Study Tour D: Desert Wonder (Pre-tour)
12 to 15 May 2016
Introduction
This four day tour takes you to neighbouring country Namibia, an arid region in south western Africa.
The country is home to the Namib Desert, considered to be one of the oldest deserts in the world.
The country only has a handful of large dams, one of them currently under construction. The
Neckartal Dam, constructed from RCC, will be 80 metres high when complete. The dam is located
close to Keetmanshoop on the Fish River. The water will be used for irrigation activities and
hydropower generation. A visit to the Naute Dam is also included. After visiting the Hardap and
Oanob Dam en route, participants will overnight in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, and enjoy local
cuisine as well as a visit to the N/a’an kusê Foundation, responsible for conservation of Namibian
wildlife. The tour starts and ends in Windhoek.
Map
(See Page 5 for detailed road map)
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Special Note
Delegates are advised to check Visa Requirements of South Africa and Namibia and must be in
the possession of a valid passport.
Itinerary
Day 1 – 12 May 2016 – Thursday
Tour starts at Hosea Kutako International Airport in Windhoek
11:00
Meet at Hosea Kutako International Airport. Tour participants will be advised of the pick-up
arrangements via e-mail at a later stage. Depart for Keetmanshoop, with lunch en route.
19:00
Arrive at Canyon Hotel Keetmanshoop
19:30
Dinner at hotel
Day 2 – 13 May 2016 – Friday
07:30
Breakfast
08:30
Depart to Neckartal Dam
09:30
Visit Neckartal Dam
The Neckartal Dam Project is part of the first phase of the Neckartal Irrigation Scheme which
comprises the development of 5 000 ha of irrigated farm land approximately 40 km west of
Keetmanshoop. The dam will be approximately 518 m long and 78.5 m high to full supply level, with a
full supply gross capacity of 857 million m³ and reservoir surface area of 39 km². The dam will be
constructed of Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC), with the volume to be in the order of 1 million m3.
Water will be released from the dam and allowed to flow downstream for 13 km to an abstraction weir.
From there the bulk water supply system will convey to the irrigated areas. The bulk water supply
system comprises of an abstraction weir, sediment trap, pump station, pipe line and balancing dams.
Once the water arrives at the irrigated areas the irrigation supply system will distribute it to the
individual farms.
13:30
Lunch at Neckartal Dam
14:30
Depart to Naute Dam
15:30
Visit Naute Dam
The Naute Dam is a dam outside of Keetmanshoop in the ǁKaras Region of Namibia. It was built
between 1970 and 1972. It is the third largest dam in Namibia. The dam's source is the Löwen River,
a tributary of the Fish River. The dam is a concrete arch dam and approximately 37 m high.
16:30
Depart to Keetmanshoop
17:30
Arrive at Keetmanshoop
19:00
Dinner at Canyon Hotel Keetmanshoop. There is a Traditional Nama Dance performance
during Dinner.
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Day 3 – 14 May 2016 – Saturday
07:30
Breakfast
08:30
Depart for Windhoek
11:30
Visit Hardap Dam
Hardap Dam is a dam close to the town of Mariental. Created in 1962 while Namibia was under South
African occupation, Hardap Dam is the largest dam in the country. The reservoir dams the Fish
River and has a surface area of 25 km. The dam is a rockfill dam with asphalt concrete face and is
36 m high.
12:30
Lunch at Hardap Dam
13:30
Depart to Rehoboth
16:30
Visit Oanob Dam
The Oanob Dam is a 50 m high double curvature concrete dam. The dam has a capacity of 34 million
cubic metres and was completed in 1990, the year of Namibia's independence.
17:30
Depart for Windhoek
18:30
Arrive at Avani Hotel in Windhoek
19:30
Dinner at Joe’s Beerhouse
Day 4 – 15 May 2016 – Sunday
08:00
Breakfast
09:00
Depart to N/a’an kusê Foundation outside Windhoek
10:00
Visit N/a’an kusê Foundation
N/a'an ku sê, together with local landowners, traditional communities, the Ministry of Environment and
Tourism and other affected government departments in Namibia are developing innovative strategies
for the protection and preservation of the Namibian environment. The N/a’an ku sê Wildlife Sanctuary
comprises of 3 200 hectares of protected land. The reserve hosts a sanctuary for injured and
orphaned animals as well as natural Namibian landscape that is home to roaming herds of zebra,
kudu, oryx, eland and giraffe. A capture and release programme for leopards and cheetahs is run, as
well as a medical clinic for the local San tribe’s people.
13:00
Lunch N/a’an kusê Foundation
14:00
Depart to Hosea Kutako International Airport
14:30
Tour ends at Hosea Kutako International Airport in Windhoek
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Artist impression of Neckartal Dam
Current construction progress at
Neckertal Dam
Windhoek, capital of Namibia
Naute Dam
Oanob Dam
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Road Map
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