Pausing to soak up the view on the wide-open plains of the Marienfluss, Kaokoland
ANDREW ST PIERRE WHITE
It’s Etosha National Park in December. A summer storm darkens the sky and against the blinding-white pan, billowing nimbus clouds are building. Springbok and zebra walk away, with purpose, into the mopane scrub. And then the rains begin, with splashes the size of dinner plates. There is an intoxicating odour of grass, wild sage and shrubs. With each sense enlivened, you absorb every part of this unforgettable spectacle, one of the richest experiences in Africa. Rather than being rushed back to the lodge for tea, you stop and stare at the marvel before you — for it is experiences such as these that, in my opinion, make self-drive in a 4WD the best way to explore Namibia.
The notorious Van Zyl’s Pass in the far north of Namibia
MICHAEL POLIZA