Ecotourism game parks in Africa are the new wave of successful entrepreneurship and Erindi Game Reserve in Namibia is leading the way.
Rehabilitation and conservation efforts instituted at Erindi over the last few years have ensured the recovery and balance within the ecosystem of a large expanse of central Namibia and the healthy cycle between vegetation, herbivores and their predators have returned to the region.
The conservation specialists carefully manage the reserve to ensure the numbers and diversity of species leads to sustainable land utilization and benefits the ecosystem and the inhabitants as a whole working unit. This also includes the people who come and visit for safari.
The restoration of local wildlife to the reserve is a real-life success story. Wildlife that were once hunted and persecuted on this land now enjoys a safe haven – where they are fully protected – and visitors have become a welcome guest in their natural environment.
Many highly endangered species have been relocated to Erindi and the reserve now boasts possibly the largest protected population of Black Rhinoceros in Namibia (though actual numbers are kept secret).
It was reported that the African wild dog once thrived in the area during the 19th century but the last protected pack disappeared from Etosha National Park, to the north of Erindi, in 1970. With the daunting challenge to reintroduce the species Erindi decided to confront the issue and brought back the highly endangered carnivore back to the region, and today the painted dogs of Africa roam free and protected within the reserve.
Lions, a highly targeted animal outside of Namibia’s protected areas, were captured by the Erindi team and given a safe home within the reserve.
A natural population of the rare brown hyena resides in the area and together with a large population of cheetah and leopard, Erindi Game Reserve is home to a predator and big cat diversity that matches few other wildlife destinations in all of Africa.
“Erindi Game Reserve is home to a predator and big cat diversity that matches few other wildlife destinations in all of Africa.”
The leopard is said to be the most sought after and the most persecuted big cat on the planet. Erindi has allocated part of its conservation research efforts towards better understanding of this elusive animal in hopes to help reduce human/predator conflict and find methods to ensure that man and leopard benefit mutually in our march towards the future.
It wasn’t until 2007 when the capture and collaring of leopards began at Erindi. Four leopards were captured but only 2 were fitted with radio collars (the other 2 were too young to be collard). In 2008 three more leopards were collard. With these devices, the reserve can see very distinctive pattern of territories developing at what is the beginning of an exciting project that is sure to last.
The conservation managers, through a fixed-point photography project, are able to see the rejuvenation of vegetation reintroduced to the area that are beginning to bear fruit and show a sure sign of a successful return to their original state.
In addition, surveys and veld condition assessments are used to ensure that the plants of the reserve do not exert excess pressure from the wildlife and that the fragile ecological balance between vegetation, herbivores and predators has been restored.
Together, the carefully measured practices put in place by Erindi all ensures the area is conserved and restored to a balanced ecosystem that once thrived in the area before cattle ranching destroyed the area. Most importantly it ensures visitors like you a safari in an area that is the most authentic of game reserves Namibia has to offer.
