Namibia, South Africa plan to boost desert tourism

1 November 2007

What may be described as ‘desert tourism’ is expected to get a boost in Namibia and South Africa with the recent opening of the Sendelingsdrift and Mata-Mata tourism border posts.

A report in the website allafrica.com says that cross-border tourism will attract more international tourists who would want to see the spectacular desert scenes of the Ai-Ais National Park on the Namibian side of the border and the Richtersveld National Park on the South African side.

The Sendelingsdrift International Tourist Facility was open to visitors recently. The opening of the traditional pontoon at Sendelingsdrift across the Orange River that connects Namibia and South Africa would help promote desert tourism and the strengthening of trans-frontier park initiatives, according to the website.

Beyond the Orange River, tourists will be able to visit attractions such as the world’s second largest canyon, the Fish River Canyon, and the splendid dunes at Sossusvlei, which are among the highest in the world. The visitor can also explore one of the oldest deserts in the world, the Namib Desert.

Desert tourism is set to prosper especially given the increasing demand for adventure activities on the Namibia-South Africa border. The Ai-Ais National Park and Hobas offer extensive tourist accommodation and camping facilities, with luxury accommodation available at a number of nearby lodges, according to allafrica.com.

During the cooler season, visitors can use the 5-day hiking trails.

The trans-frontier park on the South African side of the border, however, has limited visitor facilities, with the Richtersveld National Park consisting of three wilderness camps, five serviced campsites, and an overnight camp for hikers. Plans are afoot to improve infrastructure and tourism accommodation in the area.

The Mata-Mata Tourist Access Facility was inaugurated by Namibia’s President Hifikepunye Pohamba and South Africa’s President Thabo Mbeki in October 2007, along with the opening of Sendelingsdrift.

South Africa is expecting an increase in the number of overseas visitors especially when the country will host the FIFA Soccer World Cup in 2010. Incidentally, Angola is to host the African Cup of Nations in the same year.

The website allafrica.com quoted South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs Rejoice Mabudafhasi as saying that the establishment of trans-frontier parks like the Ai-Ais and Ritchersveld stresses the importance that the country attaches to tourism to boost its economy.

In view of the 2010 Soccer World Cup, she added, South Africa is working hard towards increasing its tourist figures to a set target of 10 million by 2010.