Namibia wins international conservation award

Namibia has won the 2012 Markhor Award for Outstanding Conservation Performance in recognition of its exceptional wildlife conservation programme.

The award is the brainchild of the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation.
The prize was jointly awarded to the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and the Namibian Association of Community-Based Natural Resources Management Support Organisations (Nacso).
Through the award, the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation, “honours conservation projects that link human livelihoods with the conservation of biodiversity”.
The award is given every two years at the Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biodiversity, which was adopted in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 to which Namibia is a signatory.
Namibia’s winning of the award is ascribed to its sustainable game management plan, “according to which game may be harvested for trophy hunting, live capture and sale and for distribution of meat”, a statement issued by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in Namibia said.
While there is increasing evidence that global and African wildlife is declining, Namibia has shown the opposite and has grown its wildlife exponentially in communal conservancy areas since independence.
“In the north-west Kunene Region, for example, Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra numbers have grown from an estimated 1 000 in 1982 to around 27 000 today, and the population of the desert-adapted elephant has grown from around 150 to approximately 750 in the same period. Lions in Kunene have expanded in range and number from 20 in 1995 to an estimated 130 today, and Namibia has the world’s largest black rhino population,” WWF said.
The recovery of animals has been influenced by translocating large numbers of animals to communal conservancies, which was started in 1999. Through this programme, the Ministry of Environment has moved more than 8 300 head of game to conservancies.
Some of the wildlife moved include species such as black rhino, sable antelope, black faced impala and giraffe.
The director of WWF in Namibia, Chris Weaver, said Namibia’s nomination for the award is proof that “sustainable use of wildlife has been a strong catalyst to the recovery of wildlife in communal areas of Namibia, as participating conservancies have been quick to recognise that wildlife is more valuable alive than poached. As a result, poaching has become socially unacceptable”.
The International Council of Game and Wildlife Conservation said the introduction of communal conservancies in Namibia has brought about a “paradigm shift in community attitudes towards wildlife”.
Communal conservancies in Namibia have grown from four in 1998 to 76 in 2012, covering almost 19 per cent of the country.
The income from trophy hunting in the conservancies is use to pay conservancy salaries and also places many of these organisations on a sound financial footing.
Total benefits – including income from employment, in-kind benefits, and cash – to communal conservancies between 1998 and 2010 totalled N$179,3 million.

Derived from: The Namibian

By a Staff Reporter

New Establishments added to Namibian Voyage

For new establishments added to Namibian Voyage visit our website for details and information.
Offering accommodation to any desceerning traveller.
www.namibianvoyage.com
For any queries or bookings email us: info@namibianvoyage.com

“A Journey Starts With A Single Step”

New book highlights Namibias coastal treasures

SWAKOPMUND - A new book, “Namibia’s Coast; Ocean Riches and Desert Treasures,” was launched last week by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and the Namibian Coast Conservation and Management (Nacoma) project in Swakopmund.
The book was compiled over a period of six years and cost N$300 000 to print.

According to Rod Braby, the book profiles the rich heritage sites and scenery that make Namibia a unique tourist destination.
The book showcases information collected by Nacoma and other published information on the Benguela Current and the desert, highlighting the importance of where the icy waters of the South-East Atlantic connect with the burning shores of Namibia.

The objective of the Nacoma project is to improve awareness of coastal biodiversity, environmental challenges and the coastal resource value, as well as to promote and develop the concept of the Namibian Integrated Coastal Management System.

The book also seeks to improve management, understanding and appreciation of the coast by providing information to a wide audience of managers, students, tourists, entrepreneurs and the general public.
Nacoma has implemented over 400 separate awareness activities over the past years and in addition has developed a user-friendly website.

“Namibia’s Coast; Ocean Riches and Desert Treasures,” is a 192-page book of well-illustrated useful content for multiple end users. The book is produced by Raison (Research and Information Services of Namibia) and is published by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism through the Nacoma project.

Co-authors of the book are Tony Robertson, Alice Jarvis, John Mendelsohn and Ro-ger Swart. They were also responsible for the publication of the Namibian Atlas.

Sany le Roux did the design and layout.

The publication portrays the Namibian coast as a rugged, sometimes bleak and forbidden, largely uninhabited area that is a fascinating and complex mix of riches and paucity.

The warm and dry Namib Desert stands in stark contrast to the cold waters of the Benguela Current that is extremely biologically productive.

In combination, the ocean and desert provide a harsh and spectacular environment that remains largely pristine.
Complimentary books will be distributed to key coastal stakeholders such as schools, universities and local and regional councils.
The book will also be available in several bookshops around the country in due course. Proceeds from the sales will be used to reprint the book.

Derived from the: New Era
Story by Eveline de Klerk          

Namibian elephants find new home in Mexico

NINE elephants from Namibia, aged between six and ten years old, have been relocated to Mexico’s acclaimed African Safari Zoo.

For 10 months, the elephants from Namib Game Services were kept in a quarantine camp and several tests for animal diseases were conducted on the world’s largest terrestrial mammals which according to the owner, Herbert Henle, were in excellent condition.
“The elephants were tranquillised so that they could be lifted into crates and transported to the Hosea Kutako International Airport, where a Boeing 777-F of Lan Cargo in the US transported them to Mexico,” Hernle told The Namibian.
After more than 40 hours in transit, the elephants finally touched down in Mexico last weekend.
During the last count of elephants in Mexico, it was established there were only 29 of the animals left in the South American country.
Describing the relocation process, the zoo’s general director Frank Camacho said: “The rescue was a very complex operation that involved six people being in Namibia for 21 days and many months of preparation before that happened. Fortunately we were able to do it.”
The Mexican zoo was competing with other animal parks from around the world for the precious elephants. Renowned for its prized conservation and education programme, the zoo beat its competition to nab all nine mammals.
“It was very complex. There were many countries who were interested in participating in this rescue and only African Safari got it. It was a race against time, as we had to do very complex logistical operations, negotiations with the governments of Namibia and Mexico. We achieved it with will power, we got the support of an airline so we could bring this large, valuable cargo,” said the zoo officials.
Henle explained that with such a operation it is vital that the right equipment is used for the loading and transporting of the animals.
“However, we have gained some experience during the last few years with the exporting of some other game species, including rhinos and giraffes.”
The nine elephants are currently under careful observation by zoo medics after their long journey. Zoo officials hope to move the mammals to a spacious elephant enclosure in the park in the near future.
African Safari Zoo is now home to one of the largest zoo populations in Latin America and with its new additions, the zoo hopes to expand its elephant population even further.

–Additional reporting by 3news.co.nz

Derived from: The Namibia
By: Jan Poolman

Namibian Voyage now on the Namibia Tourism Board website

Namibian Voyage is now also listed on the Namibian Tourism Board website. To make booking or get an accommodation quotation pleae email us at info@namibianvoyage.com or visit our website www.namibianvoyage.com

Northern Cape targets Namibian tourism

Windhoek - The Northern Cape Tourism Authority will return to the Namibian Tourism Expo this week to showcase the unique tourism offerings of South Africa’s largest province.

The destination marketing organisation will attend this highly popular exhibition from June 6 - 9 to once again forge valuable relationships with tourism role players from neighbouring countries and around the globe.

The Northern Cape forms an integral part of the Cape-to-Namibia route as the Namaqua and Green Kalahari regions are en-route for travellers to Namibia.

“The Northern Cape is an essential gateway to Namibia and offers travellers the ideal opportunity to explore the truly exceptional natural and cultural offerings of the province. We have a mutually beneficial relationship with our tourism partners in Namibia as this allows us to further engage with an already existing audience.

“In terms of value for money and the diversity of outdoor and adventure experiences, the Northern Cape is undoubtedly unique,” stated Dianna Martin, General Manager: Marketing and Promotions with the Northern Cape Tourism Authority.
A number of tourism regions, namely Green Kalahari Tourism and Namakwa Tourism, will join the Northern Cape Tourism Authority at stand G23 in the Gourmet Hall.

Upington is at the epicentre of the Green Kalahari region, which is home to the mighty Orange River, the impressive Augrabies Falls and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

The Namaqua region is world famous for its flamboyant floral kingdom, which is considered to be the richest bulb flora arid region in the world, as well as the rugged |Ai-|Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park and the best star-gazing on earth at the South African Astronomical Observatory in Sutherland.

Several SMME operators from the Northern Cape, including Aukwatowa Tours and Tata Ma Tata Tours, will also join the show as part of the NCTA’s ongoing commitment to promoting sustainable development of tourism partners in the province.

Other tourism partners and role players sharing the stand include Boundless Africa, Umkulu Safaris, Orange River Wine Cellars and several route partners; the Kalahari Red Dune Route, the Quiver Tree Route and Richtersveld Route.
Visitors to the Northern Cape stand will be able to explore numerous reasons why the province is a must-see on any travel itinerary.

The unique flavour and flair of this vast province offer a truly remarkable holiday destination with unforgettable, enriching experiences ranging from cultural encounters to great weather, amazing adventures and natural beauty and wildlife.
All this is encompassed with the innate sense of being embraced by community and the indigenous warm hospitality of the province.

The Northern Cape has proven itself as a mecca for adventure and extreme sports and will not only be hosting the prestigious Maloof Money Cup skateboarding world championships for the next four years, but will also be the venue for the Bloodhound Supersonic Car world land speed record attempt in 2013 and 2014.

It was extremely proud to further announce a new event, the first-ever annual Speedweek Club event in Africa for both vehicles and motorcycles. It will be officially known as the Kalahari Desert Speedweek and will be held on Hakskeenpan from Sunday Aug. 5 2012 to Saturday 18 Aug.

Derived from: New Era

Namibia one of the greatest African wildlife recovery stories

FORTY-TWO per cent of Namibia’s land is under conservation management. This makes Namibia one of the countries with the largest conservation area.

At independence in 1990, only 13 per cent of the land area in Namibia was under conservation management.
Namibia’s 42 per cent is no mean feat considering that Belize has 36 per cent, Zambia 35 per cent, Botswana 30 per cent and South Africa 12 per cent under conservation.
The areas under conservation include national parks and protected areas, communal conservancies and freehold conservancies.
There are currently 71 gazetted communal conservancies in Namibia, covering over 18 per cent of the country. There are also 19 freehold conservancies, formed by commercial farmers grouping together as conservancy associations.
Namibia is also the only country where the elephant population grew by a third between 1995 and 2008.
Translocated black rhinos are expanding their range as Namibia is leading Africa in moving black rhino out of national parks into the safety of communal conservancies. The country also has the largest population of wild cheetah and the largest annual game count in the world takes place in Namibia.
It is also the only country in Africa with expanding free-roaming giraffe and lion populations.
The ranges and numbers of lion populations from the Caprivi wetlands, where the black-maned lions prey on the African buffalo, to the Skeleton Coast where documented numbers have risen from just 25 in 1995 to well over a hundred today, make Namibia one of the greatest African wildlife recovery stories ever told.
There are 42 established joint-venture lodges and campsites, which makes Namibia a world leader in developing a tourism product that contributes to conservation and community development.
The first four conservancies were formed in 1998 after legislation made it possible for communities to have the same rights over wildlife as commercial farmers, who were allowed to hunt on their farms.
For the first time, rural communities could generate income from conservancies through trophy hunting.
Conservancies are meant to protect wildlife and its habitat, so having rights over wild animals does not mean unlimited hunting.
Game guards from the community are employed by the conservancy to patrol and deter poachers. The guards also assist the Ministry of Environment and Tourism with the monitoring of the annual game counts. The ministry also sets the quotas for hunting to allow the wildlife populations to grow.
Conservancies have rights over tourism operators and investors who want to open lodges and the two parties enter into a joint partnership with the conservancy for the benefit of all. The conservancy shares in the income from the lodge and also benefits from job opportunities created from the joint ventures.
Namibians are invited to experience the conservation journey of the country at the annual Tourism Expo. Guides from different conservancies will be on hand in Hall M at the Windhoek Showgrounds to show visitors around and talk about their conservancy.

Growing... Namibia's elephant population has grown by a third between 1995 & 2008

Derived from: The Namibian

By: Tanja Bause

Book your Car Rental with Namibian Voyage

For Car Rentals throughout Namibia and South Africa visit our website www.namibianvoyage.com/carrentals.html or email us to receive a detailed quotation of a vehicle of your choice to info@namibianvoyage.com

Namibian Voyage simplifying your travel requirements.

Gecko Car Rental

Cabinet approves opening of hunting season

WINDHOEK - Cabinet officially approved the opening of the 2012 hunting season.

The type of game species that may be hunted are three large game species or two large game species and four small game species, or one large game species and eight small game species or 12 small game species.

Large game species are kudu, oryx and red hartebeest. A hunter may not hunt more than one kudu during the hunting season. Small game species are springbok and warthog.

Various bird species may also be hunted. Hunting permits will only be issued to farm owners or lessees and in case of a conservancy, to the Conservancy Committee, while no permits will be issued directly to a hunter.

Permits are issued upon submission of a written invitation to the prospective hunter. The invitation must contain the name and address of the farm owner or lessee or conservancy, name and address of hunter, name, number and district where farm or conservancy is situated, type of fencing and whether it is registered, total number of animals to be hunted, period of hunt and the invitation must be signed by the farm owner or lessee or committee.

Each permit costs N$100 and is available at the offices of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism in Karasburg, Keetmanshoop, Mariental, Gobabis and Otjiwarongo.

For the Kunene and Otjozondjupa regions, permits can be obtained at the ministry’s offices at Outjo, Grootfontein, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay.

Derived from: New Era

Namibia's Wild Horses grow in number

AUS - The number of feral horses in the Namib Desert has been increasing and now stands at 220 horses.
The figure for the horses roaming the area around Aus settlement and Lüderitz in the Karas Region had increased from 160 in 2010 to 180 in 2011.

During the most recent count some two weeks ago, a total of 220 feral horses were observed.
Sperrgebiet National Park ranger Alex Mowa, an employee of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, provided the figures to Nampa upon enquiry on Friday.

The figure of 220, however, only accounts for the wild desert horses that were counted at Garub Waterhole, so it is not clear whether there are more animals in the plains.

Mowa told Nampa that apart from vehicles that hit and kill feral horses, as the animals frequently cross the roads in search of grazing and water, the animals’ lives are normally not in any danger, as there are no predators in the desert to hunt them.
“As a result of this, their numbers continue to rise, which is good for tourists, as these amazing animals fascinate visitors who come to our beloved country,” he said.

The ranger, who is stationed at Aus, explained that the horses are also reproducing well, especially because the area received good rains over the past two years.

“The area where the horses roam can support more than 220 horses so there is no problem with the carrying capacity. We have also not detected any signs of disease. The ones that die are those that are old when nature takes its course,” Mowa said.
The horses graze in an area covering approximately 350 square kilometres in the Namib Desert.

The actual origin of these animals is still not clear. However, speculation is that they might be descendants of horses used during the German colonial war in Namibia.

Some theories point to a ship with a cargo of horses and other domestic animals, which ran aground along the Skeleton Coast in the late 19th century, about 25 km south of the Orange River mouth – roughly 200 km from Garub.
Some feral horses might also have originated from the Schutztruppe mounts, or from those belonging to a South African Expeditionary Force that took control of the Lüderitz- Keetmanshoop line during the First World War. - Nampa

Derived from: New Era

Namibian baby rhino beats Yellowstone grizzlies hands down

It's a fair bet that most people have heard about Yellowstone National Park, in the USA, famous for its grizzly bears. If you live near there, and want to find real adventure, you come to ..... Namibia.

That’s what Gary and Terry Trauner did with their son Aaron in April, when they witnessed the birth of a black rhino calf in the Klip River valley, near Grootberg Lodge, in the Kunene Region.
Finding rhino’s in the valley is tough at any time of the year, but that’s part of the attraction for tourists to Namibia, where endangered species have been translocated out of national parks and into communal conservancies, to roam freely as they did in the past.
In ≠Khoadi //hoas Conservancy, which owns Grootberg Lodge, rhino tracking is a top attraction. There is no guarantee of finding them, but the conservancy guides do their best, and get just as excited as the guests when they find a rhino that they have not seen for a while.
When Gary, Terry and Aaron set off, they were not sure what they would see.  They thought they knew the wild. After all, they live right next door to Yellowstone and see Moose and Grizzlies in their backyard, says Gary, but in comparison the Klip River is .... “rugged”.
The trip starts at 6am, just as the last stars are extinguished by the winter dawn. Although midday temperatures reach 38 degrees, its pretty near freezing at the start of the day. The climb down into the valley in an open Land Rover jars the bones, as the vehicle jolts through rocky river beds.
“The guides were fantastic,” says Gary. They know about the topography, how the landscape was formed, and can point out countless plant and bird species. Larger game is more a matter of luck, and on the way down the family were fortunate to see desert dwelling elephant and mountain zebra.
By 2pm the rhinos had proved elusive, and it was almost time to turn back. But the guides were not giving up. Although the walkie-talkie had packed up, the guide in the car and trackers on foot know the area so well they were able to meet at pre-arranged points, and at the last moment one of the trackers reported rhino down a side valley.
In the main valley there are sandy tracks for a vehicle. Traversing side valleys has to be done on foot. Despite the thick bush, guides and visitors pressed on, climbing the rocky valley sides for over an hour, when suddenly they caught sight of  a rhino in a wooded thicket below.
At last, it all seemed worthwhile. Indeed, after the hard trek it could hardly have been better. But then suddenly one of the trackers emerged from the bush to say he had seen a female rhino and a new-born calf on the other side of the valley. The baby was so fresh that the mother was still licking it.
“We crossed the valley gingerly,” says Gary, “and got within 50 feet of the mother and calf. We were very careful. Although the mother was preoccupied, you never know with wildlife.” But the family were close enough to take some pictures, and the trackers were able to record that the mother was a rhino called Horns, which they had not seen for four months.
The gestation period for a rhino calf is 15 months. For the family and trackers to have seen a calf just after birth, in the true wilderness of the Klip River valley, was close to a miracle. For the family who love the wild in the USA, this was something new and special.
Back home, Gary is on the board of an American NGO dedicated to the conservation of the Teton Mountains. As an environmentalist, he believes that ≠Khoadi //hoas Conservancy is doing a remarkable job. “In such a sparsely populated region, locals are sustaining wildlife through eco-tourism: that’s impressive.”
And Namibia? Gary says that he is telling everybody he meets that if you want adventure, it is the country to visit. Grootberg Lodge and ≠Khoadi //hoas Conservancy will be at the Tourism Expo from 6-9 June at the Windhoek Showgrounds, where visitors can learn more about tourism in Namibia’s communal conservancy areas.

IN THE WILD ... A Rhino, called Horns with its calf after she gave birth to it in April. An American family on a visit to the Klip River valley near Grootberg Lodge encountered the animals just after Horns gave birth to the calf.

Derived from: The Namibia

By: Steve Felton
Photo: Contributed

Namibia under eagle’s eye for adventure summit

The Inspection Committee of the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) is currently in the country for a site inspection - the final step before the announcement on whether the country will host the Adventure Travel World Summit in 2013.

Namibia has been short-listed as one of three finalists to host the Adventure Travel World Summit (ATWS), an international gathering of over 600 influencers in the adventure travel industry.

According to Maggy Mbako, Corporate Communications Practitioner at the Namibia Tourism Board, a team of six inspectors from ATTA arrived in the country on Tuesday afternoon to verify Namibia’s bidding documents.

On Wednesday morning, the inspection team met with various stakeholders in the tourism industry and was also treated to a display of more than 50 vehicles from various tour operators in Namibia. With the display, the tour operators intended showing the inspectors that they will be able to handle the influx of people that is expected in the country during the World Adventure Travel World Summit.

After a breakfast meeting, the team of inspectors was taken on a tour of Windhoek before being hosted on Wednesday night by Minister of Environment and Tourism Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.

The following day, the inspection team split up in three groups travelling to the country’s west coast, Etosha National Park and the Sossusvlei/ Twyfelfontein areas where they will do site inspections. All three groups will meet up in Swakopmund again as the proposed plan is to host the Adventure Travel World Summit Tourism summit at the coastal town, should Namibia win the bid to host the event.

The team will leave Namibia on Sunday.

Mbako also added that the ATTA President, Shannon Stowell will be in Namibia for a short visit and he will be the guest of honor during the official opening of the Namibia Tourism Expo on the June 6 at the Windhoek Show Grounds.

The tourism sector in Namibia will experience significant spin-offs should the country be chosen to host the summit. The ATWS summit has never taken place on the African continent and if Namibia hosts it, it is bound to position the country as a true leader in the tourism sector on the continent.

The Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), which organises the summit, is a global organisation and home to more than 20 000 businesses, destinations and media that focus on adventure travel.

Adventure travel is one of the fastest growing segments in the industry that represents US$89 billion in annual sales. The annual Adventure Travel World Summit sells out every year to over 700 executive level adventure tourism professionals.

The announcement for the summit host country will be made between June and August.

Author:
WINDHOEK - ELLANIE SMIT

India rejects Nam cheetahs

A MULTI-MILLION project to introduce Namibian cheetahs to India after 60 years of extinction there was halted by the Indian Supreme Court yesterday.

The court hearing was a result of objections filed by the state of Gujarat against the Indian government’s decision to undertake Project Cheetah, armed with a budget of about N$452,4 million, to restore the animal’s lost heritage in that country. The cheetahs were supposed to be reintroduced to the Palpur-Kuno sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh which is in the state of Gujarat.
In 2009 Namibia’s Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) was invited by the Indian authorities to participate in the planned programme, but the Supreme Court with its judgement yesterday killed the project in its tracks.
In the first phase 15 cheetahs would have been imported by the Indian government from Namibia and then supplemented every two to five years as needed. Overall about 45 cheetahs, donated by CCF, would have been reintroduced to India. The court said that the imports from Namibia would not have help conservation in India in any way, therefore, the project was being stayed.
“Why are you bothered about cheetah in Africa? Let us give priority to our own species,” the top court observed while hearing a case relating to the proposed shifting of a few Asiatic Lions to the sanctuary from Gujarat.
The court further stated that proper approvals were not given by the National Board of Wildlife.
“The cheetah reintroduction project is poorly conceived scientifically and has very little probability of establishing a viable population of wild cheetahs in India over the longer term. It therefore is a distraction and waste of scare conservation resources” says wildlife biologist Ullas Karanth of the Wildlife Conservation Society in Bangalore.
In the meantime Environment and Tourism Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah told The Namibian that she is aware that the Indian government was interested in importing cheetahs from Namibia.
However, she said her office did not receive any export application in this regard. “Cheetahs form part of the endangered species in terms of CITES’ classification and I have to give permission for the movements of these animals.”
Executive Director of the CCF Dr Laurie Marker is currently in the US and told The Namibian that she does not want to comment on the issue at this stage.

By: JAN POOLMAN
Derived from The Namibian

Fish River Hike opening postponed

Opening postponed … The Ministry of Environment and Tourism has announced that due to the strong flow of the Fish River, the canyon will not be opened on 1 May, as is usually the case. The new opening date is 15 May, 2012, depending on the level of the water. The canyon is now considered unsafe for hikers and because of the serious safety hazard, visitors will have to wait a bit longer to access one of nature’s great wonders.

Derived from: New Era

Namib dunes in contention for global heritage status

Namibia has submitted the ‘Namib Sand Sea’ for nomination as a World Heritage Site.
If successfully listed as a World Heritage Site, the Namib Sand Sea would be the second in the country, after Twyfelfontein, which was declared as a World Heritage Site in 2007.

The Namibia National Commission for UNESCO has submitted the Namib Sand Sea Nomination Dossier to the World Heritage Centre.

Although the entire Namib Desert, extending over 2, 000 km from South Africa through Namibia to south-western Angola, exemplifies elements of the natural criteria worthy of inscription, their integrity and management are not all as well developed as that of the Namib Sand Sea.

The boundary of the Namib Sand Sea lies within the Namib Naukluft Park, south of the Kuiseb River in central Namibia.
Starting from Sesriem in the centre of the eastern boundary, the envisaged site boundary extends southwards to a point where the boundary of the Naukluft meets the border of farms Kanaan and Kamaland.

It further extends west-southwest to Gibraltar on the coast before following the coastline north to the Sandwich Harbour Ramsar site.
The northern boundary then heads inland to the Kuiseb River, skirting an area earmarked for bulk water production boreholes, from where it bends along the southern bank of the dry Kuiseb riverbed before turning south, encompassing a small extent of gramadullas with incomparable vistas over the sand sea, past the Gaub River tributary to Sesriem.

The identified site is considered to be essentially pristine dune-scapes, entirely encompassed within the Namib Naukluft Park under the management of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism.

The southern extremity of the Namib Naukluft Park and the Namib Sand Sea were excluded from the proposed property based on the presence of active Exclusive Prospecting Licences, the fossil aquifer, which supplies water to the town of Lüderitz and the intention to leave some of the area available for potentially destructive adventure dune tourism.

The Namib Sand Sea encompasses vast panoramas of majestic dune-scapes, strikingly crystallised in sharply silhouetted forms continually transformed with wind and time.

The Welwitschia Mirabilis is the next in line, which could be nominated as a World Heritage Site.

The plant can only be found in Namibia and some parts of Angola.

Derived from: New Era

Rising Kavango River closes Lodges

RUNDU - Lodges situated along the Kavango River have temporarily halted business operations due to threatening floods.
Most of the lodges are either surrounded by water, flooding some of the infrastructure, while others are worried that the situation may become uncontrollable.

National water utility NamWater said last week that the water levels have reached 8.07 metres, sparking fears that floods will soon reach some of the town’s accommodation facilities, especially those situated along the river banks.

The Sarasungu and Hakusembe River Lodges have already suspended operations, as roads leading to the lodges are flooded.
Currently all bookings are cancelled and tourists are referred to other accommodation facilities at Rundu.

Meanwhile, other lodges have sought alternatives to lessen the impact of floods on their businesses.
The Operations Manager at the Nkwazi Lodge, Peter Peypers, said they had started filling up the premises with sand since last November.

Peypers explained that all 13 rooms, the dining area and the bar are above the water level and only the camping site is affected.
He further pointed out that although it is a low season for tourists, those visiting the lodge are ferried in by boat.

Derived from: New Era

Namibians to take part in Earth Hour

Switch off for Mother Earth

Namibians are encouraged to switch off their lights on Saturday, March 31 to celebrate Earth Hour and show their support for environmentally sustainable action.

The lights should be switched off for one hour between 20h30 and 21h30.
Earth Hour's 'I will if you will' concept invited individuals and organisations to challenge each other and others to an ongoing commitment beyond the hour. 
Earth Hour began in one city in 2007 and by 2011 it had reached over 1,8 billion people in 135 countries across every continent, receiving reports as the World's largest campaign for the planet.
Earth Hour was conceived by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and The Sydney Morning Herald in 2007 when 2,2 million residents of Sidney participated by turing off all non-essential lights.
Since then the event has grown with more and more people participating and more cities and landmarks going dark.

The human population is currently consuming resources at a faster rate than ecosystems can regenerate them.

People are encouraged not only to switch off their lights for one hour on March 31 but to also get involved in conservation, decreasing their carbon footprint and looking after their environment after Earth Hour.

Derived from: The Namibian

Water reaches Sossusvlei

Water from the Trauchab River reaches Sossusvlei.
People that were on their way from Sossusvlei, on Tuesday, were met by the Trauchab River flowing. The water reached the Sesriem valley and Sossus Dunes.

Photo: Tamsyn Kintscher

Derived from: The Republikein

Namibian Winter Time Change

Goodbye Summer
Namibia's annual five-month-long Winter Timer period starts on Sunday.
The country’s official time changes at 02h00 on Sunday morning, when clocks and watches have to be adjusted an hour back, to set the time at one hour in advance of Greenwich Mean Time.
The Winter Time period lasts until the first Sunday in September, when the country reverts to Summer Time, which is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.

Derived from: The Namibian

Heavenly Rain

The Klein-Aus Vista lodge received 147,8 mm rain within two hours on Tuesday. The average annual rainfall there is about 90 mm. The swollen rivers caused substantial damage to the roads “and changed the landscape quite a bit”, a resident said. Klein Aus Vista is situated west of Aus in the Karas Region.

Photo: Piet Swiegers

Derived from : The Namibian

The worlds largest Conservation area

WINDHOEK – The Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA) is situated in the Kavango-Zambezi river basins where the borders of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe converge.

KAZA area, which spans over 444,000 square km, is the world’s largest international conservation area and is about the size of Sweden.

It will include 36 proclaimed protected areas such as national parks, game reserves, forest reserves, community conservancies and game/wildlife management areas.

The most notable features include the Okavango Delta, which is the largest Ramsar Site in the world and the Victoria Falls, a World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
Under the geographical scope of the KAZA TFCA fall Angola’s Luiana Partial Reserve, Mavinga Partial Reserve, Longa-Mavinga Hunting Area, Luengue Hunting Area, Luiana Hunting Area and Mucusso Hunting Area.

In Botswana, the Okavango Delta, including Moremi Game Reserve, the Chobe-Linyanti River System, including Chobe National Park and Makgadigadi Nxai National Park, is part of the KAZA TFCA.

The Bwabwata, Mudumu, Mamili (Nkasa Lupala), Khaudum, Mangetti National Parks, Caprivi State Forest and conservancies and community forests between and around these protected areas, also form part of the conservation area.
The Zambian area of KAZA includes Kafue National Park, Sioma-Ngwezi National Park, Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park and their adjoining game management areas, forest reserves, heritage sites and open areas of Kalomo, Kazungula and Shesheke districts.

Zimbabwe boasts the highest number of protected areas in KAZA, such as the Hwange National Park, Zambezi National Park, Victoria Falls National Park, Kazuma Pan National Park, Chizarira National Park, Matusadona National Park, Matetsi, Deka, Chete Chirisa and Charara Safari areas.

This includes Bembesi, Fuller, Gwayi, Kazuma, Mzola, Ngamo, Panda Masuwe, Sijarira and Sikumi forests, incorporating Hwange, Tsholotsho, Bulilima, Binga, Gokwe, Nyaminyami and Hurungwe communal lands, as well as privately held state land and conservancies extending eastwards to Lake Kariba Recreational Park and Kariba town.

KAZA lies on migration routes of several big game and Red Data Book animal species, making it a wilderness of global biological significance.

The area is home to the largest contiguous elephant population in the world, estimated at approximately 250 000.
With some of its parts still relatively undisturbed by human activity and a surprisingly high number of species recorded in the miombo woodlands, it is anticipated that KAZA will play a valuable role in the conservation of biodiversity not covered elsewhere in Africa.

The area is also expected to make a significant contribution towards the conservation of such threatened species as the African wild dog, the wattled crane, the Nile crocodile and the cheetah.

Derived from New Era (22.03.2012)