Bobotie is so traditionally South Africa and this easy bobotie recipe has just what our long lost friends around the world need to feel at home. Bobotie recipe
Here’s your Insider Guide to the 10 Best Restaurants in Franschhoek, South Africa! Dine out like a local with our secret tips!
Here’s your Insider Guide to the 10 Best Restaurants in Franschhoek, South Africa! Dine out like a local with our secret tips!
Throughout history, humans have used the land to plant crops, chiseled it away at it to make homes and extracted its resources to fill their greatest desires. By using Earth’s resources to construct man-made realities, they have achieved great feats of engineering and controlled empires that expand the borders of many modern nations. It is these great feats and architectural masterpieces that have left many tourists awestruck and intrigued by the incredible craftsmanship and ingenuity of their forefathers. And it is sites like these that tourists flock to year after year when designing their perfect vacation. Yet, Namibia’s Damaraland is a different type of destination. Namibia is a place that may lack some of the amenities and historical relics that have put other countries on the tourist trail, but it is striking nonetheless–striking precisely because of its desolation, isolation and nothingness. It is dusty, it is sandy, it is empty. Yet, from this alien landscape, arises a feeling of immensity that is often overwhelming. These bleak landscapes evoke a sense of beauty and inspiration. What is most awe-inspiring about Namibia is its consuming vastness. And nowhere is this more apparent than Damaraland. The Herero of Damaraland The Herero are one of the eleven main ethnic groups that form part of Namibia’s colorful cultural ensemble. The Herero migrated into what is now Namibia’s Kaokoveld, from areas in Central and Eastern Africa. In the 1800’s, the group splintered. The Herero settled in Damaraland and became pastoralists and farmers. Their offshoot—the Himba—clustered around the Kunene region in the country’s northwest and have maintained a largely nomadic lifestyle. The traditional Herero garb is a fusion of traditional and European styles. The Herero style is heavily influenced by Victorian-era German missionaries and consists of layers upon layers of petticoats, voluminous skirts and shawls. However, the most distinct feature of Herero attire is undoubtedly the headdress–a horn-shaped hat that symbolizes the importance of cattle in Herero culture. Namibia’s Herero history is a tragic one. In 1907, the Herero staged a rebellion against the colonizing Germans. The rebellion backfired and resulted in the first genocide of the 20th century. The German forces squandered the Herero Rebellion and nearly extinguished the Herero ethnic group. Today, descendants of the surviving Herero number in the 200,000s, but estimates predict that if it had not been for the genocide, their population would be closer to one million–meaning they would have overtaken the Owambos as the predominant ethnic group in Namibia. Traveling to Damaraland, Namibia During the year I spent living in Namibia, I was fortunate to have visited many of the country’s top highlights. On weekends and between semesters teaching, I took every opportunity possible to visit the country’s stunning natural wonders–from Etosha National Park’s animal-studded plains, to the towering dunes of Sossusvlei. The landscapes in west-central Namibia elicit feelings of driving the empty roads of America’s wild west. We drove for miles, seemingly in the middle of nowhere and often in silence. At times, hours would pass before another car crossed our path. Throughout the drive, we would find ourselves marveling at the expanses of red rock or pointing at the outline of pastel-colored mountains in the distance. Petrified forest in Damaraland Our first stop in Damaraland was the Petrified Forest that lies to the West of Khorixas. The petrified forest sits in the heart of a dry, rugged hills of Damaraland. It contains the remains of hundreds of trees, estimated to be around 280 million years old. These trees are thought to have originated in Zambia’s Copperbelt Region. Many scientists believe that they were washed into west-central Namibia by the floods after an ice age. The moving floodwaters carried sand and mud, which covered the trees, preserving them and preventing their decay. Over time, the wood has been replaced by quartz and has resulted in trees that, aside from their physical appearance, resemble rocks in many ways. At the Petrified Forest, we were also able to see the famous Welwitchia Mirabilis–a plant species endemic to the Namib desert that is perfectly adapted to life in the arid environment. Welwitchia plants can live up to 2,000 years. Twefylfontein UNESCO World Heritage Site From the Petrified Forest, we continued onward to Twyfelfontein, Namibia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site and the highlight of our trip into Damaraland. Twyfelfontein is a site that contains one of the largest conglomerations of petroglyphs in Africa. The artists of the engravings are widely believed to be the ancestors of the San hunter-gatherers that have inhabited the region for thousands of years. The engravings are estimated to be around 2,500 years old and depict many of the animal species that were found in the region, including elephants, giraffes, rhinos and lions. In total, the number of engravings exceeds 2,000. Some of the pictorial illustrations are of animals found in other areas, such as seals and penguins. This reveals that the inhabitants of the Twyfelfontein area likely had contact with the coastal region of the country, more than 100km away. The area of the Huab Valley near Twyfelfontein was sacred to the early inhabitants of the area and held ritualistic significance. Many of the engravings, including the “lion man” portray the transformation between man and animal. Spitzkoppe Mountain Spitzkoppe is a highlight of traveling to Damaraland and a place that I regrettably skipped during my year of traveling and volunteering in Namibia. The 1728 meter rocky massif rises above the dusty plains of southern Damaraland and has become a symbol of the region and of Namibia as a whole. Next time I travel to Namibia, visiting the Spitzkoppe will be my top priority. Why Travel to Namibia’s Damaraland? While Damaraland certainly has beautiful tourist highlights, much of the region’s appeal lies in its empty spaces–spaces that are vast, endless and ever-changing in their geological characteristics and color schemes. They are spaces where barren lands are home to a resilient and resourceful population that is struggling to survive in one of the world’s harshest environments. As with all living organisms in the region, the people of the Namib Desert have adapted to survive in this uncompromising part of the world. They have learned to work the land, to reap its fruits and to find their basic needs for survival in a place that most humans would deem unfit for habitation. There are some environments that allow themselves to be transformed and still others so uncompromising that they have yet to be controlled. Instead, they transform the ways of life of those who live there and give them the strength and resilience to forge a life against all odds. In many ways, Damaraland defines Namibia as a whole. Few places in Namibia—save perhaps the Skeleton Coast and the Kunene Region—offer a better window into the harsh realities of life in one of the world’s most sparsely populated countries. Damaraland is vast. It is uncompromising. It is challenging. And it is starkly beautiful. For these reasons, the region should be a top priority when traveling to Namibia. ________________________________________ Was this Guide to Damaraland Namibia Helpful? Pin it!
Travel to Rwanda doesn't need to be difficult or scary. In fact, it's one of the world's safest countries and has loads to offer the adventurous traveller.
Feeling hungry in the Mother City? Whether you're in the mood for breakfast, lunch or dinner - here's my guide to finding the best food in Cape Town!
Are your students exploring continents? Grab these free printables and Africa worksheets to learn about Africa, the world’s hottest continent.
The best things to do in Franschhoek including the wine tram, gourmet restaurants and all the details you need for an amazing trip to the Cape Winelands.
Here’s your Insider Guide to the 10 Best Restaurants in Stellenbosch, South Africa! Dine out like a local with our secret tips!
Here’s your Insider Guide to the 10 Best Restaurants in Stellenbosch, South Africa! Dine out like a local with our secret tips!
Here’s your Insider Guide to the 10 Best Restaurants in Stellenbosch, South Africa! Dine out like a local with our secret tips!
Putting together an epic Cape Town itinerary is EASY!! Because there is so much to see and do, and Cape Town is so damn cool!
First-timers visiting Stellenbosch will usually come to the same conclusion. Stellenbosch is the most wonderful place in the world for foodies. Go to any one of the Stellenbosch restaurants and expect wine pairings with every delectable menu item. From avo on toast all the way up to a steaming bowl of pasta, you'll always have an excellent glass of wine to wash down your meal. Planning a trip to Stellenbosch can feel overwhelming, even for the hungriest and thirstiest of travellers. With so much to sip and nibble on, how does one choose? Today, I'd like to share the wisdom
This educational resource includes 20 real and high-quality images of famous landmarks in Africa, presented in a 3-part card format. The file is in a .zip format and includes two PDF files: (1) Landmarks of Africa with a green border, and (2) Landmarks of Africa without borders. Each file includes: - 20 control cards (picture and label) - 20 picture cards - 20 labels - title cards - 20 fact cards - added pin flags THIS FILE IS PART OF A BIGGER BUNDLE, which includes all LANDMARKS in continents of Asia, Africa, North America, South America and Europe. You might want to check it out to save up. OTHER LANDMARKS AVAILABLE: ✴ Landmarks of Australia/Oceania ✴ Landmarks of Africa ✴ Landmarks of Asia ✴ Landmarks of Europe ✴ Landmarks of North America ✴ Landmarks of South America
Free Africa Printables and Resources
The tour is booked! Here's my thought process on why in the end I decided to go with African Trails Overlanding. I have been thinking about traveling through Africa for a little while. However, for months I declared it impossible: [...]
This is the definitive list of books about Africa for kids: organized by countries, and including both contemporary stories and folktales set in Africa!
There are so many places you can visit on day trips from Johannesburg that it's actually difficult to decide where to go! From pristine landscapes to national parks and game reserves perfect for a safari
In this post, we'll talk about Zimbabwe, an underrated east African country where the nature amuses you the most!
God's Window is one of the most popular stops on the Panorama Route in South Africa. Rightfully so? Read here about our experience and an alternative stop.
Can you travel to Namibia with kids? Absolutely! Read about our experience visiting Namibia with young children (3-5 yrs) and learn WHY you should visit too!
These simple world continent dot marker worksheets make a great fine motor complement to your preschool or kindergarten geography studies. You can use bingo daubers in the traditional Montessori colors to further reinforce your Montessori continent lessons. This set includes 8 continent pages: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, South America, and Oceania (with the same image as Australia). What you will receive: - One PDF file, size 8.5 by 11 inches - 8 dot marker worksheets with the continents labeled ------------------------------------------------- You may also be interested in these World Continents shadow matching cards: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1393829501/ Or you may like my world continent lacing cards: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1387287416/ ------------------------------------------------- ***Note: This is a DIGITAL product. No physical product will be mailed. You will receive your downloadable files immediately after purchase. These files are for personal or single classroom use only. Please do not share, alter, resell, or distribute the files in any way.***
Travel to Rwanda doesn't need to be difficult or scary. In fact, it's one of the world's safest countries and has loads to offer the adventurous traveller.
Color this Scramble for Africa map with your kids, middle grades and up. The lesson starts with great library research choices then print . . .
What are some of the cheapest places to travel to in the world? From Asia to Africa and Europe, we've got budget breakdowns for the cheapest spots in the world.
Absolutely stunning photos of Liechtenstein, one of the smallest countries in the world and one of Europe's most underrated gems.
Want to watch thousands of flamingos turn the sky pink? Book a night at Nata Lodge for a unique wildlife experience in Botswana!
Find out about some of the top backpacking routes around the world in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
This article describes the Nile River, its facts and figures, and its past and present.
Teaching kids about our world, geography, maps, and more. Kindergarten Social Studies Lessons made easy #kindergarten #socialstudies
Step into the captivating world of mid-20th century cartography with "Afrique," a stunning pictorial map crafted by the renowned Jacques Liozu in 1951. This map is not merely a geographical representation but a vibrant tapestry that weaves together the diverse cultural, industrial, and natural elements of Africa. Liozu, celebrated for...
How many days to spend in Praia? Things to do? Or should I skip it? Read how to plan the best Praia itinerary and what to do in the capital of Cape Verde!
While the falls were as magnificent as we imagined, we were surprised to learn about all the other Victoria Falls activities, hotels and restaurants.
All the best things to do in St Lucia, South Africa. From nesting turtles to wallowing hippos; from African game drives to jungle clad beaches.
When I was a kid, I wanted to be a fairy. No, I am not joking. I binge-watched that Fairytale movie on repeat. I tried to find fairy circles to get 'taken' into a magical realm and collected fairy dolls, statues, stationery - you name it, I had it. (I also devoted A LOT of time to willing wings to sprout from my back.) My childhood affliction towards all things fairy has led to an adulthood obsession with all things nature, more specifically staying in magical places like cabins. ...Cause if I were a fairy and I was looking for accommodation near Cape
Pinay Homeschooler is a blog that shares homeschool and afterschool activity of kids from babies to elementary level.
This year Kaleb and I have been wandering around the world via books, Little Passports, and various other things we come across in our
Sara Drake - 3d illustrated world maps made from mixed media, including papier mache, balsa wood, acrylic paint, beads and wire. All details are hand made and to commission. Each map is personalised with the details of the client's own travels.
