What can you experience in a three-week whirlwind Namibia program? Cities, sand dunes, humid beaches, and a vast dry desert await your senses. Everything I once thought of Namibia, and all of Africa for that matter, was shattered in time spent here. I used to think about Africa as The Lion King, with only desert land and a daily struggle for food and water. This is somewhat true, but also very untrue. Namibia is filled with inspiring people and a variety of landscapes, from urban cities to game reserves exceeding 20K². Namibians are hardworking people, especially farmers working through everyday hardships, Namibia’s harsh climate, and other factors.

Agriculture in Namibia is a complex job because only 2% of its land receives sufficient rainfall to grow crops. In addition, all inland rivers only flow if there’s heavy rain. Irrigation for farming can only come from valleys and rivers along the Namibian boarders such as the Orange, Kunene and Okavango rivers. Drought can be detrimental for farmers.

While in the Stampriet area, we visited the farm PATRIA Boerdery, owned by commercial farmer Jimmy O’Kennedy. While visiting his farm, we learned that a three-year drought had affected his crops. Jimmy uses drip irrigation to conserve water and make sure the water gets to the roots.

Namibian farmers don’t have farmers insurance like we do in the U.S. Farmers insurance compensates farmers for lost crops or cattle from natural shock events. This insurance keeps farmers from suffering major losses so they can continue farming. However, Jimmy receives no compensation from the government. He is completely self-sufficient and supplies his farm’s needs without outside help.

While there is no insurance for the water shortage in Namibia, there are efforts such as The Green Scheme Project, conducted by the Minister of Agriculture, Water and Food. This plan was designed to help encourage irrigation development in the Grootfontien, Tsumeb and Otavi areas, as well as northern regions using the Kavango, Kunene, and Zambezi rivers.

Namibian farming is categorized by large commercial farms and ranches that spread across the southern regions. In addition, some farmers pay fees to use communal lands for farming in the north. Communal land use has its own issues. Conflicts arise when wealthy farmers fence off part of the land illegally, or over-graze lands.

On farms, generally men and boys care for livestock, while women do most of the agriculture labor and food preparation. Subsidence farming is when a farmer will only own enough livestock and grow enough crops to feed his/her family. This is done in communal lands where main crops are millet, sorghum, corn and peanuts. Commercial farming, on the other hand, is at a much greater scale. There are about 4,000 commercial farms in Namibia. These farms contributed 5%-6% of Namibia’s GDP over past years. Animal products, livestock, and crop exports make up roughly 11% of the total Namibian exports.

Agriculture is different in every country, but its importance is the same worldwide. Namibia has a unique set of struggles they face daily. Farmers like Jimmy O’Kennedy show that having a true work ethic pays. Namibia’s agriculture, like its people and landscapes, amazed me. The perseverance and dedication of a never-ending positive attitude in this country will always be one I admire.

When considering global issues, one problem arises in the use of natural resources. Natural resources can aid economic growth, but if not used wisely, they can cause turmoil. The abuse of natural resources may stem from a lack of understanding or increased demand from population growth. Namibia is not an exception, but rather is working on a solution. Namibia’s population has grown by 15% in the past 20 years since gaining independence from South Africa in 1990.

Now that Namibia faces the challenge or providing energy to a growing population, the country has invested in renewable resources. Solar energy is the cleanest form of energy, and could be the best fit for Namibia. Known for its constant sunshine and vast desert terrain, Namibia has only 1% arable land. Therefore, lands that are rocky and flat could be used as solar farms. Namibia averages 3,300 hours of sunlight annually, making them prime candidates to be solar energy dependent.

Though Namibia has increased its solar energy usage in recent years, many Namibians still cannot attain the equipment to use clean energy. Unfortunately, due to high import taxes and tariffs, solar energy is cost prohibitive for average income earners. Another problem is inefficient battery storage for extended time.

Namibia, a developing country, faces political problems that restrain clean solar energy initiatives. Due to the country’s current recession, there is a lack of government funding for solar energy. Which is another reason why Namibia has not made positive gains to increase its solar energy production.

If Namibia can find a way to get past its obstacles, they could create more jobs to produce clean energy. In a land often labeled a desert, how ironic that it could be a leader in making our planet greener.

Forming opinions of a culture you haven’t seen is difficult, but often done. Myself and 20 fellow Texas A&M students traveled across the world to a country that is unfamiliar to us all. In just three weeks, we get to experience the variety of Namibian culture. With one-week left, I can say I have experienced the true meaning of judging a book by its cover. Namibia has proven it must be seen to comprehend.

Namibia is made up of many different cultures. There are thirteen tribes and each consists of different values and beliefs. These tribes are the Caprivans, Coloureds, Damara, Herero, Himba, Kavango, Nama, Topnaars, Owambo, Rehoboth Basters, San, Tswana, and the Whites. Some still practice their values and beliefs within the region they originated, while others travel to other regions for a number of reasons, such as a better life or seeking economic opportunities.

We visited the local market in Swakopmund. It was filled with Namibians of different cultures, each having their own section of the market. Each section had a variety of artwork that represented their culture. One woman I spoke with was part of the Owambo tribe. She was from a northern region, but came to Swakopmund for income, as did most here at this market. She asked me what I thought about Africa before arriving. Before I could answer, she said, “People say we do not have roads, water, or nice things.” I paused deep in thought at the accuracy of her statement. I told her, “Africa is a closed book many like to judge before seeing and being able to understand. Namibia is a beautiful country.” The biggest smile came across her face. She asked if I would take that back to the United States to share. Namibia relies on tourism as it progresses economically, while attempting to sustain its cultural heritage.

The Damara people introduced us to a living museum, specifically used to keep their culture alive. The museum is located about 10 km north of Twyfelfontein. At the museum, they taught us how to speak in the Damara language, along with a few other skills from their culture. We learned about their tools and weapons. We saw how they make them, using stones. The women were marked with clay on their cheeks, which is used as make up to embrace the beauty of the Damara. We witnessed how men build fires by hand. We saw how both men and women unite for their traditional song and dance.

The Damara are known for jewelry. We watched them make necklaces and bracelets representing their culture. The Damara Living Museum attempts to reconstruct and continue the cultural heritage of the Damara people.

Self-sufficiency is commonly known as the ability to sustain sufficient amounts of a specific product or service or being able to supply one’s own needs without external assistance. This ability is still prevalent in Namibia, when referring to native foods and/or farming traditions.

In terms of farming in Namibia, the agriculture sector accounts for about 5% of the national Gross Domestic Product. Products include meat and livestock, crop farming and forestry. About 25% to 40% of Namibians primarily depend on subsistence-related agricultural activities.

Subsistence farming is referred to as producing only what you need, such as a farmer growing only enough crops or enough livestock to feed himself and his family. This process mainly occurs in the communal lands north of Namibia where the main crops are millet, sorghum, corn and peanuts.

Sorghum is traditionally the staple food in Namibia which derives from the Oshiwambo word mahangu, from the Owambo tribe. Sorghum produces grain, which Namibians use in many of their day-to-day meals. To prepare it, you strip the plant of the grain, place it on a rock or stone, and crush it with another rock to a fine powder small enough to consume. If the farmer or family does not plan to eat all of the sorghum in one sitting, they can store it for another meal. While native to Namibia, sorghum grows best in the northern regions because of more rainfall and richer soil, compared to arid soils in central and southern regions.

Commercial farming is when farmers produce enough crops or products to feed more than his or her family. With about 4,000 commercial farms in Namibia, one of which is Patria Farms in Stampriet, owned and operated by Jimmy O’Kennedy.

Jimmy provides fresh produce to small markets in Stampriet, and large grocery stores in Windhoek. A few of the more popular crops are lettuce and cabbage. However, as with all crops, these are not grown year-round because of weather and seasonal changes.

According to Mr. Bernd Schneider, owner and operator of Natural Destinations, sorghum and cabbage are traditional native foods commonly served with the everyday Namibian meal. Schneider said that because they are so versatile, nothing goes to waste as they can be utilized in different ways to make different meals. They are great staple foods of Namibia.  Since Namibians pride themselves on not allowing any food to go to waste, it wouldn’t hurt Americans to adopt this same concept with their food. The most valuable lesson learned is to be flexible with what you have and what you do not have.

In the small township of Mondesa, outside of Swakopmund, there is a restaurant named Hafeni. The restaurant’s exterior is composed of tin roof and walls resembling a dirty block of Swiss cheese. Yet, inside this tiny building are brightly colored walls showing the history of Namibia, and are very inviting to a weary traveler. Heinrich Hafeni, the restaurant owner and host, showed us a true Namibian welcome.

Hafeni is a cultural tourism specialist and has been through the Mandela’s leadership program. Mr. Hafeni explained that he started this restaurant to offer tourists a chance to truly learn about his culture. I have never been to a restaurant in the States where the whole focus is to share culture and traditions with customers. Eating at Hafeni’s gave me the opportunity to try several foods that we would not have gotten at the lodges in Namibia.

Studying in Namibia allowed me the opportunity to try a variety of foods in an assortment of places. We began our journey in Windhoek, the nation’s capital. Outside this booming city, the Heja Game Lodge houses tourists’ eager to venture into the wild. Dishes such as springbok, kudu, and chicken are served. You can also find schnitzles, steaks and pastas that reflect the German culture that once ruled this land. We learned that great chefs in Namibia are highly coveted and often stolen from travel lodges.

Fast forward a week later in Swakopmund. The Hafeni restaurant offered raw authenticity seeping from the brightly colored walls. The aroma of food filled the place. The fried chicken was thinly breaded, stringy, and a little tough, but had a delicious flavor. Hafeni’s chicken tasted similar to a backyard chicken that is rarely fed grains and is free range. The spinach at the restaurant isn’t the typical vegetable you would find at the store. This plant grows wild in some fields. The women in the community pick, and then preserve it for later months. Spinach is usually eaten before someone goes on a long trip for good luck. The person who cooks the spinach keeps the traveler’s plate dirty until they return to ensure safe travel. The flavor was strong with spices and looked more like typical southern greens.

In Namibia, 730,000 people receive food aid from the government so they don’t starve. This means food is scarce and it’s important that everything that can be eaten from an animal is eaten. Some examples were Marathon chicken, beef intestines, and Mopane worms. In the United States, we focus on the chicken breast, wings, and drumsticks. Most Americans throw away the rest of the chicken as waste. In Namibia, Marathon chicken uses parts such as the feet because there is still meat that can be eaten.

Mopane worms are also used as a source of protein and are a delicacy. The cooked worms had little grey bodies with a black tip for the head. I picked up one, closed my eyes, said a little prayer, and popped it in my mouth. It honestly was not too bad. It had a crunchy outside with a soft inside, and the taste was salty mixed with smoky flavor.

This was a great experience to learn about Namibian culture and food. Everything edible from an animal is used and eaten. After this experience, I can honestly say I waste way too much food and will work harder to not waste when I get home. Namibians is more than willing to share their food and traditions with new people. So, try something traditionally different when you get the chance.

Communal land is a highly controversial subject in Namibia. During South Africa’s apartheid era, the government seized farmlands from indigenous people and forced them onto communal lands. This land was later divided into 10 ‘homelands’ which were owned and controlled by the government. Today, communal landowners have limited rights to the land on which they live. Strict government regulations make it difficult to develop these areas with new businesses (such as lodges), which in turn has caused much of the land to sit in waste. As foreigners, we often misinterpret the situation. We must step out from behind our cultural lens to truly grasp the situation.

Living in “the driest country south of the Sahara” (according to BDO Namibia), is not for the faint of heart. Driving a few kilometers west of Khorixas through Damaraland makes it immediately evident that farming alone is not a sufficient way to survive. The drought-ridden land and rocky terrain are difficult to farm, let alone navigate. Ill-maintained rock roads limit frequent access from the outside world.

Those living on communal land must be resourceful to survive. The Namibian government has drilled holes and created access to water at designated areas throughout the land. Aside from receiving government assistance for acquiring water, communal landowners are on their own. They must learn to survive by adapting to their surroundings and by learning skills needed to live in a harsh environment, such as making fire and acquiring food. Communal landowners are perfect examples of how to make the most of a given situation, and how to make do with what is presently available.

Communal landowners must creatively generate income because of lacking jobs. An example of a revenue source for one group of Damara people is their “Living Museum” – a place where tourists pay an entry fee to experience the Damara history and lifestyle. A craft shop on site offers handmade jewelry, which is another source of revenue. Other common ways of generating income are through selling chickens, goats, or other livestock in nearby towns, or selling homemade jewelry and wood carvings in roadside stands 

Many communal landowners practice rotational grazing, similar to Texan ranchers. Livestock graze a given area for a limited amount of time before moving to a new location. This allows cattle to graze wherever they can find something to eat, which is an advantage over commercial farming in Namibia. On a commercial farm, cattle are confined to a fenced-in camp (pasture), and do not have the freedom to migrate in search of food on their own.

Communal living in Namibia presents many hardships, but by being resourceful, some live happily in these lands. When looking through one’s own cultural lens, communal living might seem like it needs a lot of improvement. When one removes his/her cultural lens, it becomes clear that this is simply a different way of life.

Over the past few weeks in Namibia, we have had the opportunity to see and visit operations where individuals who own land are determining how to survive and thrive. There are many challenges facing private landowners’ livelihoods including drought, unreliable energy sources, limited to nonexistent internet and telephone service, lack of consistent labor, security issues, and government taxation of commercial land owners. In fact, many have left the rural areas to find a better life and make income in urban areas. At one time, 70% of the population was in the rural area, but this is shifting. This shift influences the availability of a much-needed labor force in agricultural operations. Farming is labor intensive and requires people.

Water and the availability of water are proving an enormous challenge to Namibia. Presently, many farmers use windmills to pump water from “bore holes” in the ground. Global warming, lack of rain, and drought are contributing factors to an already difficult situation. Many farmers have had to drastically sell off and reduce their animal herds to survive. Many have stopped farming due to lack of water.

At Farm Habis, the cattle operation of Dr. Herbert Schneider and family, has capacity for 300 to 350 cattle. Presently they have 50 head because of drought and the decision not to overgraze their 5,500 hectares of land. Son, Bernd Schneider is exploring the possibility of building a lodge as a new source of income. His goal is to secure income to meet the present day financial demands of the family farm. He also wants to provide a sustainable income that will allow his parents to live out their days at Habis Farm without additional financial burden in their golden years.

In addition, in many rural areas of Namibia, electricity is non-existent. Farmers use oil lamps and candles for light sources in the evening and at nightfall. Wood fires are used for cooking and to heat water for bathing and washing dishes. Lack of sustainable electricity and energy sources in rural areas has encouraged some farmers to install solar panels to harness solar power. Sun is plentiful in Namibia. Without sustainable energy from the sun, there would be no power to run the pumps necessary to provide water. There would be no electricity for light, charging cell phones, computers, or even small appliances.

Those that remain are developing entrepreneurial skills. Fourth-generation farmer, Jimmy O’Kennedy, a commercial farmer in Stampriet is creative and innovative. He is constantly exploring new methodologies and technologies to maintain the productivity of his land. Jimmy uses drip irrigation to conserve water. Recently, to save money, he began using Bio-Ocean, an organic fertilizer. The fertilizer is made from chicken manure, seaweed, and additional nutrients. His field crops are delicious and a beautiful green against the red sandy soil of Namibia.

Three days. That’s how long it takes to die of dehydration. Humans physically cannot survive without water. In a country like Namibia, rain is scarce, water is precious and has to be managed carefully. While slightly larger than Texas, Namibia’s population is the surprisingly low number of 2.2 to 2.5 million people. And astonishingly, the top one percent sucks up 90% of Namibia’s resources while the majority of Namibians are trapped in poverty.

The primary water source in Namibia is aquifers. Namibia has systems to purify and pump water up above ground. Aquifers can be used privately and especially so in the agriculture industry. I visited a fruit and vegetable farm in Stampfriet to see how they utilize their resources. Jimmy, the farm owner, has a pipe one meter under the ground. The pipe runs through his land and provides drip irrigation as Jimmy’s dirt contains a sandier texture and struggles to hold water. However, as it only rains an average of 14 inches per year the government engages how much water is being used for commercial endeavors. Jimmy has to have licenses and checks in with the Government each year to stay within his quota of water.

Though many communities have aquifers available, other solutions need to be found as well. The water in the aquifers is a finite resource and will eventually run out. Located on the west coast of Africa, sea water is readily available. However, desalinating sea water is expensive and the Namibian government is currently bankrupt.

While traveling through Swakopmund, I chatted with a local on their Community-based Natural Resource Management plans. As a beach town, 50% of their water is from desalinated sea water, but the rest comes from a local aquifer because they cannot afford to entirely switch over to desalinating the water from the ocean.

Natural resources are limited and Namibia’s finances are restricted. As a young nation gaining independence in 1990, continuing to work out kinks and develop their country’s systems should be expected. Communication between public and government can improve, and Namibians choosing to be involved in the process would significantly help. As Namibia’s economy grows, I look forward to watching their journey as a country. Their water is limited, but their people are resourceful and despite their limitations, I see a bright future for them.

Communal land is described as a mostly rural territory that is in possession of a community, rather than an individual or company. This means that each member has a right to use the property or a portion. The land is mostly used for subsistence farming and small scale commercial farming. In Namibia, land is divided into communal land, private land and national parks. The majority of Namibia is considered communal land and this type of living makes up about 65 percent of Namibia’s population. In 1990, when Namibia gained independence, homelands and tribal lands for non-whites were re-designated as communal lands. The Namibian government owns large amounts of property, which are given to people under the right circumstances. This is very different than the way things are done in the United States.

Throughout the first week of class, we watched a movie called The Gods Must Be Crazy which was about San people who lived on the Kalahari Desert. We learned that they too have a communal livelihood. They share everything between their tribe, whether that be the food they hunt or the tools used to prepare their food. The San did not know about civilization outside of their tribe. When a coke bottle falls from the sky into their possession, problems arise. The San quickly realize how useful the coke bottle is, and start battling with ownership over the item. Arguments arise over who gets to use it and when it is used. As soon as the coke bottle is returned to the Gods, the arguments stop and they continue living life peacefully, as it was lived before.

While at the market in Swakopmund, I met a man who was part of the bushman tribe. He grew up on communal land near Etosha. He explained that living on communal land was helpful to his family. They were able to maintain a farm that otherwise would not have been possible. He also shared interesting information about the animals that roamed through their communal land. He explained that elephant herds were very dangerous meaning school was often closed for the day. Animals of any species have access to roam communal land allowing for diseases to spread to farmer’s livestock. This also created problems with livestock being killed and eaten by roaming animals.

Communal lands have many benefits to those living on it. Owning land is not an easy duty, but when land is communal, it allows each person to prosper with more ease. Each member takes what is needed, but provides the labor or food to makeup for what is taken. Communal lands are widely known for their use of farming. Subsistence farming and small scale commercial farming are the principal economic activities of communal lands. The farms are often unfenced, allowing for cattle and other animals to roam freely. This may cause issues between different individual farmers because of different diseases that could spread.

I have learned so much about this country and how their land regulations work. Learning about growing up on communal land from a personal interaction at the Swakopmund market gave me a better understanding of how it works. Communal land has many benefits which allows for people to grow while their farms grow as well.

Since arriving in Namibia I have been exposed to many issues that Namibians face. One of those complex issues is tension between preserving people or preserving natural resources.

The difficulties of preservation can be seen outside of Swakopmund in the Namib Desert. Our group took in “The Living Desert” tour. As we began, our guide Douglas, showed us disturbing pictures. They depicted a desert crisscrossed with tire tracks. That is definitely not what I want to see when I come to a beautiful Namibian desert. Douglas explained how people’s actions can ruin the desert.

Another example is when people mishandle the small desert wildlife. Douglas told us how work is being done to regulate and prevent these many issues. Listening to him, I realized this is a difficult issue. Visitors to Namibia want to enjoy every possible experience. However, some of these experiences can damage these very special resources. It is important to balance enjoying these resources with thinking of others who want the opportunity to experience an unharmed desert.

The desert is not the only natural resource within Namibia. Another resource in the midst of tension is wildlife. Bernd Schneider, the owner of Natural Destinations, explained the conflict between ranchers and wildlife. Ranchers depend on their livestock to make a living. So, when a predator attacks their livestock, some ranchers’ solution may be to shoot the predator. However, these predators include animals such as leopards and cheetahs, animals that are special and incredible.

Specifically, we got a glimpse at the difficulties of preservation while in Solitaire, a tiny town near the Namib-Naukluft National Park. There we had the opportunity to experience a cheetah sanctuary. Our guide was Kelsey. Though originally from Michigan, Kelsey jumped at the chance to manage this Namibian cheetah sanctuary. Similar to what Mr. Schneider said, Kelsey explained how conservationists were struggling to prevent the shooting of these valued predators. I thought she provided excellent insight into a solution to this complex issue. Kelsey said that her cheetah sanctuary was working with the few farms around the area. These ranchers agreed to contact the cheetah sanctuary if these types of predators came onto their land, instead of taking matters into their own hands. Also, they were tolerant of the sanctuary being located near their ranches. This small collaboration between the sanctuary and ranchers is a start to confronting a larger conflict.

There is another way this sanctuary hopes to ease the tension between the preservation of people or natural resources such as wildlife. Kelsey wants to attach a microchip to each predator in the area. This would allow the sanctuary to know each predator’s location. Kelsey explained that the sanctuary could contact ranchers whenever a predator is on their land so ranchers could relocate livestock to another portion of their land. Doing so would ensure better safety for ranchers’ livestock and less likelihood of a predator getting shot. However, a downside is the expense of microchips and equipment. At this time, the sanctuary is unable to afford this interesting solution.

Each day, I learn these issues are far more complex than I envisioned, that simple answers cannot be slapped onto major concerns. That is why it takes people like Douglas and Kelsey to balance the tension between the preservation of people and natural resources.