I love Namibia its minerals & crystals as well as its diverse landscape & stunning blue sky. The same can be said for South Africa, I hope to go back one day. Me & Mrs Jooste (Joosteite)

I am an amateur collector of South African & Namibian minerals since 2000. This would not have happened if it wasn’t for a friend’s (a diplomat) posting to Cape Town in 1997. I fell in love with the country after the first visit a few months later. Just prior to the turn of the millennium my husband and I moved there. A few months later a friend in the UK visited and pointed out minerals, I’ve been ‘hooked’ evermore.

We spent nearly a month in central Namibia visiting localities in June/July 2001. With the help of dealers, geologist, mineralogist, miners and prospectors in these two countries I’ve learnt a lot. This ‘African adventure’ lasted two years; I arrived with a suitcase and returned with a ton of rocks! Furthering my interests through the internet and especially mindat and it's members, I continue to learn and sincerely thank you all.

I have been active on mindat since 2006, joining the management team in 2011.