Namibia in the dry season is hot, especially before the rains break. The mid-day temperature can often top 45°, a hot wind also blows sapping the living moisture out of every animal and plant. Eventually the rains break and with their cool moisture refresh the parched landscape and all of the animals and plants that make their life there.

This picture of a Thomson’s gazelle was taken near Twyfelfontein during such a time when the temperature was 45° in the shade. Louise and I were on our way from the Aba Huab River to the lodge at Twyfelfontein and decided to stop and sit in the shade of a couple of Acacia Trees, just so that we could take in the enormity of the landscape. We sat, cold drink in hand, marvelling at the awesome nature that was all around us when we noticed not 50 yards away under the shade of a small acacia tree this Thomson’s gazelle, waiting patiently for the heat to diminish. The Gazelle was totally unconcerned as at these temperatures it is too hot for predators to hunt so the pressure was off for a while.

Two hours later we quietly packed our seats into the Range Rover and slowly reversed away from the gazelle so as not to disturb him. He stayed motionless except for an occasional flick of his tail as we disappeared out of his life to find a cold rock shandy at the bar in the lodge.