Rain blessing for the New Year

In cities worldwide, residents like to welcome the new year with a spectacular fireworks display and would find rain rather bothersome. At BüllsPort Lodge & Farm, however, everyone was delighted by the heavy New Year’s Eve rain, which greeted the new year with a small, quiet display of blossoms…

As early as mid-November, BüllsPort was delighted by four small rainfalls. Within five days, 5 + 7 + 5.5 + 9 = 26.5 mm fell. Ideal for grass seeds to germinate and sprout. A touch of fresh green spread everywhere.

However, this was quickly over in December. Not a single further drop, but a relentlessly shining sun. Until, completely unexpectedly, on the very last evening of the month and the year, it rained heavily: 20 mm.

However, this New Year’s Eve rain didn’t transform nature into a blooming paradise. Several small rain showers following each other within a few days have a more lasting effect than a cloudburst with the same total amount of rain.

New Year’s Eve rain brings lilies into bloom

Lily blossoms at BüllsPort Lodge & Farm. Small vleis (depressions) where New Year’s Eve rain collected and lingered transformed into patches of vegetation less than four days later. Photo: Nina Cerezo

But it did have an invigorating effect. Perennial grasses are sending up fresh shoots from below, adding lush green strands to the golden-yellow tufts. Along the edges of the riviere (dry rivers) channels, where the water flowed more slowly, fresh, tall grass is sprouting.

And in small vleis (depressions) on the plains, the stagnant rainwater has awakened the lilies. Dozens, even hundreds of bulbs in the soil are now sprouting, transforming the vleis into patches of blossom.

Many shrubs have already flowered and developed robust leaves. Most of the trees are green. The moringa, which stores water in its thick, at times bulbous trunk, is sprouting and pushing out leaves.

Although other areas of Namibia have also experienced significant rainfall, waterbirds are present. Egyptian geese are swimming on the farm dam near Bull’s Head. Even a white stork (Ciconia ciconia) is currently stopping over there.

Even the horses enjoy the refreshing water: Two days after the New Year’s Eve rain, at a walk through the farm dam in front of Bull’s Head at BüllsPort Lodge & Farm. Photo: Nina Cerezo

The situation is different for wildlife. The mountain zebras are currently on the plateau of the Naukluft Mountains in the adjacent national park. There is more grazing available there because it has rained more frequently and heavily. The Hartmann’s mountain zebra (Equus zebra hartmannae) is found almost exclusively in Namibia.

Nevertheless, game such as kudu, klipspringer and steenbok are almost always seen. A herd of about 150 springbok grazes in the area. In total, around 50 mammal species are native to the NAUkLuFT region.

More rain expected

According to weather experts, Namibia can expect an above-average rainy season. This also applies to the south, where average rainfall is lower than in the north (see report in the Namibian Sun; accessible free of charge from 12:00 Namibian time).

The long-term average rainfall for BüllsPort is 120 mm per year. The majority of the rain typically falls between January and March. BüllsPort has already received 46.5 mm of rain. Therefore, there’s a good chance that the weather experts’ forecast will be accurate also for the NAUkLuFT.

Many Namibians, however, dismiss these long-term prognoses. They only believe it is raining when they feel the drops on their skin.

Yellow-green tufts of grass: After the rain, perennial grasses are pushing up fresh, green shoots from the base. Photo: Nina Cerezo