Millennia in the Making

Through the Okavango Eternal partnership between De Beers Group and National Geographic, diamonds are helping to protect the source waters for the Okavango Delta — the jewel of the Kalahari Desert.
PHOTOGRAPH by National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project
A natural diamond embedded in kimberlite rock.
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The brief

Our task is to amplify the work happening on the ground under Okavango Eternal, bringing stories of the scientists, changemakers, and local communities working together to ensure the ecosystems remain healthy and able to support countless wildlife and people. Through content, our challenge is to make global audiences aware of the region’s significance, it’s connection to De Beers, and the positive impacts natural diamonds are supporting through the partnership.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF DE BEERS GROUP
Geological time and tectonic forces have forged two unique natural phenomena—natural diamonds and the landscapes that formed and support the Okavango Delta.
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Solution

In this chapter, we unpacked the natural history that diamonds share with the region as both were formed through immense geological forces. Through a mix of animation and live action, we told this ancient origin story while solidifying the message that diamonds are helping to protect the landscape through our partnership with De Beers.
PHOTOGRAPH by National Geographic CreativeWorks
The Angolan Highlands
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Explore more

View “Millennia in the Making” short film.

View Content HQ.
PHOTOGRAPH by National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project
Tectonic power is almost incomprehensible in scale, with geological time and pressures shaping the southern Africa we see today over hundreds of millions of years.
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Get in touch

Interested in working with National Geographic? Please reach out to Nadine Heggie at Nadine.Heggie@natgeo.com
PHOTOGRAPH by National Geographic CreativeWorks