Lawless driving in Sossusvlei condemned

Members of Namibia's tourism industry have widely condemned a reckless off-road driving incident in Sossusvlei.

This follows a recent viral social media post depicting an aerial photo taken over a protected area of Sossuvlei in the Namib Naukluft Park, clearly showing tyre tracks.

A spokesperson for the environment ministry, Romeo Muyunda, confirmed the incident.

"The marks clearly indicate that the culprits were spinning with what is suspected to be motorbikes."

He said the ministry plans to rehabilitate the area.



Frequent cases

Muyunda added that in recent months they have also observed vandalism. He said some visitors removed poles demarcating restricted areas in order to drive through the off-limit areas.

"The ministry strongly condemns these types of actions in our national parks. We wish to clarify that by no means did the ministry sanction such an activity, neither did we have any knowledge of it."

He said it should be noted that in all the national parks, off-road driving or driving in restricted areas is forbidden.

"Sossusvlei and the Namib Naukluft Park are no exception to this, especially considering the fact that Sossusvlei is a World Heritage Site."



Vast area to patrol

Muyunda, moreover, said the ministry refutes accusations that it does not carry out law enforcement at Sossusvlei or other national parks.

He said there are consistent and regular patrols at Sossusvlei, but unfortunately, the area is vast.

"It is impossible to be everywhere at all times. Additionally, Namibia promotes self-guided and regulated tours where visitors are left to experience the country while adhering to park rules without being monitored."

Muyunda called upon visitors to national parks to always adhere to park rules and regulations, which are mainly meant to assist in the preservation of landscapes and other natural resources.

He said the park rules are also designed to ensure the safety of visitors and minimise the risks associated with restricted activities.



Adhere to laws

The Namibia Travel and Tourism Forum (NTTF) said that the Namibian tourism industry "vehemently" condemns these actions, which contravene Namibian laws.

"Adherence to marked trails and routes in places like Sossusvlei and the Namib Desert is a critical requirement."

It said these paths are meticulously planned to limit human interference with the delicate ecosystem and to protect the unique species that reside within.

The NTTF said actions such as off-road driving in protected areas can inflict severe damage.

It said tyre tracks, though seemingly benign, can disrupt habitats, decimate vegetation and trigger soil erosion.

A spokesperson for Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR), which manages accommodation in Sossusvlei, said the incident should be investigated and the culprits brought to book.

"NWR has always supported responsible tourism, and these are areas that have over time formed such beautiful landscapes, so for a tourist to become so reckless and destroy them as such is just unbecoming behaviour. We always encourage tourists to take care of the environment."