Archive for the ‘Namibia’ Category

Read the following:

Food Crisis in Niger, AIDS in Uganda, Somali Journalists Are Assaulted and Jailed, Shaky Rule in Madagascar Threatens Tress.

These are the top New York Times news headlines for Africa.

Pretty depressing huh?

Did you notice that none of them are about Namibia?  So why is Namibia never in the news?

Here are just a few of the more obvious reasons:

• In many respects, colonialism was a huge benefit to modern Namibia.  Colonialism built many of the SCHOOLS children are taught in today.

• Colonialism built many of the ROADS, paved and gravel, both of which are in excellent condition and regularly maintained to the point the Fishing Industry’s main port at Walvis Bay links with the Trans-Caprivian Highway connecting with Central Africa and its many countries (Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, to name just a few).

• The WATER is potable, thus can be drunk in over 90% of the country, a huge benefit in maintaining a healthy population.

• ELECTRICITY is prevalent and powered by Namibia’s own power plants.

• Crime is LOW.

• Located between two of the world’s oldest deserts makes the arid environment a perfect ingredient to MINIMIZE diseases such as cholera, typhoid, malaria, and yellow fever – Again helping maintain a healthy population.

• Namibia is the first country in the world to incorporate the PROTECTION of the ENVIRONMENT into the constitution, thus eliminating future issues in that topic and making it a place home to more animals than people!

• Since its Independence in 1990, the country has remained stable, GROWN productive, and peacefully elects heads of state every five years.

• The government HAS A GOAL properly named “Vision 2030” in which it aims to have Namibia’s Industrial sector competing with the 1^st world, its population increased to 3 million, and its population educated and skilled in the work force.

So I ask again, why is Namibia never in the news?

An old wise man once said “plan for the future by first building a solid foundation.”

To building that solid foundation,

Jeremy

P.S. What are people saying about Wild Safari Africa? Read for yourself – http://wildsafariafrica.com/testimonials/

This is not your typical safari.

The pitter-patter of bare feet slapped against the paved two lane highway.  The cool blanket of fog hung low in the sky.  To their left were the fiercely cold waters of the south Atlantic.  To their right, mountains of sand, drifting and scurrying across the highway; it was the Namib Desert.

The number “041” was printed beneath the Lucky Star logo.  The boy ran next to a taller girl whose stride was longer than his.  Another man drifted off the two bare footed runners; he wore cross-training shoes, a hat with a small brim, sunglasses, and his nose was covered in pasty-white sunscreen.

Together, the three strangers pushed and pulled each other closer to the finish line.

Once I had volunteered at a track meet in the town of Tsumeb, Namibia.  African’s competed against the whites.  The whites had shoes and starting blocks.  Only some of the African’s wore shoes.

The advantages of one group were the disadvantage of the other, yet the races were close.

A student of mine in the village had talent.  The first race I saw Maria run, was on a make-shift track, around a few trees, a pile of stones, and finishing past a line drawn in the dirt.  She dodged herds of goat and went around the stray cow; all without shoes.

Her talents got her on the Namibian national team.  She joined the Namibian team in Botswana to compete.  She came home with a Bronze.  She was disappointed by her performance, she knew her speed was quicker, however they made her wear shoes that slowed her down.  She was much faster without shoes, sprinting across the ground in bare feet, her everyday “shoe.”

Today, these kids came from the far corners of their country, from the deepest of villages, to the town of Swakopmund to run a marathon.  Some were lucky to have shoes, some fit, others were a size too large or too small, yet they were still worn.

Annually, Etosha Fish hosts the Lucky Star Marathon between Namibia’s coastal towns of Walvis Bay and Swakopmund. Open to the public, hundreds of Namibian students flock to the event and compete against other Namibians and foreign nationals from across southern Africa, Europe, and America.

It is an incredible opportunity to experience, whether you’re running or casually relaxing and cheering on the athletes.

I had recently read a quote simply saying “life is a marathon, not a sprint.”

Namibia, Africa is a place that follows this motto better than anywhere else on earth.  The athletes run with passion and celebrate with ease.  No hurries, no worries.  Namibian students study hard in hopes of a better future, a future where one day they may be able to buy their own shoes.  Winning is recognized, yet it’s the travels and new journey’s these young Namibians experienced that sprouted the most smiles.

For many of these athletes, this was their first time visiting Swakopmund and the ocean!  Their collective spirit was contagious.  Our bus ride home, back to the village, was filled with joyous stories, stories that continue to be relived each and everyday.

However, that was their story. This is your story:

http://wildsafariafrica.com/budget-safari/namibian-marathon-wildlife-safari/

Will your story fill the room with contagious joy?

To running without shoes,

Jeremy

Pass the baton, and forward this story on to all your friends who run.

And remember “life is a marathon, not a sprint.”

There was nothing more enjoyable than to sit back and listen to the San Bushmen speak in clicks and clacks.  Their physical features are undeniably different than most southern African clans of the Bantu descent, making them something of an anomaly.

Recently I read an article in the Denver Post stating a recent study of African genetics by an International team from the University of Pennsylvania.  The team claimed the San of southern Africa are the most genetically diverse peoples on earth.

They went a step further and boldly stated the San homeland, the Kalahari Desert, could have very well been the exact spot where modern humanity began.

The San Bushmen are the last remaining indigenous people of southern Africa.  They are nomadic, and sustain life entirely by what the land provides: Hunting and gathering.

Their wisdom of survival has been well known and shared with British and South African military special opts teams for centuries.  Their tracking skills are better than any other clan in all of Africa, and perhaps the world.  Their perseverance is legendary.

If it is true that the Kalahari Desert is the place where modern humans were born, is it then possible it may be the place where humans survive an apocalyptic collapse?

Their ancient wisdom is thought to have been around for 30,000 or more years.  Not a single generation has been denied this wise knowledge of the land, and perhaps is the only reason why the San Bushman continues to live in their traditional customs.

It is so good; there is no reason to change… unless the “taker” culture (you and me) coerce them into change.

In 2002 many San groups were forcibly removed from their ancestral land in the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park (Botswana) to clear way for government endorsed diamond mining.

This directly threatened to forever extinguish their traditional hunter-gatherer lifestyle.

However…

The Bushman won a historic ruling in 2006 against the government of Botswana, permitting them to return to their ancestral land.

With access to water minimal, along with the lure of modern life, many did not return.  They freely chose to stay in the areas surrounding settlements, and once these people are gone, so is the ancient wisdom that will be lost forever.

The uncertain future the Kalahari Bushmen face is as bleak as our own.  But without sharing our wisdom to younger generations, they have to start from scratch.

To sharing wisdom,

Jeremy

P.S. The two best countries to visit and interact with the most genetically diverse peoples on earth are in Namibia and Botswana.

P.P.S.  I guarantee you’ll come home a much wiser person.

Namibia is the first country in the world to incorporate the protection of the environment into its Constitution.

As of December 2, Namibia has once again democratically voted for President.  Hifikepunya Pohamba succeeded once again in taking his SWAPO party into office for a second term.

For the first time in Namibia’s history, the ruling SWAPO party was significantly challenged by the Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP.  With RDP’s official emergence in 2007, the SWAPO party was rattled and at the time appeared to be a significant threat.

Voter tension tightened as the polling dates neared.  There was speculations of intimidation to occur (with RDP calling for UN Peacekeepers, which never came) and in the months prior to November, rumors swirled about the possibility of Namibian schools being closed nearly two months before their scheduled end of the year to ensure polling stations would be open for assured success.  They never closed early and intimidation was rare.

RDP wasn’t popular enough to win the election, however proved to be an opposition party who is here to stay.

Namibian Safaris are some of Africa’s best and the country itself is like no other African nation.  Open skies sparkling more stars than one has ever seen, endless savanna’s continue uninterrupted for miles, and more animals than there are people all make Namibia a perfect place to get in touch with your wild side.

Wild Safari Africa salutes President Pohamba for his victory, as well as SWAPO’s powerful contender RDP for their gallant and courageous efforts.

A government whose top priority is environment needs the recognition it deserves.  On safari in Namibia is stepping into one of the true last frontiers on earth.  It’s harder to remain in urban centers (because they’re just not that big!) than it is to find yourself surrounded by amazing wilderness.

To “going green” and keeping Namibia wild and untouched!

Jeremy

P.S. For more information about President Pohamba and the Rally for Democracy and Progress buy my book!