These animals have adapted to desert life by having smaller bodies, broader feet and longer legs than their African relatives. The adult bull, on the other hand, is solitary and can traverse large areas. Desert elephants usually travel in family groups made up of a female and her young as well as sisters and aunties. They are fascinating creatures, and it’s hard to believe that an animal that usually needs plenty of water per day can survive in this harsh climate and go without water for up to three days. Found only here and in Mali, these gentle desert giants can be found mostly in the rocky mountains, sandy desert, and stony plains of the Kunene region. A desert lioness on the prowl close to the Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp (Photo credit: Dr Flip Stander)Īnother one of Namibia’s incredible desert-adapted animals is the unique and rare desert-dwelling elephant. Your best chances of seeing these elusive and rarely seen lions is from Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp. It tracks a family of desert lions, their trials and tribulations and ultimate survival against all the odds through Namibia’s Kaokoveld.
A TALE IN THE DESERT ECOLOGY SKILL MOVIE
It’s thus crucial that conservation projects such as The Desert Lion Conservation Project are supported to manage not only the human-lion conflict, but also to monitor their behavior and population.Ī fascinating new movie entitled ‘Vanishing Kings – Namibia’s Desert Adapted Lions’ is set to be released this year. Their biggest threat is man, in particular local communities that shoot them when they prey on their cattle. These magnificent creatures are unique to the Namib Desert and are vital in sustaining the Namibian tourism industry. They don’t need to drink water but get all the moisture they need from their kill such as ostrich, gemsbok and the occasional seal (if they dare catch one). It’s astounding to even think that lions can survive in such a merciless environment.įound mostly outside the protected areas in northern Namibia’s Kunene region, the desert lions are hardy and highly adapted to survive in these extreme conditions. Known as Africa’s apex predator, not many people know of or have seen the mysterious desert lions of Namibia. The iconic image of a lone Oryx standing against the pink desert dunes at Sossusvlei Not only is the desert scenery sublime, but this is a dream luxury desert location, set in the heart of the NamibRand Nature Reserve.
If you want to see the Oryx in its natural habitat, we suggest booking into one of the breathtaking Wolwedans Camps. Their clever colouring also acts as a heat deflector. They will rest in the shade of a tree in the hottest part of the day, or in the event that no shade can be found, turn their bodies in such a way that most of their body surface faces away from the sun. In fact, the Oryx’s entire behavior patterns are geared towards conserving water and energy.
They are able to extract enough moisture from their food to survive in this unforgiving terrain.Įspecially prevalent in the famous NamibRand Reserve, the Oryx can conserve water and withstand extreme heat (as well as a body temperature that can climb to 40 degrees) which would ordinarily kill any other animal, by cooling the blood that flows to its brain.
Known as a Gemsbok in South Africa and found widely all over Namibia, the beautiful Oryx is highly adapted to the harsh desert terrain and can survive in an environment where most antelope would perish. Here are a few of Nambia’s incredible desert adapted animals. The country’s most recognisable icon is its national symbol, the Oryx, standing alone on a cinnamon-coloured dune in Sossusvlei with the far-flung horizon and the rising sun as a backdrop.īut how do these and any other creatures survive in this harsh desert environment? The answer lies in their extraordinarily unique way in which they have adapted to one of the harshest climates on earth.
A TALE IN THE DESERT ECOLOGY SKILL FULL
Namibia is a breathtakingly beautiful country, full of stark contrasts, dramatic scenery, endless blue skies, intense heat and sand dunes that go on forever.