Namib (Namibia): Namib-Naukluft, a desert game park in south-west Africa celebrated its 101st anniversary.
The desert game park is situated in the midst of Namib desert, believed to be the world's oldest desert.
The park's attractions play a vital role to the economy of the country by contributing to the exchequer and providing thousands of jobs, environment and tourism minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said yesterday.
It has recorded 4,015 tourist arrivals till August this year, and more than 6,000 visitors travelled the majestic sceneries last year, the minister said.
The park currently measures 49,762 square kilometers and features attractions such as the world's oldest desert, the Sossusvlei and Sesriem Canyons, Welwitschia Trail and the Naukluft Mountains with hiking trails.
The Namibian coastline is another sensitive area, rich in both living and non-living natural resources and as such, needs protection and proper management, Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
Namib-Naukluft was declared a game park in March 1907 under German colonial rule.
Initially, the Namib Game Reserve was established as a buffer zone to restrict English sovereignty. However, the purpose of the park today is to safeguard biodiversity in accordance with the Namibian Constitution.
Namibia could soon have the largest Protected Area network in the world, stretching from the Kunene River mouth with the Skeleton Coast Park through the National West Coast Recreation Area, the Walvis Bay Dune Belt Area and the Namib-Naukluft Park, Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
