Kurt Dinter

Dinter started his collection in the countryside around Swakopmund, moved on to Walvis Bay and Lüderitz where he was intrigued by the succulents growing between shoreline rocks.

The German government at the time appointed him as botanist in the territory, a position he held until 1914 with the outbreak of World War I. Dinter experimented with growing various species of exotics and indigenous trees - first at Brakwater near Windhoek and later at Okahandja - Cypresses, Eucalypts and Acacia erioloba.

While in Bautzen he met Helena Jutta Schilde, who followed him to South West Africa and married him in Swakopmund on 16 May 1906, after which they settled in Okahandja; she turned out to be a tireless companion and colleague on his many expeditions.

Dinter visited the Lake Otjikoto in 1911 and collected several hitherto unknown species of plants, among them grass of the genus Rottboellia.

Their trip started at Swakopmund and proceeded smoothly in a specially-commissioned railway carriage as far as Tsumeb and then south to Warmbad, covering about 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) in the space of a month.

Dr. IB Pole Evans had discussions with the South West African government and as a result Dinter was given an ox-wagon, transport and labour expenses, and free rail travel.

Dinter covered an estimated 40,000 km on foot, by wagon and motor vehicle during the course of his collecting trips, which spanned 38 years, in South West Africa.