We stood on the terrace outside the main lounge watching the storm form on the horizon.

The sky began to bruise, lightning cracking through the clouds, wind picking up.

We’d been on the road for more than a week, battling the elements and the unseasonable rains, but for the first time we didn’t feel a sense of impending doom with an proaching storm – quick! put up the tents, take shelter! – but more a sense of exhilaration as it moved closer to us.

We were watching it form from the lounge/bar/dining room at Desert Hills, a glamping site built on a ridge overlooking the vast Namibian plains, reached via a five km track 17 km south of the Sesriem turnoff on the C19.

Accommodation so far on our two-week trip had varied from nationally run camp sites with shared shower facilities to an en-suite B&B to a pitch that was literally a table and a long drop toilet.

So to arrive here and have the luxury of an ensuite and a double bed and the most stunning views was a real luxury: walking into our room felt almost decadent after a week sleeping in a tent on the roof of our Toyota HiLux.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VIRTUAL TOUR

Desert Hills has 11 identical rooms, and one larger family suite, strung along the ridge overlooking a valley.

Each room is canvas-covered, with floor-to-ceiling glass doors, a toilet, shower and a huge four-poster bed facing the glass doors.

The bed is strung with a mosquito net, practical and romantic, but we didn’t hear or see any mozzies, despite the wet weather.

We were told to keep our shoes inside because they might get pinched by jackals, which made us smile thinking of them running across the plains wearing trainers.

The views are transfixing and ever changing; the dawn light piercing through the dark, bathing our bed in morning rays; the flat, hot sun throughout the day and the most spectacular sunsets I have ever seen.

There’s an elemental beauty and power to landsces like this, that’s both humbling and daunting.

When the storm eventually hit, it was spectacular – the rain came down hard, the wind slammed against the canvas and the noise was so loud we couldn’t speak.

It continued like this for a good 15 minutes or so, abating then resuming, terrifying the small children in the camp, but entrancing us (one guest even opted to stay outside).

And then it was over, all the fury dissipated, sun breaking through the clouds, a gentle drip, drip from the canvas and a freshness in the air.

The lounge is the focal point of the camp, with a small bar, coffee and tea throughout the day, magazines and a small collection of books.

This is where guests gather to play board games or cards throughout the day, or for a pre-dinner drink in the evening.

Dinner menus are posted in the morning so you can advise of any dietaries (it’s too late to advise in the evening, the camp is at least an hour away from the nearest store. It astonished me the chef could whip up such great food every night.)

Dinners were delicious, heavy on meat, specifically steak and game: oryx was a first for me, and was absolutely delicious. But somehow, despite being miles from the coast, we also had fish options, including a delicious breaded kingklip, served on potato puree and sliced vegetables.

Desserts were equally yummy, particularly the passion fruit crème brulee, served with a dollop of ice-cream. Wines were all from South Africa and heavy, pairing well with the red meat.

Mornings were spent grazing at breakfast, which is part-buffet and part table service for hot food; and lazing by the pool.

The pool setting is sublime, just below the main building, with an uninterrupted view towards the mountains, a shaded area, plenty of loungers and a changing area in the main building.

There’s even a fire pit built adjacent to the pool, which sadly we didn’t get to use due to the weather, perfect for stargazing.

Desert Hills is just 35 minutes from Sesriem, the gateway to Sossuvlei, the dunes and the dessicated ancient trees of Deadvlei, and makes for an ideal stop whether you are driving the southern or northern loop of Namibia.

Our stay here was short, but a perfect break in our drive across this incredible country.

More Information
To find out more and book a stay at Desert Hills Glamping Camp
go to Namibia Tracks and Trails at

Words, Pics and 360 Virtual Tour : Mark Hakansson

SITA has acquired Big Blue , the company behind OCC Assistant Manager (OCCam), an AI-enabled disruption optimisation platform designed to help airlines manage operational disruptions more effectively. The acquisition forms part of SITA’s broader strategy to develop an Intelligent Operations Control Center that integrates planning, monitoring and recovery functions into a single operational framework.

Airline disruptions remain one of the industry’s most significant operational and financial challenges, costing carriers billions of dollars annually. OCCam has been developed and refined within live airline environments to address this issue by evaluating multiple operational constraints simultaneously, including aircraft availability, crew scheduling, passenger itineraries and maintenance requirements.

Unlike traditional disruption management systems that address operational issues sequentially, OCCam generates integrated recovery plans that consider all key operational variables together. The platform provides ranked recovery options, enabling airlines to assess cost implications, operational performance, passenger impact and regulatory compliance before implementing decisions.

According to SITA, airlines using OCCam have achieved disruption cost reductions of up to 30 per cent. For a mid-sized airline operating more than 100 aircraft, disruption costs can range between USD 70 million and USD 80 million annually, making operational recovery optimisation a significant area for cost savings.

The platform also enables airlines to measure the impact of operational decisions by outcomes and quantifying savings, allowing operators to evaluate performance and demonstrate return on investment.

David Lavorel, CEO of SITA, said, “Airlines have traditionally treated disruption as a fixed cost of doing business, but there is a clear opportunity to proach it differently. In an increasingly volatile and fast-moving environment, the ability to recover with the same agility becomes critical. The airlines that act on this first will recover faster, fly more, and protect more revenue than those that wait, and AI-enabled tools like OCCam are making that possible.”

SITA currently supports more than 100 airline Operations Control Centers globally through solutions such as SITA Mission Watch and has previously expanded AI-based operational tools through the rollout of SITA OptiFlight.

The acquisition also strengthens SITA’s ongoing investment in artificial intelligence, including large language models and agent-based systems. The company plans to build on OCCam’s optimisation cabilities to develop tools that can predict disruptions earlier, automate routine recovery processes and simplify operational decision-making.

Yann Cabaret, CEO, SITA for Aircraft, said, “This is the first step towards a much bigger Intelligent Operations Control Center vision, one where planning, monitoring, and recovery come together in a single system. AI allows us to handle multiple constraints at once and tailor decisions to each airline in a way that was not possible before.”

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) kicks off Caribbean Week in New York 2026 today, perfectly aligned with the start of Caribbean-American Heritage Month.

Under the theme One Caribbean: Infinite Experiences, this annual event brings together Caribbean tourism leaders, ministers and directors, marketing teams, and industry partners for a week of high-level dialogue, networking, innovation and celebration in the heart of New York City.

The official Opening Ceremony, taking place at InterContinental New York Times Square, will feature remarks from Ian Gooding-Edghill, chairman of CTO and minister of tourism and international transport of Barbados; governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands Albert Bryan Jr., and other dignitaries.

Highlighting the day’s events, Christine Valls, managing director for Latin America and the Caribbean at United Airlines, will deliver the Keynote Address at the Caribbean Women in Tourism Leadership Dinner & Awards this evening. The dinner will also mark the launch of a new CTO initiative, From Her to Her, supporting the next generation of Caribbean women in tourism.

Throughout the week, attendees can look forward to dynamic sessions on sales and marketing, leadership, diversity, and youth entrepreneurship.

As America celebrates the rich contributions of Caribbean Americans this month, Caribbean Week in New York serves as a powerful platform to strengthen partnerships, showcase the region’s infinite potential and drive sustainable tourism growth.

Businessman Peter Harris expressed humility and gratitude after his pointment as chairman of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), succeeding Shelly Williams.

Harris said he looks forward to building on her foundation while working closely with Tourism and International Transport Minister Ian Gooding-Edghill and the BTMI team.

Barbados has a fantastic product — one that the world wants, said Harris. Tasked with responsibly managing taxpayers’ money, he pledged to deliver the best returns for the island while remaining open to ideas and feedback. Tourism done right is done together, he added. Working together we can make Barbados not just a destination but a standard.

World Environment Day will be observed on June 5 under the theme Inspired by Nature: For Climate. For Our Future.

The campaign emphasizes the vital connection between healthy ecosystems, climate resilience and sustainable development.

The global observance will be hosted this year in Baku, Azerbaijan.

In Jamaica, activities will center on the Kingston Harbour Cleanup Project as part of the GraceKennedy Foundation’s 36th annual public lecture. The event will spotlight ongoing efforts to restore and improve the environmental health of Kingston Harbour.

The cleanup initiative is supported by The Ocean Cleanup, a leading international nonprofit dedicated to reducing plastic pollution in rivers, waterways and oceans. It is managed by the GraceKennedy Foundation in partnership with Clean Harbours Jamaica, a local organization specializing in marine waste solutions.

According to organizers, the project has prevented more than 13 million pounds of waste from entering the harbor over the past five years.

This year’s lecture will explore how collaboration, scientific research and innovative technology are being used to tackle solid waste pollution in Kingston Harbour.

The event builds on discussions first initiated during the Foundation’s 2019 public lecture which highlighted the environmental challenges facing the harbor and the urgent need for sustained, long-term restoration efforts.