It was the summer of 2018 when my girlfriend (now wife) invited me on holiday to
Namibia. I had very little knowledge of Namibia, but always had an urgency to
someday go and explore this land. All I knew, was that this was a place where
very few people can stand the extreme heat temperatures and come to terms with
the baron, rocky and open landscapes. I, however, immediately fell in love.

The family who owns the farm in Namibia are very knowledgeable and have learned and
adapted to survive in a place that is and could be very unforgiving. With that
said, I have noticed a sense of joy every time we headed into the veld to do
our everyday chores to make sure that everything runs like it should. I was
mesmerized by how things not only survived, but actually thrived in this landscape…

It was the 3rd day of our visit when we set out on a game drive to explore and
learn about the lands and enjoy the sightings of the wild animals roaming the
open plains of Bethanie. The sun was blazing and measured around 41 degrees in
the morning around 10am. I knew that this was part of the everyday life here,
but still wondered how anything could walk and survive in this emptiness.

It wasn’t long until we parked in the shade to enjoy our breakfast.  The
bakkie was filled with laughter with everyone snacking on Biltong and sipping
Moerkoffie. Little did I know that my life would change course at that moment.

My father-in-law had spotted a herd of Gemsbok earlier the morning not too far
from where we had decided to stop for our morning coffee. He encouraged me to
take a hike up with him on a big(ish) ridge where he had last spotted the herd
to try and take photos…

Off the bakkie and up the ridge we went. It wasn’t until about halfway up that I
could feel the pressure of the sun blazing down on my skin and my calves aching
as I tried to carefully make my way up loose rocks. Hundreds of different kinds
of lizards and small living creatures all around me, gazing and wondering what
I am, and vice versa!

Finally, on top of the ridge my Father-in-law and I took a minute to catch our breath
and take in what was around us. I could feel the sweat dripping down my
forehead and a slight breeze cooling me down. For a moment I had thought that I
was busy dehydrating or suffering sunstroke as all I could hear, was silence.
Dead. Silence.

Into the distance I stared. Taking it all in.

It was in that moment it felt like I was the only person on earth. And there it
was. Across the dried-out riverbed on the other side of the ridge, camouflaged
just enough for me to see him (almost as if he wanted me to) stood the mighty,
mysterious and mythical Greater Kudu.

There we were, staring at one another. Sharing the moment as if it had been planned
as if he wanted to prove to me that things can survive here and that the beauty
can be found when you are out on a journey of discovery.