x
Breaking News
More () »

Explore with Sven: What is Namibia?

Sven is going to Namibia to see the endangered giraffes and black rhinos.

This weekend, #ExploreWithSven is going to Namibia!

But, what is Namibia?

The south African country of Namibia takes its name from the Namib desert- the world’s oldest desert at 55 million years old. This part of the world is very hot and dry, but it's also right next to a cold ocean current coming up from Antarctica. The coastline of Namibia is called the 'Skeleton Coast' for good reason: many a ship has been lost or wrecked.

As you can imagine, living in an old desert can be tough. But there are animals, even big ones, that have found a way to adapt. Namibia is home to the world's last free-roaming herd of black rhinos. Other black rhinos live in national parks or game farm boundaries. But in Namibia, they can run free. Free, but in danger of illegal poaching. Illegal poaching threatens to push black rhinos into extinction. 100 years ago there were 1 million black rhino and now there are only 30,000. That’s a 97 percent drop. Namibia is one of the bright spots in Africa finding a way to balance conservation, tourism and local economic needs.

Black rhinos aren't the only animal that is struggling to live in Namibia. Even the elephants here look a little different with longer legs and shorter tusks in order to survive these extreme conditions. Recent studies have shown that giraffes, iconic to Africa, are in much more trouble than anyone realized.

DNA studies also discovered that there are more species of giraffes than previously thought. Some species are already critically endangered due to habitat loss and poaching. Giraffe species can be distinguished by their spots - different species have their own patterns and shapes. In Namibia, they have a distinct species of giraffe called the Angolan giraffe.

Come #ExploreWithSven as he travels over 1,500 miles in a circle around this remote desert exploring Namibia. He'll be meeting up with people who are working to protect the endangered black rhino and giraffe.

It's sure to be an adventure!

Before You Leave, Check This Out