Ameib

I am just back from a weekend at Ameib Ranch. We went hiking to the famous Phillip's Cave with Bushman rock paintings in it, through a valley called "Bull's Party" with giant bolders and even some rockpools with tadpols in them, and we climbed up a rock formation called "The Elephant". The landscape is very interesting, but this time of the year is really too hot for walking. We had lunch break and a long afternoon nap in the shade of the granit bolders and started again half two into the bright sunshine. There were still over 30 degrees in the shade and I do not know how hot it was in the sun. Climbing up that rock formation was sweat-driving, but the view rewarded us. I was amazed how plants survive on the granit, especially climbing fig tree. Back in the camp we refreshed ourselves in the pool before we had the traditional sundowner and then BBQ. We slept under the stars and full moon, the night was refreshingly cool. I woke up and saw an owl, bats and the housecats emptying the bin. Early in the morning a pair of giraffes came for breakfast very close to the camp.
This morning I joined the climbing group, but attempts to find a route in the shade resultet in a fairly long walk and scramble over bolders before we got just one route in. It was nice anyway and before the greatest heat came we were back in the car with its aircondition. I am afraid for the next trip I have to wait a couple of months until the worst heat is over.

It's getting hot

Now it is slowly becoming summer. Yesterday there were 38 degrees Celsius in Windhoek. Luckily I was at work half of the day, with the aircondition on. The heat hit me when I went outside. The only option was to have a very long siesta and then do something where you don't have to move much.
The moskitos are coming, a locust knocked at my window, butterflies decorate my garden and the weaver birds are breeding. And in this weather people try to gear up for Christmas! I cannot get into the mood for it and I will probably start baking Stollen just the week before. It feels all wrong.

Dassie on the rock

Hello,
as some people do not seem to know what a dassie is, I decided to post this picture taken this afternoon in my garden. They are quite tame here. I can also usually watch a fox mangoose in the morning, it is very nosy and comes quite close. Apart from this I have at the moment finger-thick millipeds climbing the walls of my house and a gecko regularly visiting the balcony in the evening. I wonder what else the summer will bring as it proceeds.
Cheers,
Heidrun