The Nature Conservancy in Africa

Sanjayan explores the sand dunes of Namibia

Welwitchia plant video — a true desert survivor

Enlarge this map to track Sanjayan's progess

Our scientist has successfully completed a 300 kilometer desert journey on foot – and you can read about all the action right here!

Sanjayan, lead scientist for The Nature Conservancy, trekked across Africa's Namib Desert – the world's oldest and possibly driest desert – and helped our partners do a rapid ecological assessment of a high-value conservation area that provides priority habitat for lions, elephants, rhinos, cheetah and oryx.

The Conservancy's partners – Save the Rhino Trust and Round River Conservation Studies – are working to support the Namibian government's efforts to establish a conservation area linking the Etosha and Skeleton Coast national parks.

When Sanjayan wasn’t tracking animal prints or coming face-to-face with a black rhino, he was busy sending nature.org daily updates from the field. See below for all of his updates and then check out our video and slideshow page for an up close and personal look at Sanjayan's 14-day journey.

Day 1: Hobatere Conservancy
The expedition is underway — and we're already down three camels and our solar-powered gear works only in fits. Oh, and then there's this pride of lions nearby...

Day 3: Little Serengeti...and We Are Exhausted
A camel runs off with my MacBook Air and 160 pounds of water...into country surprisingly devoid of wildlife. Meanwhile, I drink warm water tinged with diesel fuel and wonder what lies ahead.

Day 5: On a Stream With No Name
We discover fresh water from a little spring, a dead cheetah and a very live springbok. But the highlight of the day (believe it or not) comes after we discover one of us is lost.

Day 7: Bareb River Basin…and Blisters
Nothing seems to stop the blisters we're getting with each day's hike. But check out our slideshow of the incredible wildlife we encounter--not to mention the Edward Abbey of the Namib.

Day 9: Getting Closer to Skeleton Coast National Park
We find a tree that shouldn't be here and accidentally spark a bush fire... it's all in a day's journey in the Namib! Discover what it's like and see photos from today's adventure.

Day 11: Manieke Tracks a Rhino!
A six-kilometer journey in intense heat leads us face-to-face with a black rhino! Despite the exhaustion, it's a magical experience. Check out our incredible photos!

Day 13: The Journey Ends in a Dream Landscape
We’re walking faster as we near our journey’s end—and then we encounter a dreamscape of endless sand with only a few plants and rhino tracks to break the void. Not to mention the ostrich egg in the middle of nowhere...

Day 14: The End
Success! We meet Namibian officials and take a swim in the ocean at journey’s end. That is, everyone except for Save the Rhino Trust’s camel trackers, who have to turn around and cross the desert—again!

Check out all our videos and slideshows.

Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Photo © David Banks/TNC (Sanjayan explores the sand dunes of Namibia); Photo © Sanyayan (Welwitchia plant — a true desert survivor); Photo © Sanjayan/TNC (Day 1: Lion seen from landing strip); Photo © Sanjayan/TNC (Our camels on Day 3); Photo © Sanjayan/TNC (Day 5: Dead cheetah); Photo © Sanjayan/TNC (Day 7: Rudi); Photo © Sanjayan/TNC (Day 9: Sunset over Skeleton Coast National Park); Photo © Sanjayan/TNC (Day 11: Sunset over Skeleton Coast National Park); Photo © Sanjayan/TNC (Day 13: Save the Rhino Trust Camel Patrol Team);Photo © Sanjayan/TNC (Day 14: Totsi in the dunes of the Skeleton Coast).