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| This conservation milestone coincides
with an exciting event in Namibia's South: the development
of a multi-faceted tourism route based on the country's
four deserts. The initiative is spearheaded by the
Gondwana Desert Collection in partnership with Open
Africa and a variety of other role-players, i.e.
Wilderness Safaris and Wolwedans. Open Africa is
a Pan-African organization which aims at turning
Africa’s cultural and natural resources into
wealth-creating products by optimizing the synergies
of tourism, job creation and conservation. This
is achieved by means of a carefully planned development
programme that links the splendours of Africa in
a continuous network of "Africa Tourism"
routes stretching from the Cape to Cairo. Details
on the more than 50 existing routes are available
on Open Africa’s website (www.africandream.org). |
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The
Four Deserts Route Namibia
covers the entire south, from the Orange River
right up to the Tropic of Capricorn. This
route, however, does not consist of a single
road which links the four great deserts, but
rather represents a variety of enterprises
- accommodation and other tourist services
- found in the vicinity of these attractions.
The participants in this joint initiative
share a common vision: the celebration of
Namibia's unique deserts and desert experiences,
while at the same time promoting community
benefit and conservation through eye-opening
tourism experiences. |
| Various sub-routes,
alternative routes and side routes connect
the attractions and serve as a starting point
for the pursuit of other special interests
such as bird and game watching, adventure
tourism, geology, archaeology, plants, history
and culture. The route is being developed
in phases, starting with a core group of participants,
but with a view to expanding as more and more
attractions are included. |
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Namibia boasts four great and very
different desert systems. By definition a desert
is a dry area. But think of the desert as an area
where water loss through evaporation exceeds the
low rainfall (less than 250 mm) by at least ten
times, and you will quickly develop a healthy respect
for any kind of life that survives under these conditions.
It comes as a surprise for some that desert landscapes
are not just endless stretches of sand but may be
rocky and mountainous as well, or take the shape
of vast gravel plains in places. This kaleidoscope
of varied and fascinating geological formations
and dramatic, ever-changing scenery casts a lingering
spell on enchanted visitors. With plant and animal
life minutely adapted to survive under these harsh
conditions, our living deserts are also important
centres of biodiversity. Extremes of aridity, heat
and cold can be experienced; space and quiet, sunsets
and star-spangled night skies. The main treat which
is in store, however, is to get acquainted with
the people. With a cultural and historical identity
rooted in survival, they are keen to share the delights
of their surroundings with visitors, and their genuine
warmth and hospitality makes them perfect ambassadors
of the desert.
The new route invites travellers to linger and to
explore Namibia's four desert systems. |
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| In the east the deep, red sands
of the Kalahari Desert
form long parallel rows of dunes, partly covered
with grasses and accentuated by gnarled old
camel thorn trees and shepherd's bush. Since
rain is soaked up rapidly, surface water is
a rarity. Nevertheless, game manages to survive
by means of special adaptations, and large
numbers of Gemsbok, Springbok and Ostrich
are once again moving across the Kalahari;
vultures are also increasing in numbers. The
Kalahari is the home of the San Bushmen, the
ancient, legendary people who were able to
live so frugally from these resources, perfecting
the art of sustainable living. |
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| The Nama Karoo
covers most of southern central Namibia like a large
wedge from north of the Gariep/Orange River (and
South Africa) to about 120 km south of Windhoek,
with a narrow strip along the fringe of the Namib
reaching right up to Angola. The dramatic geological
formations take on stupendous proportions in the
Fish River Canyon, the second largest canyon on
earth. It was formed during the disintegration of
the ancient continent of Gondwanaland some 130 million
years ago. The vegetation is characterized by dwarf
shrubs and scattered grasslands, and the fascinating
quiver tree is a distinctive symbol of the south.
Various hikes and drives afford one an opportunity
to view the increasing herds of springbok, and also
oryx, kudu, mountain zebra and Ostrich. Much of
the Nama Karoo consists of wide plains, interrupted
only by the dark and enigmatic massif of Brukkaros
Mountain which rises some 120 km north of Keetmanshoop.
Perhaps it was the tranquillity of this huge desert
that inspired the construction of a fairytale castle
in the midst of this landscape, at Duwisib, to the
west, a century ago? |
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Situated
around Aus and extending southwards, the Succulent
Karoo is mainly a winter-rainfall area.
Bizarre looking shrubs store moisture in their
leaves and stems to tide them over the dry
summer months. The Succulent Karoo is the
most plant diverse desert in the world and
has been listed as one of the world’s
25 global biodiversity “hotspots”.
Although these floral wonders are at their
best after the rains, they are well worth
a closer look throughout the year. Lüderitz
provides a fascinating breakaway: its harsh,
minimalist landscape resembles that of an
island. In the vicinity African Penguins can
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| seen and heard
as they go about their activities, and on
a visit to the ghost town of Kolmanskop you
will probably wonder about the sort of life
that the inhabitants of the former diamond
settlement had in the desert. Just west of
Aus the fascinating Wild Horses of the Namib
can be watched on one of their regular trips
to the watering trough at Garub. |
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| To the north the Namib
Desert forms a narrow strip along the Atlantic
Ocean. The scenery is one of shifting, glowing red
dunes in the south, to gravel plains with inselbergs
in the central parts, and jagged blue mountains
in the north with deep valleys cut by ephemeral
rivers. Fog supplies the life-giving moisture for
plants and animals. Visitors have a wide range of
experiences to choose from: at Sossusvlei they can
clamber to the top of the highest sand dunes in
the world at dawn; discover the ancient fossilized
red dunes south of Solitaire where they stand frozen
in time; gaze at huge black Lappetfaced Vultures
as they spiral upwards into the sky; or trace the
tracks of a solitary Gemsbok across the gravel plains.
One of the ultimate desert experiences is a leisurely
balloon-ride across the red sandsea in the early
morning sun. |
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| The Four Deserts
Route Namibia is a very special one: it showcases
diversification, alternative land utilisation and
sustainable approaches in the management of desert
landscapes which are more productive, create more
jobs and generate more income than conventional
farming activities. At the same time the natural
balance and diversity of the deserts is protected
and even restored. |
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