Estimated to be 50 million years old, the Namib Desert has been dry for as far as one can imagine. And yet, life is flourishing. While exploring the dramatic expanse of sand surrounding Zannier Sonop – either through horseback riding, electric biking or desert driving – life can be found in many various forms. With almost 70 reptile species, wild horses, jackals, leopards, snakes, endemic lizards, birds, rabbits, hyenas, zebras and scorpions, animals living in the Desert must adapt to all the hardships this environment puts in their way.
Capable of surviving within extreme conditions and temperatures, these animals have developed ingenious ways of collecting water, resisting to heat and finding food in the infinity of the sand. Here are a few of these fascinating species you may encounter when visiting Zannier Sonop.
With its elegant horns and unique coat, the oryx – or gemsbok – can cope with high temperatures without batting an eye. When it is dehydrated and cannot cool its body by sweating, it allows its body to heat up to 45°C, a temperature it can withstand for 8 hours without succumbing thanks to its sophisticated cooling system. If you are lucky, you may observe an oryx herd passing through the desert right next to Sonop, coming to the five waterholes we installed to support the lodge’s needs. Creating an oasis in the middle of the arid desert, these waterholes contributed to bring back many animals in these boulders.
