48.4

The Sandhof Lily pan is a clay plain in the southern region of Namibia near Maltehohe. When it fills to about 30cm after the first heavy rains of summer, the Crinum Paludosum lily comes up for as far as the eye can see. It blooms and dies again within about 6/7 days. Along with the flowers, hundreds of thousands of elephant beetles seem to appear out of nowhere to feast on the delicacy and once the lilies die they vanish again.

Our trip was supposed to be Kgalagadi-Richtersveld-Namib, but 5 days before our date to leave we got the news that the pan had gotten the necessary rain for the flowers to bloom. We decided to chuck Richtersveld and go to Namibaia and then Kgalagadi. When we got there the lilies were already past their peak and I had to search hard to find ones that were still in good condition. As the sun got closer to the horizon, an absolute monstrosity of a storm was steadily rolling closer. Minutes before the storm reached us, a gap in the clouds opened and it rewarded us with light that made the effort worthwhile (see other lily shot). I got a few shots of the storm sky as it started to rain and then turned to my friend to shout I’m packing up and I saw how amazing the light was towards the sun. I fired a few quick shots and then the rain started beating down, as you can see in the water.

We hastily retreated to the cars for shelter where the three of us were still ignorantly planning to braai, so we sat below our friend's unfolded rooftop tent waiting for the rain to pass. The downpour got heavier and heavier so me and Isak decided to retreat to his car and Braam got in his rooftent. We were discussing how weird it is that such a cloud formation had no lightning...and as Murphy would have it, the rumble started. It got meaner and meaner and excitement grew to fear as I knew our cars were the highest objects on a flat plain. As the core of the storm reached us three successive strikes fell within less than 100 metres and it shook the whole car, followed by a deafening crackle. There was an ominous darkness with only the sound of the rain beating against the car when all of a sudden a bolt of white light stood still on Braam’s car and he was still in his roof tent. Me and Isak exchanged some nice words then Isak rolled down his window to hear if Braam was okay. After another exchange of some more nice words, Braam confirmed that he’s fine. Lucky for him, the metal frame of the tent had conducted the electricity.

We had gotten there in time, had an amazing sunset and Braam survived a lightning strike in his rooftop tent. If that isn't luck then I don't know what is!

Sandhof Farm, Maltahohe District, Namibia

Sequence of three shots