Southern Africa 2012

Africa is all too often talked as one country, one culture, one geography. It is anything but. This three month trip took us through only a small section of the continent: Hitch hiking from Namibia to Malawi - A slice of Southern Africa.

PHOTO GALLERIES

NAMIBIA

The deserted land.

This unpopulated world is a wild place. There are about 2 million people in a country twice the size of Germany. It is vast, it is wild.

Dead Vlei

in the middle of the Namibian desert amongst the huge sand dunes sits a series of clay pans.

The trees here are said to have died up to 900 years ago.

Sand Dunes

The Dancing White Lady Spider

She dances when challenged and escapes predators by cartwheeling the sides of the sand dunes.

The Ambush

This snake burrows itself in the sand with only his eyes showing. His tail looking like a a caterpillar and a tasty meal for any passing geckos wiggles itself out of the sand nearby and seals the trap.

The Skeleton Coast

The rough coast of Namibia's Atlantic coast is a graveyard for boats. The shifting sands cause havoc for anyone wanting to navigate the shoreline.

Hunting

There are few tribes left that live in the traditional manner. This community project teaches visitors how the bushmen used to live and provides much needed employment for the local populations.

Quiver Tree Forest

Not actually a tree but actually an Aloe plant these huge plants make fantastic silhouettes.

Fish River Canyon

The fish river canyon is the third largest canyon in the world. It stretches 160km long and 500m deep. It also makes a great five day hike.

Namibian Gecko

Sidewinder Snake

Hitch Hiking

In a country without a developed public transport system sometimes hitch hiking is the only way to get about. In one day we traveled 700km!

Home

Under the clear desert skies the milkyway is at it's most visible.

The Lesser Flamingo

Kolmanskoppe

A chilling reminder to how fleeting our time is. The abandoned diamond mining town is being enveloped by the desert that surrounds it.

Nests

Fire

A young boy shows how fire would be started using traditional means.

Silhouettes

The giraffe is at it's most vulnerable when bending down to drink. Only under extreme caution do they risk bending down to drink.

Hospital

The Kolmonskoppe hospital

Chameleon

Desert Elephants

A herd of elephants has adapted to life within the Namibian desert. There feet have grown larger and they only need to drink every three days instead of the usual daily drink.

Brown Spotted Hyena

Seal

A seal playing in the waters around our canoe.

Botswana to Malawi

The journey eastwards leads us through the vast expanse of the Kalahari before arriving into the lush green garden of Malawi.

Chamba - Health Clinic

Patients would walk for days to visit this health clinic in the village of Chamba. The demand for medical care is far greater than what can be delivered. But they expect something - they receive paracetamol.

Victoria Falls

The largest falls in the world. The 108m Victoria Falls straddles the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The Greatest Infinity Pool in the World

Swimming at the edge of the 108m drop at the edge of the Victoria Falls.

100 Year Old Bamboo Bridge, Malawi

Drying Usipa, Chizimulu Island, Malawi

Usipa, the staple fish of Lake Malawi is fished in the early morning and left to dry in the hot sun throughout the day before being packed into huge sacks to be sold in the mainland.