Unlike Switzerland, the whole country here rejoices when rain falls. Many Namibians, not just farmers who depend on it, measure it. The next day, farmers call each other to see how much rain they’ve had. «I got a full 20 mm! And you?»

It’s always amazing and beautiful to see how green the country becomes after the rain. Where previously there was only brown, the same landscape looks transformed after a few days of rain. Suddenly, grass sprouts, and suddenly everything is green. And all of this happens within a few days. After the first downpours, the gargantuan mushrooms, the Omajova, suddenly erupt from the base of the termite mounds, which are as common here as fruit trees in the Bernese Oberland. The enormous mushrooms are cultivated by termites. The Omajova vendors along the main streets don’t have to wait long for customers. The giant, tasty mushrooms are sought after and have a wide range of uses in Namibian cuisine.

A different kind of green Namibia is currently emerging, and it has something to do with hydrogen. But this is another story…