Tsau Khaeb National Park (original) (raw)

Natural features: Sandy shores along the coast in the south and rocky headlands and inlets in the north. At least 17 ‘islands’ occur off the coast adjoining the SNP. Sandy and gravel inland plains, sand dunes, mountain ranges and inselbergs and the Orange River valley.

Vegetation: Succulent Karoo, Namib Desert and Savannah biomes.

Vegetation types: Succulent Steppe, Southern Desert, Riverine Woodland. Quiver tree (Aloe dichotoma), many-stemmed quiver tree (Aloe ramosissima), vygies (Mesembryanthemumsp), Hoodia and Euphorbia spp. Sweet-thorn (Acacia karoo), camel-thorn (Acacia erioloba) along riverbeds.

Wildlife: Brown hyaena, gemsbok, springbok, South African fur seal, grey rhebok, Heaviside’s dolphin, southern right whale. Almost 60 wetland birds along the Orange River and 120 terrestrial bird species were recorded. African Penguin, Cape Gannet, Bank Cormorant, Purple Heron, Lappet-faced Vulture, Karoo Korhaan, Ludwig’s Bustard, Cape Francolin. Almost 100 reptile species; 16 frog species and a great number of insects and other invertebrates, probably 90 per cent or more of the invertebrates found in the park have not been described by science.

Tourism: Restricted access. Museum at Kolmanskop Ghost Town is open to the public. One concession to Pomona Ghost Town and Bogenfels Rock arch from Lüderitz (day tour).

Key management issues: Management and tourism plans for the park are at an advanced stage of development. The park has been zoned in accordance with IUCN guidelines for Protected Area Management Categories. Close ties have been forged with partners and stakeholders such as mining companies and the business community. The MET has established stations adjacent to the park, patrol camps and radio repeater stations for easier communication between staff members.

Future plans: Tourism concessions have been identified and will be developed. These include desert experiences and ghost-town tours and Orange River boating and kayaking. All planned activities will be guided by the concession operators. A co-management strategy and forging of joint planning will be explored with the newly proclaimed Marine Protected Area off the coast of the park.