Namibia's most versatile conservation area and one of the country's major tourist destinations is the Namib-Naukluft
Park. This vast wilderness of almost 50 000 km2 contains key features such as Sossusvlei, Sesriem, the Welwitschia Trail, Sandwich Harbour, the Naukluft Mountains and the Kuiseb
Canyon. The park is managed as a wilderness area, and accordingly has no large rest camps, only serviced camping sites at Sesriem and Naukluft and a number of rudimentary camping
sites in the Namib section. There are, however, a large number of private accommodation establishments adjacent to the park, especially in the vicinity of Sesriem. An amalgamation of
the Namib Desert Park (proclaimed in 1907), the Naukluft Mountain Zebra Park (created in 1966), unoccupied public land and a section of Diamond Area 2, the Namib Naukluft Park was
proclaimed in 1979 as one integrated reserve. Following the addition in 1990 of another portion of Diamond Area 2, it now has a surface area of 49 768 krn2. Namib section
Characteristic of the desert plains in the Namib section of the park are ostrich and springbok, while Hartmann's mountain zebra, kIipspringer and baboon frequent the canyons of the
Swakop and Kuiseb rivers. Leopard and African wild cat are found in the Kuiseb Canyon. Gemsbok can be seen on the plains, the rocky slopes and even some distance into the dune area,
where they provide a striking contrast with the barren surroundings. Larger predators are spotted and brown hyena, while smaller predators include black-backed jackal and bat-eared
fox. An intriguing host of small creatures have adapted to survive in the Namib dunes. The fog-basking beetle, Onymacris unguicularis, drinks water by positioning itself on the crest
of a dune, dropping its head and extending its hind legs. Its back serves as a condensation surface for fog, which then forms droplets and slides down- wards towards the mouth. An
intriguing "thermal dance" is performed by the shovel-snouted lizard, Aporosaura anchietae, helping it to cope with the extreme heat radiating from dune surfaces. The Desert
Research Foundation of Namibia (DRFN) on the banks of the Kuiseb River at Gobabeb has an international reputation for research into the Namib ecology, and plays an active role in
environmental education. On open week- ends - the dates are announced in the local media - nature lovers are hosted at Gobabeb and introduced to the wonders of the Namib. There are
several camping sites in the Namib section of the Namib-Naukluft Park, where fireplaces and toilets are provided. However, visitors need to be self-sufficient in respect of water,
firewood, fuel and food sup- plies. The campsites are at Kuiseb Bridge (along the C14), Homeb (Kuiseb River), Swakop River (en route to the Welwitschia Plains), Mirabib (between
Gobabeb and the Cl4), Bloedkoppie (spectacular surroundings), Groot Tinkas (four-wheel drive only), Ganab (wide-open spaces), Vogelfederberg and Kriess-se-Rus. Sandwich Harbour The
reed-fringed lagoon at Sandwich Harbour, situated 48 km south of Walvis Bay at the foot of towering ivory-coloured dunes, is a spectacular and photo-worthy destination. Sought after
by anglers, ornithologists and nature lovers, the lagoon was once an open bay, referred to in old texts as Sandfisch Haven, which became silted up over the years. The Sandwich area
has a strange mystique, enhanced by the legend that buried somewhere in the dunes above the high-water mark is a ship with a rich cargo of ivory, gold and precious stones. This
treasure has been searched for by many fortune hunters, but to date has eluded all. The lagoon is fed by fresh water seeping from an inland aquifer, and is a sanctuary for large
numbers of coastal and freshwater birds. It is also an important breeding ground for a variety of fish species. Permits to visit the Sandwich area are obtainable from the MET office
in Swakopmund and at certain service stations in Walvis Bay and Swakopmund. Please note that Sandwich is accessible by 4x4 vehicles only, that in certain areas angling and vehicles
are prohibited, that angling is not allowed from January 25 to April 15, and that over-night camping is not allowed here. Welwitschia Trail A popular feature of the Namib- Naukluft
Park is the Welwitschia Trail, which lies east of Swakopmund. The route is marked with stone beacons designating various attractions and offers a close look at the Welwitschia
mirabilis, a botanical curiosity endemic to the Namib Desert and certainly one of the most intriguing and bizarre plants on earth. Sprawling untidily on the desert plains, the
welwitschia is believed to have a lifespan of up to 2 000 years. The plant produces only two leaves throughout its lifetime. The desert winds tear at the fibrous, evergreen blades,
shred- ding them into strips that curl into snake- like thongs, leaving the tips withered and dry. A large concentration of these plants is found along the Welwitschia Trail in the
Namib section of the park. While this is their most southern distribution, welwitschias occur as far north- wards as the southwestern comer of Angola. A magnificent specimen, known as
the Great Welwitschia and estimated to be about I 500 years old, can be seen along the Welwitschia Trail. A scenic desert drive along a proclaimed road through the Namib Naukluft Park
stops at a lookout point over the valley known as the Moon Landscape. Soft overlaying levels of earth, deposited some 450 million years ago, were eroded over millenniums to create
this eerie landscape. An unexpected cluster of eucalyptus and palm trees on the banks of the Swakop River at the farm Goanikontes surrounds a historic farmhouse dating back to the mid
1850s. In earlier times the farm had a thriving vegetable garden which supplied fresh produce to Swakopmund. Goanikontes is now a popular picnic site. Naukluft mountain massif The
Naukluft section of the park was created to serve as a sanctuary for Hartmann's mountain zebra, which were becoming a problem on farms. The farms were purchased by Government and the
Naukluft Mountain Zebra Park was proclaimed in 1966. Mountain zebra are endemic to Namibia and the remote southwestern section of Angola. With its massive and varied rock formations,
Naukluft is a geologist's paradise. The intermittent layers of horizontally folded igneous rock, quartzite, dolomite and shale are impressive with their giant symmetrical patterns.
Five different vegetation communities within the park ensure a wealth of tree and shrub species, and a variety of aloes. Naukluft has an interesting history. The Witbooi clan from
Gibeon regarded the mountains as their personal hinterland. It was here that they fought many bloody battles with the Germans, the scattered evidence of which can still be seen in the
form of graves, trenches, piles of empty cartridge cases and cannon sites. The route along which the Germans transported their cannons up to the plateau is still clearly visible.
Animals found at Naukluft, in addition to Hartmann's mountain zebra, are kudu, gemsbok, klipspringer, duiker, steenbok, leopard, baboon, black-backed jackal, bat-eared fox, African
wild cat, caracal and aardwolf. Naukluft's steep cliffs are nesting grounds for various cliff-breeding bird species, including Black eagles. Day visitors are not allowed into
Naukluft. For overnight visitors, even short walks in the vicinity of the campsite are rewarding, as there are mountain pools close by. Sossusvlei Many visitors to Namibia say that no
part of the desert is visually more stunning than Sossusvlei with its monumentally high dunes. These gigantic star-shaped mountains of sand - one of the largest was measured from the
base to be 325 m high - are a sought-after topic for artists and photographers. The warm tints of the sand, ranging from pale apricot to brick orange and deep red, contrast vividly
with the dazzling white surfaces of the large deflationary clay pans at their bases. One of these, referred to as Dead Pan, is a large ghostly expanse of dried white clay, punctuated
by skeletons of ancient camel-thorn trees, carbon-dated as being between 500 and 600 years old. Sossusvlei's mountainous dunes lie at the end of an erosional trough formed by the
Tsauchab River. They are shaped by strong multi-directional winds, primarily the southwester, and have three to five sinuous crests, which meet at the highest point to give them their
star shape. These intriguing dune formations are best seen from the air. When it has rained sufficiently in the interior for the Tsauchab River to come down in flood and fill the main
pan, flamingos and other aquatic birds are attracted to the water. There is no accommodation at Sossusvlei. Visitors are allowed access to the area only between sunrise and sunset.
The first 60 kin of the road from Sesriem to Sossusvlei has been provided with a permanent surface and is suitable for sedan cars, whereas the last 5 kin is negotiable in 4x4 vehicles
only. A shuttle service is, however, available for people who do not want to hike this last 5 km. Sesriem Canyon At the entry to Sossusvlei is the permit office complex for entry to
this part of the park. Four kilometres south from here is Sesriem Canyon, where the erosion of many centuries has incised a narrow gorge about I km in length. At the foot of the
gorge, which plunges down 30 m to 40 m, are pools of water that become replenished after good rains. Sesriem derives its name from the time when early pioneers tied six lengths of
rawhide thongs together to draw water from these pools. |
