The Living Desert Snake Park, which has been operating at Swakopmund for three decades, has finally secured a new place after narrowly escaping closure due to the planned demolition of its current building.
Co-owner Angela Curtis tells The Namibian finding a new place was a challenge due to property shortages and high rental costs at the coastal town.
The relocation comes after the snake park struggled to secure a suitable location, following a notice that its current building would be demolished to make way for a new development.
“We were given notice last year, but we have been struggling to find a new place. It is difficult to move 69 snakes because the zoning has to be right and the neighbours have to be comfortable with it,” she says.
Curtis says there is also a mass shortage of property at Swakopmund due to the new mines opening and the oil discoveries, with rent prices also skyrocketing.
“We were going to close down at Swakopmund and move to Mount Etjo, but at the last minute, we got an offer from Peter van Henkel from the Paintball Centre,” she says.
Curtis says she is working with her partner and they have started constructing the new snake park using recycled shipping containers.
She says the construction of the new facility is about 75% complete, with the team racing against time to move the animals before the end of the week.
The park is expected to relocate around 69 snakes, as well as monitor lizards, tortoises and terrapins.
“We are hoping to have the basics completed so that we can move the animals and then finish the remaining work over the next two weeks. We hope to open in mid-July,” she says.
Curtis says the park, which celebrated its 30th anniversary last year, has become an important educational spot for schools across Namibia.
“Last year alone we welcomed about 128 schools and around 6 000 pupils. Education and conservation are at the heart of what we do,” she says.
She also expresses gratitude to the Swakopmund community for supporting the park during its search for a new home.
“People from all walks of life encouraged us not to close the snake park. The support was incredibly touching and reminded us how much this place means to the community,” she says.
Curtis and her partner, Stretch Combrink, took over ownership of the park in 2019 and say they hope the new location will provide a long-term future for it.
She says the park’s motto is “Conserve, Educate and Inspire”, reflecting its focus on reptile conservation and public education.
