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 202,200 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 and vegetated dune belts. 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. 

Typical landscape

The Reserve originated in 1984 as the dream of J.A. (Albi) Brückner to extend desert frontiers by integrating a large number of former livestock farms and developing a wildlife sanctuary. To date, thirteen former livestock farms have been rehabilitated into a single continuous natural habitat. Recognizing 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.

Antje (RIP) and Albi Brückner - Albi is the Custodian & Chairman of the Board

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 neighbors (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.

The NamibRand Nature Reserve currently employs 13 staff members. Staff functions include natural resource management, the co-ordination of research activities, network and liaison with tourism concessionaires and other stakeholders, baseline maintenance / improvement of infrastructure as well as general management of the Reserve. Managing the Reserve would not be possible without the help of tourism concessionaires, especially tour guides who traverse the Reserve with their guest on a daily bases, adding many extra eyes and ears to help with resource monitoring.

Albi Brückner Custodian & Chairman		Abraham Tsaobeb Senior Field Ranger		Nils Odendaal Chief Executive Officer		Jakobus Kooper Senior Field Ranger
Mike Scott Control Warden		Quintin Hartung Resource Management Ranger		Ann Scott Environment & Research Warden		Elsawie Rooi Field Base Manager
Peter Woolfe Resource Management Ranger		Ruben Bonefatius Field Ranger		Elton Vries Field Ranger		Josia Hangula Field Ranger
Johannes Moongela Field Ranger		ElizabethBonefatiuss Field Base  Manager

Tel: +264-61-224882
Fax: +264-61-225811
Email: info@namibrand.org

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