More unforgettable memories in the Namibian desert

A group of 16 Year 11 students and two KAS teachers journeyed to Namibia in June – a trip described as “one of the best experiences of my life” by one intrepid attendee.

KAS students been making the trip to Dorob National Park in north-west Namibia for some 20 years, working with the charity Elephant-Human Relations Aid (EHRA). There they volunteer at a school in a remote village, renovating a building each year so that the local children have a healthy and safe environment to learn in.

They also spend time walking through the desert, learning to read maps, identify animal tracks and many other things to aid their final walk – an 18km independent hike.

Whilst working at the school, students camped in tents on a hillside 10 minutes’ walk from the village. However, when walking, the tents were packed away and they slept on a tarp under the stars. “The experience of falling asleep while looking at countless stars and the Milky Way is something indescribable,” shares KAS student Alex.

It was just one of several highlights. “One of the many things that made the trip so wonderful was the people – both the EHRA staff and the local people,” Alex adds. “They were incredibly welcoming and made us feel so at home.”

“They were able to identify every plant and animal we came across, showing us how the animal prints looked in the sand, along with other pieces of knowledge they had about the species.”

She was particularly impressed by their guides’ extensive knowledge of their country’s native flora and fauna.

With little phone signal, many students left their phones at home, so downtime was spent playing frisbee, cards and board games.

However, it wasn’t all fun and games. “The most challenging part of the trip was the walking, especially in the afternoons,” says Alex. “One day, we had done a long walk in the morning, and after lunch in the shade of the trees on a riverbed, we had to go on a walk to find objects that the EHRA staff members had hidden nearby.

“Even though the walk was only 4 or 5 km long, it was under a scorching sun, which made it feel like much, much further. After that, we made sure that we pushed ourselves in the morning of the walks to avoid the afternoon sun as much as possible.”

Despite this, Alex still says: “The memories from the trip will stay with me for life, along with the lessons I learned.”

View more images from the Namibia 2024 trip by clicking through the gallery below