OPENING UP ETOSHA’S WESTERN ZONE
The acquisition of a new Cat fleet by Etosha National Park forms part of a broad-ranging US donor package designed to boost Namibia’s socio-economic potential, with the country’s tourism industry forming a core component.
Famous for its richly diverse fauna and flora, Namibia’s Etosha National Park covers a vast area of more than 22 750 km2 and attracts tourists from all over the world to the “Place of Dry Water” as it is known in the local language. It’s an apt description for the huge, flat calcrete depression (or pan) of about 5 000 km2 that dominates Etosha’s centre.
Every year more than 100 000 tourist-laden vehicles pass through Etosha, travelling along a 1 200 km network of demarcated gravel roads that predominately cover the park’s eastern and central zones. A further 2 900 km, which also serve as fire breaks, are reserved exclusively for Park personnel.
Maintaining this network is an ongoing process, with the Etosha National Park deploying a comprehensive fleet of earthmoving equipment, a core component of which have always comprised Cat machines supported by Barloworld Equipment Namibia.
Now this fleet has been further bolstered following the delivery of a suite of new Cat machines that will spearhead a series of expansions within Etosha. These comprise three Cat 120K motor graders, a Cat 938H wheel loader, and a Cat 432E backhoe loader (with attachments that include a Cat H705 hydraulic hammer; and an ‘elephant’s foot’ hydraulic rapid impact compactor for pothole repairs).
An investment in Etosha’s future, this latest capital equipment order forms part of a broad-ranging donor funding package provided to the Namibian government by USA based organisation, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (or MCC) through the local implementing entity, Millennium Challenge Account Namibia (MCA-N).
The total MCC funding amount of around US$304.5 million is split into three main projects, all of which commenced in September 2009 and are being rolled out over a five year period. They comprise the Agriculture Project (US$46.9m), the Tourism Project (US$66.9m), and the Educational Project (US$144.9m). Etosha’s new Cat machines form part of the Tourism Project.
“To grow Etosha’s already strong tourism potential, plans are in place to open up the western side of the reserve, which is currently only accessible to Parks Board personnel,” explains Jafet Shigwedha, works inspector: maintenance, Etosha and Far North.
Amongst other things, this will entail the construction of new roads, as well as a new public entrance at Galton Gate on the western perimeter. This will then make it convenient and attractive for tourists to travel out of the park to the west and visit the conservatory areas in surrounding Ovamboland.
Adds Johann Botha, director: procurement at MCA-N: “We’re pressing ahead on the Tourism project through various training and capacity building initiatives. These include grant funding for joint ventures between the private sector and rural conservancy groups to construct game lodges in these zones.”