aka Ishtar News
Sheba’s neighbours is a cute little trio pack of Nigerien Azawakhs.
Meet little Brandy and her teenage parents Champagne and Whiskey.
Whiskey is (in my eyes) an exceptionally beautiful Azawakh who lost a lot of weight last month when he fell seriously ill.
Whatever it was, he survived, and now enjoys life with his wife and daughter.
An Azawakh [...]
Enjoying another sunset in the bush
Some of Zinder’s many rock formations…
The acacia trees of the Zinder outback
This tall and elegant grass kept moving with the wind and wouldn’t stay still for the camera… Beautiful nevertheless!
More vegetation…
Enjoying the dark in the company of our two dogs
Dennis Mugu in the dark
Skywatch [...]
One of my greatest joys about being an animal owner is when their lives are successfully integrated into ours, and we can enjoy them fully.
Ever since I started to ride, which is ten years ago now, I could see myself riding out with a dog by my side. Unfortunately, my dog at the time (Aslan’s [...]
When people come to Zinder, and they wonder what to do after having been to the sultan’s palace, I always recommend the race track. Although is a difference between small and great events - rare are the weekend when the track lies deserted. Races run on Saturdays and Sundays - with training sessions on Tuesdays [...]
A typical working day morning at Isthar’s Ark…
It’s seven o’clock, and Anette and I have just enough time to greet all our animals before heading off to work!
The herd is waking up…
Sahara yawns,
…and then tells Isolde to get ready for school! No late sleep-ins for the youths of Isthar’s Ark!
Arwen does some early morning gymnastics…
…and [...]
Sheba sends her greetings and hopes you’re all enjoying your weekend!
Warm greetings from Africa!
Weekends over at Isthar’s ark means a good ride in the Zinder bush. Could a Saturday afternoon be spent any better???
The girls are getting ready to go…
…but Illami the stallion is ready and set, as always! Guys don’t take that long to get ready. It’s pretty much “Just get that tack on me and let’s [...]
The sun sets over Zinder’s ancient rock formations
Previous Ishtar Skywatches include:
The Zinder Outback
The Midik Lake
The Race Track (Zinder)
Eden Street (Zinder)
Eden’s Field Station (Tanout)
Bakin Birji
For more skies from around the world, visit:
The best thing about following the growth of a newborn is that there is a first time for everything. A first time to stand, a first time to nurse, a first time to be cuddled with humans.
And of course: a first time to meet the world!
Kalahari goes outside
As I wasn’t there for Isolde’s first adventure [...]
There are few things I love as much as the Zinder bush, which is an endless expanse of yellow sand, dotted by green acacias, palm trees and ancient rocks.
The best way to experience it is by horseback, especially when you want to go far. Nigerien barbs are amazingly forward and I know few individuals who [...]
Every once in a while, a little baby is born to someone you know. On the seventh day, you go on a “souna”, which is when the name in announced.
The mother in question was my friend Ladi, a few years younger than and who also grew up on Eden Street. She married a few years [...]
Since giving birth to her firstborn Kalahari, Sahara has been quite tired. For in contrast to other mares, Sahara does not only have one baby to feel responsible for, but two!
The young ones of Ishtar’s Ark: Isolde (4 months) and Kalahari (2 weeks)
In true African spirit, the two adults of our small herd of barb [...]
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