Endorphin Expeditions

02/06/2026

Breakfast in the heart of Africa. Remember:

“A good place to understand the present and to ask questions about the future, is on the ground, travelling as a slowly as possible” (Robert D. Kaplan from his great book The Revenge of Geography.

Come join us on our road trips and expeditions across Africa. It’s different.

02/06/2026

The 2026 WhyAfrica Business Trip to Zambia was organised and operated by WhyAfrica’s sister company tour operator Endorphin Expeditions.

02/06/2026

The Chiumbe Falls in Angola plunges about 60m over impressive rock formations into the Chiumbe River. Old and faded sign boards indicate that Chinese company Synohydro was the main contractor that implemented the hydroelectric project here at the falls, also known as the Dala Falls, after the nearby town of Dala.

Leon Louw

The role of medium sized hydro projects in Angola.

Hydropower is an important driver of growth in Angola’s easter provinces.

During the 2023 WhyAfrica Overland Road Trip, I visited the Chiumbe-Dala Hydroelectric Power Plant. Chiumbe-Dala is located at the Chiumbe Falls between Luena, the capital of the Moxico Province, and Saurimo, the capital city of the Lunda Sul Province in Angola.

With a modest generating capacity of 12MW, Chiumbe-Dala is classified as a medium-sized regional hydropower station. Yet its local impact is significant.

Angola currently has about 13 hydropower stations with substantial expansions in the pipeline. The new Caculo Cabaça hydroelectric project is scheduled for completion in 2027.

Caculo Cabaça, located on the Kwanza River, will have a capacity of 2172 MW. This mega project is being develop at a construction cost of USD4.5-billion. It will rank as the second largest hydroelectric facility in sub-Saharan Africa. Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam is the largest.

Although mega projects like Caculo Cabaça are central to the development of the hinterland in Angola, small and medium sized plants have a critical role to play. They are scattered throughout the country, some of them old and in disuse.

Which brings us back to Chiumbe-Dala.

The Chiumbe Falls plunges about 60m over impressive rock formations into the Chiumbe River. Old and faded sign boards indicate that Chinese company Synohydro was the main contractor that implemented the project.

In 2014 China Eximbank signed a USD112-million loan agreement with the Government of Angola for the development of the Chiumbe-Dala Hydroelectric Power Plant and 110kV Luena Transmission Lines and Substations Project.

Chiumbe-Dala plays an important role in providing electricity to Angola's less-developed eastern provinces and reducing dependence on diesel power generation.

What makes Chiumbe-Dala interesting is its location in a corridor between Saurimo and Luena, a strategically important region in terms of critical minerals.

Angola has been actively promoting exploration for copper, Rare Earth Elements and gold across its eastern provinces.

In a remote region like eastern Angola, where infrastructure development lagged for decades because of a devastating civil war, even a relatively small hydropower plant can become the foundation for broader economic development.

As exploration expands and transport corridors such as the Lobito Corridor gain importance for mineral exports, access to dependable electricity could become one of the decisive factors attracting future mining investment into the region.

Read more on WhyAfrica’s website

Image: The Chiumbe Falls is near the town of Dala in Angola. Image credit: Leon Louw for WhyAfrica



Leon Louw Endorphin Expeditions

01/06/2026

Namibia’s salt exports account for way more than USD33-million. Its main markets include South Africa, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In Botswana, the vast Sua Pan at Sowa is home to one of Africa's largest soda ash and salt operations.
The operation benefits from extensive brine resources and established infrastructure, supplying regional and international markets.
Botswana exports more than USD5-million worth of salt to South Africa alone.
South Africa is both a producer and a consumer. While it exports salt into neighbouring countries, much of its production serves domestic chemical, industrial and food-processing sectors.

WhyAfrica Leon Louw

Salt mining in Africa is an untapped opportunity

Africa’s salt mining industry provides investors with several opportunities.

Late last week Anthony Mavunde, Tanzania’s Minister of Minerals, officially inaugurated Tanzania’s State Mining Corporation’s (STAMICO) salt processing plant in Kilwa, Lindi.

The TZS 4.5-billion plant will produce about 25,000 tonnes of processed salt per annum.

Tanzania and Kenya host some of the most significant salt resources in Africa, yet salt remains one of the most overlooked mining commodities.

Demand for salt is constant as it is essential for food production, chemicals, water treatment, livestock farming and increasingly in industrial applications.

Salt deposits occur close to surface and can be extracted through basic evaporation methods, making it an attractive low-cost investment opportunity.

However, despite its simplicity, commercial scale salt mining presents numerous challenges. For one, large operations require efficient logistics while salt is highly corrosive, which can make life difficult.

For example, mining and processing equipment experience excessive wear and tear, which increases the maintenance costs while shortening equipment life.

Operators usually invest heavily in corrosion-resistant materials, specialised coatings and rigorous maintenance programmes.

During WhyAfrica’s inaugural Overland Road Trip through Africa, we took a closer look at Walvis Bay Salt Holding’s (WBSH’s) operation close to the Port of Walvis Bay in Namibia. WBSH is one of southern Africa’s most significant salt operations.

Namibia’s salt exports account for way more than USD33-million. Its main markets include South Africa, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

In Botswana, the vast Sua Pan at Sowa is home to one of Africa's largest soda ash and salt operations.

The operation benefits from extensive brine resources and established infrastructure, supplying regional and international markets.

Botswana exports more than USD5-million worth of salt to South Africa alone.

South Africa is both a producer and a consumer. While it exports salt into neighbouring countries, much of its production serves domestic chemical, industrial and food-processing sectors.

Although South Africa produces significant tonnes in most provinces, Namibia and Botswana dominate regional export trade because of their large evaporation-pan operations and lower production costs.

This year, WhyAfrica will visit several salt mining operations during the upcoming 2026 WhyAfricaRoad Trip through Africa.

If you or your company wants to become part of the 2026 WhyAfrica Overland Road Trip through Africa, give us a call.

Image: WBSH’s salt operations in Walvis Bay, Namibia, one of Africa’s most significant salt producers. Image credit: Leon Louw for WhyAfrica.

Leon Louw Endorphin Expeditions



https://www.whyafrica.co.za/salt-mining-in-africa-is-an-untapped-opportunity/

30/05/2026

The KwaZulu-Natal Midlands is one of South Africa’s most scenic and agriculturally productive regions.

The area is known for its rolling hills, fertile farmland, and thriving tourism industry centred on arts, crafts, hospitality, and outdoor activities.

It also serves as an important economic corridor between the ports of Durban and the country's interior, while preserving a rich cultural and historical heritage that reflects both Zulu and settler influences.

Endorphin Expeditions visited a farm in the Midlands on a recent trip to Durban and the KwaZulu Natal South Coast.

WhyAfrica Leon Louw

29/05/2026

The water on Africa’s East Coast is never too cold for a swim or to take on the waves.

The African East Coast is washed by the warm Mozambique and Agulhas currents, which carry tropical water south from the Indian Ocean.

This makes the sea far warmer than the Atlantic waters along Africa’s west coast, where the cold Benguela Current flows north from Antarctica.

Warm water supports coral reefs, colourful fish, turtles, dolphins and huge seasonal migrations of whales. The colder west coast, by contrast, is richer in nutrients because cold water rises from the deep ocean in a process called upwelling. That is why Namibia and South Africa’s west coast have some of the world’s richest fishing grounds.

The warm Indian Ocean also fuels powerful weather systems. Moisture from the ocean drives heavy rain, cyclones in the tropics and humid coastal climates. It also helps create the long, powerful swells that make the East Coast famous for surfing.

Sharks thrive here because warm water attracts seals, fish and migrating marine life, creating one of the richest feeding zones in the world.

29/05/2026

Can't wait for Endorphin Expeditions' next overland tour to Namibia. Hope we are in time to get some of those locally produced Namibian bananas in Windhoek. Thanks for the post at WhyAfrica

Namibia becomes a banana producer

About 2.5 tonnes of bananas were harvested in Namibia earlier this month.

By Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and Endorphin Expeditions

Buying a fresh banana in Namibia has always been a bit like going to the Mermaid casino in downtown Swakopmund for a round of roulette on a Friday night.

Even in major towns, shelves are often lined with dark coloured, overripe bananas mostly imported from the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa.

Depending on time spent at border crossings, it can take refrigerated trucks between 3 to 5 days to reach towns like Windhoek and Swakopmund.

But that is about to change.

Apart from all the other health benefits of traveling through Namibia (it is a spectacular country to visit), one can now buy fresh, Namibian produced bananas.

With border delays and limited cold-chain infrastructure, one- or two-day old bananas use to be as rare in Namibia as baboons in Etosha National Park.

As an unashamed banana lover, it was thus extremely good news when I received a message from a friend in Namibia yesterday informing me that bananas are now being produced locally.

Bananas are the second most consumed fruit in Namibia (after apples) and proudly Namibian produced bananas can now be purchased at Checkers stores in Windhoek, the capital.

The bananas are being grown at the Etunda test site near Ruacana in northern Namibia. The project is a collaboration between the Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB) and AvaGro to establish a commercially viable banana industry in Namibia.

A total of 2.5 tonnes of bananas were recently harvested from Etunda following their planting in January 2025.

The Etunda area is now one of Namibia’s key irrigated agricultural zones, producing maize, wheat, potatoes, vegetables, grapes and mangoes.

The trial currently consists of 1,104 banana plants on roughly 0.6 hectares, with future harvest expectations of between 20 and 40 tonnes if the trials continue to perform well (source: NAB).

According to NAB CEO Dr. Fidelis Mwazi the longer-term goal is to move beyond trials and create a commercial banana sector where Namibian farmers can participate directly.

“The Etunda scheme is increasingly being positioned as a model for agro-industrial development. Alongside bananas, the project has also expanded mango production and is exploring juice processing and other value-addition industries,” says Dr. Mwazi.

I will visit Namibia with WhyAfrica later this year as part of the 2026 WhyAfrica Overland Road Trip through Africa.

Image credit: Namibia now produces its own bananas. Image credit: Waz Lght from Unsplash.

Endorphin Expeditions Leon Louw

28/05/2026

South Africans are widely known for their love of dancing, with energetic styles such as gumboot dancing, amapiano and traditional tribal dances expressing identity, storytelling, unity and joy while creating unforgettable cultural tourism experiences.

Here we are joining in the fun at this year’s Africa’s Travel Indaba held in Durban in the KwaZulu Natal Province of South Africa.

Let us know if you know this dance and what story it tells about South Africa.

WhyAfrica

26/05/2026

Endorphin Expeditions organised and operated the 2026 WhyAfrica Business Trip to Zambia earlier this year. One of the highlights was visiting Barrick's massive Lumwana copper mine in the North-Western Province of the country. There are some massive trucks out there!

25/05/2026

Multi-country travel set to boost African tourism

Africa’s tourism industry is set to benefit from a global trend towards multi-country travel.

More visitors to Africa are looking to explore different countries in a single trip. This emerging travel pattern was evident at the recent Africa’s Travel Indaba which was held in Durban in the KwaZulu Natal Province of South Africa.

The multi-country trend is set to boost regional travel and investment in Africa’s tourism and hospitality sectors.

According to Harriet Sobey, Founder and MD of Chester & Rose, cross-border itineraries have become much easier due to improved connectivity.

“With direct routes linking hubs such as Maun, Windhoek, Victoria Falls and Livingstone, it is easier than ever to combine countries in one itinerary,” says Sobey.

“Travellers can now combine Botswana’s Okavango Delta, Namibia’s desert landscapes, Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls and South Africa’s Cape Town with one journey.”

According to Leon Louw, founder of WhyAfrica and Endorphin Expeditions this is a major trend that the team have been monitoring at WhyAfrica’s sister company tour operator Endorphin Expeditions for several years.

"Endorphin’s specialised overland expeditions take clients through multiple countries and remote regions of Africa. Endorphin’s tours are based on the same winning recipe as WhyAfrica’s overland road trips through Africa during which we visit project sites in various economic sectors, some tourist attractions and at the same time complete an adventure activity or two.

We also interview decision makers and experts during these trips." says Louw.

Read more about WhyAfrica’s Road trips and Endorphin Expeditions’ new investor tours on the WhyAfrica website, your one-stop shop for on the ground information and business intelligence about Africa.

Remember that WhyAfrica members get significant discounts when they book tours with Endorphin Expeditions.

Image: Tourism ecosystems span multiple countries in Africa. Image credit: Leon Louw for WhyAfrica.

Leon Louw WhyAfrica

Multi-country travel set to boost African tourism. Africa’s tourism is set to benefit from a global trend towards multi-country travel.