Twyfelfontein trail enchants visitors

THE revamped trail to the famous rock engravings at Twyfelfontein is now fully accessible, and up to 2 000 visitors pass through on a busy day.

New facilities – built using caged bricks, corrugated iron sheets and the lids of steel drums – have been completed, while, since August, tourists have been able to use the more controlled pathway to get to one of Namibia’s most treasured heritage sites. At the front desk, Maria Tanises signs in the busloads of tourists who arrive to be taken on a guided tour which lasts close to an hour.Tanises told The Namibian during a recent visit to the site, in the Kunene Region, that most visitors come between June and September.During the low season, around 50 people a day come to see the engravings.In April 2004, the National Monuments Council (NMC) assumed full control of the Twyfelfontein National Monument and established a joint management committee with the local community and tour operators.The NMC collects entrance fees that are kept in a special bank account.Each month, the tour guides (20 per cent) and the Uibasen-Twyfelfontein conservancy (5 per cent) receive a share of the income.The remainder of the money is spent on the maintenance and general upkeep of the site – for which the NMC has taken responsibility – as well as the salaries of the local staff.HERITAGE The NMC has nominated the Twyfelfontein area to become Namibia’s first World Heritage Site.The rock engravings are found on a number of smooth rock surfaces and most of them depict animals and their tracks.Scientists have estimated their ages to vary between 1 000 and 10 000 years.Over the years, the physical environment has been damaged by visitors moving about unrestricted.Now, protection measures such as steps leading up the steep walkways, rest areas, steel platforms for viewing and toilets have been built along the trail.The new rustic reception buildings were designed by Nina Maritz and Dennis McDonald and funded by the European Union.At the front desk, Maria Tanises signs in the busloads of tourists who arrive to be taken on a guided tour which lasts close to an hour.Tanises told The Namibian during a recent visit to the site, in the Kunene Region, that most visitors come between June and September.During the low season, around 50 people a day come to see the engravings.In April 2004, the National Monuments Council (NMC) assumed full control of the Twyfelfontein National Monument and established a joint management committee with the local community and tour operators. The NMC collects entrance fees that are kept in a special bank account.Each month, the tour guides (20 per cent) and the Uibasen-Twyfelfontein conservancy (5 per cent) receive a share of the income.The remainder of the money is spent on the maintenance and general upkeep of the site – for which the NMC has taken responsibility – as well as the salaries of the local staff. HERITAGE The NMC has nominated the Twyfelfontein area to become Namibia’s first World Heritage Site.The rock engravings are found on a number of smooth rock surfaces and most of them depict animals and their tracks.Scientists have estimated their ages to vary between 1 000 and 10 000 years.Over the years, the physical environment has been damaged by visitors moving about unrestricted.Now, protection measures such as steps leading up the steep walkways, rest areas, steel platforms for viewing and toilets have been built along the trail.The new rustic reception buildings were designed by Nina Maritz and Dennis McDonald and funded by the European Union.