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Counts were undertaken at waterholes in the escarpment zone of north west Namibia. In 2018,18 waterholes in 7 conservancies were counted while in 2019 and 2020, the number of waterholes was increased to 26 covering 10 conservancies. Counts were undertaken over a period of 2, 3 or 4 days during which time all animals seen were counted.

This year's game count results showed the drastic decrease in game numbers, with gemsbok numbers being down 86% compared to 2019 and plains zebra and wildebeest down 93% and 97% respectively. Red hartebeest have all disappeared from the park as most of them died, a few were harvested, and a few got onto neighbouring properties. Only giraffe managed to increase, as 4 more calves were born over the last year, bringing the total to 22. Naturally, successful reproduction in the other game species over the past season has been very low.

The year’s results show a significant decrease in animals counted (-37%) and overall population estimate (-19%). The game harvesting operations done in the preceding year would have contributed to the lower game numbers. The northern sections of the park (zone 6, 7, 8 and 9) received the most rain and thus an overwhelming majority (53%) of the animals were counted in this area. For the first time in 8 years the park’s modelled carrying capacity is higher than the total grazer biomass (stocking rate).

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.