Namaqua Chameleon

“Young Namaqua Chameleon (Chamaeleo namaquensis) basks alongside a dirt road cutting through the Namib Desert in Namibia.

Ever since I became aware of this true desert chameleon, it has been at the top of my bucket list of animals I wanted to see and photograph in the wild. In March of this year, the opportunity finally presented itself.

These desert inhabitants are able to survive in very hot and arid conditions thanks to a fog that rolls in from the ocean almost daily, providing the chameleon with water. An abundance of beetles supplies the chameleon with a reliable and sustainable food source. Unlike most chameleons, these guys spend most of their time on the ground, finding refuge from the heat in bushes and shrubs scattered about the desert.

Observing this species in the wild is, and will forever be, one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had.” – Seth Cohen