101 Reasons to visit Namibia: Ghost riders of the desert

It is late afternoon, and the heat of the desert is less intense. The silence is almost
unbearable. As we wait my imagination colours in the barren environment. I can see a 
German soldier riding on his horse as he explores the desert for the first time. As the 
black spot draws closer, I realize the rider is but a ghost. His horse only knows a vague 
memory of his presence. Out of habit, I feel urged to approach the horse as it walks 
closely past the wall of the hide, but then I remind myself that this horse knows no 
master.

In the heart of the barren, windswept south of Namibia, hides the world’s most 
hauntingly beautiful mysteries – a small herd of wild horses. These horses roam in the 
Garub plains just outside of a little town called Aus. The question of why they are in this
part of the country is a mystery. Southern Africa has non-native horse populations, and 
the early settlers had to import horses.

Photo credits: Janke Murray

The true origin of the horses may not be known but a few legends might hold the answer. 
One thereof states that a cargo ship that carrying Thoroughbreds to Australia wrecked 
near the Orange River and some of the horses managed to survive and made the Garub 
plains their home. The most likely explanation is that the horses are descendants of
escaped South African military horses and Namibian-bred German horses during World 
War I. During this time a German Baron von Wolf built the Duwisib Castle on the edge of 
the desert where he had around 300 horses. His farm was later abandoned after his 
death in WWI, leaving his horses unfenced. Although not impossible these horses might 
have made their way to the Garub plains, but genetic evidence suggests that this is less 
likely as the wild horses are genetically similar to Arabian horses. Interestingly enough, 
it has been discovered that there is an absence of blood samples from all other horse 
breeds that indicates the presence of a mutation.

Photo credits: Janke Murray

The mystery remains with us today as researchers study these unique horses. They not 
only attract researchers but people from far beyond come to visit these miraculous 
horses that have adapted to the harsh desert environment. With their athletic
appearance they resemble the European light riding horses. Their characteristic dark 
brown and black features stand in contrast to the gravel plains.

Despite living in the desert where food is scarce and hyenas threaten their existence, 
the horses are relatively good in shape. The man-made waterhole at Garub provides 
them with enough water and during wetter seasons they are even spotted in the Fish 
River.

Photo credits: Janke Murray

For many years the Namib Desert horses were known as the ghost horses due to their 
limited contact with humans. However, when the drought forced them to water and 
graze near the human settlements they slowly adapted to humans and if you are lucky,
you will be able to get an up-close image of them. Visiting the wild horses of Namibia, is 
an unforgettable experience. Namibia is so much more than beautiful landscapes, but 
its animals and plants remind us that we need to adapt and survive even when life gets 
tough.

 Author: Janke Murray