This demo site provided unique opportunities for demonstrating the creation of protected area networks including State, private and communal area conservation initiatives. It targeted efforts to link the Etosha and Skeleton Coast parks, concessions and community-managed areas in Kunene Region.

SPAN activities aimed at building capacity to manage the expanded protected area. Efforts focussed on:

• Development of business and management plans
• Staff training
• Conservancy capacity development for collaborative management
• Development of human-wildlife conflict mitigation measures
• Provision of equipment (vehicles, communications infrastructure)
• Infrastructure development.

Highlights of work in the Etosha/ Skeleton Coast link:

• The Hon Minister approved the Etosha Management and Business Plan during the Etosha National Park centenary year in 2007.


• MET Park staff received training in a variety of disciplines. This aimed at improving administration, devolution of decision-making and financial management while increasing the accountability of protected area managers.


• The Incident Book Monitoring System was introduced and implemented at all Park stations. This system assists staff in collecting data, which then enables management to make informed decisions.


• As part of knowledge management, scientific papers were digitalised and archived at the Etosha Ecological Institute (EEI). Previously, most information was only available in hard copies and was only accessible to Institute staff.


• A Cabinet decision in 2004 declared that the three tourism concessions of Hobatere, Etendeka and Palmwag should be proclaimed as a national park to link the Etosha and Skeleton Coast parks. The Cabinet said that MET should carry out intensive consultations on development and management of the park. Minister set up Technical Committee to advise him on developing the park. A park management plan and preliminary business plan were developed for the Kunene People's Park, along with a tourism scoping study. The final draft study provided good information regarding the park's financial and economic potential.


• A vehicle and camping equipments were procured from the US Fish and Wildlife Service grant and was handed over to the Ministry's outer stations that will support the envisaged Kunene People's Park. Offices that benefited include: Khorixas, Sesfontein. Opuwo and Otjovasandu


• A strategy for the removal of black-backed jackals was developed and is being successfully implemented within Okaukuejo Rest Camp. Jackals were a common sight in the fenced tourists camp, where they scavenged for food, interacted with tourists who often fed them. This led to the animals losing their fear for humans and several cases of tourists being bitten by jackals were reported.


• The Jackal Management Programme (JMP) collected baseline data about jackal movements and sought to identify where the animals were entering the existing camp by using trap cameras. A paintball gun was procured for marking and identification of problem individual jackals. Some jackals have been observed actually climbing over the 1.4 meter high perimeter fence while others were entering the camp over the stonewall at the waterhole, so additional mesh fencing has been added to the entire 3km perimeter fence to solve this problem. The fence and the gates were upgraded, and the waterhole fence electrified and information flyers are now available for tourists to discourage them from feeding the animals.


• Picnic sites in the Park were upgraded and information signboards erected in Etosha. These provided services to tourists while reinforcing park rules.


• A staff camp near Okaukuejo was completed and is used for staff extra moral activities.


• Signs bearing the new Parks and Wildlife branding were erected in the Skeleton Coast Park.


• SPAN initially established recycling initiatives in Etosha during the centenary year. These ran well for a period, and they enthusiasm flagged. The Okaukuejo recycling project was revived and proved successful, thanks to the efforts of several partners. The Namibian Breweries Ltd. collects recyclable materials in Okaukuejo and transports this to a depot in Otjiwarongo and further to Windhoek. Rent-A-Drum in Windhoek collects the recyclable waste from Namibian Breweries and distribute this to the various recycling companies.


• The Etosha Information centres were renovated and refurbished during the Etosha centenary and traded under various themes: Namutoni (History), Halali (Tourism) and Okaukuejo (Research).