Conservation Areas
State Conservation Areas
Waterberg Plateau Park
Forming an important part of the Greater Waterberg Landscape, the Waterberg Plateau Park is managed by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism. Waterberg Plateau Park and some 405 km² of surrounding land was declared a Nature Reserve in 1972. Due to the inaccessibility of the plateau, in the early 1970s several of Namibia's endangered species were translocated there to protect them from becoming extinct through poaching and other threats.
The park consists of the sandstone plateau that rises 100-200m above the surrounding plain with near vertical cliffs on the east and west, forming natural boundaries. In the north of the park, the plateau gradually widens and dips to join the plain. A special conserved area of 753 ha is represented by the separated Waterberg plateau. Waterberg is an illustrative example of a natural boundary reserve, where a natural formation, the plateau escarpment, serves as the border for the restricted area. Park management objectives include species reintroduction that involve the costly process of monitoring and identification of individuals (based on target species, sex and condition) and animal treatment and adaptation prior to release on the plateau or elsewhere.
Communal Conservancies
Four communal conservancies are members of the Greater Waterberg Landscape. A communal conservancy is a system of community-based natural resource management whereby local communities manage and benefit from their natural resources, under an innovative legislative framework. Read more about Namibia's communal Area conservancy programme.
African Wild Dog Conservancy
With an area of 3,824 km2, African Wild Dog conservancy covers a large area in the south of the landscape. The conservancy was gazetted in 2005 and over 4,400 people live here. Annual rainfall is 350 - 400 mm.
Okamatapati Conservancy
Okamatapati Conservancy was gazetted in 2005, covers an area of 3,096 km2 and supports approximately 1,860 people. It falls within the Kalahari Sandveld landscape and has an average annual rainfall of 350 - 450 mm.
Otjituoo Conservancy
Gazetted in 2005, Otjituuo Conservancy covers an area of 6,133 km2 and approximately 5,800 people live here. Annual rainfall is 350 - 400 mm and the area falls within the Kalahari sandveld landscape.
Ozonahi Conservancy
Gazetted in 2005, Ozonahi Conservancy covers an area of 3,204 km2. Almost 11,000 people live here. Annual rainfall is 350-400 mm and the area falls within the Kalahari sandveld landscape.
Freehold Conservancies
Waterberg Conservancy
Waterberg Conservancy was the second freehold conservancy established in Namibia, in 1995. The Waterberg Conservancy includes the Waterberg Plateau Park, Waterberg Guest Farm, the Cheetah Conservation Trust and several surrounding ranches and forms a combined natural habitat of over 150,000 hectares committed to the conservation of flora, fauna and fragile ecosystems. The Conservancy is an active member of CANAM, the Conservancies Association of Namibia.
Relevant literature
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A supplementary feeding scheme in the conservation of the Cape Vulture at the Waterberg, South West Africa/Namibia
Brown CJ & Jones SJA. 1989. A supplementary feeding scheme in the conservation of the Cape Vulture at the Waterberg, South West Africa/Namibia. Madoqua 19 (2) 111-110
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Information on African Wild Dog Conservancy
Information on African Wild Dog Conservancy from NACSO website
Fact sheets, notice-board posters etc on African Wild Dog Conservancy» Download -
Information on Okamatapati Conservancy
Information on Okamatapati Conservancy from NACSO website
Fact sheets, notice-board posters etc on Okamatapti Conservancy» Download -
Information on Otjituuo Conservancy
Information on Otjituuo Conservancy from NACSO website
Fact sheets, notice-board posters etc on Otjituuo Conservancy» Download -
Information on Ozonahi Conservancy
Information on Ozonahi Conservancy from NACSO website
Fact sheets, notice-board posters etc on Ozonahi Conservancy» Download -
Leopard population and home range estimates in north-central Namibia
Stein AB, Fuller TK, DeStefano S & Marker LL. 2011. Leopard population and home range estimates in north-central Namibia. African Journal of Ecology, 49: 383–387
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Opportunistic use of camera traps to assess habitat-specific mammal and bird diversity in northcentral Namibia
Stein AB, Fuller TK & Marker LL. 2008. Opportunistic use of camera traps to assess habitat-specific mammal and bird diversity in northcentral Namibia. Biodiversity and Conservation 17: 3579–3587
During 2006, camera-traps were set within and surrounding WPP to assess leopard density. Fortuitously, photographic results allowed us to assess aspects of mammal and bird diversity and differences among the Park, farms, and the flat lands surrounding the escarpment. Species composition among the three areas was markedly different, and made sense with respect to differences in habitat and management features.» Download -
Ranging behaviour of Cape Vultures Gyps coprotheres from an endangered population in Namibia
Bamford AJ, Diekmann M, Monadjem A & Mendelsohn J. 2007. Ranging behaviour of Cape Vultures Gyps coprotheres from an endangered population in Namibia. Bird Conservation International 17: 331–339
The Cape Vulture is a cliff-nesting vulture endemic to southern Africa. Its range and population size have declined markedly over the last century. Namibia has just one colony, located on the cliffs of the Waterberg Plateau. Five adult males and one immature were captured near the Waterberg site and fitted with satellite-tracking devices and the foraging range was assessed. The ranging behaviour of adult vultures varied throughout the year, and was apparently related to their nesting behaviour.» Download -
The ecological, social & economic implications of private game parks & private nature reserves in Namibia
The ecological, social & economic implications of private game parks & private nature reserves in Namibia
The Ministry of Environment & Tourism commissioned this study into the ecological, social, and economic implications of private game parks and nature reserves in Namibia. The Ministry engaged the services of an independent team of researchers consisting of an ecologist, an economist and a lawyer.» Download -
The status of cliff-nesting raptors on the Waterberg - SWA/Namibia
Brown CJ & Cooper TG. 1987 The status of cliff-nesting raptors on the Waterberg - SWA/Namibia. Madoqua 15 (3) 243-249
» Download -
Waterberg Plateau Park
Ministry of Environment and Tourism. Waterberg Plateau Park
6 page brochure describing the park and its attractions» Download -
Waterberg Plateau Park. Hiking trails and wildlife wonders
Ministry of Environment and Tourism. Waterberg Plateau Park. Hiking trails and wildlife wonders.
A 2 page flyer describing the hiking trails on and around Waterberg» Download -
Waterberg Plateau Park. What's that? The noises around the bungalows
Ministry of Environment and Tourism. Waterberg Plateau Park. What's that? The noises around the bungalows
A 2 page flyer describing the wildlife around the bungalows» Download