ALBINO JACKAL

I have only seen this once in my life, an extremely rare albino black-backed jackal, in Okonjima Nature Reserve. On an early morning game drive, still dark, suddenly an eerie snow-white phantom appeared out the bush. Albinism is actually a congenital genetic disorder that can be inherited if both parents carry the recessive albino gene. This particular jackal, still a pup, appeared to be fit and thriving, although it is generally accepted that animals with this condition do not survive long as they are more conspicuous to predator and prey alike. The guide told us there are actually two pups that are totally white while the parents have the normal colours of the black-backed jackal.

The whole of Namibia was tourist-less. It was strange to be the only person on Deadvlei, at Sossusvlei and Wolwedans. For me it was heaven. Just you and nature and opportunities that you don’t often get. I never really took my time in Namibia doing landscapes but it was nice having the luxury to do so now. I wished for a higher pixel camera but a 40-odd million megapixel shooter did the job just fine. – Hannes Lochner