This small, venomous adder (maximum length 30 cm) is one of Namibia's most celebrated inhabitants. Known for its 'dune-surfing' capabilities, it can achieve a speed of 18 miles per hour. Watching one of them scale up, over and down a high dunes is quite something. The 'side-winding' movement from which the species gets its common name, is achieved by undulating its body in a series of smooth, lateral curves. An ambush predator, the Side-winder buries itself in the sand, starting at its tail and progressing towards its head, leaving just the eyes exposed. Uniquely, this snake's eyes are placed on the top of its head, not on the sides. Favoured prey items include the equally interesting Shovel-snouted lizard. Taking a living desert tour from the coastal town of Swakopmund is one of the best ways to try and spot one of these intruiging serpents.
A pair of Hartlaub's spurfowl, Erongo (female on the right)
HARTLAUB'S SPURFOWL (FRANCOLIN) - THE GIRLS HOLD THE FORT
Among the most sought-after species on the lists of visiting birders, the Hartlaub's spurfowl or francolin is unusual for a variety of reasons. This fairly small game bird frequents harsh, rocky terrain such as around Erongo in the Central Highlands where this pair was photographed. Its beak is disproportionately large for a francolin and males and females actually have different diets: males tend to forage on the ground for insects such as termites, while females are more inclined to dig their food out of the soil. Interestingly, its the girls who guard their territories: they're much more vociferous than their mates and they defend their homes with vigour. Their breeding system is referred to as resource-based monogamy. They also incorporate reverse-mounting into their courtship rituals.
Namib sand (Web-footed) gecko
NAMIBIA SAND GECKO - LITTLE HUNTERS OF THE NAMIBIAN NIGHT
Another denizen of the Namibian sand dunes, the Namib sand gecko (Palmato gecko) is an almost translucent, pale sandy pink colour which enables it to blend subtly into its habitat. By day, the gecko rests alone in a burrow that can be up to a meter deep. After dusk, it'll emerge to hunt invertebrates in the desert. The only truly web-footed gecko in sub-Saharan Africa, its feet are adapted so as to facilitate rapid movement over the loose sand. Females can be heavier than males by almost a third.
The largest known Welwitschia (Thomas Schoch)
'W' IS FOR WEIRD; 'W' IS FOR WELWITSCHIA
Last but not least, the country's most remarkable plant - and one of the world's most extraordinary - is the Welwitschia. An icon of Namibia, this unmistakable creation (for lack of a better descriptive!) has only two huge leaves, which eventually grow to a length of a four meters each and fray at the ends so as to produce a few long strands emanating from a short central trunk. The biggest known specimen (pictured) is 1.4 meters tall and has leaves measuring 4 meters making a diameter of 8 meters. There are separate male and female plants; the seed cones somewhat resemble those of certain conifers. So distinctive is this plant, that it has been assigned not just its own genus and family, but also its own order.
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