Etosha Park, Namibia

It is the month of August; rain is scarce, animals gather around the numerous waterholes for survival. These animals balance the risk of dying from thirst by facing the predators along Etosha Park’s waterholes.

Yesterday, a little Black Rhino perished after a night hunt of a pride of lions. The lions have not had food for a while, which makes them hunt for risky prey, which may not bode well for the endangered Black Rhinos, this kill will embolden these lions to take on Rhinos more often.

Springboks, Oryxes, Impalas, and other preys are congregating in numbers today taunting the lions who are still feasting on yesterday’s catch. They know that as the lions feast, the waterhole presents fewer risks.

We move along in the hopes of seeing the elusive leopards. The cortege of 4WD jeeps raises clouds of white dust as the drivers speed up to the next water hole. On my left lies a horizon of a salt flat, thousands of years in the making. It goes far beyond the hundred miles, and so the animals do not dare cross both ends of the dried sea.

At some places, the plants around the dusty roads inherit the white color of dust such that you would think you were in a snow-covered area, although the heat reminds you that you are in Africa.

Etosha park’s dust covering spectacle.

The animals lend themselves well to the dust-covering narrative. Later in the day, I witnessed a herd of Elephants occupy an empty water hole, and in a hint of a ritual, covered their wet body with dust from the ground. Thus the Namibian White Elephant. The dirt not only dries them faster; more importantly, it protects them from certain parasites.