Namibia has around 300 days of sunshine a year. And it rarely rains, especially in the Kalahari Desert. The rainy season only begins in January. And yet nature often shows its full force in the sky.
Quite apart from the breathtaking African sunsets, there is much more in the sky.
The vastness of the dry desert means that thunderstorm cells can be spotted early on. You can literally see the clouds gradually piling up. Rain showers resemble a veil falling from the clouds when they are still kilometers away.
And the sun often reflects an immeasurably large rainbow.
When the wind is dry, so-called dust devils can often be observed. The winds sweep through the Kalahari in various sizes and really stir up the sand.
However, sandstorms also blow through the desert in large quantities from time to time.
When the sun has disappeared behind the horizon, another beautiful side of nature is revealed. Not only can countless stars be seen in the night sky, but the dust of the Milky Way and individual planets can also be admired. As there are no disturbing lights in the middle of the Kalahri Desert, you can look into the vastness of space.
One thing is clear, the skies over Namibia have a lot more to offer besides gliding!
The Bitterwasser Flying Lodge was the main sponsor of the Junior World Gliding Championships, where from August 2 to 17, 2026, around 80 pilots from 22 nations competed for the titles in the Standard and Club classes. The grand prize for the JWGC winners was a one-week stay at the lodge, including travel and an airplane.
Largely unnoticed by the public, the 5th Red Bull Global Aerial Performance Camp 2026 took place in Bitterwasser, Namibia, from April 21, 2026, to April 30, 2026.
A few videos and pictures on this page offer a glimpse of the athletes and their performances.