Extensive rainfall

Saturday 10 April 2021

The build up of rain clouds continued during the early part of April 2021. Rain showers were observed over large sections of the Northern Namib and inside the Skeleton Coast National Park. In the dunes the rains resulted in germination of grass species that attracted flocks of Egyptian geese. The Hoanib river came down in flood for the fourth time this season.

Rain clouds over the dunes
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Egyptian geese attracted to green grass in the dunes
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Floodwaters of the Hoanib river penetrated deep into the Floodplain

Flooding of the Hoaruseb river

The three video-clips below reflect a dramatic afternoon near the mouth of the Hoanib river with a buildup of cumulonimbus clouds between 14h00 and 18h30, a spectacularly red sunset, followed by thunder and lightning during the twilight period and rain showers after dark.

Cloud buildup over the Hoanib river between 14h00 and 18h00

Sunset at the mouth of the Hoanib river

Thunder storms over the Hoanib river during the twilight zone

When the two Orphan lionesses left the flooding Hoaruseb river on 26 March 2021 they spent several days feeding on a gemsbok on the Hoanib Floodplain. Due to the rains and flooding most of the prey animals have, however, vacated the area. The lionesses crossed the dune-belt and visited the coast where they killed a Cape fur seal. With few terrestrial prey animals available in their normal home range area, the lionesses returned to the Hoaruseb river on 6 April 2021.

Lionesses resting on the beach

Remains of a Cape fur seal consumed by the two lionesses - Note: sensetive photo
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Rainbow and rain clouds over the  gravel plains at sunset