Gobabeb

11/10/2026

Professor Allan Ellis (in black T-shirt) of Stellenbosch University and supervisor of Gobabeb PhD Student Associate Natanael Ndilenga visited Gobabeb this past week. Together, Prof. Ellis and Nata went on a field trip to the Skeleton Coast to Mowe Bay as part of Nata’s PhD fieldwork. Nata is investigating determinants of fruiting success in the Namib endemic !Nara, Acanthosicyos horridus.

10/10/2026

We look forward to hosting DHPS next year!

09/10/2026

Happy National Arbor Day!
Today we celebrate Faidherbida albida, commonly known as Ana tree, which is the tree of the year. Ana trees are one of the most abundant trees found in riparian forests along ephemeral rivers across Namibia, such as in the Kuiseb riparian forest, as shown in these images. Ana trees play crucial roles in these ecosystems, providing habitats for bird, insect, and arachnid species. This is especially important given that the species produces leaves during the dry season, when many other species have lost their leaves. Additionally, their seed pods are food for various animals, and, when sourced sustainably, support the livestock of subsistence farmers. A prime example indeed of how much life trees support.

08/10/2026

An incredibly rare and exciting opportunity to monitor the nest of a Nightjar pair!
While on a nature walk, Gobabeb staff stumbled upon a Nightjar nest. This species of Nightjar, Caprimulgus pectoralis are a nocturnal insectivore. As they are small and well camouflaged, the staff did not notice the nest until the parent bird had flown away. As shown, C. pectoralis typically produces two eggs per clutch, also typical of the species is its nest, which is on bare sand. The incubation period for the species is 18 days. We do not know how long the eggs were laid, but hopefully our camera trap will capture the parents interacting and the chicks hatching.

07/10/2026

50 days until the Great Southern Bioblitz (GSB), 27 – 30 November 2026. Join an effort to document biodiversity across the Southern Hemisphere!!!!

The Central Namib Desert has been registered as a project under GSB 2026. If you are interested in the biodiversity of this unique area and are available from, please join us at https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/great-southern-bioblitz-2026-central-namib
Find out more on how to participate here: https://www.greatsouthernbioblitz.org/how-to-participate...

Last year, 15 observers recorded 1,462 observations of 354 species. This year we can do MUCH better!!!!

05/10/2026

Gobabeb was “over the moon” to host visiting ESA astronaut, Dr Matthias Maurer, over the past weekend. As one of the first docking sites on his whistle-stop tour around Namibia, we were privileged to hear more about his adventures in space and the extraordinary scientific investment that makes the safe and boundless exploration of space possible.
In turn, we were proud to showcase our own work in the Namib, as well as the work of other agencies that visit Gobabeb to use this remarkable landscape as a proxy for extraterrestrial environments.
We are grateful to the German Embassy for arranging this special visit and for the opportunity to share ideas, experiences, and inspiration.
Matthias, “may the Force be with you” on the rest of your promotional tour. We hope it broadens the aspirations and horizons of many across Namibia and inspires the next generation to look even further beyond our own planet.

Photo credit: Liza Dreyden

02/10/2026

Few sights capture the spirit of the Namib quite like an Oryx standing quietly in this seemingly endless landscape. Surrounded by gravel plains and scattered shrubs, the Oryx is perfectly at home where life must work hard for every drop of water. The Oryx (Oryx gazella) is one of the Namib’s great survivors. Built for the heat, adapted to scarce water, and able to travel vast distances in search of food, it represents the resilience of life in the Namib.

01/10/2026

HOT OFF THE PRESS 2026!

Elevational Habitat Associations of Tree Species and Deadwood in Ephemeral Streams of the Namib Desert

In arid and hyper-arid regions with prolonged dry spells, plants are often particularly dependent on underground water resources. The distribution patterns of riparian tree species along ephemeral streams offer insights into their strategies to optimally utilize water. Here, we monitored the tree species Faidherbia albida and Vachellia erioloba with drones along the Kuiseb River in the Namib Desert over 6 years, 2020–2025. In addition, Moringa ovalifolia trees were monitored in drainage lines in the Tsondab Valley. We retrieved fine-grained digital terrain models with 1 m resolution to assess the dependency of tree spatial patterns on the lowest lying areas where water runs through. The spatial habitat associations of tree species were assessed with Berman tests. We further analyzed the distribution patterns of deadwood, relative to elevation, for two study plots in the Kuiseb. Our results show that F. albida grew in lower lying areas nearer the riverbed, as compared to V. erioloba. When both species were highly negatively correlated with elevation in the Kuiseb 1 plot, deadwood amounted to only 0.54%. But when all trees together were positively associated with elevation in the Kuiseb 2 plot, thus growing further up the riverbank, deadwood increased to 12%. Moringa trees in the Tsondab Valley were negatively associated with elevation. They had a preference for low-lying drainage channels that catch runoff after rainfall. Our research reveals different survival strategies of tree species in streams of the Namib. Vachellia erioloba is known for having up to 70 m deep-reaching roots, allowing the species to grow more independently from riverbeds. Faidherbia albida has less deep-reaching roots, making this species more dependent on riverbeds. Moringas prefer drainage lines but they also benefit from storing water in their thick trunks. Overall, our study highlights that topographical variation and heterogeneity in site conditions may strongly affect tree mortality.

Find the entire article by clicking the link below

The research presents an in-depth spatial study of three tree species that grow along ephemeral streams in the arid and hyper-arid western part of Namibia. The trees form a linear oasis in major stre...

30/09/2026

New face

Natanael Shiimbashike is an honors Degree graduate in Environmental Biology from the University of Namibia. He will be with us for the next three months, assisting with our research activities.

28/09/2026

Tomorrow evening, our Associate Dr. Sebastian Hatt will be giving a talk at the Swakopmund Scientific Society on the flora of the central Namib Desert. Still think the Namib is barren? This is your chance to see and learn. Please share widely with other botany aficionados.