The Sperrgebiet in Namibia encompasses nearly all of the northern extent of the Succulent Karoo vegetation and is the only wilderness area in the Succulent Karoo Hotspot. Since the area has been held as a mining concession for the last century, it has been strictly off-limits to the public and scientists.
The Succulent Karoo experiences very unique climate patterns. Here rainfall is reliable and predictable, falling mostly during the winter. Prolonged droughts are rare, even during the extreme dryness of summer. Fog often settles along the coast and tempers summer heat. In winter, hot mountain or "berg" winds whip across the region, creating some of the hottest days of the year.

We were very lucky to be in the right place in the right time - just after the winter rain we found a fantastic colorful flora. and plenty of insects and spiders. It is thus no wonder that we collected many interesting organims and, no doubt, new species. Especially surprising to us was the large number of spiders that were present at the time.