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March 1979 aerial census in the Etosha National Park.

Altogether 240 563 tourists visited the Administration's game reserves and resorts during 1979, in comparison to 319 785 during 1978, which was a record year. The decrease of 79 222 visitors (24, 7%) can be attributed to the political and fuel situation. These factors especially affected visitors from the R. S. Ambers decreased from 112 110 in 1978 to 55 479 in 1979, which represents a decrease of 51%. There was a decrease of 12% in visitors from S. W. A. and 6% in visitors from overseas.

September 1978 aerial census in the Etosha National Park with the aid of a helicopter and fixed wing aircraft.

The 319 510 tourists who visited the administration's game reserves and resorts during the year made 1978 a record year. The highest previous figure was in 1975, namely 314 218 tourists. In comparison with 1977 the number of tourists from Southwest Africa decreased by 2 208, while the number of tourists from the Republic and overseas increased by 25 389 and 9 639 respectively. Day visitors decreased by 13 966, whereas overnight visitors increased by 46 776.

Nature conservation and Tourism: Introduction - Despite the many factors which are restricting tourism world-wide 286 700 tourists visited the Administration game reserves and resorts in the course of 1977 as compared to 265 633 during 1976. Structurally, tourist and spending patterns have changed and the number of visitors to South West Africa from outside the Territory increased by approximately 8 909 as compared to the number of visitors for 1976. In the nature conservation field there has been marked progress.

Black-backed jackal, baboon, rock hyrax, caracal and cape hunting dog.

In spite of limiting factors such as inflation, fuel restrictions, fluctuations in the staff position end a shortage of accommodation during peek periods, the Division could, once again, show considerable progress in both the areas of nature conservation and tourism. Naturally problems were also experienced. As far as nature conservation is concerned, the following peaks and problems were experienced: A new Ordinance (No.4 of 1975) came into operation during the year, It contains Sweeping changes which are mainly aimed at giving the former greeter powers of disposal over his game…

Poaching remains a headache. Illegal hunting on roads and mainly during the night is becoming a major problem. Even cattle are being shot and, in many cases, only the hindquarters and loins are removed. The Nature Conservation Division and the S. A. Police have been co-operating closely and in some cases the aid of property owners was also enlisted. Regardless of heavy fines and the confiscation of rifles and other accessories, no reduction in poaching activities is apparent.

Aerial census of the Etosha national Park during September 1973 with aid of a helicopter

Since completion of the fence on the Etosha's northern border the whole game park is now fenced in, causing management problems and more intensive research, also because the game park is an ecological unit no longer. Elephants breaking through the fence, doing damage on neighbouring farms and lions going through the breaks, still pose a problem in spite of the fact that a large part of the fence was re-enforced by adding three wires and that nature conservators spent more time keeping elephants away from the farms. Seven culprits had to be shot.

Game census - Etosha: June 1972.

Game count: Etosha, July 1972.

More research was done on game capture techniques and means and eland, springbok, gemsbok, zebra and rhino were captured and translocated successfully. More game was sold to farmers, namely 147 springbok, 46 gemsbok and 47 plains zebra. In addition 85 eland and some giraffe were taken from the Mangetti to the Waterberg Plateau Park, two rhinos to the Etosha National Park and 7 mountain zebra to the game park area of the Hardap Recreation Resort. The use of a helicopter once more proved essential for capturing game.

The count commenced on the morning of February 3rd and ended on the afternoon of Februray 9th, 1971. A total of about 40 hours were spent in the air. The pilot of the Piper Super Cub was N. Maritz with J. du Preez as observer.

Game counts at Koabendus camp and Kaross.

Kaross and Khoabendes.

More and more profits are being derived from the Administration's policy that game should have a direct monetary value for the farm owners. Farmers thus netted an estimated income of R186 600,00 throughout the year from the sale of live game, game carcases, hunting licence fees and trophy hunters. This amount was calculated according to the licence value of the different game species for which licences were issued and could be considerably higher. The licensed game dealers netted close to R111 700,00 from the export of game.

For the protection of grazing, farmers throughout for the Territory obtained permits for shooting 3, 893 zebra, 2, 025 ostriches, 172 giraffes, 183 kudus, 404 gemsbuck, 2, 513 springboks and 12 steenboks. Permits were issued for the export of 17, 724 hides to an approximate value of R 50,000. The revenue for the Administration out of levies on the export of 760 head of game by the two licensed game dealers amounted to R 2, 323. There are no levies on the export of hides. The first Administration’s policy that game should have a monetary value for the farmer, started yielding…

Farmers who complained about damage caused by protected game, were assisted as far as possible. Three giraffes and two elephants had to be shot and many elephants were driven from farms.

Aerial surveys of the centra] and eastern areas of the Etosha National Park were undertaken during September 1968, April 1969 and February 1970, primarily to establish the efficacy of an aeroplane in counting the larger mammals in the Park and to obtain some idea of the numbers and distribution of the various populations. Previous census methods such as road strip counts and waterhole counts were found inaccurate, unreliable and often impractical in Etosha.