September 25: A Tale of Two Women
Here is the story of two women—Karen and Komukandjera—who are finding innovative and sustainable ways to turn a traditional plant into a global perfume phenomenon.

September 9: Rhinos on the Rebound
It was 1994. A black rhino broke through the fence on the north side of Etosha National Park. When found, his horns had been sawed off. He was left to die. This was the last documented incident of black rhino poaching in Namibia.

August 27: Africa Connections: Cheetahs Race to Co-Exist
What can go from 0 to 70 mph in four seconds? Certainly not my diesel truck. I can barely get it out of first gear in that time. Only one animal on Earth can go that fast — the cheetah.

August 17: Africa Connections: A Park for People and Wildlife
The Conservancy is supporting the creation of Kunene People’s Park, which will create a vital corridor so that one day black rhino, elephants and other wildlife like lions can follow their historic migrations. The park will also create a sustainable economy for the people who live with them.

August 11: Africa Connections: Kapoi's Lesson
Kapoi has seen this shift in economy, culture and conservation from all sides — growing up on a farm in what is now a conservancy, working for a conservation organization, and now as a guide for a commercial lodge. This motivates him to share his experience with other young people.

August 3: Africa Connections: Stories Deserts Tell
While burrowing into the sand is hardly a solution for climate change, perhaps some of the adaptations these desert dwellers have evolved will spark ideas about how we can adapt to living on a warmer planet in the years ahead.

July 28: Africa Connections: Holding Each Other Accountable
After a hearty meal of maize and stewed springbok (the Namibia version of antelope) we settled in for the night. The next morning as I walked to the fire, I saw people emerging from their tents, polishing their shoes, putting on their nice pants, shirts and blouses and hovering over flip charts.

July 24: Africa Connections: On the Path of the Black Rhino
We cross the river again and see black rhino tracks. It’s hard to know how fresh these tracks are. Two move in one direction and one track in another. We follow each set checking broken branches for freshness as we weave through huge bushes, one eye always watching for movement on the other side of the bush.

July 21: Africa Connections: Local Conservancies Empower People
The wind was blowing so hard it lifted the sands high in the air, darkening the skies. It reminded me of the Arizona dust storms during monsoon season. I’m in the Namib Desert less the 20 kilometers from the coastal town of Swakopmund.

July 14: Africa Connections: My First Lesson
On my plane ride across the Atlantic, I sat next to a woman from Benin in West Africa. She shared with me that the mistake most outsiders make when they come to work in Africa is that they focus on what they think the local people want, and don’t ask the local people what they need.

July 7: Africa Connections: The Journey Begins
While walking in a dry river bed east of the city, I heard something talking to me from high in a “kopje” or rocky outcrop. I spotted an animal I had never seen before. Was it a small bear sunning itself on a rock?