Outapi and Etosha

Last week the students returned from a 10-day trip to the north of Namibia. This area of Namibia holds a vast majority of the country's popoulation, especially Oshiwambo-speaking communities. The students lived with families in the small town of Outapi in the Omusati Region for 7 days. Many of the students reported learning how to pound mahangu, a popular corn-like millet crop, cook traditional Owambo meals, and learn common phrases in the language (Photo 1: The students singing "Lean on Me" at the goodbye party with the homestay families).

While in the North, we heard from the Regional HIV/AIDS Committee on Education (RACE) about their work with youth in the area. The next day we visited the Uukwaluudhi traditional homestead and learned about the customs of greeting the king and queen of the village. We also were fortunate to eat lunch at the Uukwaluudhi homestead, which consisted on chicken, mahangu porridge, spinach, and chips (french-fries)!

The following day we visited the Omahenene Aquaculture Center to learn about small-scale fish farming and employment creation, followed by a visit to Etunda Irrigation Project to learn about large-scale, government-funding agriculture.

Before leaving the Outapi region for Etosha, we visited the Oshikango border post along the Angolan/Namibian border to learn about trade, foreign investment (especially Chinese), and immigration. Following this visit we traveled to a local school to hear how this immigration affects the secondary schools in the region.

After the rural homestays, we traveled to Etosha National Park to see the beautiful landscape and wild life of Namibia. For two and a half days, we camped, did game drives, and sat around the gorgeous waterholes to view the wild lions, zebras, rhinos, elephants, and more (Photo 2: Sunset at Okaukuejo campsite at Etosha).

We also had the opportunity to hear from a high-ranking manager of conservation in the park, who answered our questions about Etosha's environmental protection policies (quite progressive), social responsibility, and details about individual animals. What a treat to hear from an expert on wildlife conservation!
Overall, an educational and breathtaking trip (Photo 3: zebras, elephant, and giraffe while on a game drive in Etosha).