FlyNamibia July 2022

Take me home! Your free copy

ISSUE 8 |8 JULY 2022 ISSUE | JULY 2022

www.flynamibia.com.na flynamibia safari | adventure | lifestyle |

conservation | economic pulse | looking global | explore waterberg

GOOD TODAY. BETTER TOMORROW.

from the publisher

Stories in FlyNamibia Magazine. are compiled by Venture Media’s content team, in partnership with Tribefire Studios and freelance contributors.

FIRE

This is us.

ISSUE 7 | JUNE 2022

www.flynamibia.com.na flynamibia safari | adventure | lifestyle |

“But how could you live and have no story to tell?”

- Fyodor Dostoevsky

conservation | economic pulse | looking global | explore cape town

Take me home! Your free copy

Take me home! Your free copy

ISSUE 8 | JULY 2022

www.flynamibia.com.na flynamibia safari | adventure | lifestyle |

conservation | economic pulse | looking global | explore kaokoland

Cover Image: Charene Labuschagne

A

is for Awesome... and Ads. To advertise in FlyNamibia magazine contact fly@venture.com.na.

Venture Publications (Pty) Ltd. PO Box 21593 Windhoek Namibia info@venture.com.na

Read this issue online!

extraordinary Namibian stories. publishing. content generation. content marketing. print. film. digital.

CONTENT IS

and also

by Tribefire Studios

FLYNAMIBIA JULY 2022

1

contents Table of

Content is Fire

01

Collaboration is the future. FlyNamibia Magazine is a compilation of Namibian stories sourced

by Venture Media that entertain and surprise with interesting topics, introducing you to a new generation of trendsetters and Namibian personalities.

Welcome on Board 17

08

Fashion Fierce

10

Excited about all things FlyNamibia.

What's new, hot, and happening in the Namibian Fashion sphere .

Life on a Table

13

Warm up this winter with Marianne's Condensed Milk Rusks.

Shop Local-ish

14

The most unique local lifestyle brands and products that will guide, motivate and inspire you to express your identity.

The Tribe

17

Ethnix on their journey to global fame.

18

Le Pain Cafe

18

The uncontested best bakery in town.

10 Minutes with Local Taste Makers

21

Why you should meet your heroes, and why Tanya Turipamwe Stroh should be one of yours.

WHAT'S HAPPENING

23

Don't miss any of these exciting upcoming events.

15 Min Sweat Set with Ena

25

There is always time for a workout.

33 2

Good Vibes Only Your monthly dose of feel good news from Namibia and abroad.

26

Wellness

29

Economic Pulse

30

Your self-worth should not come from being productive or busy.

Good on paper: the truth about ESG Investing.

Royal Hustlers

33

Coach, speaker, training facilitator, mentor and female truck-driver Beatrice Schultz.

Looking Global

34

Jabu: the Namibian logistics start-up making strides and simplifying the supply chain.

Photography Feature

38 38

Tich Mupeti on images that carry significance beyond simply looking good.

The Village Garden

43

Delicious grub and immaculate vibes at Liliencron street’s newest restaurant.

INTERWOVEN

44

Bellhaus Atelier and Galerie collaborates with Karakulia Weavers and the results really tie a room together.

Kabelo Kim Modise

49

Taking a leap of faith to pursue his calling as an artist.

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

52

49

Spitzkoppe BAR-HP festival from the point of view of someone who does not like techno.

This is Namibia

58

Superb natural beauty of Waterberg Plateau Park.

Tourism Story

60

Combining technology and traditional San knowledge to save the world’s most trafficked animal.

Did You Know?

63

Fun facts, important dates and Sudoku.

53 FLYNAMIBIA JULY 2022

3

Purchase all your favourite CYMOT products online!

info@cymot.com +264 61 295 6000

www.cymot.com

Need To Knows. with FlyNamibia

How to buy

a ticket online Choose your ticket Select which tickets you would like to purchase. We offer multiple fare options such as: Saver, Classic or Premium

Passenger details Please enter names as they appear on passport or travel documentation

More options for the perfect trip Baggage policy, sporting equipment, over weight luggage or to add an additional bag(s)

Additional flight information / rules Read up on all our additional information reagarding terms and conditions, and tick the selection box once completed to continue.

LOGIN to upload passenger details from previous booking.

Payment

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a payment?

Cash payment at: Eros Airport, Ondangwa Airport, Oranjemund Airport

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Luggage

restrictions Items NOT allowed in hand luggage: Lotions and aerosols above 100ml, flammable aerosol, sharp objects, i.e. nail files, nail scissors, Leatherman, matches.

MAX 20kg

Per person

FLYNAMIBIA JULY 2022

5

Ondangwa - Toivo ya Toivo

Eros Airport

Oranjemund Cape Town

6

FLIGHT SCHEDULE

CONNECTING YOU TO

Windhoek, Ondangwa, Rundu, Katima Mulilo, Cape Town, Sossusvlei, Swakopmund and Etosha

DOMESTIC FLIGHTS FROM

DAYS

DEPARTURE

ARRIVAL

Windhoek

Ondangwa - Toivo Ya Toivo

TO

Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun

07:00

07:50

Ondangwa - Toivo Ya Toivo

Windhoek

Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun

08:40

09:30

Windhoek

Ondangwa - Toivo Ya Toivo

Tue, Thu, Fri, Sun

16:00

16:50

Ondangwa - Toivo Ya Toivo

Windhoek

Tue, Thu, Fri, Sun

17:40

18:30

Windhoek

Rundu

Mon, Wed, Fri

08:00

09:30

Rundu

Windhoek

Mon, Wed, Fri

10:10

11:40

Windhoek

Katima Mulilo

Wed, Fri, Sun

11:00

12:25

Katima Mulilo

Windhoek

Wed, Fri, Sun

13:10

14:40

Windhoek

Oranjemund

Mon, Thu

12:20

13:50

Oranjemund

Windhoek

Mon, Thu

14:30

16:00

DAYS

DEPARTURE

ARRIVAL

Cape Town

Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri

06:50

08:50

Cape Town

Windhoek

Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri

09:50

11:50

Windhoek

Cape Town

Sunday

14:00

16:00

Cape Town

Windhoek

Sunday

17:00

19:00

REGIONAL FLIGHTS FROM Windhoek

TO

SAFARI FLIGHTS FROM

DAYS

DEPARTURE

ARRIVAL

Swakopmund

Sossusvlei

TO

Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun

09:00

09:40

Sossusvlei

Windhoek

Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun

10:20

11:10

Windhoek

Etosha

Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun

12:10

13:10

Etosha

Windhoek

Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun

13:50

14:50

Windhoek

Sossusvlei

Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun

15:50

16:40

Sossusvlei

Swakopmund

Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun

17:20

18:00

Windhoek

Sossusvlei

Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun

16:30

17:30

www.flynamibia.com.na

+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.

8

Welcome

ON BOARD

W

e are officially in the second half of 2022 and what a busy year it has been so far, June being no exception.

Firstly and most importantly, on 24 June we celebrated three years of FlyNamibia, Namibia’s first privately-owned passenger airline. How much has happened within those first three years! The first flight schedule consisted only of flights to and from Windhoek to Oranjemund and Ondangwa. Within four months our first international destination, Cape Town, was added. Today, apart from the above, we also offer scheduled flights to Rundu and Katima Mulilo. And FlyNamibia Safari, launched earlier this year, services the top tourist destinations: Sossusvlei, Swakopmund and Etosha National Park. As it is our passion to spread FlyNamibia’s proverbial wings ever wider, constant hard work behind the scenes will add even more exciting destinations to our route network.

Newly appointed Face of FlyNamibia, Joyce Nghiishililwa, had her first-ever taste of air travel in May on one of our FlyNamibia Safari flights to Swakopmund, and in June she

flew on one of our Embraers for the first time. Not even the chill of a cold winter's morning could dampen her infectious excitement as she boarded the aeroplane for a 7 am flight to Ondangwa. The day was spent browsing at Ondangwa’s open market and exploring the manyfaceted Ongula Village Homestead Lodge. Read about her adventures in the north in our August issue.

At the end of June FlyNamibia joined stakeholders as part of a roadshow in the Zambezi Region. The aim of the roadshow was to find out how to better serve the needs of our tourism industry. Further roadshows will take place in Windhoek and Swakopmund during July.

As always, we hope you have a pleasant flight with us.

Remember to keep warm this winter!

FlyNamibia is proud to partner with TravelStart. Our airline is part of the TravelStart booking system and live on all its platforms. Flights with us can also be booked through all major travel agencies, or directly via FlyNamibia’s 24/7 contact centre at +264 83 339 0011.

Visit www.flynamibia.com.na for online bookings.

FLYNAMIBIA JULY 2022

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10

Photo credits: Addie Films; Blind Agency; Contributed

Fashion Fierce

What’s been happening in Namibian fashion A roundup of all the exciting local fashion events to look out for

W

e are halfway into the year and while we are reflecting on how far we have come we are excited for everything that lies ahead of us for the rest of the year. For Namibian fashion, it’s been a busy six months with the sector generating a buzz. So here is a roundup of everything you should know…

New collections and the return of old favourites Some of our favourite fashion brands have dropped new gems which are perfect to wrap up the winter season in style.

Following their debut collection,the talented trio of designers at Nayoo released new pieces, sticking to their take on wearable fashion that features textiles and prints unique to Namibia’s cultural heritage. Leah Misika on the other hand is helping us all stay on trend this winter by bringing back her popular pleather beret, which is the perfect accessory on a chilly day.

Other new local fashion drops to look out for include Proud

By Pewa’s lovely knit sets. And for the guys: winter will have nothing on you with the Pom Couture and MN Creations bomber jackets.

Namibian Museum of Fashion opens in Otjiwarongo After the online version of Namibia’s first museum of fashion was launched last year, we were all eagerly awaiting the opening of the physical museum. Just as promised by the Museum Association of Namibia (MAN), it was inaugurated on June 1st. A MAN collaboration with the Gerda Henkel Foundation and the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, the Museum of Namibian Fashion features historical clothing and accessories from Namibia’s diverse cultures. The museum galleries also display the works of contemporary fashion designers who are inspired

by Namibia’s cultural diversity. The new museum in Otjiwarongo is taking Namibian fashion to the people.

Awards season draws closer If you are a proud supporter of Namibian fashion creatives, you will be delighted to know that one of the Katutura Fashion Week Award nominations is up for votes. Another round of nominations to look forward to are those for the Simply You Magazine and Lifestyle and Fashion Awards, which is one of the leading fashion and entertainment events on the Namibian events calendar.

Once again, stylists, fashion designers and models will be vying for the chance to walk away with an industry award that adds credibility to their portfolio.

MTCtv+ – An opportunity for fashion creatives Launched at the swanky Café Capri, the MTCtv+ platform provides an opportunity for local fashion creatives to showcase their work to a broader audience. The premium ondemand platform features music, lifestyle, sports fashion, education and entertainment content for viewers to access from the comfort of their homes.

“As we drive an inclusive Namibian digital economy and foster innovation and digitalisation, MTCtv+ will also provide opportunities for local and regional artists and content creators to use the platform to access digital natives by streaming their content directly to our customers”, MTC Chief Human Capital and Corporate Affairs Officer Tim Ekandjo said at the launch. For an introverted fashion lover like myself, this site could be the perfect answer to the question of how to keep up with fashion events without actually attending them. A genius idea if you ask me.

Whether you are on the lookout for local fashion events or an opportunity to update your collection of original Namibian designer items, there are a host of exciting opportunities to do so right away.

Rukee Kaakunga is a Windhoek-based Communications Specialist, Blogger and Freelance Fashion Writer. Contact her via email: rukeekaakunga@gmail.com and follow her on Twitter @rukeeveni and on Instagram @rukeekaakunga.

FLYNAMIBIA JULY 2022

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12

Hentie Burger

Foodies

MARIANNE’S CONDENSED MILK RUSKS 1.5 kg self-raising flour 250 ml sugar 10 ml salt 15 ml aniseed 250 g butter 1 x 397 g tin of condensed milk 375 –500 ml of water

• • • • • • • • •

Sieve all the dry ingredients together.

Add the aniseed and mix.

Rub butter into dry mix until crumbly.

Add the water and condensed milk gradually and mix to form a stiff dough.

Roll into balls and put in greased bread pans.

Bake at 180°C for 1 hour.

Remove from the oven and let cool.

Break or cut into rusks.

Dry out in a lukewarm oven overnight

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 JULY 2022

13

RAGS It is no secret that thrift is the new black. If you are into thrifting, yet weary of the sometimes limited options in Namibia, you will be happy to know that RAGS exists.

With consistent stock drops on their Instagram profile, you might find yourself setting timers for when the next lot of curated, upcycled and ridiculously cute items are posted.

RAGS sells out in a flash, which is part of the fun, and the bidding items (which require you to make an offer in the comments) are always a tug of war between the coolest thrifters on the block. @rags.collection

SHOP LOCAL-ish

The most unique local lifestyle brands and products that will guide, motivate and inspire you to express your identity.

BIRKE DEDIG Art that truly makes your soul move is hard to come by. Oftentimes, abstract art has the ability to capture your mind’s eye and without knowing how or why, speaks to you in a language only you thought you understood. Birke Dedig is a self-taught Namibian artist specialising in depicting raw emotion on canvas. She does not merely paint things, she paints feelings and experiences in interpretive colours and textures. Birke’s colour palette includes brilliant blues and deep earthy reds, complemented by striking pops of yellow hues. Her process involves expressing nuanced emotions through shapes, colour and texture until a state of utter tranquillity is achieved, it is then that she knows the artwork is complete. Birke sells her magnificent paintings via Instagram, where you can view her catalogue as well as contact her for commissioned pieces that will make a truly unique addition to your home or office space. @a.r.t_online

14

STRETCH LENNY POTTERY Food and drink just taste better out of beautiful ceramics, right? So before you host your next dinner party or high tea, invest in Stretch Lenny’s beautiful pottery. Named after owner Martin Harris’ four-legged friend, this local pottery studio incorporates neutral Namibia-inspired colours and prioritises ergonomic design. Stretch Lenny is the perfect pottery studio for all your cup, bowl, jar and jug needs. Plus, every now and then Martin posts a picture of Lenny assisting in the studio. Bonus! @stretch_lenny_pottery

ARUASI’S CLOSET If your grandmother didn’t leave you any heirloom corsets, there is no need to fret! Aruasi's Closet is ready to plug you with jaw-dropping vintage corsets. Elegant lace pieces, edgier black staples and statementpatterned corsets define the range, but everything in between is just as gorgeous. Whether it zips, clips or laces up, at Aruasi's Closet you will find the waist-cinching vintage wonder that feels like it was made just for you. @aruasiscloset_official

THREADED Nothing says hand-made with love quite like embroidery.

The team at Threaded prides itself in incredible attention to detail, which shows on every bow, bag and decorative embroidery hoop. The latter can be custom-ordered to feature a name, date or design of your choice, making for the perfect thoughtful gift for a little one’s first bedroom or commemorating a monumental anniversary. You can view the Threaded catalogue on WhatsApp Business and order a hand-made embroidered piece with ease. @threadednamibia

Are you a Nam or SA-based small business lifestyle brand? List your label with us for only N$750 per month. fly@venture.com.na

FLYNAMIBIA JULY 2022

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Sibo & Mo 06h00 - 10h00

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TRIBE

Photo credit: Shot by Alpo

THE

A

ward-winning Afro Pop duo Ethnix who are still riding high off the success of their debut album Made in Namibia dropped into The Tribe Exclusive to talk about their journey to global fame. They also shared their experience as individual talents, creating within a group and how they make it work.

First of all, can you just remind everyone that you have released only one album? A lot of people think you have like three albums…

Paige: No no no, we only have one album. We are still riding on Made in Namibia. A few singles which are part of the album have gone out but that’s as far as it’s gone.

We are seeing the #EthnixToTheWorld everywhere on social media. Are you going global?

Etjo: I think we’re already there now. Yes, we are very much going global, so far we have tapped into the South African market where we’re working with a couple of artists. We are also looking at Botswana and all the SADC countries and then we move from there.

You have slowly been moving into that direction by working with guys like Black Diamond from South Africa. How did that collaboration happen by the way?

Etjo: In May 2021 when we had the Best of Both Worlds show at The Catch, we met Black Diamond and that’s where we started talking about a possible collaboration. When we saw their campaign – where they were looking for talent to feature them on a song – that’s where we started campaigning. Luckily, Namibia chose us and we said ‘why not?’.

What was the experience like, working with Black Diamond?

Paige: They basically paid for everything – all our expenses for the trip. They treated us very well and we recorded in their studio, which is one of the biggest studios in South Africa. That studio is where legends have recorded, people like Brenda Fassie and Lira. It was amazing to be in a space like that with other creatives. We learnt a lot, especially

The Tribe Exclusive – Ethnix about music production and the creative process of people in South Africa.

How do you feel about being recognised by Namibians after the success of your album?

Paige: It’s really amazing because that’s when you know you have done something and you have made a change in the music scene. The other thing we’re very grateful for is having had the opportunity to win a NAMA award. Ten years from now, not many artists will be able to say: I won a NAMA award. Being recognised for something that you do effortlessly is the most beautiful thing ever. The fact that we see people smiling just because of us is an amazing thing and it is a reflection of what you are doing in the community.

We don’t want to hear about the two of you ever parting ways but let's talk about your solo projects as individuals.

Etjo: We’ve been saying this so many times – I am an R&B singer, I serve R&B and he is Hip Hop. But when we came together, we had to find that lane where we blend very well.

In terms of our solo projects, I’ve been trying to push Paige for so long to just rap. Yoh! He has bars. So yes, we do have projects that just serve us as individuals, that reflect on who we are and that specifically just apply to the individuality of who we are.

Paige: In terms of features, we have worked with a couple of artists individually. I have released a very good song featuring Leather Mein – it’s doing very well. I have another single with Mo, that one is also a banger. So, like Etjo said, I used to be straight-up rap but I had to find my own lane which is a fusion of Afro Hip Hop. That’s me discovering my own lane and just sticking to it.

Watch The Tribe on One Africa TV (GOtv 90, DStv 284, DStv Now) every Friday at 18h30 with repeat shows on Saturdays at 17h30, and Mondays at 21h00. Alternatively, listen to The Tribe on 99FM every Friday at 19h00, and follow The Tribe on Instagram @thetribenamibia and on Facebook @TheTribeNamibia.

FLYNAMIBIA JULY 2022

17

Windhoek's favourite bakery

H

idden behind the unlikely facade of a Puma service station in General Murtala Muhammed Road in Windhoek’s Eros neighbourhood is the city’s most loved artisan bakery. Don’t be fooled by the exterior. As soon as you enter Le Pain Café your senses are bombarded with the smell of fresh bread, pastries and the aroma of freshly made coffee. The popularity of this place has spread quickly through word of mouth, and for good reason.

Once you have tasted the delicious baked delicacies like the pecan nut mini pies, various tartlets and old favourites on the shelves like the signature loaf or the peppadew and feta ciabatta, it's hard not to come back for more.

While a lot of kids say they want to become firemen or doctors when asked what they want to be when they grow up, the owner and founder of Le Pain Café, Stéphaan Coetzee, seems to have had it all worked out from a young age. “It all started when I was about nine years old and told

18

my parents that I want to open a bakery in Paris. I didn’t even know where Paris was at that time,” he explains laughingly.

The dream to become a baker never left him and after finishing school he enrolled at the Institute of Culinary Arts in Stellenbosch, South Africa. While studying there the co-owner and co-founder of île de païn bakery in Knysna, Markus Färbinger, gave a talk to the students and Stéphaan was intrigued by what he said about artisan bread. So much so that as part of his course, he secured a three-month internship with Markus at île de païn, and this is where he really fell in love with the whole process of baking and all the intricacies that go with it. After finishing his studies he worked for Markus for about two years, constantly learning and slowly perfecting his craft.

After a stint in a pastry department in the UK and then going back to South Africa to work for one of the country’s bestknown chefs, David Higgs, Stéphaan returned to Namibia with the intention to start his own bakery. His dream didn’t

instantly materialise, however. He worked in the construction industry for five years before his family acquired the Puma service station where he was able to open his bakery.

Now, seven years later, Stéphaan muses over the humble beginnings of the bakery. “I was the only one working in the bakery and our total daily production started with 20 Brötchen (bread rolls), two baguettes and one or two signature loaves.” As with any business, success doesn’t come overnight, and after a couple of months of having bread left over every day, there were doubts about the viability of the bakery. Everything changed around six months after opening. The turning point came when one weekend a hundred Brötchen were ordered. From then on word of mouth started spreading and business picked up. Today Le Pain Café has a substantially larger output and has gone far from the days when it was only Stéphaan baking bread. The bakery is in operation from 06:00 to 16:00 every day with a staff of nine, while the kitchen has five and front of house three employees.

freshly baked each day. Stéphaan attributes the reason for the popularity of his bread to the way it is made according to traditional methods which give it a crust and flavour. “It’s a passion that is difficult to explain but if you understand what bread really is and you understand the process that it goes through, how it constantly changes and how hard we have to work every day to get it on the shelves, then you’ll understand the love for it,” says Stéphaan.

It is hard work but the whole bakery is built on a passion and love for the process.

Apart from mixing the dough, everything is shaped by hand before it is baked, and all the products on the shelves are

“It is hard work but the whole bakery is built on a passion and love for the process. Our success lies in the process and the product. We bake bread like a Michelin star restaurant would make a plate of food. It is important that the quality stays high, and what sets us apart is the effort we put in. Our returning customers are proof of that.”

The passion that goes into all of Le Pain Café’s products is evident when speaking to its customers. Some of them make daily pilgrimages across town for a filled ciabatta or a bacon, egg and cheese English muffin. Next time you are in Windhoek, be sure you visit and see what all the hype is about.

FLYNAMIBIA JULY 2022

19

Private Banking Clients

Prestige Clients

20

0811241575/0812914362 | annagret@theskylounge.net | jamie@thesklounge.net

10 minutes

with local taste makers

T

Tanya Turipamwe Stroh

hey say never to meet your heroes. Whoever “they” are simply did not have worthy heroes.

Consistent, transparent and authentic heroes will not disappoint you when you meet them. They will confirm their hero status and perhaps even strike a deeper inspiration. Tanya Turipamwe Stroh is one of my heroes, and meeting her did precisely that: she plastered the pedestal I have put her on instead of knocking it down.

She is the chief creative officer of her very own design agency dubbed Turipamwe – Tanya’s Herero middle name translating to “we are together.” Despite studying design in Cape Town and Johannesburg, living on the outskirts of London and spending a couple of months in Berlin, Tanya remains a daughter of Namibia’s soil, brought up in Windhoek. She returned to her homeland after achieving global citizen status and is changing the local design industry, one project at a time. Turipamwe’s current seven-strong team sprouted from almost a decade of solo freelancing. They are all about communication design for impact, and what an impact they are making! Turipamwe is the mastermind behind the 2022 DOEK Literary Festival visual communication and the Goethe Institut’s newest exhibit titled Sport x Culture, which visits the far corners of Namibia to document our indigenous games that have been passed down through generations.

Asking her why she chooses Namibia to be her home and creative playground, Tanya frankly responds “I am patriotic.”

She is tickled by our collective potential and is forever in search of the answer to her very existential question: what does it mean to be a young Namibian post independence.

While the answer is and will always be a work in progress, Tanya says, “You make it (Namibia) what you want it to be.

And if the thing you are seeking does not exist it is calling you to create it.”

Spending time with people with different passions, says Tanya, has a way of igniting new ideas and perspectives. Life would be utterly dull and uninspired if we kept to circles and people with precisely the same interests as ours.

In an industry where deadlines and to-do lists clutter your mind from the moment you wake up, Tanya finds solitude in meditation. Other than centering herself through the art of Zen, her grounding energy is also a result of her pastimes living out her foodie dreams in the kitchen and walking her mixed special four-legged friend. Tanya admittedly struggles to balance her private life and work. Which is hardly surprising, given her entrepreneurial status and the blessed curse that is a creative career. Neither of them know 8-5 hours.

Part and parcel of why Tanya is one of my heroes is her multifaceted nature. While it is not her bread and butter, she has dabbled extensively in visual art as well as production design for theatre and cinema. Right now Tanya is working on designing the stage environment of Namibia’s very first opera, which we can look forward to come September. Her visual art, some of which was showcased at last year’s #LOVEISLOVE exhibition, makes use of design principles (a die-hard designer she is) but incorporates multimedia elements. Being a proud ally, Tanya chose to reimagine a constitution of the future for the 2021 pride month art showcase. She collaborated with her mother who is in the legal profession to write a document about sexual orientation and identity being protected under our constitution. Tanya says, “You have to claim your rights, they are not always given to you.”

This is a public service announcement to (if possible) meet your heroes. They might just ignite a spark you thought was dormant and inspire you to pursue endless possibilities.

Charene Labuschagne

Her greatest source of inspiration is not some flashy coffee table book or a cultural relic like Andy Warhol. Tanya is fuelled by passionate people she meets and works with everyday.

FLYNAMIBIA JULY 2022

21

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Top up your MTC contract Customise your account names

YEARS

OF NAMIBIAN BANKING EXCELLENCE

Use the App with no data charges (MTC users) Receive and manage notifications from the bank on system, transaction, and other alerts Benefit from new security upgrades and so much more

1 & 2 July 2022 Drag Night: Christmas in July Since our Christmases are usually boiling hot, this Drag Night theme is the perfect opportunity to pretend it’s snowing. Book a table in advance, take a skoot kombers, and drink red wine thanks to Café Prestige. Variety entertainment has a way of warming you up! Tickets cost N$80 at the entrance.

July One International Reggae Day The winter warmer we need – no, crave! Celebrate international reggae day at Zoo Park with performances by Ras Sheehama, Ngatu, Shikololo, Fari Dread, Petu, Lamour Isaac's, Ras Ronald and many more. A ticket is N$150 if you get it in advance from Pick n Pay, N$200 at the gate.

8 July 2022 David Greilsammer Solo Piano Concert For the cultured folk: renowned French conductor and pianist David Greilsammer performs a solo piano concert of classical masterpieces at the National Theatre in Windhoek. Tickets are available for N$250 at Webtickets and in any Pick n Pay store.

What's happening.

Winter has properly kicked in, but that’s no reason to become a hermit! We have rounded up a couple events to keep you warm and your social battery charged. Some of them are indoors (thank goodness) but don’t miss out on the outdoor events, take a skoot kombers (travel rug) and support local talent!

26-29 July 2022 The one and only of its kind on the continent, this summit and innovation challenge presents the next generation in tourism with the opportunity to have their brilliant ideas realised. This year’s theme is "Developing youth and innovative entrepreneurship solutions for inclusive tourism recovery in Africa."

Register online at www.youthtourismsummit.com

30 July 2022 Joe’s Beerhouse Car Boot Sale As the saying goes: One man’s trash is another one’s treasure. The Joe’s Beerhouse car boot sale has become synonymous with finding thrifty and pre-loved items.

Everything including the kitchen sink (but excluding clothing) can be bought there, literally out of someone’s car boot. And once you have bought awesome stuff you don’t have to venture too far for a beer.

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GREENER ON THE NAMIBIAN SIDE RMB partners with FNB Namibia to create a N$353 million green bond making it the first for FirstRand Namibia Group aimed at supporting sustainability projects in Namibia.

Search RMB Green Bonds

is a division of First National Bank of Namibia Ltd, Reg. No. 2002/0180

15 min sweat set

E

with Ena

MOM! What is it, and why should you give it a go?

EMOM stands for Every Minute On the Minute, a highly effective workout method. It provides a time-efficient way to build muscle, strength, endurance, and overall work capacity. Another benefit of EMOM training is the accountability to start with the next exercise.

Full-Body Sweat Session

Continue to the next exercise at the top of every minute.

Perform each exercise for a total of 45 seconds, trying to do as many repetitions as possible. Rest for the remaining 15 seconds and jump into the following exercise at the completion of the 60 seconds.

Do the circuit three to four times in total.

Rest for a minute after the eighth exercise.

You will need: • 15 minutes • Water • Exercise mat

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2.

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4.

5.

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Bodyweight squats Crunches Jump rope Knee push-ups Superman lifts Burpees Plank Window shutters Rest (1 min)

July Challenge: Last month’s challenge was to consistently train three times a week throughout the month of June.

Without breaking that habit, I want to challenge you to drink two litres (eight glasses) of water per day. I’m holding myself accountable to that too!

Ena is a qualified personal trainer who focuses on building a sustainable healthy and active lifestyle with her clients.

Crunches

Knee Push-Up

Catch her on Instagram and Facebook: @fervent_wellness

Superman Lifts

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GOOD VIBES ONLY Good news from Namibia and around the world

LOCAL MVA Fund modifies 137 houses for accident victims The Motor Vehicle Accident Fund of Namibia initiated a home modification initiative in 2015 to improve mobility for individuals severely injured in car accidents. At the annual case management conference, MVA Fund executive Rosalia Martins-Hausiku announced that since the start of the project, the fund has successfully modified 137 houses. The initiative is aimed at improving the performance and safety of daily activities, as well as giving as much independence as possible for those involved in serious road accidents.

Source: The Namibian

Celebrating tradition: Nama cultural festival exceeds expectations The Nama cultural festival is an annual celebration of cuisine, attire, dance and music.

Initiated in 2018, the festival aims to create a platform for the transgenerational transfer of knowledge and teaching youngsters the norms and value of Nama cultural practices. This year the cultural festival took place in Keetmanshoop and included a traditional wedding as well as panel discussions on the Nama-Herero genocide, the subsequent generational trauma, and the significance of traditional Nama leaders.

Chairperson of the festival, Valery Isaacks, says the attendance was exceptional.

Source: The Namibian

MTC donates classroom block at Oshana school A new block consisting of four classrooms and a storeroom has been completed at Onaushe Combined School. This is the first of two new learning environments being constructed this year under MTC’s rural schools project. The next school benefitting will be Aussenkehr Primary School. By using contractors from the region to construct the classrooms, MTC also supports the local construction industry. Since its inception, the project has supported schools across Namibia with an investment totalling N$6.4 million.

Source: The Namibian

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INTERNATIONAL

Stand-up comedy classes prescribed for trauma survivors in the UK British comedian Angie Belcher has founded a six-week programme called Comedy On Referral, aimed at trauma survivors. Her pilot programme in Bristol proved so successful that the National Health Service (NHS) is funding its expansion to London, specifically for treating male patients with depression. The course focuses on consciously using comedy to change the perspective of a survivor’s experience through writing, performance and analysis of their personal stories. NHS trusts and private practices are now prescribing Belcher’s course for the treatment of trauma and depression and the potential prevention of suicide.

Source: Good News Network

Frozen Zoo helping save vanishing species In 1972, late biologist Kurt Benirschk began collecting the skin cells of animals, endangered or not, and freeze-storing them below -190 degrees Celsius at the San Diego Zoo’s Institute for Conservation Research. Fifty years later these cells are being used to revive animal species that are on the brink of (or already beyond) extinction. Frozen Zoo is the world’s largest cryobank, with samples from over 10,500 individual animals and 1,220 species, among them the only genetic material of a male northern white rhino.

From this material they have managed to create stem cells, which could be used to fertilise the egg of a southern white rhino female and gradually restore the population back from extinction.

Source: Smithsonian Magazine

Revolution in urban planning: rooftops in European cities transformed into sustainable cultural hubs Rotterdam in the Netherlands has 13 million square metres of rooftop. Bare roof areas of this magnitude contribute to the heat island effect of industrialised European cities, which is why the European Creative Rooftop Network is aiming to transform these grey, useless spaces into thriving cultural and sustainability hubs.

Rooftops throughout Europe are beginning to incorporate veggie gardens, solar panels and rainwater catchment areas, as well as furbishing the spaces to host concerts, exhibitions and nature parks.

Source: Fast Company

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fun

Have with the family

Enjoy quality time with your family with our all-inclusive packages Spend luxurious time with your family at the Swakopmund Strand Hotel with an all-inclusive package guaranteed to make the whole family happy. Enjoy the stunning views, delicious food and fun activities sure to make your stay one for the books!

National Marine Aquarium

Snake Park

Eco-Gliding Tour

Includes bed, breakfast and dinner, as well as family excursions Luxury family room

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We adhere to strict COVID-19 prevention and social distancing measure as set out by the government regulations. Masks are mandatory.

WEATHERMEN&CO

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Wellness

IN THE MIND OF THE “CRAZY BUSY” PERSON

H

ave you noticed how it has become a common phrase to be crazy busy? In fact, we have shifted culturally to attach status to those who are busy at work, are overworked and have a real lack of leisure time. We even see this as being more desirable than having material objects. Being busy is seen as a badge of honour and a marker of self-worth. A lack of leisure time is viewed as a direct indication of status. Yet, intuitively we know that over-scheduling yourself can negatively affect your emotional and physical health, as well as your ability to maintain healthy relationships.

What do you think happens in the mind of the crazy busy person? This mind is so busy processing stuff to do, daily activities and places to be that it is spinning out of control, with no end in sight. The truth is that you cannot feel awake and fully alive when your mind is crazy busy.

The experts say that most people today have around 17,000 to 50,000 thoughts a day, and that most of these thoughts are repetitive.

We have a lot going on in our heads, and this does not do much for mental or physical wellbeing. While we have much to do to combat the dangers of a society thinking that being busy makes you worthwhile, we can in our own lives take a serious look at our personal vicious cycles of overthinking. We can take a stand against being crazy busy in our own minds.

When we do we create peace in the mind we thereby restore peace in the body as well.

Tips for creating quiet moments in our minds include: 1. Acknowledgement We cannot get rid of thoughts, and pushing them out of our heads is just overexerting our minds instead of quieting it down.

It is a misconception that facing our unpleasant thoughts will cause more unrest within us. By acknowledging how we are feeling and naming the feeling, we reduce that feeling’s hold over us. An example: if you have had an argument with someone and you keep replaying what happened in your mind, by observing how you are feeling and naming how you feel inside as anger, you come closer to accepting and thereby releasing the thoughts on repeat.

2. Breathing Worry and anxiety negatively affect our breathing. Being on edge physically makes our chest tighten. The best approach is to relax and try some mindful breathing. Practise taking deep breaths, in through your nose, out through your mouth, and focus on how your chest rises and falls as you inhale and exhale. With each breath try to let go of your thoughts, picture them leaving your mind on each exhale.

3. Nature Nature is one of the best healing tools. By taking a moment outside to observe nature's beauty, smell the fresh air, feel the ground beneath your feet and appreciate all the shapes, colours and patterns around you, you automatically divert your mind and quiet your thoughts.

According to Mindowl “the power our thoughts have over our mental well-being can be overwhelming, and a step outside can be the tonic we need to redress the balance.”

4. Exercise Exercise has an amazing effect on the mind, helping us to get out of it. Concentrating on our body redirects our attention from the repetitive thoughts and channels it to what we are feeling in our bodies.

It is a practice, and it can take time. But if we don’t try, we can become so attached to our stories that we end up being engrossed in and even imprisoned by what we are thinking.

Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that the mind is built to chatter and to make predictions, but that most of what it predicts doesn’t actually come true.

Often we also need to remind ourselves that our self-worth does not come from being productive or busy. Our self-worth is defined by who we are, not what we do.

And if you need more reason to embark on the practice of finding some stillness in your mind, in the words of Kamal Ravikant ”Life is from the inside out. When you shift on the inside life shifts on the outside."

Kirsty Watermeyer

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AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH

ABOUT ESG INVESTING

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he principles of environmental, social and governance factor investing (ESG), or “socially responsible investing”, have been around for over 200 years. It is, however, only in the last decade or so that ESG investing has really gained traction, with its popularity amplified by the Covid-19 pandemic. By September 2020, impact investing index funds had swelled to US$250 billion in the US and more than a trillion US dollars globally, with both figures having risen markedly since the start of the pandemic.

While it is applied in a variety of formats, ESG investing essentially entails making investment decisions which not only

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prioritise potential financial returns but environmental and societal benefits as well, while adhering to high governance standards. The argument for ESG investing is that by investing in firms that are socially responsible, the investor is less exposed to political and regulatory risk. This in turn should lead to lower volatility of cash flows and higher profitability in the long run, which allows for greater strategic independence.

On paper then, ESG investing sounds very promising.

Investment returns under this framework not only consist of financial gains but societal benefits as well. But it does have some noteworthy drawbacks, too. The problem with this style of investing starts with the fact that there is no universally agreed upon definition of what ‘goodness’ is or what it

Economic Pulse

entails. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, there is no standardised or quantifiable method to measure it.

Traditional corporate finance theory states that the duty of a public company is to maximise shareholder value. While it is not always obvious what a company should do to maximise shareholder value, it is almost always obvious when it has succeeded in doing so – the share price goes up. That is not the case with ESG. Shareholders and other stakeholders, such as governments, employees, customers and society will undoubtedly have different, and often opposing or contradictory views about what is good for the environment, society and governance. Maximising shareholder value does not tell a company’s management team what to do, but it does hold them accountable for doing (or not doing) it.

“Doing good for society” can be ambiguous when short and long-term goals are potentially at odds. For instance, is it good for a developing market country to drill more oil which supports the domestic population through subsidised fuel prices and increased mining royalty and tax revenue for socially responsible spending by the government – or to drill less oil to keep emissions down?

and companies operating in developed markets scoring higher than their emerging market counterparts. It is, of course, possible that larger companies are better corporate citizens than smaller ones because they are often able to better allocate resources to secondary goals such as ESG, but it is also just as probable that these larger companies have the resources to play the ESG scoring game better. A quick scan through the constituents of ESG indices reveals as much, with companies such as Exxon Mobil and Chevron, two of the largest oil producers in the world, among the largest constituents of these indices.

The lack of a consistent framework seems to have resulted in a healthy dose of cognitive dissonance with regards to ESG investment. Is it possible that a lack of a robust framework around ESG investing is resulting in passive ESG investments and ESG index trackers acting as a barrier to entry for smaller companies and those in developing markets precisely because such entities lack the scale and balance sheet strength necessary to implement du jour ESG principles?

“Doing good for society” can be ambiguous when short and long-term goals are potentially at odds.

These types of debates have been brought up by several African leaders lately, and with good reason. As recently as May this year, Angolan president João Lourenço stated that he believes his country has a right to benefit from its natural resources and pointed out that western nations are responsible for the vast majority of carbon emissions. He added that the shift towards a lowcarbon economy should be “gradual and responsible”.

Several other African countries, including Namibia, are expected to start producing oil and gas within the next decade, which is why this debate is particularly relevant right now. The majority of developed countries have benefited enormously from fossil fuels over the past 200 years while they industrialised. Burning fossil fuels enabled an era of strong growth for these countries, resulting in drastic improvements in productivity, income, wealth and living standards. A heavier weighting to the environmental aspect of ESG could deny developing countries the opportunity to similarly benefit and address the social and developmental issues that they are contending with today. Allocations towards ESG may inadvertently divert funds from companies and initiatives in developing markets, where implementing ESG is costly, towards companies in developed markets with strong balance sheets established during times when investment criteria were more concerned with profitability.

A 2019 study of ESG scores found that these scores were influenced by company size and location, with larger companies receiving higher ESG rankings than smaller ones,

There is little denying that the world should be moving towards a more sustainable way of producing the products and services consumed by a growing global population. At the same time the need to uplift human lives and livelihoods in poorer regions is equally undeniable. It follows that if ESG investing is to honestly set out to achieve a broad spectrum of “goodness” it is likely in need of a revamp. A revamp where small entities and entities in developing economies are not excluded from global capital markets.

Side note: There are various domestic and regional entities doing great work in allocating capital towards ESG efforts in Southern Africa. However, these entities are often limited to domestic capital markets due to the reasons mentioned above.

Danie van Wyk - Head: Research

IJG believes in tailoring their services to a client’s personal and business needs. For more information, visit www.ijg.net.

To sign up for the Economic Pulse newsletter, send an email to: daleen@venture.com.na www.namibiatradedirectory.com

NETWORK

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TRADE & INDUSTRY Featuring Latest Business News The Economy Government Ministries Private And Public Service Institutions Business & Proffessional Organizations Diplomatic Missions, Parastatals & Local Authorities To feature in the 2022/23 edition, send an email to Daleen@venture.com.na'

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phenomenal woman who brings harmony to the workplace through training, Beatrice Schultz wears many different hats. She is a coach and a mentor, training facilitator, speaker, founder of Akoma T r a d i n g cc and Ambassador of Future Females Swakopmund.

With her exceptional background and the fantastic things she does for women entrepreneurs, it was a nobrainer to bring Beatrice to the Royal Hustlers show to share details on her career and entrepreneurial journey with us.

A solid foundation for success

ROYAL HUSTLERS

Beatrice Schultz – inspiring women to stand in their power

“My biggest dream when I was growing up was to become an architect because I believed that architects made loads of money. I also wanted to be a housewife with a driver and start a finishing school – one that positively influences society by teaching people etiquette,” she says when asked about her childhood career goals. Beatrice hasn’t entirely gone the architectural route but found a new career and business goals as an adult.

Still, she achieved one of her childhood dreams of becoming a modern-day housewife by creating a business that she is able to operate anywhere, either at home or in the office.

She is equally passionate about her household as she is about the boardroom.

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Beatrice graduated with an Honours degree in Media Studies, specialising in public relations and visual arts with a budding career in fashion. She is also a qualified teacher passionate about training, which inspired her to co-found Akoma Trading cc.

WORK

Empowering women through training Very few people know that Beatrice is a truck driver. Having broken into this male-dominated sector herself, she strives to help other women take up careers previously reserved for men. "I would love to see more female entrepreneurs enter more male-dominated industries. As a truck driver I'd like to see more female truck drivers... I'd love more women to make their voices heard."

FIRE STUDIOS

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all my sisters is that we love speaking, and we love training, so being training facilitators comes naturally to us,” says Beatrice. One of the lowest points in their journey was the COVID-19 pandemic, but Beatrice notes that it was also a turning point for Akoma Trading, as they found new opportunities online.

Currently the Swakopmund Ambassador for Future Females, Beatrice prides herself on being a conscious coach who empowers teams to build better leaders and “solidify workplace cohesion and integrate diversity more effectively into their departments and processes.”

They also host entrepreneurship workshops for the deaf community with sign language interpreter Linea Kapofi who is Beatrice’s sign language teacher as well.

Weathering the storms Future Females Swakopmund was also able to adjust very well to the harsh impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the business world and proved to be just as effective in times of crisis. “We gave our ladies the right skills to continue their businesses despite the pandemic. We held workshops on gardening, others on using social media to harness and grow your business, and we also created online networking opportunities bearing in mind that we’re in a pandemic,” says Beatrice.

Apart from Future Females, Beatrice is involved in other social enterprises seeking to empower communities. And while she strives to make a difference in the larger community, her biggest passion is for women, children and the youth.

Through the fantastic work that she is doing for entrepreneurs, Beatrice hopes to inspire more women to stand in their power and go for everything they want in their lives and careers.

“I want women not to be afraid to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams because we are here to help equip them with the tools to succeed – I got you,” she says with a sparkle in her eyes.

Tune in to The Royal Hustlers on 99FM every Monday to Friday at 07h35 or rewind the 99FM App (now available on Play Store and the App Store).

Proudly Sponsored by

One of the ways she helps women reach their full potential is through the work she does with Akoma Trading cc – a withcompany she founded with her sisters. “One thing about

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Looking Global

Namibian logistics start-up making strides

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abu, a Windhoek-based business-to-business tech start-up that aims to empower the informal market of Southern Africa, recently announced a N$236,4 million Series A investment, led by Tiger Global, into the business. This comes after the company secured a N$50.6 million investment in 2021. This substantial push allows the e-commerce company to continue its impressive growth and expansion.

As great as that sounds, you might find yourself asking, “what does Jabu actually do?” Jabu offers a revolutionary platform on which shop owners across Southern Africa can easily order, source and stock their products. In short, the company offers a solution for both ends of the logistics chain. It connects leading brands with a large and wide-ranging network of retailers on the subcontinent. Through their app and logistics operations, Jabu sells fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and operates the last mile of distribution. While at the other end, small retailers, bakeries and bars can easily order and source their stock through Jabu’s app and e-commerce solutions allowing business owners to save money and even receive free sameday delivery. Where in the past these retailers had to take time out of running their businesses to source, purchase and find a way to transport the products they sell, they can now simply use their mobile phones and the Jabu app.

The company in particular aims to provide an easy techbased solution for the informal sector and small businesses in undeveloped areas to order, stock and receive supplies.

Jabu was founded by David Akinin in 2020 in an effort to fix Namibia’s inefficient and struggling supply chain and distribution to small retailers. Since then the company has grown into a large platform that connects over 6 000 retailers to local and international suppliers such as Namibia Breweries Limited, Bokomo, Coca-Cola and Namib Mills. It currently operates in five Southern African countries with its Namibian arm operating a fleet of vehicles along with eight distribution centres.

Jabu is able to sell products at good prices. According to the company, they can do that because they negotiate with the various brands as well as reduce their own margins to assist shop owners.

The next step for the company is to solve payment and cash issues currently faced by their customers, by engaging the Bank of Namibia and the Bank of Zambia to launch a payment wallet as a stand-alone product.

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D E L U X E C O F F E E WO R K S WINDHOEK, NA

Since Independence Day 2017 and, coincidently, starting with our first Namibian shop on Independence Avenue, we do strictly coffee!

Located in the centre of Windhoek CBD, our espresso bar has become the hub where we roast, blend and serve our famous House Blend. This being just the start, we now operate from four Deluxe Shops throughout the capital.

We don’t follow many rules when it comes to our coffee. In fact, there aren’t a lot of rules that we follow in general. We are passionate about coffee and that’s a good enough reason for us to do what we do: roast, supply and serve coffee in the best way we know. We believe in having a great place where this all comes together and where you can enjoy our coffee. That’s why our coffee shops are the way they are. You won’t find any fancy food or wifi here. That’s not our vibe. A lot of good music, interesting people and great coffee.

We like to give you coffee the way we would like to receive it. That’s what we’re all about.

established relationships with coffee farms across the globe, guaranteeing consistency in tastes and aromas for every roast.

We believe firmly in the fact that coffee should be made with freshly roasted beans. We roast five days a week to ensure that each bag you pick up is as fresh as possible.

Our signature House Blend is specifically blended to create a versatile well-balanced experience using the best characteristics of each of the single origins used therein, hailing respectively from Brazil, Guatemala and Ethiopia. Initial acidity leans to oranges or naartjies, followed by dark chocolate taste and raw cocoa in the finish.

And now... Aroma is in the air! We bring you the partnership between Fly Namibia and Deluxe – it just works!

So, sit back, enjoy the flight and ask for it by name, we serve Deluxe!

You will find Deluxe Coffeeworks at:

Founded in Church Street, Cape Town by Carl Wessel and Judd Nicolay, doing 400 cups of coffee a day and roasting shifts into the wee hours of the morning, Deluxe has gone from strength to strength.

When Carl and his cousin and local partner, Willem Bodenstein, sealed the deal for a fully-fledged Namibian roastery, they created the espresso bar that “explores the global but respects the local”.

Deluxe Coffeeworks imports only the finest green beans sourced from around the world. Our coffee bean suppliers have long-

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• • • •

Shop 5, 42 Berg Street, Klein Windhoek.

Shop 3, Mutual Tower, 223 Independence Avenue.

Nictus Giga. 140 Mandume Ndemufayo Ave. Nedbank Campus, Ground Floor | Freedom Plaza, c/o Fidel Castro & Rev Michael Scott Street +264 81 767 7600 COFFEE@DELUXECOFFEEWORKS.COM WWW.DELUXECOFFEEWORKS.COM

@deluxecoffeeworks.na

WINDHOEK EYE CENTRE Windhoek Eye Centre is a one stop consultation, special investigations and day surgery theatre complex situated in Windhoek, the capital and heart of our beautiful country, Namibia.

Our personal approach, combined with some of the best surgeons and dedicated staff have set a new standard for eye care in Namibia. We provide a full range of eye care services including Cataract, Retinal, Glaucoma and Oculoplastic surgery.

We pride ourselves in our state-of-the-art facility with the best and latest technology available in Ophthalmology in an inviting and friendly atmosphere.

Our commitment to our patients is to provide them with the best possible eye care in a professional modern environment.

For more information, contact us at: 46 Feld Street, Ausspannplatz, Windhoek PO Box 6807, Ausspannplatz, Windhoek Tel: +264 61 226736 / +264 61 223 431 www.windhoekeyecentre.com.na

Photography Feature: Tichavanashe Mupet

Carrying significance beyond simply looking good

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ichavanashe Mupeti (Tich for short) is a creator of captivating images. He is based in the capital, Windhoek. Growing up, access to his family’s small point-and-shoot camera and camcorder allowed him to cultivate his expressiveness, and he developed a love for composing images and videos.

Although absolutely passionate about photography, Tich never considered it as an actual profession.

While studying IT at university he realised the potential of his hobby as a side hustle that could help to pay for basic living costs and partially for study fees. The only problem was that he needed a camera and had to ask family and friends to contribute funds for buying his first one. “What started as a means of feeding myself turned into an art and a profession I really enjoy and am very immersed in,” he says now, several years later.

While most of his work is commissioned, he still works on his own projects whenever time permits. “I enjoy projects that carry significance beyond simply looking good. This significance can be in preserving a moment, a memory, a culture, a view or even an emotion. I find it important that my images must not just be seen, but they must be felt as well,” he says.

As for gear, his workhorse is a Nikon D800 for the bulk of his work, most often paired with the Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8, the Nikkor 105mm f2.8 or the Nikkor 50mm f1.8 lens as well as a Nikon D500, which almost always has the Sigma 17-55mm F2.8 attached.

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Photography Feature

Tich’s next project is inspired by the recent, tragic loss of his grandmother, someone very dear and close to him. This project will focus on portraits of the elderly. He has started researching and will work on it during the second half of the year. With his creative appetite not satisfied by photography alone, he is also looking at expanding his portfolio as a filmmaker, planning to write, direct and produce a short film during the latter part of the year.

Tich does some work in IT, while aiming to do full-time photography, video and design work. He hopes to realise this goal through his company, ColourPop. @tichmupeti @colourpoptv

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Each journey is a story waiting to be told Fly from Windhoek Hosea Kutako to Cape Town 6 days a week.

Let’s FlyNamibia

42 Operated

by Westair Aviation | AOC: NCAA / AOC / 010/2013

The Village garden

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indhoek’s liveliest street when it comes to cuisine and culture has a new kid on the block. The Village Garden on Liliencron Street comes as a welcome addition to the family of pizza, sushi, Portuguese and fine dining restaurants. It is the younger, more hip, healthy cousin situated on prime property at the entry to The Village – a block where business meets pleasure, all romantically complimented with a tranquil courtyard.

Three brilliant minds came together to realise this coffee shop and events venue that has already garnered some regulars since opening its doors on 1 April this year: Elzaan Nel the foodie, Deane Spall the green fingers, and Wouter van Zijl the design guru. Together they conceptualised a delightful eatery that looks as good as the food tastes, and they are reviving The Village in their wake.

The fresh bowl of falafel, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes and homemade hummus I have ordered is nestled on a bed of lettuce that was picked from Deane’s aquaponic project on the premises mere minutes before it landed on my plate. I am not exaggerating: when I ordered the Garden Bowl, one of the Village Garden’s friendly crew members came out of the kitchen and picked the crisp leaves from outside the restaurant. If the ridiculously fresh lettuce does not get you

fired up, you are sure to find some other delicacy to tantalise your tastebuds. From a chimichurri steak to wraps and toasties – do not expect the ordinary. The Village Garden is here to nudge you towards trying something new.

Now for the pièce de résistance: homemade ice tea. It is groundbreaking and I cannot imagine no one has thought of using rooibos espresso in every ice tea ever made. Also sweetening it with real honey instead of syrup ticks all my boxes. Go and taste it for yourself!

The Village has a very special place in my heart, and I like to believe the hearts of many Windhoek locals. It feels like a breakaway from the city when you are seated in the courtyard under tree canopies, surrounded by the sound of trickling water. The Village Garden’s seating is suited to big group brunches and even a quick business meeting over Slowtown coffee. Elzaan, Deane and Wouter are supercharged with brilliant ideas on how to reinvigorate this space and turn it into a social hub for any and every occasion, including movie screenings and perhaps that night market we’ve all been craving.

Go ahead, check out the Village Garden. Treat yourself to a wholesome meal and a cosmopolitan vibe. Or risk being excluded from conversations about how lovely it is. The choice is yours.

Charene Labuschagne

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Interwoven

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I

Bellhaus x Karakulia

t is an uncontested fact that carpets do indeed tie a room together. Nothing warms up a space, connects the other objects and completes the bigger picture, like a rug does. Carpets are so essential to decorating that the entire plotline of the film The Big Lebowski revolves around seeking restitution for a ruined rug. But what happens, in reality, when you seek to repair a ruined rug? How will the room be pulled together once more, perhaps even better than before?

The ruined rug, in this case, is our tourism industry in the wake of a global pandemic. The very industry that feeds many different, seemingly unrelated industries, like the business of Moses Helao. Maybe you have heard of his rise to success, starting as a cleaner many moons ago, to becoming the sole owner of Karakulia Weavers. The iconic Swakopmund weaver’s biggest support came from foreign visitors to the country.

Co-founder of Bellhaus and keen purveyor of practical art, Andrea Behnsen, saw this as an opportunity to get involved with tapestry. She invited four artists with whom she had previously worked in her capacity as a curator to submit their designs. These were meticulously reproduced by the craftsmen and women of Karakulia, who source wool from the deep south of Namibia and use only natural dyes.

The result is a small collection of utterly unique carpets sporting the designs of Marcii Magson, Tina Basson, Michael Chandler and E Tunga Studios. Their respective rugs and the guidance of Andrea have encouraged weaving that honours ancient tradition, yet aligns with the design and decor trends of today. Mutually beneficial for both parties in the Bellhaus and Karakulia collaboration, the Interwoven exhibition from 23 June to 23 July offers a rightful place in the spotlight for remarkable handicraft, while making art more accessible and practical.

Each artist brings their unique aesthetic to the collaboration: E Tunga Studios (Founder: Elisia Nghidishange, Windhoek & Eemeuxu) Title of carpet: I know now Being a potter and sculptor by profession, this was Elisia’s

first experience designing a carpet. She drew inspiration from traditional patterns used in Oshiwambo basket weaving and pottery and opted for organic colours found in nature.

Marcii Magson (Founder of Atelier 7881, Windhoek) Title of carpet: Rhythms of the Womb “I imagined rolling myself up inside a carpet, imagining the feeling and it reminded me of the intense and full feeling of being pregnant with my daughter, Freya. It was the most special experience of my life. I wanted to weave that feeling into the design.”

Tina Basson (Founder of Martina Margarethe Illustration, Windhoek) Title of carpet: Swakop se klippies “Picking up rocks on the beach is a tactile but also meditative experience for me. I think the Namibian coast presents the most beautiful natural colour palette. My design is a local story of foraging along the coastline. It speaks of childhood memories, sentiment and nostalgia.

My art is always a reflection of my faith, through which I hope to bring joy and happiness.”

Michael Chandler (Founder of Chandler House, Cape Town) Title of carpet: Serpent “Nature, because of Namibia. The snake design spreads a pattern over the surface, with the stripes speaking to each other. I think it adds a bit of danger to a space, a bit of zest, like lemon to lamb. What do you need to know more than do you like it or not? I like to keep it simple, joyful and whimsical.

Not all art needs to change the world. It can sometimes change a room and that is enough.”

Charene Labuschagne Interwoven is a collaboration between Bellhaus Atelier & Galerie and Karakulia Weavers. The exhibition at 18 Bell Street, Grüner Kranz, Windhoek, opens on 23 June and closes on 23 July.

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The Project Room

KABELO KIM MODISE

“E

LETS IT RUN A ‘BLACK LINE’ verything we create in life starts with a line – every drawing, painting, print or design.

Lines represent repetition and rhythm, actions that help with focus, consistency, and building confidence. I simply took the line as an art element and ran with it as a concept.”

Marking the end of a seven-year semi-sabbatical – having retreated largely into academics (teaching and studying) while occasionally attending selected group exhibitions – Kabelo Kim Modise returns with a much-anticipated solo exhibition, ‘Black Line’.

In 2004, the artist’s lifeline took a somewhat different twist, as he quit his job and took the plunge to claim the Namibian arts scene as his new domain. “I just realised one day, if I want to grow as an artist, I need to get out.” His only backbone and support system was the Namibian woman he fell in love with during the SADC Arts Festival some years earlier – the same muse who is still by his side today – and a strong sense of self-motivation and perseverance.

Since then, Modise has embarked on a “rollercoaster of being a full-time artist”, focussing on making a name for himself across the region, and while time may have passed since he last graced the audience with a complete body of work, he has certainly been keeping busy in the arts department.

In between studying towards his Bachelor’s in Visual Arts (through UNISA) and teaching textile basics at the College of the Arts in Windhoek, Modise started the Progressive Artists Channel on YouTube – featuring short documentaries on selected artists’ “progress from their comfort spaces” – and opened a printmaking studio. The aptly named Printricate Studio aims to promote the most intricate and finest art prints, and fills a welcome niche in a local market where independent, creative spaces create in life are few and far between.

The artist’s latest project introduces a fresh perspective on his signature concept as printmaker and painter, presenting lines that run on paper and canvas, in ink, charcoal and eraser; lines that stretch over the surface and take on lives of their own. Working with a selection of time-perfected techniques and methods, including experimenting with various technologies to heat up Everything we and make the thick linoleum plates easier to work with, the starts with a line – every artist spends the majority of his He concludes, “Here’s the drawing, painting, print or time in preparation of the final secret: I enjoy teaching art. artwork. As he cuts through It’s something that comes design. Lines represent repetition the lino, or takes away from naturally, giving back. And for and rhythm, actions that help his drawings, the lines start to good reason, because my first take on a natural ebb and flow, name, Kabelo, doesn’t mean with focus, consistency, and and Modise admits that he ‘offering’ for nothing.” building confidence. I simply gets lost in a meditative state of movement, with a hand Modise’s ‘Black Line’ is on view took the line as an art element guided by perfectly balanced at The Project Room from 15 – and ran with it as a concept. ripples and waves that 30 July. construct themselves around the centrepiece that gave birth ‘Black Line’ is the first exhibition to his creative idea. at The Project Room’s new gallery and creative hub, presenting “a bigger exhibition and workshop space that will allow On a personal level, lines hold their own significance, us the opportunity to expand our community”. Revealing representing Modise’s passage from young boy becoming an expansion of founder Frieda Lühl’s vision, the space also aware of his talent for hyper-realistic drawings, to the welcomes Laschandre Coetzee as new partner and creative prominent artist he is today. The journey stretches all the director. “We are both excited for this new chapter and way back, from his hometown of Francistown in Botswana, look forward to further impacting the local art industry”. to his new home in Namibia – with a number of memorable pit stops in between.

Marita van Rooyen After finishing high school, Modise started a tradition of volunteering his skills and expertise in the arts to achieve personal goals. He spent some time as art assistant and teacher at some local schools, while simultaneously volunteering as museum assistant at the National Museum and Art Gallery in Gaborone, where he was eventually offered a permanent position in 2001. “I am a dedicated person, a goal-getter. My personal vision in the arts is really big and I will go to great lengths to achieve my dreams, even if it means volunteering and working for free. So far, it all paid off.”

The Project Room - Namibia www.theprojectroom.com.na The Project Room has moved to a new locale and is situated at 30 Julius Nyerere Street (former Lazaret Street).

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Your recovery starts with us

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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.

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BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE

T

he corrugated gravel road between Usakos and Henties Bay is one I know well. December holidays at the coast, for as long as I can remember, have involved driving this road.

This time, however, it is May. Instead of simply admiring those magnificent granite mountains from a distance, I am headed straight towards them at a snail’s pace of 30km/h. I have loaded my little Toyota Yaris with a tent and a cooler box filled with Tafel Lagers, on a pilgrimage to a techno music festival at the foot of the Spitzkoppe.

Techno music is not on my regular rotation if I am completely honest. But I was not going to let that stop me. I have never been one to shy away from firstly, a music festival of any kind and secondly, an excuse to camp. And while I could easily write a thesis on my experience of the 3rd instalment of BAR-HP, I have opted to round up the highlights instead of bombarding you with every intricate detail of my weekend’s itinerary. Because you are going to the next one (I am sure) and you are going to create your very own unforgettable memories.

SET UP CAMP AND SETTLE IN The early bird gets a good camping spot, so I show up around noon on Friday and scout the grounds for the perfect place to pitch my tent. Proximity to a loo is essential, but also not too close and definitely not downwind. You want to set up a short stroll from the music tent for drink refills and recuperation, but not so close as to catch all the traffic stumbling past your campsite at 4am. It is a delicate balance.

On my walkabout I run into Melkies, one of the organisers and a talented DJ. He suggests a cosy spot on soft river sand between (you guessed it) a rock and a hard place. Perfect base secured!

At this point, none of my friends have shown up just yet, so I proceed to try and set up my Rubik’s Cube of a tent by myself. It is barely out of the bag when a heaven-sent soul from Otjiwarongo offers to help. I love festivals for this very reason: kind-hearted, open-minded and eager individuals

congregate. That, and cold beer, is an accepted form of payment. I have only been here an hour and already made a friend.

A SEXY TECHNO DUO CALLED COYOTE At 9:30 on Friday evening practically everyone is on the dance floor under a massive beige stretch tent. Against the granite backdrop, the DJ booth is crowned with lights. In the centre of the halo, behind the decks, are two brunette babes from Cape Town just starting their set. They call themselves Coyote, and I have never heard of them before, yet I am front and centre in a crowd of techno heads, absolutely in awe of the beats they are dropping, or the disks they are spinning. I do not know what to call it, obviously, so I will simply call it brilliant.

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Safe to say that everyone on that dance floor is basking in the vibes, hands in the air and feet stomping up small clouds of dust. Everyone except a couple in my periphery, standing right next to the speakers, one of them trying to engage the other in a conversation amidst 120 beats per minute. I did some research among my peers and can report back that it is widely unacceptable to drag someone into a dialogue when they have consciously positioned themselves close to the speakers. If you want to chat, do so off the dancefloor, way back. It is festival etiquette!

CATCHING UP WITH OLD FRIENDS AND MEETING NEW ONES Two beige stretch tents make up the main area. One being the dancefloor – twice the size of the chill tent right next to it. In its shade is a massive ground sheet keeping throw pillows and pallet-wood coffee tables out of the dust. Everyone is lounging around in their Saturday best. Yes, that is right, Saturday at BAR-HP is where all the stops are pulled out and outfits are immaculate. I am sporting a custom-made pair of shades, bedazzled to the nines in a technicolour spectrum on the frames. Some noteworthy looks include a steam-punk-meets-Burning-Man barefoot goddess in a floor-length black skirt, a skin-tight leopard print catsuit paired with an unmistakable Crystal Birch hat, and of course a couple of mad men in bizarre printed tights.

Every time I return to the chill tent from a refill mission and resume sitting crosslegged on the ground, I am chatting to someone new. Old friends from high school who I have not seen in years are here, and we catch up like no time has passed.

The next time I am back with a pair of scissors, politely requested by artist and new-found friend Nambzee, and we are cutting up his extra canvas to make coneshaped hats. With my 75-300mm lens and the perfect vantage point under the chill tent I capture some candid shots of sun and dust-kissed faces playing cards and dancing to the first DJs of the day. Behind my viewfinder I have the fattest grin, because I do not think I have ever seen so many people so utterly happy and unapologetically themselves.

A NOT-SO-SECRET SECRET DANCEFLOOR Around noon the festival fills up with day-visitors. You can spot them from a mile away because they have recently showered unlike the rest of us day-ones who exclusively rely on wet-wipes. While they have missed out spectacularly on the vibe that was Friday night, my whole gang of friends is finally complete.

The music is picking up pace, so we set our sights for the dust dance floor. At which point I realise that if you have not been parked in the middle of the crowd since sunset, you become bound to the borders. There is no way me and my entourage will be able to squeeze into the prime spot of the previous night. On a quest to find the only fire at the festival (fires are prohibited for the sake of the dry veld that surrounds us) we stumble on a somewhat secret dancefloor merely 20 metres from the official one. A string of primary coloured light bulbs dangles in a zig-zag above our heads, four boulders wrapping us in a cocoon, and right in front, projected onto the rock backdrop of the whole festival, is a constantly shifting show of graphic patterns, swirls and colours. This must be what heaven is like at night.

Frans Lott, UNAM PhD student, Dr Joanne Holt, NOVA Planetarium expert, Hiiko Katjaita, UNAM MSc student.

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SLOW-STARTING SUNDAY Slow from the starting blocks on Sunday, everyone is a little more groggy than we would like to admit. The air is crisp but that is nothing a coffee can’t fix. Perched atop one of the boulders surrounding my brilliant camp spot, I sip on a steaming cup of French press coffee with my back to the morning sun, facing the magnificent Spitzkoppe. In the distance, echoing from the granite, classic 80s love ballads and the odd Mumford and Sons play from someone’s car stereo. If you do not have coffee, the vibe in the air this morning is sure to warm you up.

It seems everyone is in a rush to pack up and head back to the city for a shower and a nap, which is entirely understandable.

However, my friends and I have opted for a more relaxed departure. Once the dust settles from those eager to end the weekend, we leisurely deconstruct our campsite, pack our cars and stroll to the main area to savour the last smidgen of the festival that was. The one and only fire is still smouldering from someone’s breakfast braai, so we stack some more wood and proceed to braai boerewors, filling our tummies with boerie rolls after two days of meagre meals. There is no more techno bouncing from the boulders, there are no bare bodies around the pool, no dusty feet on the dancefloor, yet at this moment I can finally take it all in.

In a blink it is all over and I am back on the corrugated road in my little Yaris at 30km/h. The reflection in my rearview mirror is testament to the fact that in every recollection of this weekend, be it photographic or from memory, the magnificent Spitzkoppe is always right there. In the corner of your eye as you boogey to techno, the backdrop to every photo, completing the symphony, the driving base behind the beat drop that was BAR-HP.

Charene Labuschagne

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ESORTS

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WINDHOEK Daan Viljoen Game Reserve

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WINDHOEK Daan Viljoen Game Reserve

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Namib Naukluft Park

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Namib Naukluft Park

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/Ai-/Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park

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Discovering

Waterberg Rising as an island of colour some 200 metres above the surrounding African bush and savannah, the Waterberg Plateau, with its flamboyant brick-red sandstone formations and lush green vegetation, is without a doubt the main drawcard of the region. Other attractions nearby are the Hoba meteorite, the Otjihaenamaparero dinosaur footprints and the Dragon’s Breath underground lake. Tsumkwe, the administrative centre of Bushmanland, is home to a large San population and the southern gateway to the Khaudum National Park.

WATERBERG PLATEAU PARK In 1972, the 405 km² Waterberg Plateau Park was proclaimed as a reserve for endangered and protected species. The history of the park began on 15 June 1956 with the declaration of two portions of the plateau as natural monuments. This came to pass after representations were made to the then SWA Administration by the Kameradschaft Ehemaliger Deutscher Soldaten, members of the Scientific Society, the Monuments Commission, and other interested parties. The two areas – the Omuverume Plateau and the Karakuwisa Mountain Range – were, however, divided by farms that had been allocated to farmers in the past. The Omuverume Plateau boasts probably the only sandveld vegetation type that developed for many centuries without being disturbed, due to the vertical cliffs and flora there having reached a unique stage of climate development. Interestingly enough, the original motivation for the proclamation of the entire Waterberg Plateau as a park was to create a reserve for eland. It was reasoned that there were about 800 eland in the Waterberg area that moved from farm to farm and caused a nuisance, and that as soon as the farmers were to obtain ownership of the game

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This is Namibia

Species such as black and white rhino are also firmly established on the plateau. The vegetation changes dramatically from acacia savannah at the foot of the plateau to lush green subtropical dry woodland with tall trees and grassy plains at the top. Ten fern species have been recorded at the Waterberg, of which one is endemic to Namibia and Angola. There is also an impressive range of flowering plants, including the conspicuous flame lily, Gloriosa superba.

On the site of the historic Battle of Waterberg, at the foot of the plateau, a graveyard serves as a reminder of a turbulent period in history. Soldiers from the Schutztruppe who died in the fierce battle between the Herero and the German colonial forces in 1904 are buried here.

A San man showcasing traditional skills

Liza de Klerk

Today, the Waterberg Plateau Park is home to some 25 game and over 200 bird species. Rare species such as roan and sable antelope, Cape buffalo and tsessebe occur in large numbers.

Paul van Schalkwyk

on their land, the future of these eland would be in jeopardy because the farmers did not tolerate eland on their land. How wrong this proved to be! It was only when farmers were granted ownership of their game that game populations in the country began to flourish and increase.

The superb natural beauty of the Waterberg can be enjoyed by vehicle on a guided game-viewing tour conducted by NWR or easy walking routes along the base of the plateau.

Find more Namibian travel inspiration at www.thisisnamibia.com Follow @thisis_namibia on Facebook and Instagram for extraordinary Namibian travel stories.

Hoba Meteorite

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COMBINING TECHNOLOGY AND TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE TO SAVE A SPECIES

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t is ten o’clock on a Friday night and we are sitting in the pitch dark on the wet soil of Bushmanland.

The bush is alive with the sound of insects, frogs and even flamingos chattering in the distance from pans, full of water from the recent rains. Overhead, the clouds promise to pour down in another fierce and impressive shower as they have done for the last two days. About five metres away from us a pangolin is cosily holed up in its burrow, oblivious to the fact that some humans eagerly await its appearance. According to the location fixes sent out by the GPS transmitter fixed to one of the pangolin’s scales, it has been using this former warthog burrow as its home for the past couple of weeks.

According to the data gathered by the GPS tracker, the pangolin has left its burrow around 21:00 every night in search of food, yet tonight he is a no-show. After an hour or so, with wet bottoms and stiff legs, we head back to camp.

After spending a few days in the field with Kelsey Prediger, patience and perseverance are words that from now on will forever be associated with pangolins.

Listening to her various adventures in tracking, tagging and monitoring these scaly creatures, the above rings true time and again. To be honest, after slogging through a wet, sometimes very dense bush, both night and day without seeing one pangolin, I tend to fully agree with Kelsey. It also made me admire her determination to learn more about these vulnerable animals.

Interesting data has already been gathered on this particular male pangolin. It has a much larger range than the other pangolins Kelsey has been monitoring in central Namibia.

It covered over 60 kilometres in two months, but not in a dispersal pattern – which means the area that it has been utilising can be considered a home range.

The great thing about the data collected is that it allows Kelsey to look closely at the movements and range of this pangolin. This is helpful as the existing data available is for central Namibia, where not only the vegetation is different but there are also game reserves and private land. This is the first data for an area with rural communities as it is part of the Nyae Nyae Conservancy. Invaluable data allows tracking of his movement in relation to people as well as various environmental factors.

Being in a communal area has added an additional and quite exciting aspect to monitoring pangolins. Trackers from the local San community are involved in tracking and monitoring.

With their extensive traditional knowledge not only of tracking but also of the area, they can be a valuable asset in learning how the animals use their environment.

Kelsey is in the process of setting up a pangolin ranger initiative similar to the rhino rangers in the northwest, where they protect and monitor black rhinos. San trackers working as pangolin rangers will be able to monitor all aspects of pangolin behaviour, movement and diet while also providing protection for them. If properly trained they can protect the pangolin and other wildlife especially on the boundaries of the conservancy, where poaching is more of a worry, while collecting extremely valuable data while following animal movements. “San trackers see what we cannot see. They find where pangolins have been foraging, where we might not see any signs,” Kesley explains. This also means that a pangolin does not have to be seen to be monitored and invaluable information can be gathered by pangolin rangers on patrol, which is then added to the GPS data from each individual pangolin’s transmitter.

Despite being the most trafficked animal in the world, there is surprisingly little known about pangolins.

Kelsey is the founder and director of the Pangolin Conservation and Research Foundation, the secretariat of the Namibian Pangolin Working Group (chaired by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism), and an IUCN pangolin specialist group member and co-chair for southern Africa.

In short, she is the go-to person for everything pangolin. Through her research she has committed herself to finding out more about the behaviour and habitats of this shy mammal. The more we know about these animals, the better we can understand key areas specifically related to pangolin conservation, diet, status and release.

Despite being the most trafficked animal in the world, there is surprisingly little known about pangolins.

Thousands of pangolins are poached and killed every year.

Their scales are used in traditional Chinese medicine, and their meat is a delicacy among some of the wealthy elite in China and Vietnam.

The reason why we joined Kelsey on one of her trips was because of the exciting news that she GPS-tagged the first resident Temminck’s pangolin in a seasonal wetland ecosystem. This was also the first resident pangolin in Namibia tagged with an iridium satellite GPS transmitter. Sadly this was the same pangolin that evaded us. As the transmitters cannot transmit coordinates too deep underground and transmissions happen over timed intervals, the area where the pangolins are is known, but not necessarily where exactly they are.

The project aims at being mutually beneficial by providing much-needed income in the form of salaries for the impoverished San communities in the area. It is hoped to create a sustainable livelihood for members of the community while being able to collect valuable information on pangolins and create awareness of the plight of these creatures and a sense of pride around having pangolins in their communities.

While our attempt at finding a pangolin failed, Kelsey’s initiative of combining technology with traditional San knowledge has all the potential of bearing the fruits that can lead to a better understanding and the protection of pangolins for future generations.

First published in the Winter 2022 issue of Travel News Namibia magazine. Subscribe to Travel News Namibia here: www.zinio.com/za/travel-news-namibia-m38306

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DID YOU KNOW?

This month in history:

1 July 1853 Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace presented the theory of evolution to the Linnean Society in London. It is said that modern biology and evolutionism were born on that day.

16 July 1969

19 July 1903

Launch of the first crewed mission to the moon, Apollo 11, undertaken by NASA. Four days later, on 20 July, Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon.

French cyclist Maurice Garin won the first Tour de France cycle race which consisted of an average stage distance of over 400 km, compared to the 171 km average stage length in the 2004 Tour de France.

4 July 1904 Construction began on the Panama Canal, linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The canal finally opened to traffic on 15 August 1914.

14 July

8 July 1497 Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama sailed from Lisbon to Calicut, India. A journey which opened the far east to European trade and colonial expansion.

9 July 1982 Painter Michael Fagan successfully scaled the walls and broke into Buckingham Palace and spent 10 minutes talking to Queen Elizabeth II in her bedroom.

Celebrate, observe and take part!

11 July 1962 US communications satellite Telstar sent the first live television programmes to Europe, marking the beginning of satellite broadcasting.

13 July 1930 The first World Cup football match was played between France and Mexico in Montevideo. France won 4-1.

FUN FACTS ABOUT JULY: Two Zodiac signs fall in July. People born before the 22nd have the sign of Cancer and are characterised as loyal friends and possess great emotional depth. People born from the 23rd onwards have the sign of Leo, associated with pride, confidence and great leadership abilities.

July was named after the famous Roman general and statesman Gaius Julius Caesar as it was the month he was born in. It was previously called Quintilis (Latin for fifth) as it was the fifth month of the 10-month-long ancient Roman calendar.

Bastille Day. This is the national day of France as well as the anniversary of the Storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789, a major event of the French Revolution.

SUDUKO

18 July Nelson Mandela day. He was born on this day in 1918.

28 July World Nature Conservation Day. The theme for 2022 is: Recovering key species for ecosystem restoration.

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.

5 9 2 4 6 8 7 1 3

1 7 8 9 3 2 4 6 5

3 4 6 1 7 5 9 2 8

HARD 2 7 6 4 1 9 5 3 8

9 4 1 8 5 3 7 6 2

8 3 5 2 6 7 4 1 9

4 6 3 5 9 1 8 2 7

1 5 9 7 8 2 3 4 6

7 8 2 3 4 6 9 5 1

3 2 4 6 7 8 1 9 5

6 1 8 9 3 5 2 7 4

5 9 7 1 2 4 6 8 3

EASY

8

4 1 5 6 9 7 3 8 2

1

6 2 7 5 8 3 1 9 4

4

4

8 3 9 2 4 1 5 7 6

9

5 8 3 1 9 4 7 5 2 6 8 1 2 5 1 7 3 7 8 1 1

9 8 4 7 5 6 2 3 1

2

7 6 1 3 2 4 8 5 9

2 3 7 4 6 1 1 4 7 8 7 9 1 1 8 2 9 3 2 5 5 4 2 6 5 7 8 9 3

HARD

2 5 3 8 1 9 6 4 7

EASY

FLYNAMIBIA JULY 2022

63

Love Namibia

The Great White Place - A white rhino covered in Etosha’s quintessential white mud casts a striking image against dramatic thunderclouds. Etosha is home to a large population of both white and black rhino and is a sanctuary for these special species.

Elzanne McCulloch

64

Matej Smucr

Tel: +264 61 232871 | 24hr emergency no: 081 129 3355 Email: info@africa-on-wheels.com | Website: www.africa-on-wheels.com

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