Road from Alexander Bay, Oranjemund to Luderitz

Dear Lüderitz Business Sector
It is time that we start doing something to get business back into Lüderitz. We must stop waiting for others to do this for us. I propose to do the following and I trust that I get your support in doing this: I can see big opportunities for the two towns on the Namibian side of the border, namely Oranjemund and Lüderitz, if tourists can travel this road along the coast.
Tourists are not overly happy and very often decide on the spot, while in Aus, to carry on driving North or staying over in Aus respectively. They find it a schlep to go the Panhandle way – one way in and the same way out of Lüderitz! Tourists and South Africans alike would love to come to our country, travel up north along the coast and the Namib Desert, to the Etosha Park and then come back via the R1 to go to Windhoek or SA.
The argument has always been that the Sperrgebiet is closed and nobody may go in there. We understand why but we are told more and more that there are no more diamonds to be picked up on land. They are now only left in the sea. So why can we not find a way that this road and area can be useful to the people around here! I am aware that the Sperrgebiet has been declared a National Park. I cannot see what that means to the livelihood of the people, as it is still as closed as always, for the last 102 years.
This Park will have to do something for the people around it. Why can we not travel on Routes and Roads through the Park with an escort or with guides or with concession holders? Reasonable fees can be charged for guiding them or taking them to the places to see! They could be escorted in the morning from Luderitz to Oranjemund and vice versa. This could be done charging a fee! If we can get the Sperrgebiet Park opened, then we can start seeing a difference to the development and the sustainability of the two mentioned towns! Then we will have people here to have a look at and to experience all our attractions – Starting with our Bogenfels if you arrive from the south, maybe a look at the red crater, the desert and the ghost towns everywhere, our beautiful coast, the seals and then of course our eco-systems preserved by the closing of the desert for the last 102 years. What about our Peninsular, the Diaz Cross, the old German colonial and historical town itself, our harbour, the beautiful buildings and of course Shark Island with its rich history. There are so many things in the line of entertainment / adventurism that can be started and that will become sustainable if we have enough people coming to our town and making use of them!
People locally will be able to develop their own businesses, including Tour Guiding, but also many other interesting things that are currently not offered – cobble stoned historical streets, the old Muslim history with the very old houses, some of them still standing today can be shown and explained, the opening of a 4×4 area just outside the airport for 4×4 driving under guidance and for a fee, the opening and development of Township Tours, the Agate Beach and the obvious, fishing. Of course there are fish to catch, however, we have to market the season and we have to make it exciting; shark fishing, cray-fishing for tourists and so many other fishing types. Go out with a boat; do snoek fishing, offer everything that we have including the supply of fishing rods, crayfish nets etc. and people will stay for a few days. With our crayfish festival in April we already have a foot in the door.
It would be so inspiring if people come here, find things to do and then can spread the word. Colleagues, we intend to lobby the Prime Minister, Honourable Nahas Angula, the Minister of Mines and Energy, Honourable Isak Katali, the Environment and Tourism Minister, Honourable Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and to involve the NTB to get this thing going soon. All we are asking from you is your support in this Endeavour and, if you do support this, we request you to please sign the petition form, available from Ulf Grunewald at the Nest Hotel. We would then attach this to the lobby letter and hand it over to the Ministers concerned.
Yours Sincerely
Ulf Grünewald Operations Director
Tel: ++264 (0)63 204 000 • Fax: ++264 (0)63 204 001
P.O. Box 690 • Luderitz • Namibia
grunewald@iway.na • www.nesthotel.com
Directors: T.Mutavdzic • U.Grünewald • E.Kubirske
Co. Reg. No 95/0148