How to Really Travel like a Local

There are so many exceptional places, spaces and people to see in Namibia. This is especially true in our communal conservancy areas where the stories abound of self-sacrifice, determination and perseverance to protect our natural world and all of the intrinsic species of plants and animals that call these areas home.

However, without first-hand knowledge of the gems of each region of Namibia, often we find ourselves travelling through the most exceptional parts without knowing where to stop and explore. This is what the Conservancy Side Tracks project is hoping to take care of through giving us a guide that can go with us as we explore.

The Conservancy Side Tracks project, still in its pilot phase, is putting together maps and guides that will act as day outings for self-guided trips  or as a compliment to local guiding services.

As explained by Travel News Namibia, “Attractive and informative route brochures enable navigation and enhance visitor experiences, unlocking the secrets of the route’s landscape. The central feature of the brochures is a highly detailed map, yet the brochures also provide information on community conservation, fauna and flora, geology and on culture and history.”

Travel News Namibia goes on to say that “Conservancy Side-Tracks is an innovative tourism route development project through which the Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations, NACSO, intends to make the myriad attractions of community conservation areas more accessible. At the same time, the initiative seeks to channel the current free-for-all travel by guiding tourism traffic onto preferred routes and ensuring the land holders have a say in what happens on their land.”

In 99FM’s MYD Earth show well-known Namibian artist and conservationist, Helge Denker, shared with us how we too can travel Namibia like we are a local in every region through the Conservancy Side-Tracks project.

Here are some of the areas he covered :

• What this project is about
• Some of the amazing stories of conservation in the regions
• How this project is guiding South African mapping companies on how to map Namibia correctly
• Where you can get your copies of Conservancy Side Tracks

Take a listen to the MYD Earth show with Helge Denker about the Conservancy Side Tracks project, here :

For the Travel News Namibia article about Conservancy Side Tracks, click here : TNN on Conservancy Side Tracks