Danger Zone

Beware: Deadly Beasts

In the Namibian desert, you are never far from danger. Behind every rock and round every corner, a deadly animal is waiting to attack you. So be prepared and especially keep your eyes peeled for these vicious beasts:

Deadly Spitting Cobra
Spitting cobras: these snakes spit highly poisonous venom from their mouth to defend themselves. It can cause permanent blindness if it gets in your eyes, so if you come across a spitting cobra, stay calm and move slowly away to safety.
Wild Hunting Jackals
Wild hunting jackals: jackals are nocturnal and are both scavengers and hunters. They are fast runners and will steal your food, so stay out of their way in case they decide they want a fresh kill...
Charging Elephants
Charging elephants: A fully grown African elephant's tusks can be over 3m long. Couple this with its enormous weight (100 times heavier than a human) and huge feet, and you can understand why this beast is one of the most dangerous animals in the world. They suffer from extreme bouts of rage and revenge and can crush another living creature with no effort. So if you hear the distant thud of an innocent looking elephant plodding your way, watch out!
Black Scorpions
Black scorpions: Scorpions carry venom in their tail, which they use to paralyse their prey before eating it. Check your shoes in the morning to make sure that you don't get a nasty shock when you put them on as scorpions have a nasty habit of crawling in!
Stampeding Wilderbeest
Stampeding wildebeest: although a single wildebeest might look pretty weedy compared to some of the nasty creatures in the desert, you have to bear in mind that when they decide to stampede, the destruction they cause is immense. Over 500 animals sprint at over 50mph for over 30 minutes during a stampede and if you happen to get in the way, then you are sure to be flattened.
Prowling Lions
Prowling lions: the king of the jungle and the desert, these big cats have big appetites! In the baron hunting grounds of the desert, humans can look like very attractive prey and turn the lions into man-eaters.

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