Do not drive off the road - Stay on well defined tracks

WHY?
   - Desert gravel plains and lichen fields are very sensitive: tracks leave permanent      scars and the sensitive, delicate equilibrium is lost forever.
   - River beds are like linear oasis’s for wildlife to find food and water in particular      the large mammals like the desert elephant are extremely stressed by      irresponsible human behaviour.
   - The endemic animals and plants in the dune belt are severely impacted.
   - For your safety and security: driving in dunes is dangerous, it is advisable to go      with a professional, qualified guide. Moreover, because of the isolation, in case      of an accident help may take hours, placing your life in real danger.
   - To preserve the aesthetic beauty and wild character of the dunes, inselbergs,      beaches and gravel plains.

Enjoy the dunes between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay with your 4x4 / quadbike / motorbike in designated ORV areas* where permit** from the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) is required

WHY?
   - A specific zoning of the dune belt between Sawkopmund and Walvis Bay was      done specifically to accommodate the different activities and minimise impact to      the dune ecosystem. These 2 areas were identified as adequate areas for ORV      activities.
   - If too much hooliganism is noticed, a moratorium will be put in place and all off-      road activities will be forbidden on state land.

* you can download a map of these 2 ORV areas at the bottom of this page
** you will find the contact details of MET offices that deliver permits at the bottom of    this page

No vehicle or quadbike is allowed to drive on the beaches

WHY?
    - Driving on beaches has a huge impact on mussels, and other macrofauna.
    - Racing up and down the beach is both inconsiderate and dangerous.
    - Vehicle tracks are the most serious form of pollution in the Namib.

Inside the ORV areas, stay on the dunes and avoid slip faces, gravel plains and vegetated areas

WHY?
   - Slip faces, gravel plains and vegetated areas are the most sensitive and      productive areas in the desert, ORV activity impacts the abundant life found here.

No overnight camping is allowed on the beaches or in the dunes without permission from the Ministry of Environment & Tourism

WHY?
   - For not disturbing the wildlife in particular the ones that feed at night.
   - For keeping the dunes and beaches clean.
   - For your safety and security.

In the National West Coast Recreation Area, remain on well used vehicle tracks and do not venture east of the main road without a qualified guide

WHY?
   - For not destroying more beaches and vegetation.
   - For your safety and security.
   - Vehicle tracks are the most serious form of pollution along the coast.

Do not leave your litter on the beach, in particular plastic rubbish and cigarette butts - Use refuse bins or take your rubbish home

WHY?
   - A litter free environment is more appealing for present and future generations.
   - Plastic rubbish and cigarette butts take a very long time to disappear (around 10      years) in particular in desert areas.
   - A plastic bag can kill animals: sea turtles think that it is a jelly fish, eat it and die      of asphyxiation.

Obtain a permit from MET for entering or camping in all parks

WHY?
   - To acquaint yourselves with permitted activities and where they are allowed.
   - To help the Namibian Government to protect this international heritage.
   - For your safety and security.

Do not drive over vegetation, lichen fields and mudflats

WHY?
  - These areas are abundant with small animals that are essential for the desert      ecosystem, your tracks will destroy them.
   - Tracks on vegetated areas take many years to recover, once the shallow root      systems of the slow growing vegetation are destroyed the plants die.
   - Tracks on mudflats leave permanent scars.

Obtain a permit* from the Namibian Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) to catch fish, collect bait/mussels or dive for crayfish and respect harvesting limitations**

WHY?
   - The marine resources are limited and currently some of them are overfished or      overcollected. It is necessary that everyboby uses them wisely and carefully to      secure the future harvesting needs by protecting the stock. Quantity/number of      marine resources harvestable, minimum size limits of fish and crayfish that can      be caught, open season etc. help to manage stocks to avoid the total      disappearance of some species in our waters.

* you will find the contact details of MFMR offices at the bottom of this page
** you can download the harvesting regulations at the bottom of this page

Do not leave bait or fish on the beach: Either take it home or return it to the sea

WHY?
   - This food attracts scavengers like jackals and gulls that predate on other      biodiversity. When you are back home after the holiday, it also inflates the      predator population.

When ordering seafood in restaurants consider your purchase with care. Be an informed seafood consumer and choose healthy fish populations and relieve the pressure on overexploited species.

WHY?
   - Your choices can help ensure the sustainable use of our marine resources, by      giving a break to overexploited species, allowing them to recover.

Use the list provided by the Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiative (SASSI) to choose the right fish to eat or buy.

Download the Consumer's Seafood Pocket Guide

Do not feed wildlife

WHY?
   - “A fed animal normally becomes a dead animal” , this is a global problem as      these animals often become dependant on “hand-outs” and are aggressive      when no food is given to them.

Ensure that tour operators whether in aircraft, boat or car keep a safe distance from wildlife

WHY?
   - For your security: when you trespass the minimum distance tolerated by wild      animals, they may attack.
   - Not to stress and disturb wildlife in particular during breeding season.

Never camp near waterholes

WHY?
   - Animals travel great distances to get to water in desert areas and are disturbed      by a human presence.

Read up on the biodiversity of the coast before visiting areas

WHY?
   - To avoid activities which may destroy the biodiversity or have negative impacts.
   - To know what is possible to see and discover on the coast.

Pamphlet Enjoy - Don't destroy your environment

MAP - ORV authorized areas: Long Beach and Dune 7

Harvesting regulations - Namibian Ministry of Fisheries & Marine Resources

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