Mark & Charlie Paxton
Mark and Charlie are originally from South Africa but moved to Namibia in 1982. They own Shamvura Camp (110 km east of Rundu), which they started in 1999. While I chat to Mark, their dogs dart in and out of the living room, a chicken lays her eggs on a cabinet nearby and a swamp boubou calls outside.
Our region, Kavango East, is a safe, year-round destination, and perfect for self-drive tourists who want to avoid the big tourist crowds elsewhere in Namibia. Shamvura is actually on a sand dune, so we are high above the river, which means we have a view and we’re not cut off from dry land when the rains come, which is a problem many of the river lodges have in summer.
We have a healthy croc and hippo population. Before 2000 there were no hippos – they’d all been killed during the Angolan civil war years.
Our birding list is currently at 438, with many rare specials like Souza’s shrike, sharp-tailed starling, rufous bellied tit, green-backed honeybird and white-breasted cuckoo shrike. They’re the kind of species that birders from South Africa will go to great trouble to see.
There are almost 100 species of fish in the river, from tigerfish and various bream species to largemouth and catfish. We try to stop illegal fishing whenever possible, and anglers can still catch something here.
Denne historien er fra May 2020-utgaven av go! - South Africa.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra May 2020-utgaven av go! - South Africa.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Rolling out the big guns
If you're still scanning the horizon for a Chinese automotive invasion you're looking the wrong way. It's already happening, and the new GWM Tank is the off-road spearhead into the highly lucrative and hotly contested lifestyle market.
TAKE A HIKE
The beautiful agony of Tienuurkop
Time out in Dullies
A long weekend in Dullstroom is just long enough to make you realise you need to spend several more weekends here! There's food, drink, art and action in abundance. Here's your guide.
Gallivanting in the Galápagos!
The Galápagos Islands are on many a traveller's wish list. They were on Hanlie and Vivian Gericke's too, even though the price of visiting made their eyes water. Was it worth it? Read on...
BURCHELL AND THE COUNTRY OF THE BUSHMEN
How many times have you driven through a landscape and wished you could have seen it centuries ago? In 1811, the English artist and explorer, William John Burchell, travelled through South Africa. Join us as we follow in his footsteps.
Long live the Hibiscus Coast
The KZN South Coast is a national treasure. It's still the place to go if you want a classic seaside holiday complete with warm waves, cold beer, soft serve and good vibes. Here's your guide.
The island at the end of the earth
Imagine adlace-with the cleanest air arid:the clearest seawater, where_no human.oranimabwants to:harm you: A placewhere the climates balmy. year-round:-with a sekrhistory ahd wwild scenery. A place like this:exist8” and it’s called St Helena.
A day on the road
You never know what the road will bring. Toast Coetzer heads south on the N1 and discovers South Africa.
The wilder shore
The final leg of a 30-day trek across East Africa sees lan Tyrer and the Africa - Wild & Untamed crew explore both shores of Lake Malawi. Get ready for an overloaded ferry, a croc attack and being surrounded by elephants...
A river runs through it
Sabie is onthe Drakensberg escaromentialongMpumalanga’s famous Panorama Route. Want a weekend away surrounded by forests and waterfalls? Here's wnat you need to know.
