Reptiles ahoy at Palmwag

Location: Palmwag Lodge, Palmwag Concession, Namibia
Date: 25-26 March 2010
Observer: Chris Roche
Photographer: Chris Roche

Palmwag Lodge is a veritable and literal oasis on the arid, rocky plains of north-west Namibia. The spring in front of camp has attracted wildlife for hundreds of years with elephant bulls the most well known and celebrated visitors. The grounds of the camp themselves – festooned with palms and the aromatic salvadora bushes – have a tranquil feel that contrasts with the surrounding harshness. Palm Swifts and the endemic Rüppell’s Parrot nest in the palms while the very vocal Bokmakierie skulks in the salvadora.

A walk around camp yields more than just birds and tracks of the spring visitors from the night before (spotted hyaena on our visit). Instead it gives guests a chance to look more closely at the unique reptile fauna of this part of Namibia, one that is particularly rich in endemic species.

Aside from the ubiquitous Striped Skink (Mabuya striata wahlbergii), the most obvious reptile resident in camp is the brightly coloured and confiding Namibian Rock Agama (Agama planiceps). The male (pictured top left) and female are markedly different with the bright orange heads and deep purple bodies of the males indicating breeding and dominance status. This is a near endemic species to north-west Namibia.

The paths between the rooms cover some more typical habitat for the area and the rocky slopes, rock faces and gravel covered ground with sparse cover all harbour their own distinctive species, three of which we saw and photographed and which are endemic to the region. Anchieta’s Agama (Agama anchietae) pictured top right with grey body and blunt head scurries between cover and freezes using its formidable camouflage to avoid detection. The Kaokoveld Sand Lizard (Pedioplanis gaerdesi) is a fast-moving and long-tailed inhabitant of more open ground (hence the blurred photo!), and Boulton’s Namib Day Gecko (Rhoptropus boultoni) is a charismatic and easily seen species (look around rooms 19 and 20) of rocky outcrops and rock faces with a beautifully patterned back.