http://www.robinkermode.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.robinkermode.nz en-us Sun, 02 Aug 2026 09:23:33 +1200 Rocketspark http://www.robinkermode.nz/blog/post/167929/swakopmund--ocean-swimming-and-more/ I didn't come to Swakopmund planning to become an ocean swimmer.  It happened completely by chance.After joining Nikola on her wonderful Swakopmund history walking tour, she invited us to watch the rugby (and a meal and drink) on Saturday - the Springboks were playing Scotland.  There we met a friend of hers, Wil-Merie, and during the conversation she mentioned that she belonged to a local ocean swimming group. She wasn’t swimming at the time, but she smiled and said, “You should g... Sat, 25 Jul 2026 20:23:00 +1200 http://www.robinkermode.nz/blog/#post167929 http://www.robinkermode.nz/blog/post/167779/camp-xakanaxa-on-the-edge-of-the-okavango-delta/ I am a kleptoparasite with these photos. These photos were taken by Gabrielle Brooks (a 19-year-old student from Stellenbosch), who was on safari with us at Camp Xakanaxa.  This is where we were. ... Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.robinkermode.nz/blog/#post167779 http://www.robinkermode.nz/blog/post/167729/the-living-desert-tour-swakopmund/ We had met Chantal at the talk about hydrogen power in Namibia at the Museum education centre.  She got up at the meeting and said she would offer free Living Desert tours to anyone there. This was in response to discussion about putting hydrogen plants in certain places in the desert.She said," The desert is living, not a place to put just anything."  She quoted her trainer, saying she had been leading Living Desert tours for 11 years. She told us she was trained by Tommy Collard... Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.robinkermode.nz/blog/#post167729 http://www.robinkermode.nz/blog/post/167488/visiting-serowe-farm-a-funding-project-for-sos-childrens-village/ Danielle had said Mr Bikkie might give me a tour of the farm. I asked, and he was very happy to do that, first the village, then the farm. Mr Bikkie manages both. Here we are, ready to go. ... Mon, 06 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.robinkermode.nz/blog/#post167488 http://www.robinkermode.nz/blog/post/167298/serowe-botswana--young-people-co-creating-stories-day-3/ The next day arrives. I have printed the story books at the hotel. I also sorted through all the resources I prepared, along with the games and activities we didn't do, and packaged them up to give to Katso so she can play later.  I also put them in a drive she can access.  See at the end. The young people arrive at 7.30am. We arrive at 8.00am. First, I hand out their journals and name tags.... Sun, 05 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.robinkermode.nz/blog/#post167298 http://www.robinkermode.nz/blog/post/167485/serowe-botswana--young-people-co-creating-stories-day-2/ The second day started for the young people at 11am, because the All Blacks, our NZ rugby team, were playing France and I wanted to watch. It was a tight game and the All Blacks won 34-32.  I told the young people I was excited that the All Blacks won. We started the day with "Leopard is Hungry" and then headed to the classroom.  I did this because we had to learn more, so they could create a story. Then we used a drama convention called "Role on the Wall':"Each group becomes... Sat, 04 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.robinkermode.nz/blog/#post167485 http://www.robinkermode.nz/blog/post/167476/serowe-botswana--young-people-co-creating-stories-day-1/ We left Maun Airport to head towards Serowe. We were going there because over the next three days, I was leading 'Young People Co-creating and Sharing Stories about Native Species Thriving', at SOS Children's Village in Serowe.This had all come about from when we knew we were coming to Botswana, a week before we left. I contacted Danielle Dal Cortivo, a friend I knew had contributed to children in Botswana.  We have been in many growing and developing courses together and speak each week as... Fri, 03 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.robinkermode.nz/blog/#post167476 http://www.robinkermode.nz/blog/post/166607/a-kleptoparasitic-safari--three-days-at-camp-okavango-in-the-okavango-delta/ Above - Vee, me, Aodi and Bill.  Below - Bess, Mauricio, Bill and me.... Mon, 22 Jun 2026 22:50:28 +1200 http://www.robinkermode.nz/blog/#post166607 http://www.robinkermode.nz/blog/post/166548/a-three-day-visit-to-sosussvlei-and-deadvlei/ We spent a day travelling to Sossusvlei and Deadvlei, a day there and a day travelling back. Lots to see, and the road is very bumpy in patches. Here is what we saw. ... Sat, 20 Jun 2026 22:32:15 +1200 http://www.robinkermode.nz/blog/#post166548 http://www.robinkermode.nz/blog/post/166378/a-day-at-sandwich-harbour-marine-cruise-and-in-the-namib-desert/ Marama, a reader of the blog, suggested a map or two.  Great idea.  Here is Namibia, in south-wes Africa.  This is also for the grand-nieces and nephews. ... Tue, 16 Jun 2026 02:53:24 +1200 http://www.robinkermode.nz/blog/#post166378