We experienced Etosha when there is hardly any grass and there is dust in the air. The animals then look for water sources or lie in the sparse shade of bushes and trees. If a young animal were born now, its chances of survival would not be very great.

However, it is completely different when the offspring is born in the rainy season. And that’s exactly what nature takes care of. Rainy season is also childbearing season; no matter whether it’s elephants, gazelles or birds. When rain falls, the grass sprouts. When it rains, the gnats and mosquitoes buzz to the delight of the birds. In both cases there is plenty of food.

During our most recent visit to Etosha, we witnessed a different time. Elephants moved through the green grass with their Jumbolinos and for once did not eat branches and twigs of the trees but grazed almost like cows. The young clung to the large, bulging breasts located between the elephants cow’ front legs.

The same picture with the blackfaced Impalas and the Oryx gazella. The offsprings follow their mothers in step and are nursed by them. There is enough grass for everyone. Something that also pleases the trees, which suffer greatly from the voracious elephants during the dry season. Now they have time to recover…

PS: If you want to know more about the Oryx, which is also Namibia’s heraldic animal, read here.