----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, July 24, 2009 9:55 AM
Subject: The small five

Dear Chris,

Looking out over my pond where my turtles are sunning themselves on a piece of driftwood and the hummingbirds are zooming around, I have just put a little slide show together of the "small five" and other critters you found for us during your "Living Desert" trip. As a former World Bank ecologist, I have travelled pretty much all over the world and always tried to go in the field, often with competent guides. But I must say that your trip is one of the best I have ever made, matched only by a rainforest trip at night in Costa Rica where my guide found 5 species of Glass Frogs in one night. If anyone had suggested we would see the Side Winder and the Horned Adder within one hour I would have said "Fat Chance!"

I hope getting the course participants on your tour helps in the preservation of the dune belt, sooner or later action will be taken against the quad bikes I'm sure. It was the highlight of the course.

Keep up the good work and Thanks again for a thoroughly enjoyable and informative experience.

Cheers,
Jan.

----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 8:36 AM
Subject: You are Thomas's Hero!
Hi Chris

Well , my family is STILL talking about the reunion and I thought that you might like to see an excerpt from my sister, Brenda's email of yesterday.  She is currently in Germany with her 3 grandchildren.  You may recall her telling you that, not long into our Living Desert Tour, Thomas (aged 4) announced: "I want to be THAT man".  It seems he is still dreaming of that...............

"Previous to that I had shown Thomas a 30second snippet (taken accidentally on my small camera) of Chris on the desert tour........well, I had to play it 4 times to please and satisfy him!!!  The brochure that Chris gave him is kept in his bed!  "

If nothing else inspires you to keep doing the great job you're doing, this will I'm sure!

Regards
Sue

----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, March 27, 2009 4:23 AM
Subject: Thanks for a great day!

Hi Chris,

We recently came on a 'living desert adventure' with you and we just wanted to reiterate what an amazing time we had with you! Reptiles are a passion of ours and meeting someone who was so enthusiastic and knowledgable about these amazing animals was a real treat, it really was highlight of our africa trip. We wish you all the best for the future and hope we meet other people on our travels who are heading for Namibia so we can tell them to check out the dunes with you!

Thanks again Chris,

Ian and Jenny
(aka random aussies)

Hi Chris,

Now back in the snow and hard frost of the UK, the memories of your wonderful Swakopmund dunes and their hidden wonders seem even more unreal!

When I first lived your passion and marveled at what life exists in and around that desert environment a couple of years ago, I admit that I perhaps put some of what we saw last time down to chance. By re-enacting the amazing achievement of  'discoveries'  on my repeat visit however, you demonstrated to me not only your skill and knowledge, but also the real dependency of the inter -related natural occurrences  associated with that world - but largely hidden to the casual observer. However, my first encounter with the "small five" and the desert had created sufficient enthusiasm in me to repeat the experience and I was certainly not disappointed by my second exposure to that world!

Once again, many thanks for a most educational and enjoyable "safari" in the less well known world of the small five.

Kind regards,
Barry Swain

----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 5:51 AM
Subject: Living Desert Adventures with Christopher Nel

Dear Nel,
back in Germany we're still busy recalling each day and recapitulate all excitements and adventures regarding our holidays in september. We - as shown above - started with 10 persons (appr. 650 years of age and experience!) coming from Austria and Germany - have had an unforgettable three-weeks holiday in Namibia. When our Austrian friends left, the five German "leftovers" took the chance to stay in Swakopmund for one relaxing week.

Apart from exploring restaurants and shops, we booked several "events" through our local tourist office "DAS - Tours".
That's why we joined the "Living Desert" Tour on Monday, 26th  guided by you and your colleague Darrell(?). This excursion turned out to be one of the highlights throughout our stay. Each one of us learned a lot of interesting details about the small, but precious desert animals and insects with their remarkable and individual strategies of surviving in their hostile habitat.

You tought us with personell enthusiasm, profund knowlege about flora, fauna and - last but not least with your particular sence of humor! Be sure, that none of us ever will step on a spiders net, tunnel or whatever...for the rest of his life.

And I do promise for good - that neither of us will drive through Namibias wonderful dunes ba a Quadbike!  - We all hope, that you will give this kind of practical lectures for many many years ahead. We are convinced, that people like you- who love nature and also have the didacticle "know how" of teaching but not preaching - you will bring your country foreward.

Namibias landscape character is the desert and therfore it is unbarable, that few people destroy it, even unaware, just for having the kick of fast and unlimited speed-driving with vehicles. I wish you patience and maximum success, when you have to discuss this with representatives of Tourist Board and the heads of the Environmental administration!  
We all wish you the very best and we are looking foreward to your next lecture, when we're back in Namiba.

Hearty greetings from the autumn-coloured countryside around Berlin

On behalf of our group: Yours  Herta Künzel
(Brandenburg State Office for Environment)

----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2007 9:56 AM
Subject: thanks for the adventure!

Hi Chris,

Won't know if you will remember my sister and I from the United States...we joined your tour full of German speaking tourists  :)

I wanted to thank you again, for what ended up being a highlight for me, on my holiday trip to Namibia.  Your desert tour and introduction to the little creatures was and still is on the top of the list.  I would like to think that everyone who joins you on this trip is similarly touched.  We also really enjoyed our afternoon spent with Darrell Cook.  He is very enthusiasic about sharing his love of the country and it's living creatures.  When I travel, my most prized pictures are usually of the rocks and plants.  I have a photo, which I hope to blow up large of the welwitschia.

I hope to travel to your country again and want to spend more time on another desert tour.  See you then!

Thanks again...Joyce McCallum, Seattle, Washington  USA