A Fistful Of Slithers

My buddy, Stretch Moonman, gave me some images of pythons which hatched in the Reptile Park where he's the curator:


One of the Pythons in Stretch's care.

The Southern African Python is the largest snake in Southern Africa, averaging 3-4 m long. Previously known as the African Rock Python, it's called 'Ombome' by the Owambo people of Namibia.

Pythons are extremely valuable in controlling rodent populations but are indiscriminately killed by fearful, ignorant humans.

Pythons have been reported to kill people but this is very rare. Pythons can however, inflict painful and dangerous bite-wounds which may require medical attention.

I once kept a small python, Monty, for a while but released 'him' into the bush after he slithered into my shirt and left a row of bloody teeth marks on my back.


A clutch of eggs laid by one of the large females in the Reptile Park early this year.

Pythons usually lay between 30-60 eggs and are the only snake I know of which incubate their eggs and remain with the babies for two weeks or more after hatching.

The eggs, each slightly smaller than a tennis ball, hatched after 91 days.


Mama raises her head in a defensive posture, her body coiled around the 21 newly-hatched babes.


Awwwww ...


I visited Stretch earlier this year and photographed two of the babes which he had in his living quarters.

Stretch doesn't have to worry about break-ins and thefts - no would-be thief has the courage to enter his house because of his reputation for keeping all kinds of dangerous snakes.


One of the two babes in Stretch's house was the 'runt' of the litter (with the spot, or scar on it's forehead).

When I last spoke to him, he said that the poor creature had all sorts of health problems and that he thought it will not survive.


Stretch displays some of his 'babies' before taking them out into the bush and releasing them.

The harsh reality is that very few of them will survive to adulthood, most will be eaten by birds of prey and other predators.


I wonder what the collective noun is for a bunch of baby pythons ... a Medusa?

References:
Johan Marais - Snakes Of Southern Africa.

.

A Thorn Among Roses

When I returned home in July I had a unique experience: for the first time I met 'Someone from the Internet'.

Leslie, (left in pic), is a dynamic American lady who, through an Aid Organization, volunteered her time and money to do a stint teaching Computer Literacy in a rural school in Northern Namibia.

She was thrown in at the deep-end when, upon arrival, she was asked to teach English instead - seemingly because the previous teacher had suddenly bailed-out, unable to handle the challenge and tough living conditions.

Undaunted by the sorry state of our education system and the cultural obstacles facing the pupils, she has bravely set about her task, determined to make a difference in the lives of the kids.

We started communicating through our Tumblr accounts before she arrived in Namibia and our paths crossed when she attended a workshop in the town close to my home. Together with her colleague Elise, she was able to visit for a few hours.

I was pretty nervous about the meeting - I recalled how, as a teenager, I had met-up with a Pen Pal from a wealthy family and had felt uncomfortable in my ordinary clothes and ways. I needn't have worried with Leslie and Elise; I dunked my cookies in my coffee and all was cool ... they were just people like me.

Also, being aware of the dangers of meeting strangers from Cyberspace, I appreciated the risk that they were taking and felt a certain angst to somehow demonstrate that I'm not a creepy old perv.

Mind you, I probably did come across as a bit of a Dufus because I'm a little hard-of-hearing and sometimes had trouble processing their Southern accents - heavens knows what I sounded like to them in my flat Effrican Inglish.

Sadly, our time together was too short to get into any serious conversations.

I have two vivid memories of our meeting. The first is that Leslie listens to Bob Dylan - I would have loved to explore her interest in his music further because Dylan had a defining influence on my thinking when I was about her age.

My second memory is that she had on the coolest pair of shoes I've ever seen - they looked like a snug slipper but they had toes, like a foot-glove. I couldn't believe my eyes but have since heard that these shoes are not uncommon - maybe I've been in the bush too long.

Anyway, if she had a quiver of arrows slung across her shoulder and a bow in hand, the picture would have been complete - now, whenever I think of her, I have this recurring image of a fleet-footed Huntress or Warrior popping into my head ... yeah, I know, ... that's just the way my mind works.

I would have liked to have taken a photo to show you her shoes but that might have seemed weird, ... eh?

Before she arrived, Leslie asked in a mail if I thought it safe for her to travel solo around Africa and I replied "No!", it's too risky ...

Well, I've changed my mind - I think she would breeze a journey through this Continent ... go places where I would fear to tread.

Leslie will be in Nam until December and I hope we get the chance to sit and chat around a fire before she returns home.


.

Slouching Towards Blogylon

Hello Friends,

Before I left for the North at the end of June I was unable to post because I was feeling uninspired and negative about life in general - probably the Post-60 Blues.

I thought that it didn't matter whether or not I posted my usual "I'll Be Bach" entry when I go off-line for awhile.

... I was wrong and I apologise to those of you who became alarmed by my extended silence.

Even though we may never meet and only communicate through blog comments and the occasional mail, it's finally beginning to sink into my skull that the feelings of affection and goodwill we have for each other here in cyberspace are as valid as those in 'real life' (indeed, even the distinction between real and cyber is rapidly blurring).


When I arrived home I was horrified to find that one night of Black Frost had destroyed many plants ... the whole world seemed bleak and grey. My neighbour lost hundreds of Mango trees.

What upset me most was the loss of the ever-messy but shade-giving Flamboyant Tree in front of the house.

I've seen Black Frost a few times but it's never affected the Flamboyant before - I'm hoping that it's not dead but, when I left a few days ago, there was still no sign of any new life.


Spirit seems none the worse off after his castration in April - I got him to the Vet just in time, because Mutt was starting to recognise Spirit as a potential rival and attacked him viciously every time he saw him, attempting to drive him off.

As for Mutt, I was also going to have him 'done' in April but I had to cancel two hard-to-get Vet appointments because both times wily Mutt outwitted me and escaped from the room in which I'd locked him ... I've decided to just leave him alone now and let him be a Tom - I reckon that after his two incredible escapes he's earned his 'wings'.

At least now, when Mutt returns home every few days to grab a bite to eat, he still gives Spirit the evil-eye but refrains from attacking him.

I wish that Spirit would make himself more useful though - by catching mice instead of birds and lizards.


I spent six weeks building a new Septic Tank and in the process screwed my back up - I was in agony for the whole period and it's frustrating that my body hurts so easily these days.

Perhaps I should take up knitting instead - (don't laugh, I have vivid memories of my Grandfather knitting while puffing on his pipe).


I had to construct the Septic Tank as a matter of urgency because without it I can't progress much further on the house. I chose to build it during winter because it would have been sheer hell down in that hole during summer - also the risk of flooding if it rained.

The tank is very big and probably a case of overkill on my part but, ... hey, now I can die satisfied, knowing that I've provided a service to Mankind which may endure for centuries ... :)


There were dozens of different species of birds around, including my favourites, the Fork-tailed Drongo - I just love the way these birds dive up into the air to catch insects at dusk. Drongos are aggressive birds, fighting amongst themselves and also attacking much larger birds of prey.

The Drongo is known as "Rungada" amongst the Owambo people who also call it the 'Foreman of all Birds' because it is the first to start singing and calling before the sun rises ... it wakes the chickens up.

Also, for the first time in twenty-something years, I saw two Crows fly over the house.


The Fur People are all ok and Stoffel enjoyed our nightly walk-a bouts, chowing bugs and digging up sprouts.

I take Stoffel out as the sun is setting because then she's less likely to wander off and get up to mischief. After she's done her rounds she comes inside quite happily, has a drink of Horlicks and then heads off to bed, snuggling under the covers during winter.


Sunsets were spectacularly red because of all the dust and smoke from bush fires.

I know that winter is the time of death and rebirth and all that but, I much prefer summer, even though I often long for just one moment of coolness during the oppressive heat ...


I hope to have some interesting post in the next few days.

Once again, my apologies for being so thoughtless:



... if I were a Good Man, I'd talk with you more often than I do ...

.

Sossusvlei - Sandbox For Adults

After a recent visit to Sossusvlei it was difficult to select only a few images from the more than 600 pics I took and, many of my favorites had to be abandoned.

There are zillions of spectacular pics from Sossusvlei online and all I could do for this post is try to show a representative sample from my visit:


Sossusvlei is about 70ks West of Sesriem.

The access road is the only stretch of tarred road for hundreds of kilometers.

Thank heavens it is tarred because, if it was gravel, the dust from all the vehicles using it would make the journey unbearable and ruin many photo-ops.


Sossusvlei is located in the Namib-Naukluft National Park and visitors are only allowed into the area between sunrise and sunset.

Springbok, Oryx and Ostrich are common along the road and, despite the arid conditions, many weird and wonderful creatures survive here.


If you're into pastel shades and soothing contours this place will blow you away.

When I finally get around to painting the inside walls of my house I want to use a 'peachy' shade similar to these dunes.


Dune 45 is also known as 'the most photographed dune in the world' because of its unusually simple and fascinating shape and its proximity to the road.

It is 80 meters high and it is not very steep, so that it can easily climbed, which makes it convenient for visitors to stop and take pictures.


The obligatory 'Sossusvlei Dead Tree' picture. There are many dead Camel Thorn trees in the area and some of them must be hundreds of years old.


The last 7km to Sossusvlei is a sandy track and can only be reached by 4×4 Vehicles or on foot.

The rule when drving this stretch is 'Don't stop in the soft sand' - keep the vehicle moving until you reach solid ground.


Sossusvlei is the spot where the usually dry Tsauchab River is swallowed by the sand dunes which extend all the way to the Atlantic coast.

This year good rains fell in the Tsauchab's catchment zone and the pan was full - an unusual occurrence.


Visitors climb the large dune at Sossusvlei.


It's difficult to climb in the soft sand and in the heat I was content to sit under a shady tree and watch others sweat-it-out.


Ghost Dance.

Fairy Circles dot the side of a grass-covered dune - some of them have been put up for adoption.

It appears that the boffins have still not solved the mystery of their existence.

'In the oral myths of Himba people these barren patches are said to have been caused by the gods and/or spirits and natural divinities.'



On a sidenote: this week has seen record freezing temperatures in Namibia.

Rare Snow fell in this area and caused a sensation: - "Reports and photographs of the snowfall circulated rapidly and widely across the Internet and inboxes bulged with rare images depicting snow in areas usually associated with heat and dust, not biting cold and white blankets of snow."


Click on the 'location' map below to get a different perspective of the dunes.

.

A Trip Through The Gamsberg Pass - C26

After meeting Meg in Windhoek, we traveled to Sossusvlei via the C26 gravel road through the Gamsberg Pass.


A donkey cart in the hills before the Pass.

Donkeys are amazing creatures - I've seen them easily pull a cart up a gradient which I thought impossible.


There are some beautiful farms along the route - many of them cater to guests and campers.


A sign at the start of the Pass warning Truckers of the steep decline and sharp bends ahead.


This area has spectacular scenery, too much for one blog post.


The flat-topped Gamsberg Mountain is the dominant feature.

There seem to be quite a few Astronomical Observatories around here. I gleaned some info from this Source:

"The Gamsberg has been identified as one of the most suitable sites for an observatory in Southern Africa.
It is a table-mountain 120 km south west of Windhoek above the Namib desert at an altitude of 2350 m above sea level.

It experiences a large number of cloudless nights, a dark sky, excellent atmospheric transparency and low humidity. Comparative test measurements have demonstrated that it is of just as good quality as the well-known astronomical sites in Chile."


Who needs a Rollercoaster?


Namibia has just had a record-breaking Rain Season and most of the usually bone-dry riverbeds still had water in them.


A troop of Baboons at a river - I was surprised that they allowed me to photograph them.

Most Baboons I encounter run as soon as I approach or point my camera at them.

They can become pests on farms and are often shot at.


I love this Leopard design at a farm entrance ... or is it a Cheetah? ... :)


And then we were out of the mountains, on flat ground approaching the desert ...

.

Sesriem - On The Edge Of Nowhere

Sesriem is a 'settlement' on the edge of the Namib Desert.

It is the western entrance to the Namib Nauklauft Park and consists of two camping areas, a Lodge catering mainly to Fly-In and Coach-Tour visitors and, a fuel station/store.

It is also the access point to the famous Sossusvlei and its much-photographed dunes.


On the gravel roads leading to Sesriem there are many Desert Lodges and Operators offering services like Balloon Safaris and Aircraft flights over the dunes.


I don't know what it costs to Balloon over the desert but I'm sure I couldn't afford it.

I had to be satisfied with this aerial view of Sesriem - a Welcome sign at the Sossus Oasis Camp Site where we stayed: the circle in the foreground.


Entrance to Sossusvlei is restricted to daylight hours and therefore Sesriem, being about 70kms east of Sossusvlei, is a convenient stop-over for visitors wanting to get to the Dunes early the next day before the sun gets too hot.


The camp sites at the Sossus Oasis Camp are nicely spaced, ensuring a degree of privacy.

Each shaded camping spot has a barbecue, electrical-point and wash-basin for dishes. Behind the reed enclosure is a toilet and shower with hot water - what a pleasure it is to shower here after a long day on the road, cool breeze blowing and a fantastic view over the desert.

The owners of the camp pride themselves on their eco-friendliness - hot water and electricity is solar generated. I assume that water is also pumped from solar-powered boreholes.


A Biker enters the Namibia Wildlife Resorts Camp where permits are issued for entrance to Sossusvlei.

Motorcycles are not allowed into Sossusvlei so bikers have to either hitch a ride with a motorist or use one of the expensive Shuttle-service Vehicles.

We took two Bikers with us on our trip to Sossusvlei; they'd traveled across Russia, Europe and Africa and were on their way home to Oz, via Namibia and Cape Town - it would have been a shame if they'd come all that way and not been able to get to Sossusvlei.


A Balloon over the Desert.

It seems that the Balloons only fly at sunrise when there is no wind - the view must be spectacular.


In the pic above you can see one of three Micro-light aircraft which appeared in the sky and then came in to land on the gravel road running past the camp.

The whole setting of Sesriem is surreal.

This outpost in the desert with all the strange-looking vehicles coming and going gave me a sense of Déjà vu - later it struck me that Sesriem is like a scene from a Mad Max movie.


After landing, the Airmen taxied up to the pumps and proceeded to refuel their flying machines:


Wow, I can only imagine how it must feel to tour a country in this way - I was feeling too shy to strike-up a conversation with these travelers so I can tell you no more about them.


The Sesriem Canyon, about 5kms from the campsite.

It was midday and hot and I was in no mood to trek down the path leading into it and back up again - maybe next time ...

'Sesriem', literally translated from Afrikaans means 'Six Thongs' - you can read why this Canyon is so-named here

If you follow the Location link below you'll get a good perspective of the area.

.

Mmmmm ... I Can't Think Of A Title ...

A few more images from my recent trip Northwards:


Rostock Mountain at Sunrise.


Painted boots serve as a Farm-Entrance marker - the person who once wore them had a massive pair of feet ... those leathers are huge.


A Koringkriek clings to a lamp in a strange pose - you can see a pic of a 'normal' one here.


A group of Tourists pause for a photo-op on the Tropic Of Capricorn.


This Black-chested Snake Eagle was sitting on a pole and flew off as I approaced - it then turned around and came swooping past me - is that a look of contempt in it's eye?


Another strange Farm Sign ... it's difficult to miss Bethel with this bright object so in-your-face ...


A Lizard in the sand - at least I think it's a Lizard ... I haven't got around yet to researching the differences between Lizards, Skinks and Geckos ... perhaps someone will just tell me ... in simple English.


A group of Farm Workers being transported home on a trailer pulled by a Tractor - I just love the kid peeking out from it's mother's back ... and Mom's forelocks blowing in the wind ...


This is one of the most amazing rock-formations I've seen ... it's probably about 80cm to a meter thick and I can't decide whether it's man-made or natural ... what do you think?

Whew! ... it seems like I've travelled thousands of Ks in the last few weeks and, thinking about it, I have ... on Thursday I'm off to Capetown for a few days - hopefully, when I get back I can relax awhile and get my life sorted out ...

.