions. It is a particularly interesting combination, because most people relate to the symbol of strength in the image, and so it asserts the richness of African heritage and how it has become a major pillar in today’s global visual experiences.
Supplied by artist
The Project Room - Namibia www.theprojectroom.com.na
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Your recovery starts with us
M
edical Rescue Africa (MRA) is Namibia’s leading fixed wing Aeromedical Evacuation company specialising in the evacuation of critically ill and injured patients across Africa, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
MRA, through Westair Aviation, has a dedicated fleet of Air Ambulance aircraft on standby which have the ability to land on unimproved airstrips as well as to operate at night and in bad weather conditions. Air crews undergo regular refresher training, and all operations comply with the highest safety and quality standards. MRA has its own 24-hour Call Centre with trained and dedicated operators utilising state of the art equipment and aviation information technology. The Call Centre liaises with local and international Medical Aid, insurance and medical assistance companies to help facilitate and coordinate medical evacuations, and medical repatriation services. To ensure the best possible pre-hospital treatment to patients, MRA offers a 24-hour Road Ambulance at Eros Airport for transporting patients from the Airport to the treating Hospital. The MRA Ambulance is equipped to an ICU patient care level. MRA has a standard service-level agreement with all accredited ALS Ambulance Services across Namibia for effective Road Ambulance evacuation services should the requirement be to not activate the fixed wing Air Ambulance. MRA is led by a management team with extensive experience in medical response, evacuation and support operations.
Tel: 912 within Namibia or +264 83 339 0033 Internationally | Mail: mra@westair.com.na Web: www.medicalrescueafrica.com
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MUNNAM discusses pandemics and chronic diseases
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lose to 100 learners from 20 schools across Namibia discussed health topics on pandemics and chronic diseases at the 11th annual Model United Nations Namibia (MUNNAM) high school conference on the theme of “The Rising Burden of Chronic Diseases and Pandemics: Navigating Challenges and Innovating for Population Health Improvement.” “In diplomacy, the ability to debate becomes even more important. You could be dealing with someone who has very opposite views of you, but you have to understand and listen to and respect them,” said British High Commissioner to Namibia, His Excellency Charles Moore. The conference, in collaboration with the United Nations (UN), the British High Commission, World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture (MoEAC) aims to foster critical thinking, diplomacy and an understanding of international relations among learners. It provides a platform for young minds to develop their public speaking, research and teamwork skills while gaining insights into the complexities of global politics, ultimately offering a unique and enriching experience that encourages diplomacy, cooperation and appreciation for diverse perspectives. “The British High Commission has been actively engaged with the Namibian government across various critical sectors. This multifaceted collaboration encompasses support for economic development, trade, education and, notably, public health,” Moore added. LESSONS LEARNT “The COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be a stern educator, imparting invaluable lessons that we must not allow to fade into oblivion. It has underscored the necessity for robust and resilient healthcare systems, global collaboration, and innovative responses to public health crises. We must internalise these lessons to better equip ourselves for the challenges that lie ahead,” said the UN Resident Coordinator to Namibia, Hopolang Phororo. Calling on collaborative efforts from all, Phororo said active involvement of young generations, the pursuit of universal health coverage, the lessons gleaned from the COVID-19 crisis, the impact of Model UN, and the strength of joint partnerships constitute the pillars of each person’s response to this challenge. Anna Nghipondoka, the Minister of Education, Arts and Culture, advocates for the education sector’s pivotal role
in addressing global health challenges. “Namibia, like many nations, faces its share of chronic diseases, including prevalent conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. These chronic ailments place an enormous burden on our public health systems, affecting the well-being of our citizens and the sustainability of our healthcare infrastructure,” said Nghipondoka. Addressing the youth, the minister further stressed that MUNNAM is not just a simulation but a stepping stone to becoming informed, active and impactful global citizens. 2023 WINNERS Best Speaker: Stefan Becker from Windhoek High School represented the nation of the Republic of Colombia. Stefan’s eloquence and ability to convey compelling arguments set him apart, leaving a lasting impression on the delegates and the entire conference. Best Delegate: Kiran Wolf from Windhoek International School represented China. Wolf demonstrated outstanding diplomatic prowess and comprehensive knowledge of the topics at hand. Best Delegation: Lukas Neuhaus from Deutsche Höhere Privatschule (DHPS) and Kazuki Sadamoto from Windhoek International School represented the Russian Federation. Their cooperative efforts and exemplary diplomacy made them an unbeatable team. Best School: St Paul’s College, for its commitment to fostering excellence in its students and its remarkable overall performance during the MUNNAM conference. Best New School: Osire Secondary School enjoyed its first appearance at the MUNNAM conference. They were awarded for outstanding dedication and enthusiasm. The school was commended for its remarkable debut and promising future in the world of Model UN. ABOUT MODEL UN: The MUNNAM programme in Namibia, under the custodianship of UNIC Windhoek, is a flagship educational initiative that equips participants with invaluable life skills and a deeper understanding of the United Nations, multilateralism and the world at large. Participants gain expertise in research, public speaking, resolution writing, debate, negotiation and diplomacy, positioning them for success in their academic journeys and future careers. Maggie Forcelledo Paz
FLYNAMIBIA FEBRUARY 2024
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Business Beyond Profit Sai’s Kitchen transforms Havana with tradition and empowerment
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n the heart of Havana, an informal settlement in Windhoek, Saima Mukwiilongo is rewriting the narrative, turning a place often associated with challenges into a vibrant hub of culture and opportunity. Born and raised in this community, she decided to breathe life into Havana through Sai’s Kitchen, a traditional food restaurant that looks beyond its function as a business, focusing on community upliftment.
At this four-way stop everyone has something to sell, ranging from vegetables, fruits, second-hand clothing, Kapana, and more. Most sellers will either be standing in the sun or the lucky ones under the shade of old rainbow-coloured umbrellas.
To get to Sai’s Kitchen, you have to follow a dusty gravel road beginning at the famous open markets called Havana Fourway.
On the walls are some beautiful drawings in pink and blue chalk, with some hanging plants for decoration.
Arriving at Sai’s Kitchen, you will see a double-story zinc shack painted in maroon. Inside, yellow-painted cardboard divisions give the space a vibrant look.
It’s not hard to give back to your community. It does not have to be money, but there’s something about giving back to a place that raised you.
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“It’s not hard to give back to your community. It does not have to be money, but there’s something about giving back to a place that raised you,” she says. Saima’s dedication to her community goes beyond the kitchen. Every Saturday, Sai’s Kitchen cooks for a soup kitchen in Havana, embodying the spirit of giving back and inspiring others. Despite early financial struggles, the initiative flourished, and Saima’s perseverance paid off when her profits soared to N$5,000 after years of humble earnings. After two years of making less than N$300 a week, she recalls telling her best friend, “Bra, I made my first 5k,” adding, “It felt so good, man!” KEEPING THE CULTURE ALIVE Sai’s Kitchen stands as a beacon of culture – adorned with vibrant colours and an inviting atmosphere. Tourists and most locals, initially hesitant due to misconceptions about informal settlements, now flock there to experience local flavours.
Saima Mukwiilongo
Saima not only serves traditional dishes but also educates tourists on the preparation and sourcing of ingredients. Overcoming stereotypes, Sai’s Kitchen has become a testament to the rich cultural heritage within Havana.
GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
SUSTAINABILITY
Saima’s journey began in 2017 when she transformed a onebedroom shack into a kitchen selling mopane worms, chips and chicken. Starting with just her cousin as her partner, Sai’s Kitchen today employs 12 women from the community. Saima, fuelled by a desire to combat high unemployment and poverty, utilised her student refund from the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund to venture into traditional food, aiming to preserve the fading cultural heritage of her community.
In addition to her kitchen, Saima tends a small garden in Brakwater, growing spinach and raising goats and chickens. The garden not only supplements Sai’s Kitchen with fresh produce but also embodies Saima’s commitment to sustainability.
In the face of challenges, Saima’s business took a remarkable turn in 2019. She started free cooking lessons to support young girls in her area with dreams of being cooks, empowering them with culinary skills. “At the time I had few customers, so I started the free training. At first, only two ladies showed up. I almost gave up. During the second phase, things improved, and I had 10 young ladies – the majority from Havana, but some from Wanaheda too,” says Saima. To continue with her business, she began cleaning houses as a part-time job to reinvest back into her business. Looking back at those early days, she says: “I remember only being able to cook two chickens per day because the stove was too slow, and when it rained the whole area got flooded. Sometimes customers made me feel bad for having a business in Havana. They would say, ‘Your food is good, but you are in Havana. On a gravel road? Never mind!’” Saima chooses to support local. She gets her ingredients from Havana Fourway and supports the lady vendors selling on the streets.
“I came up with the garden as part of sustainability and also a tribute to my late brother who loved plants. We already started getting spinach from our garden,” she says. She ultimately envisions a self-sufficient kitchen, sourcing local ingredients and empowering the community through shared resources. Saima’s journey with Sai’s Kitchen is more than a culinary venture – it is a story of resilience, empowerment and cultural preservation. Through her efforts, Havana is not just a settlement but a thriving community with a taste of tradition and a promising future. “All I want is to continue supporting that girl child and letting her realise that regardless of where you come from your dreams are worth it,” she concludes. Due to popular demand, Sai’s Kitchen now has a kitchen in town, providing opportunities for unemployed Namibians. Sai’s Kitchen can be found in Havana, Eneas Peter Nanyemba Road and Angola Street, and in town you can visit Sai’s Kitchen in Ausspannplatz, Rehoboth Road at Kings Lounge. Get in touch with Saima at saiskitchen93@gmail.com. Sophie Tendane
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WALVIS BAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
The Walvis Bay International Airport is the second major gateway that is developed and managed by NAC. The Airport is strategically located in the dunes of the Namib Desert about fifteen (15) kms from the harbor town of Walvis Bay. The Airport will give you easy and timely access to the mesmerizing Namibian coastline which also hosts the historic town of Swakopmund as well as the famous dunes in the Namib Desert. Boasting a revamped state of the art terminal building opened in 2016, the Airport handles daily flights to Windhoek, Johannesburg and Cape Town, while enjoying the spectacular scenes of the Namib Desert, the world’s oldest desert. Walvis Bay International Airport is a prime leader in cargo handling for marine, coastal and mining activities in the area. For travel schedules and more, contact the airport information office at: Tel: +264 64 271 100 | Email: communications@airports.com.na Find us at
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Economic Pulse
Navigating 2024 Global economic normalisation, electoral crossroads, and Namibia’s path to recovery
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ith 2024 well underway, now seems to be an opportune time to look at what the year is expected to have in store in terms of the larger global economic outlook and what it means for Namibia.
Looking at current forecasts for the year, it is tempting to describe the global economic outlook for 2024 as one of “normalisation” for the first time this decade. Inflation is easing across the world, which should prompt central banks to start pivoting from restrictive monetary policy, and the risk of a US recession has receded. However, if there is one lesson to be taken from the last four years, it is that the world is unpredictable, with geopolitical tensions a particular concern at present. One aspect of the year ahead that is perhaps not so normal is the scope of general elections the world will be seeing. We looked at this in depth in last month’s edition, in which we mentioned that voters in countries representing 41% of the world’s population and 42% of its gross domestic product will have a chance to elect new leaders during the year. Of course, the election that is likely to be the primary focus of news outlets, investors and foreign governments is that of the United States, where the age of the incumbent, Joe Biden, is as much of a concern to voters as the unpredictability of his likely opponent, Donald Trump. A win for Trump, which is what polls are currently suggesting, could bring sharp policy reversals in 2025 and see import tariffs implemented against trade partners like Europe and rivals like China, who will likely retaliate in kind. The global, and particularly the US economy, has shown surprising resilience, as the most forecasted recession in history has yet to make its landfall in the face of the most aggressive global tightening of monetary policy in decades. Central banks, such as the US Federal Reserve, have been fighting inflation by raising interest rates since March 2022. Typically, implementing monetary tightening tends to trigger a recession, as slowing rampant inflation is in some ways similar to deflating a balloon: it is difficult to do it gently. But it does seem as if the Fed is on the right track. They are treading a fine line, though. If the Fed is wrong, cutting interest rates too soon will act as an unnecessary stimulus and inflation will reaccelerate, much like we saw in the 1970s, which is what they are trying to avoid. Supply chains, which were disrupted by the pandemic, are just about righted, labour shortages have eased and inflation in the US is set to end the year at around 2.5%, just above the Fed’s target, which should give them some leeway to start easing the relatively tight monetary policy of the last two years.
We are similarly expecting the rate-cutting cycle to start in South Africa towards the middle of the year, with the market currently pricing in three 25-basis-point cuts by the end of the year, although this will of course depend on the incoming inflation data. However, Namibia’s monetary policy path going forward is somewhat less certain, as the country’s repo rate is already 50 basis points below that of South Africa. While we do not expect to see further rate hikes, unless the Bank of Namibia (BoN) has to prevent further capital outflows to higher yielding investments in South Africa, it is by no means a certainty that the BoN will immediately follow suit once the South African Reserve Bank starts cutting rates, as the 50-basis-point buffer will need to be closed at some point. That being said, we do expect to see some cuts by the BoN this year and are therefore anticipating monetary policy normalisation both globally and locally. As briefly mentioned earlier, one of the bigger risks to what should otherwise be a “normal” year, is global geopolitical tensions. The war in Ukraine, the Israel-Gaza conflict and the tensions over Taiwan have all been well documented. Each of these regions are at a geopolitical crossroads, where influential nations hold significant stakes: the Middle East grapples with issues surrounding oil and trade routes, Eastern Europe navigates challenges related to stability and power dynamics, and East Asia faces intricate considerations regarding advanced technological supply chains. Locally, the economic outlook looks more optimistic. The year started off with yet another “significant” light oil discovery at Galp Energia’s Mopane-1X exploratory offshore well. We expect to get a better idea of the potential sizes of the various oil finds of the last couple of years once the results of the various appraisal and well flow tests are published later this year. Namibia’s post-pandemic economic recovery has not been broad based, with certain sectors, such as construction, still feeling the pain from the economic contraction that started in 2016, while others, like mining and tourism, have been thriving and are expected to continue doing so in 2024. As we embark on the journey through 2024, the global economic landscape appears poised for a period of normalisation after years of unpredictability. With supply chains reworked, labour supply has risen in the developed world and inflation has eased. The year holds promise for continued recovery, exploration and adaptation, underscoring the dynamic and unpredictable nature of the economic landscape.
IJG believes in tailoring their services to a client’s personal and business needs. For more information, visit www.ijg.net.
Danie van Wyk Head of Research, IJG Securities
NETWORK
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THE MARULA TREE A cultural hub and natural resource in Namibia
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Scientific name: Sclerocarya birrea Common name: Marula Marula trees are well-known and naturally occur in Namibia’s north. Their large canopies provide ample shade against the harsh summer sun and their fruits are used for a wide range of products. Let’s take a closer look at this interesting tree. A well-rounded crown of medium-sized oval compound leaves characterises the marula tree. Its bark ranges from smooth to rough dark grey scales resembling dried, curledup patches of mud in a riverbed. No scientific qualification is needed to identify this unmistakable tree. Although the marula tree usually flowers from the month of October to January, some trees flower earlier and some later. This means fruiting can occur any time from January through to April and sometimes even as late as May. The peak fruit harvests are typically during the months of February and March. The fruits of the marula tree have an irregular round shape with a tough green skin which becomes a pale yellow when ripe. Their texture and appearance are comparable to that of mangoes, and they are approximately the size of a strawberry. Traditionally, women from any household invite fellow women – usually friends and neighbours – to gather the harvest from under one of the marula trees using clay pots, buckets and cow horns. It is the task of the children to collect the fruits that have already fallen in heaps under the tree a day before the women get to work. The cow horn is used to puncture the fruit, easing the process of squeezing the juice from the fruit by hand into the clay pot or bucket. The juice is left to ferment at the homestead where the women’s gathering takes place. The skins of the fruits are left to dry in the field and may serve as fertiliser for the crop fields. The seeds are usually placed in a bucket where water is then added to make a drink known as Oshinwa – a nonalcoholic drink mostly enjoyed by children. Upon finishing the Oshinwa, the seeds are thrown out on the ground to dry in the sun. It takes months for the seeds to dry. The earlier the flowering, the earlier the fruiting and the earlier the clay pot with marula wine can be placed at the
centre of the gathering of family and friends quenching their thirst after weeding their fields. This leads the way for laughter, folktales and general discussions or updates about the village, the constituency, as well as regional, national and even global affairs. It is a social gathering of sorts that unites the neighbourhood. The Aawambo tribe have an annual celebration known as the Omagongo festival (translating to marula wine festival) to which all the tribes in the country are invited. Last year this celebration was hosted by the Ombalantu Traditional Authority in Omusati Region and this year the Ondonga and Ombandja Traditional Authority will host it. The elders seem to have explored beyond just fermenting the juice, managing to crack open the dry seeds and study its anatomy. This led to the discovery of the kernel. Not only did they attempt tasting it and liked it, but they also recognised the potential of extracting oil from it. Prior to the modern times of cold-pressing marula oil using machinery, the women used to hit the edges off the seeds by placing the seed on an axe and hitting it with a medium-weight piece of cylindrical wood. The process of extracting the oil from the kernels is quite complex but simple for the experts who know how to use the big traditional pestle and mortar. Oil extracted from the kernels is referred to as Ondjove, a condiment enjoyed with delicacies such as marathon chicken or wild spinach after further preparing it by heating it until it produces a unique aroma. The aroma signifies that it is ready for use once cooled. The significance of the uncooked oil is that it can be used directly on the skin and hair, serving as a perfect moisturiser with no scent and a stimulator for healthy hair growth and glow. The kernels can also be pounded and mixed by hand in a bowl with cold water to make a paste that can be cooked and served with marathon chicken or dried meat, among other traditional foods. Recent exploration of value addition includes making jam syrup. The marula tree is easy to propagate, as it can be grown from seed or grafting – a practice which I encourage to ensure healthy populations of the marula tree within communities considering qualities such as sweetness and kernel size. Agnes Shivute
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AVIATION INSURANCE AIRCRAFT CREW
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DID YOU KNOW?
This month in history:
Celebrate, observe and take part!
February 11, 1990 February 3, 1959 Referred to as “the day the music died”, rock ‘n roll musicians Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and J. P. Richardson (aka The Big Bopper) are killed in an aeroplane crash in Iowa, United States.
Nelson Mandela is released after 27 years of imprisonment.
04 February World Cancer Day
February 16, 1990 The Constituent Assembly unanimously elects Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma as the first President of the soon-to-be independent state of Namibia.
February 4, 2004
14 February
Mark Zuckerberg creates the Facebook social media platform.
Valentine’s Day
February 24, 2022 February 6, 1935 The board game Monopoly first goes on sale.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announces the start of a “special military operation” in Ukraine to “demilitarise” the country moments before Russia launches an illegal full-scale invasion amid international condemnation.
19 February World Pangolin Day
FUN FACTS ABOUT FEBRUARY:
21 February International Mother Language Day
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Leap Day
The goal of Sudoku is to fill a 9×9 grid with numbers so that each row, column and 3×3 section contain all of the digits between 1 and 9.
EASY
2
29 February
5 9 2 7 8 6 3 1 4
SUDUKO
February is named after the Latin word februum, which means purification.
6 8 3 9 1 4 7 2 5
February is associated with the Amethyst gemstone, which is believed to bring courage and inner strength to the wearer. The Ancient Greeks believed it could prevent drunkenness.
1 7 4 2 5 3 9 8 6
February is the shortest month. As 2024 is a leap year, the month has 29 instead of 28 days. Leap years occur every four years.
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Love Namibia
That Look | Hippos lack the ability to swim or stay afloat; instead, they traverse or stand on submerged surfaces such as sandbanks.
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