| |
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
Four
Nature Reserves born from a Vision
Nature + tourism + people = sustainable nature conservation.
Not only does this formula prove right, but since its
inception at the Fish River Canyon in 1996 it has in
fact grown and flourished extremely well. It has even
produced three offspring in southern Namibia which are
thriving despite the dry climate - or perhaps because
of it? Reason enough to celebrate the tenth anniversary
as befits the occasion. And, of course, to extend a
heartfelt thank-you to all of you who have helped the
vision to grow from a delicate young shoot into a sturdy
tree. |
|
|
|
|
| |
The anniversary of the Gondwana Desert
Collection, which by now comprises four nature reserves
with nine accommodation establishments in southern Namibia,
was celebrated last Wednesday. 300 guests, including
government representatives as well as tourism and media
personalities, had been invited to the Safari Court
Conference Centre in Windhoek for a festive gala dinner.
The majority of the guests were the staff of tour operators
who have strongly supported the development and growth
of the nature reserves by booking their clients into
our accommodation facilities. |
|
|
|
|
| |
A brief review. It all started with a
conservation concept: In the long run livestock farming
is not viable in desert systems like the Nama Karoo
in southern Namibia. Average precipitation around the
Fish River Canyon, on the south-western fringe of the
summer rain area, is less than 100 mm per year; lengthy
periods of drought are a regular feature. Livestock
farming therefore contains the risk of severe overgrazing.
Game, apart from being regarded as competitor for grazing,
is prevented by fences from moving about freely –
a vital strategy in response to annual fluctuations
in rainfall and grazing conditions. |
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Gondwana's
cradle: Caņon Lodge on a plain of Gondwana Caņon Park.
Photo: Gondwana Desert Collection |
|
|
|
|
| |
Hence the idea to utilise
the land for tourism: a hospitality business takes up
a much smaller area than farming activities and returns
are much higher, more and better paid jobs are created
and earnings help to finance nature conservation. Moreover,
a desert landscape attracts guests even in times of
drought. |
|
|
|
|
| |
But it was a long road for
the idea to become reality. Gondwana’s cradle
is Cañon Lodge at farm Karios, about 20 km from
the main lookout point at the canyon. The first group
of guests was welcomed in November 1996. Extension work
started as soon as everything was running smoothly.
Cañon Roadhouse, completed in June 1999, was
intended as a rustic, affordable country inn and also
sported a camping site. As the demand for accommodation
in the vicinity of the canyon continued to rise, it
was decided to add Cañon Village, which opened
in August 2003. Larger groups find themselves in good
hands there, and Cañon Lodge can once again focus
on individual travellers. To date, close to 200,000
holidaymakers have visited Gondwana Cañon Park. |
|
|
|
|
| |
| With
increasing numbers of guests the volume of shopping
in Keetmanshoop or even Windhoek rose steadily
as well. This gave rise to the idea of keeping
dairy cows and growing fresh produce on site.
The idea developed into the Self-Sufficiency Centre
which produces milk, yoghurt and cheese, ham and
cold meats, eggs, fruit and vegetables. Production
covers 70 percent of the accommodation centres’
demand, replaces costly imports from South Africa
and creates additional jobs. Gondwana also invested
into staff training. An in-house training centre
was set up in 2001; there are also programmes
for supporting disadvantaged Namibians, and lectures
on social topics like family planning and HIV/Aids
are arranged regularly. |
|
Converting the farmhouse
into the lodge's main building.
Photo: Gondwana Desert Collection
 Image
Download (180 KB) |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Nature conservation also got its fair
share, of course; funds were made available to dismantle
fences, set up watering places, buy patrol vehicles,
purchase and release game. Burchell's zebra, hartebeest
and giraffe are back at the canyon – after an
absence of about 100 years, due to being hunted to extinction
in this area. An experienced park manager and several
rangers maintain watering places, keep the external
fences in good repair and monitor the conservation area;
they also lend their support to research projects on
quiver trees or mountain zebra and handle preparations
for the annual game counts. |
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Gondwana's
management and high-ranking guests from politics and
the tourism sector drink to the ten-year anniversary.
Photo: Gondwana Desert Collection
Image
Download (912 KB) |
|
|
|
|
| |
The concept which had proven so successful
in Gondwana Cañon Park was applied to other desert
areas in 2004. The Gondwana Desert Collection today
consists of four parks in which guests on a tour through
the south can experience all four of Namibia’s
deserts: Gondwana Kalahari Park (100 km², east
of Mariental), Gondwana Cañon Park (1,120 km²,
at the Fish River Canyon), Gondwana Sperrgebiet Rand
Park (510 km², west of Aus and near the Wild horses
of the Namib) and Gondwana Namib Park (100 km²,
60 km north of Sesriem/Sossusvlei). |
|
|
|
|
| |
And the prospects for the next 10 years?
Setting up larger conservation regions, where game can
once again roam as freely as it used to, is envisaged
in cooperation with national parks, farmers and rural
communities. There are also plans to establish a chain
of information centres to make more facts about Namibia’s
deserts available to travellers and to bring local communities
into the tourism business. The first centre, in Aus,
already opened its doors in July... |
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
Gemsbok in Gondwana Kalahari Park,
one of Gondwana’s offspring.
Photo: Cecile Lederer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|