Park

Naute is one of Namibia’s largest man-made lakes. Its shoreline, abutting long stretches of rocky plains and intricate sections of small bays, is very attractive The dam location on the Löwen River was already identified by German engineers over a century ago, yet construction of the reservoir only took place 70 years later. The dam was created as a reliable source of water for the nearby town of Keetmanshoop, and to enable an agricultural scheme adjacent to the reservoir.

The lake creates an ideal focal point for a game park, although this was only proclaimed just prior to independence. Thirty years on, its tourism potential remains untapped, overlooked in the vastness of the ‘forgotten South’. Discussions around a tourism concession with the neighbouring !Gawachab Conservancy may gain momentum in the future. For now, Naute is still worth a brief stop-over visit while travelling between Keetmanshoop and the Fish River Canyon.

Travel Tips

WHEN TO BE THERE:

Visitor access is restricted to the recreation area; this is open all year
Day temperatures can be very hot during summer
Fishing competitions are held intermittently & the recreation area is a weekend retreat for locals
The game park is currently not open to visitors

WHAT TO DO:

Stop at the lake for a refreshing break on your travels
Enjoy a short walk & some good birding
Do a spot fishing along the shore
Visit the nearby agricultural scheme

WHAT TO REMEMBER:

Access is restricted to the small recreation area
A permit is required for fishing, obtainable at the Karas Regional Council in Keetmanshoop
There are no amenities at the dam
Do not litter, take all rubbish with you

African Comb Duck

Cape Shoveler

Maccoa Duck

History

For 18 years, I had my base in the Khomas Hochland, a cosy rented home and art studio 10 kilometres west of Daan Viljoen. I walked inexhaustibly across this rugged country and saw the farmers struggle with erratic rain and limited groundwater, and the impacts of livestock-killing leopards and cheetahs. I experienced the joys of abundant wildlife in magical landscapes, and wondered why not more of this realm is protected and accessible as a nature park.

Of all Namibian biomes, acacia tree-and-shrub savannah is afforded the least coverage by state parks. Within this biome, the highland shrubland vegetation zone in the centre of the country is basically unprotected by the state. The Khomas Hochland is utilised mostly for a mix of commercial livestock farming, tourism and conservation hunting. Daan Viljoen was created by chance and political ignominy and now formally protects a tiny patch of it as a national park.

In the course of German colonial rule, all land around Windhoek had been surveyed as freehold farmland by 1911. During the disarray of World War I, local stock farmers re-established a pastoral settlement on surveyed farms west of the capital. The South African administration turned this into the ‘Aukeigas Damara Reserve’ in the 1920s and later forcibly moved many Windhoek residents there. The reserve was closed in 1945-’46 and its residents were relocated again.

Legend has it that some businessmen and government officials colluded to divide the vacated land amongst themselves. A public uproar apparently ensued and a game park was proposed. When the park was proclaimed, it consisted of only two sections of Aukeigas. The rest remained in private hands.

Windhoek is the geographic, economic and social heart of the country. Its attractive cluster of springs in a crescent of mountains was named by Kaptein Jonker Afrikaner, who made this his base in 1842 after moving here as part of the Oorlam migration from the Cape. San and Damara hunter-gatherers are the earliest documented inhabitants of the area, yet human use of these highlands goes back thousands of years, confirmed by rock paintings and other archaeological discoveries, including a 3,000-year-old human skeleton. Today, Windhoek stretches across the background of most Daan Viljoen vistas, turning into a sea of lights at night. The proximity to the city makes the park a great getaway.

Activities

Conservations

Urban spread has reached the park’s eastern border, bringing some disturbance, poaching and pollution. Meanwhile, the Windhoek Municipal Area was extended in 2011 to encompass the park and adjacent land. Through the Windhoek Green Belt Landscape initiative of NAM-PLACE, a network of landowners now aims to counter imminent threats to habitats and species through effective conservation of the surrounding areas.

Map

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Naute Game Park

In a way itâ€™s refreshing when a wonderful little sanctuary remains beyond our hunger for leisure destinations. While Nauteâ€™s tourism potential remains unrealised, the game park does fulfil its conservation function.