Balancing the environment and the human footprint

In southern Namibia there are several protected areas established by private initiatives like Gondwana Collection Namibia and the Namib Rand Nature Reserve. They have tourism lodges and camping – or rather glamping - facilities in spectacular landscapes.

To preserve the fragile ecosystems and their diversity, education is important, especially for the youth.  

The Namibia Desert Environmental Education Trust (NaDEET) was established twenty years ago as an environmental education organisation, with strong emphasis on teaching children. It is situated in the NamibRand Nature Reserve in south-western Namibia. 

NaDEET has over the years housed many school classes for week-long courses about the environment and the balance between nature and humans.

School children come from all parts of Namibia to deepen their understanding of the environment and in relation to climate change.

“NaDEET looks back on twenty years with participants ranging from ten-year-old school children to youth, university students and teachers. We are reaching Namibians far and wide to provide practical sustainable living skills,” its manager, Viktoria Keding says.

A recent addition is the NaDEET information centre in the middle of NamibRand on the eastern boundary. It was officially opened in September 2023. “It shares the Die Duine Homestead with the NamibRand Family HideOut and Tok Tokkie Trails,” NaDEET stated. NaDEET also has an urban sustainability centre since a few years, which is in Swakopmund.

The NamibRand Nature Reserve is a private nature reserve established to help protect and conserve the unique ecology and wildlife of the southern Namib Desert. It is regarded as the largest private nature reserve in southern Africa with an area of more than 200,000 hectares. It borders the Namib-Naukluft National Park in the west.

Flights to Keerweder airstrip

Apart from the private airstrips Aandster and Wolwedans in the area, the third one, Keerweder offers a special service: The 'Keerweder' airstrip in the NamibRand nature reserve is now part of the regular flight schedule of Fly Namibia Safaris.

Acccording to the latest newsletter of NaDEET, overseas visitors can now book their luggage all the way through to Keerweder when they board their aircraft in Europe or America. This great service is possible because Fly Namibia is registered with the international aviation authorities.

So, if the 'wanderlust' bug bites you, put on your hiking boots, check in your luggage in London, Washington or Berlin and collect it again in the middle of the Namib Desert at 'Keerweder' airstrip – not many countries offer such a service! 

A little shelter was recently constructed there to guard against the sun.