Namib & Okavango Waterhole
Keetmanshoop & Garub, Namibia · Africa · desert_night
Quiver Tree Forest 360°
What to look for
- Quiver tree — Aloidendron dichotomum. Log the largest Aloidendron dichotomum
- Dolerite boulders — Karoo dolerite, about 180 million years old. Log the dark boulder field
- Desert grass — Stipagrostis drought-tolerant bunch grass. Log the perennial grass tuft
- Low sun, long shadows — Late afternoon crepuscular window. Log the sun's position
- The Quiver Tree Forest — About 250 trees, protected since 1955. Log the stand on the horizon
Source: Foden et al. (2007), Diversity and Distributions — Poleward & upslope range shifts in Namib Aloidendron dichotomum.
Ask together: If a quiver tree stores water inside its spongy trunk like a giant canteen, where would you hide water if you were a desert plant?
360° photo: Reinhard Kraasch, CC BY-SA 4.0
Elephants at a waterhole
Field quiz
Kids' question: Why do elephants throw mud and water over their skin?
- To clean their tusks
- Sunscreen and to stay cool
- To scare away lions
Answer
Sunscreen and to stay cool
Adults' question: Why do elephants coat themselves in mud?
- To clean their tusks
- Sunscreen and to stay cool
- To scare away lions
Answer
Sunscreen and to stay cool
Kids' question: How much water can one adult elephant drink in a day?
- About 2 litres
- About 20 litres
- Up to 200 litres
Answer
Up to 200 litres
Adults' question: Big ears help elephants…
- Hear lions far away
- Lose heat
- Store water
- Dig mineral salt
Answer
Lose heat
The Okavango Delta
Watch for how the herd uses the channels, and look for other species in the frame.
Field quiz
Kids' question: The Okavango floods in the dry season, when it hardly rains. Where does the water come from?
- From the sea
- From rain in the mountains of Angola, months earlier
- From underground lakes
Answer
From rain in the mountains of Angola, months earlier
Adults' question: The Okavango's flood peaks in the dry winter months. Why?
- From the sea
- From rain in the mountains of Angola, months earlier
- From underground lakes
Answer
From rain in the mountains of Angola, months earlier
Lions at rest
Field quiz
Kids' question: How long do lions sleep or rest each day?
- About 4 hours
- About 8 hours
- 16 to 20 hours
Answer
16 to 20 hours
Adults' question: Lions rest for most of the day. About how long?
- About 4 hours
- About 8 hours
- 16 to 20 hours
Answer
16 to 20 hours
Kids' question: When are lions most likely to visit the waterhole?
- At midday, in the heat
- At dusk and at night
- Only when it rains
Answer
At dusk and at night
Adults' question: When are lions most likely to hunt near water?
- At midday, in the heat
- At dusk and at night
- Only when it rains
Answer
At dusk and at night
See it live: Live check: Namib waterhole
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