Contact

P.O. Box 131

Maltahöhe

Republic of Namibia

Tel: +264-63-683026

Email: info@namibrand.org

CONSERVATION

ECOLOGY 

Four distinct habitats are found on the Reserve: dunes and sandy plains, inselbergs and mountains, gravel plains, and sand and gravel plains interface. The predominant large mammals on the Reserve are Oryx gazelle (gemsbok or oryx) and Antidorcas marsupialis (springbok). The 2005 game census indicated that there were 9,500 oryx and 14,000 springbok on the Reserve. Other large mammals include kudu, Hartman's and Burchell's zebra, giraffe, klipspringer, steenbok, hartebeest and baboon. Predators include leopard, spotted and brown hyena, black-backed jackal, aardwolf, bat-eared fox, Cape fox, African wildcat, caracal and genet.  To date 100 bird species have been identified, while work is still in progress on the inventory of rodents, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates and plants.

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 

Innovative approaches to resource management help ensure that this critical area bordering on the Namib-Naukluft National Park is effectively conserved.  The Reserve maintains a conservation policy of minimal interference with constant monitoring, implemented through an environmental management plan.  A new monitoring system has been introduced which includes population census methods.  The Reserve is a member and contributor to the Southern African Avi-Faunal Atlas and the Large Carnivore Atlas of Namibia.  Local outreach efforts focus mainly on predator-livestock management on neighboring properties. 

NamibRand Nature Reserve supports the sustainable utilization of its resources through the following activities:

• High quality, low impact tourism including accommodation, photographic safaris, walking trails, and hot air ballooning;

• Environmental education and sustainable living centre;

• Capture and sale of live game; and

• Development of a horticultural project to grow indigenous medicinal plants for commercial production, creating local jobs and earning funds for conservation. 

SPECIAL PROJECTS

Although the daily management of the Reserve is adequately funded through tourism, special projects require additional funding.  To help fund such projects, the Reserve has established the NamibRand Conservation Foundation.  This independent, non-profit organization raises funds through initiatives such as the Adopt-a-Fairy-Circle Project.  The Foundation has already provided the Research and Awareness Centre and the Namib Desert Environmental Education Trust (NaDEET) with significant funding and hopes continue this support as well as identify new projects.

Relocation of problem jackal

Tagging of Lappet-faced Vulture chick

Capture of Burchell's zebra