Africa-Press – Namibia. THE Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has launched an investigation to trace four tourists who were pictured climbing the unique trees in Deadvlei, the world-renowned tourist destination within the Namib-Naukluft Park.
Ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said the ministry condemns the barbaric action of the tourists. “The rules and regulations at Deadvlei restrict among other climbing in trees and flying drones in the park,” he said.
Muyunda said non-adherence to park rules is increasingly becoming worrisome, especially by foreign visitors who after violation of the laws go back to their countries making it difficult to trace them.
The Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) also condemned the behaviour and called for responsible tourism by all visitors in the country. NWR spokesperson Nelson Muremi Ashipala said they took notice of images circulating on social media of tourists posing in the trees in Deadvlei.
The dead camelthorn trees, also known as the Vachellia Erioloba, are said to be more than 900 years old and were formed by a change in climate after the dunes encroached the pan, preventing water from reaching the area where the trees are found.
“Seeing tourists climb these rather symbolic trees is not only despicable, but it goes against the notion of Responsible Tourism,” he said.
He added that Namibia’s beauty is characterised by its well-maintained and respected tourism sites, and seeing individuals destroy it through unbecoming behaviour spells what they as Namibians stand against as a tourist destination.
Ashipala urged all visitors to their tourism sites to respect all park rules and not to take action that will end up wiping away the beautiful national treasures.
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