Johannesburg - Britain's Prince William is in Africa this week to focus on one of his passions: wildlife conservation.
Pictures of his trip to Namibia, posted by Kensington Palace on Wednesday, showed William, clad in safari colours, out on a bush walk with a team of Namibian rhino trackers and meeting with local villagers.
The prince's trip - his first to the southern African nation - began Monday.
"My visit to Namibia this week is focused on conservation. This is an issue very close to my heart, and I know is a matter of deep pride to you all as well," he said Tuesday in a speech at the British High Commission in Windhoek, Namibia's capital.
“My visit to Namibia this week is focused on conservation. This is an issue very close to my heart, and I know is a matter of deep pride to you all as well.” — The Duke of Cambridge, at a British High Commissioner’s reception in Windhoek 🇳🇦🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/hEFQQxtsAk
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) September 25, 2018
"Your country's famous for its beautiful environment and its wildlife... tourism continues to grow year on year," said William, 36, second in line to the British throne.
The Duke of Cambridge has been visiting Namibia’s Kunene region to see the dedicated work of Save the Rhino Trust Namibia and IRDNC, being undertaken with the support of @Tusk_org #EndWildlifeCrime pic.twitter.com/jDyEtiWKeb
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) September 26, 2018
"I'm only sorry that my wife Katherine is not able to join me, she is immensely jealous," he added, joking that he was looking forward to getting some sleep - away from his three young children.
“The latest figures show that a rhino is killed every seven hours. The Illegal Wildlife trade is an international problem that requires determined political leadership.” — The Duke of Cambridge, with the members of the Kunene People’s Park Initiative #EndWildlifeCrime pic.twitter.com/GVWn8EE10P
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) September 26, 2018
"The latest figures show that a rhino is killed every seven hours. The Illegal Wildlife trade is an international problem that requires determined political leadership," he said.
“This why I wanted to come to Namibia — to listen and learn. It is also why Namibia’s voice on these difficult subjects at the upcoming conference on the Illegal Wildlife Trade in London in October is so important.” — The Duke of Cambridge #EndWildlifeCrime pic.twitter.com/VkocNpXBQk
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) September 26, 2018
On Thursday, William will be in Tanzania to meet President John Magafuli and discuss efforts to combat the illegal wildlife trade in the East African country.
His last stop, over the weekend, is Kenya, where he is to visit British and Kenyan soldiers who are training together.