After a decent amount of planning in the beginning of the year it was finally time to head to Namibia.
Leaving my home city of Durban (South Africa), I travelled to Johannesburg and then connected to Windhoek, Namibia for the next 9 days.
Trip outline:
No chance the bags will get opened up to take a few things
Bitis peringueyi - Peringuey's Adder.
Chamaeleo namaquensis - Namaqua Chameleon
Chondrodactylus turneri -Turners Gecko
Dendroaspis polylepis - Black Mamba
Dayspeltis scabra - Rhombic Egg Eater.
Meroles reticulatus - Retculated Desert Lizard
Meroles suborbitalis - Spotted Desert Lizard
Pachydactylus puntactus - Speckled Gecko
Pachydactylus maraisi - Marais's Gecko
Pachydactylus rangei - Namib Web Footed Dune Gecko * thanks for pointing out my error Paul Freed
Rhoptropus barnardi - Barnards namib Day Gecko
Rhoptropus bradfieldi - Bradfields Namib Day Gecko
Just want you want to see when on a trip.
The iconic snake of the Namib Desert. Bitis peringueyi - Peringuey's Adder.
Even when you're in the middle of nowhere news travels fast!
The gravel plains with small shrubs dotted around it, home to Bitis caudalis and notable Chamaeleo.
This was something I've always wanted to see since I was a kid. A dream find you could say. Chamaeleo namaquensis - Namaqua Chameleon
They switch it up as soon as they venture onto the gravel plains
These are one of the most common geckos across Namibia Chondrodactylus turneri - Turners Gecko
They're fairly large robust geckos.
Behind the scenes
Another extremely common snake across Southern Africa Dayspeltis scabra - Rhombic Egg Eater.
Small male
Towards Walvis Bay through Dorob National Park.
Trying to catch these Meroles reticulatus - Retculated Desert Lizards is something else.
This technique seemed to work rather well!
The equally as quick Meroles suborbitalis - Spotted Desert Lizard
Classic sights, social Weaver Bird nests, Naja nivea are known to frequent these but I wasn't in luck this time.
Found numerous individuals within a few feet fo each other under some rocks on the gravel plains Pachydactylus puntactus - Speckled Gecko
Hatchling
Adults
Long days in the field when the sun only goes down around 20:30pm
Another huge find for me on this trip was this nondescript little gecko Pachydactylus maraisi - Marais's Gecko.
Described only as recently as 2011 and renamed after one of the masters in Southern African herpetology Johan Marais.
Commonly seen benath small rocks amongst larger boulders:
In the middle of nowhere, or so I thought.
Another Icon of the Namib Palmatogecko rangei - Namib Web Footed Dune Gecko
After 45mins in the sweltering afternoon sun chasing down this Rhoptropus I finally managed some photographs.
Rhoptropus barnardi - Barnards namib Day Gecko
A little car trouble.
Another common species that inhabits the large round black boulders along the coastline Rhoptropus bradfieldi - Bradfields Namib Day Gecko
Habitat:
Unforynately darker specimen with lost tail.
Thanks for looking!
More images over on http://www.tyroneping.co.za
Namibian Field Herping Trip November 2016
Moderator: Scott Waters
- mariquensis
- Posts: 93
- Joined: April 8th, 2012, 12:54 pm
- Fieldnotes
- Posts: 1474
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 6:12 pm
- Location: Anaheim, California
- Contact:
Re: Namibian Field Herping Trip November 2016
Great post, loved the map too. I have watched wildlife movies from way back, when David Attenborough was the voice of the best wildlife documentaries around. There was one film about the Namib Desert and the Web-footed Gecko—Outstanding especially when seeing such amazing creatures for the first time, even if it was from my couch.
Your post brings those memories back, what an amazing desert. In Africa, two places I hope to visit someday, the Namib Desert and Madagascar.
For hobbies in the USA, a captive-breed Sand Gecko runs around $329.00/.
Thanks for sharing, I'm looking forward to more...
W
Your post brings those memories back, what an amazing desert. In Africa, two places I hope to visit someday, the Namib Desert and Madagascar.
For hobbies in the USA, a captive-breed Sand Gecko runs around $329.00/.
Thanks for sharing, I'm looking forward to more...
W
- mariquensis
- Posts: 93
- Joined: April 8th, 2012, 12:54 pm
Re: Namibian Field Herping Trip November 2016
Thanks for taking the time to check out the thread and comment. Much appreciated. The Namib desert is amazing and Nambia should be on every fieldherpers list for sure.Fieldnotes wrote:Great post, loved the map too. I have watched wildlife movies from way back, when David Attenborough was the voice of the best wildlife documentaries around. There was one film about the Namib Desert and the Web-footed Gecko—Outstanding especially when seeing such amazing creatures for the first time, even if it was from my couch.
Your post brings those memories back, what an amazing desert. In Africa, two places I hope to visit someday, the Namib Desert and Madagascar. Thanks for sharing, I'm looking forward to more...
W
- Tyrone.
- Martti Niskanen
- Posts: 363
- Joined: June 11th, 2010, 11:19 am
- Location: Helsinki, Finland
Re: Namibian Field Herping Trip November 2016
Excellent post. I think Namibia should be on anyone's list, whether a herper or not.
- mariquensis
- Posts: 93
- Joined: April 8th, 2012, 12:54 pm
Re: Namibian Field Herping Trip November 2016
Couldn't agree more!Martti Niskanen wrote:Excellent post. I think Namibia should be on anyone's list, whether a herper or not.
- Calfirecap
- Posts: 638
- Joined: June 16th, 2010, 8:09 am
- Location: Santa Cruz Co. California
- Contact:
Re: Namibian Field Herping Trip November 2016
What a dream trip. Those namaquensis have been on my must see list for decades! Great images as well, thanks for posting.
- Paul Freed
- Posts: 130
- Joined: November 10th, 2013, 12:14 pm
- Location: Pacific Northwest (Oregon) U.S.
Re: Namibian Field Herping Trip November 2016
Thanks for the great memories, Tyrone, your images are superb! I have been fortunate to visit Namibia three times in the past and each visit there was absolutely amazing. As 'Fieldnotes', pointed out, the wildlife documentaries of yesteryear were the inspiration of my visits there especially, the 1977 National Geographic one, narrated by Burgess Meredith. Finding Web-footed Geckos (now in the genus Pachydactylus), Namaqua Chameleons, and Peringuey's Adder were definitely the highlights of the trip. Thanks so much for sharing!
-Paul
-Paul
- mariquensis
- Posts: 93
- Joined: April 8th, 2012, 12:54 pm
Re: Namibian Field Herping Trip November 2016
Paul Freed wrote:Thanks for the great memories, Tyrone, your images are superb! I have been fortunate to visit Namibia three times in the past and each visit there was absolutely amazing. As 'Fieldnotes', pointed out, the wildlife documentaries of yesteryear were the inspiration of my visits there especially, the 1977 National Geographic one, narrated by Burgess Meredith. Finding Web-footed Geckos (now in the genus Pachydactylus), Namaqua Chameleons, and Peringuey's Adder were definitely the highlights of the trip. Thanks so much for sharing!
-Paul
Thanks Paul, glad you enjoyed the post.
Apologies my site has the rangei listed as Pachydactylus not sure I listed the former name so cheers for that!
- mariquensis
- Posts: 93
- Joined: April 8th, 2012, 12:54 pm
Re: Namibian Field Herping Trip November 2016
Thanks for the comment, lucked on on a few great species I was hoping to see but that just means another trip is needed I guess!Calfirecap wrote:What a dream trip. Those namaquensis have been on my must see list for decades! Great images as well, thanks for posting.
Re: Namibian Field Herping Trip November 2016
Thanks for sharing! Amazing photos!
- mariquensis
- Posts: 93
- Joined: April 8th, 2012, 12:54 pm
Re: Namibian Field Herping Trip November 2016
Cheers, thanks mate!Keeper wrote:Thanks for sharing! Amazing photos!
- klawnskale
- Posts: 1211
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 7:09 pm
Re: Namibian Field Herping Trip November 2016
Wow you can see some convergent evolution going on there between the North American genus Uma and the African Namib Genus Meroles. the Namib looks like my kind of place. Thanks for sharing your wonderful finds!
Re: Namibian Field Herping Trip November 2016
Oh Man, that first Peringuey's pic in the sand is sick! There are plenty of other great images too (duh) but the other that totally grabbed me was the eye-licking dune gecko - awesome! From beach-hiking for Bitis to straining eyes upwards into social weaver nests for Naja to chameleons in seemingly the most improbable habitat - your post has inspired me to go through my own photos of a trip to South Africa and perhaps do a post. Thanks for your time and for the inspiration.
York
York
Re: Namibian Field Herping Trip November 2016
Spectacular just like everyone else you just went to on my dream trip, I've been hoping to see a Palmatogecko since I was a little kid. Are they hard to turn up?
Thanks for sharing,
Nick
Thanks for sharing,
Nick
- mariquensis
- Posts: 93
- Joined: April 8th, 2012, 12:54 pm
Re: Namibian Field Herping Trip November 2016
Thanks!sjohn wrote:Very nice
- mariquensis
- Posts: 93
- Joined: April 8th, 2012, 12:54 pm
Re: Namibian Field Herping Trip November 2016
The Namib is really a go to place in the world for any field herper for sure!klawnskale wrote:Wow you can see some convergent evolution going on there between the North American genus Uma and the African Namib Genus Meroles. the Namib looks like my kind of place. Thanks for sharing your wonderful finds!
- mariquensis
- Posts: 93
- Joined: April 8th, 2012, 12:54 pm
Re: Namibian Field Herping Trip November 2016
Cheers York, thanks for the kind words mate. The range fo habitat in Namibia is incredible for sure. Looking forward to see a thread of yours re South AfricaY.Morgan wrote:Oh Man, that first Peringuey's pic in the sand is sick! There are plenty of other great images too (duh) but the other that totally grabbed me was the eye-licking dune gecko - awesome! From beach-hiking for Bitis to straining eyes upwards into social weaver nests for Naja to chameleons in seemingly the most improbable habitat - your post has inspired me to go through my own photos of a trip to South Africa and perhaps do a post. Thanks for your time and for the inspiration.
York
- mariquensis
- Posts: 93
- Joined: April 8th, 2012, 12:54 pm
Re: Namibian Field Herping Trip November 2016
NACairns wrote:Spectacular just like everyone else you just went to on my dream trip, I've been hoping to see a Palmatogecko since I was a little kid. Are they hard to turn up?
Thanks for sharing,
Nick
Thanks Nick, they're not tough to find once you know what to look for in the sand. Although they can be seen on the roads at night behind some of the dunes but that's not really my idea of finding a mainly fossorial desert species. Cheers Tyrone.
Re: Namibian Field Herping Trip November 2016
Awesome photography man That first Peringuey's Adder shot A lot artistic quality captured in those images on your part. I like the chameleon shots the most and that shot of the car in the sand.... and your suitcase
Re: Namibian Field Herping Trip November 2016
mariquensis wrote:Even when you're in the middle of nowhere news travels fast!
There's only one thing to be said about the Trump... https://soundcloud.com/yosephadams/quest-for-power