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CAU > Seminars and Study Tours > Namibia: Water, Life, and Landscapes of Southern Africa

Namibia: Water, Life, and Landscapes of Southern Africa

October 3-16, 2006

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Overview

Water is life. All living creatures know that. And they organize their lives accordingly. Water—and its links to life and the land in several of southern Africa's most stable, beautiful, and wildlife-rich regions—will guide this newest CAU expedition. Led by CAU favorite John B. (J. B.) Heiser, past director of Cornell's Shoals Marine Laboratory, recipient of Cornell's Clark Distinguished Teaching Award, and leader of innumerable CAU adventures on every continent, we'll enjoy the relatively less-traveled byways of Namibia, following, observing, and discussing life and wildlife in several of southern Africa's most distinctive regions.

Itinerary

Arriving via Frankfurt in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia (German South West Africa before World War I), we'll enjoy an overnight at the very fine Hotel Heinitzburg, and visit several excellent natural and cultural history collections in this erstwhile German city. (We'll also acclimate with cocktails on the terrace and fried grasshopper appetizers if you like.) From Windhoek we'll drive and fly west, then north, then east, the better to see up close the range and diversity of the Namibian landscape. At Sossusvlei, we'll explore the awesome sand dunes of the Namib Desert. We'll also see the dunes by air as we make the short flight to Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, where we'll observe half the flamingo population of southern Africa. Along the legendary Skeleton Coast we'll encounter haunting remains of wrecked ships as we traverse foggy beaches bounded by seemingly endless gravel plains covered with inch-high lichen forests, visit Cape fur seal colonies, watch for dolphins jumping offshore, and seek out the sixty-four species of birds that seem to thrive in one of the most inhospitable places on earth.

Turning inland, we'll make a stop at bizarre Welwitschia "gardens" inhabited by one of the oddest plants in the world. We'll overnight at the oasis of Palmwag, home to desert elephants, rhinos, and mountain zebras, and continue on to Etosha National Park— undoubtedly one of the world's greatest wildlife-viewing venues—for three days of exploration. Despite the meaning of "Etosha" ("great white place of dry water"), we'll be drawn to the surrounding watering holes that provide habitat for Etosha's fabulous wildlife populations. From our beautifully situated lodge we'll enjoy drives to key watering places as well as game walks in our host's private reserve. We'll seek out Etosha's profuse birdlife (including yellow-billed hornbills, ostrich, and the huge kori bustard, which weighs more than thirty pounds and seldom flies) and mammals, including elephant, giraffe, Burchell's zebra, springbok, red hartebeest, hyena, lion, cheetah, leopard, and both black and white rhinoceros. A unique opportunity will be our overnight farm-stay in the shadow of the Waterberg Plateau, where we will be guests of the Cheetah Conservation Fund.

Program Cost and Travel Arrangements

The program fee (per-person, double-occupancy) of $7,385 includes all lodging, meals, ground and air transportation in Africa, all gratuities, taxes, and entrance fees, full escort services, emergency medical-evacuation insurance, and the full educational program. The supplement for single occupancy is $1,165. International airfare from New York is an additional $1,150, but you are free to make your own air arrangements if you prefer.

Physical Requirements

This is a somewhat rigorous trip. You must be able to board various types of vehicles, walk over uneven terrain, and tolerate roads of uneven quality. Daytime temperatures should be warm but not extreme; evenings at several sites may be chilly. Rain is unlikely.