6 Sep 2024
A new barrier at the access road to Sossusvlei has triggered heated discussions within Namibia's travel industry this week. Key question: Who will be allowed to drive from the car park at the end of the tarred road to Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei in future? The road is about 5 kilometres long and consists partly of deep sand.
All tour operators and lodges, explained the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) in a press release yesterday. As before. Provided they are registered with the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB).
On the other hand, it is planned to refuse access to ‘illegal tour operators and unsuitable vehicles such as buses, trucks and 2x4 vehicles’. After three days of debate, it is still unclear whether self-drivers with four-wheel-drive vehicles will also be affected.
The MEFT has long been planning measures "to preserve the environment to meet the criteria of a World Heritage site". The Dune Namib, where Sossusvlei is located, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013. It forms part of the Namib-Naukluft National Park.
In 2022, the ministry granted a concession to a private company for a shuttle service from the 2x4 car park to Sossusvlei. There was a huge outcry (see report in 'Namibian') because the plans included a railway line on cement pillars.
At the vlei, a tethered balloon with a platform was to give guests a bird's eye view. By the end of 2022, the plans and the concession were off the table (see report in the 'Namibian Sun'). The state-owned rest camp operator Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) continued to offer its shuttle service with four-wheel drive vehicles.
Last January, the company About Africa Co was awarded a concession for the shuttle service. NWR protested because it was losing out on revenue totalling 175 million Namibia Dollar (see report in the 'Namibian'). The Ministry sharply rejected the protest (see report in the 'Namibian': "NWR are 'liars' and 'irresponsible').
At the same time, About Africa Co clarified in a press release that there had been a transparent tendering process (see report in the 'Windhoek Oberserver'). The concession was apparently awarded to the best bidder out of nine other bidders.
The concession runs for 25 years and also allows the construction of a campsite in the park and a small kiosk in the car park area at Sossusvlei. Besides that, it requires that the operation also benefits the local communities in Maltahöhe and the !Karkhoen-Nama. According to About Africa Co, these communities can look forward to more than 100 million Namibian Dollar.
In the meantime, About Africa Co has started to prepare the operation of the shuttle service. This apparently includes the barrier at the 2x4 car park, which blocks the way to the off-road track.
In the debate about access to Sossusvlei that has now flared up on a WhatsApp group of the tourism industry, About Africa Co also referred to the aspect of nature conservation. Its posts revealed that all self-drivers, even with four-wheel-drive vehicles, are no longer allowed to drive into the Sossusvlei.
Travel companies have questioned this. They pointed out that the ministry's press release did not say a word about self-drive vehicles. When asked, the ministry's press spokesperson verbally confirmed that self-drivers are still allowed to travel the off-road route.
About Africa Co indicated that the spokesperson is apparently not fully informed about the agreement within the framework of the concession. At the same time, the company emphasised that an inspection of the area was urgently needed.
As evidence, it posted photos of obvious violations of park rules. These included wide, circular lanes ('doughnuts') on the clay surface and four-wheel drive vehicles that had left the lanes. One photograph showed a city car stuck in the sand. It had to be pulled out free of charge, it said.
Closing the debate on WhatsApp, About Africa Co said it was urging the Ministry of Environment to make a clear clarification.
NWR currently charges 180 Namibia dollars (at the time of going to press 9.14 euros; current value, 1 N$ = 1 South African Rand) for the shuttle from the 2x4 car park to Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei. About Africa Co intends to maintain this price for the time being.
Sven-Eric Stender
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