The NamibRand Nature Reserve, located in southern Namibia, is a private nature reserve established to help protect and conserve the unique ecology and wildlife of the south-west Namib Desert. Conserving the pro-Namib, the area along the eastern edge of the Namib Desert, is critically important in order to facilitate seasonal migratory wildlife routes and to protect biodiversity. It is probably the largest private nature reserve in southern Africa, extending over an area of 188,980.16 ha. The Reserve shares a 100km border with the Namib-Naukluft National Park in the west and is bordered in the east by the imposing Nubib Mountains. Virtually all facets of the Namib Desert are represented on the Reserve – sand and gravel plains and stretches of savanna alternate with mountain ranges, inselbergs and vegetated dune belts.
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Albi Brückner - Albi is the Custodian & Chairman of the Board
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Typical landscape
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Staff assist with vulture ringing
NamibRand Nature Reserve
The NamibRand Nature Reserve is a model for private conservation in Southern Africa as it demonstrates holistic biodiversity conservation balanced with financial sustainability. Low-impact ecotourism is a means towards sustaining our conservation efforts through park fees. The five tourism concessions awarded by the reserve, each pay a daily, per-bed fee to the Reserve. The funds generated through these park fees enable the Reserve to be financially self-sustaining.
History
The Reserve originated in 1984 as the dream of J.A. Brückner (R.I.P. 08 December 2016) to extend desert frontiers by integrating a large number of former livestock farms and developing a wildlife sanctuary. To date, seventeen former livestock farms have been rehabilitated into a single continuous natural habitat. Recognising the importance of wilderness areas, the NamibRand Nature Reserve has exclusively set aside more than 15% of its total area for wilderness.
The NamibRand Nature Reserve was registered as a non-profit private nature reserve in 1992. All landowners belonging to the Reserve have signed agreements and adopted a constitution which sets the land aside for conservation - now and in the future. The Reserve is financially self-sustaining mainly through high quality, low impact tourism.
Aims
The aims of the NamibRand Nature Reserve are:
- To conserve for the benefit of future generations and to protect the sensitive and fragile environment and its rich biodiversity;
- To create a nature reserve with a healthy and functioning ecosystem, providing a sanctuary for flora and fauna and to facilitate seasonal migratory routes in partnership with neighbours (National Parks, etc.);
- To promote sustainable utilisation - through ecologically sustainable and high-quality level tourism products and other projects; and
- To achieve a commercially viable operation to ensure continuance and financial independence.
