Text and Photos : Niseth van der Meulen
The Uis Tourist Centre in the North West of Namibia is the result of community initiative and determination. Uis was known as a small mine town until the closing of the tin mines in 1990 left hundreds of people unemployed. Not soon after a group of young people took the initiative to use tourism as a new means for income generation and started offering their guiding services at the Brandberg. Being the highest mountain in Namibia and host to world famous rock painting, it is situated only 40km from Uis. After initial problems such as lack of resources and knowledge, a sceptical attitude from the established tourism industry and the lack of any business structure, the guides are now an example of self-empowerment. The guiding services were the first of many other tourism related activities in the area, offering job opportunities to people who though their future was lost. In 2004 the community decided to take it one step further. They bought their own land, build a tourist centre and offered the existing and new enterprises a place to sell their services.
Namibia is the land of unique scenery ; vast planes and dry deserts. Nevertheless, when travelling from the tourism “hot spot” Swakopmund to the famous Etosha National Park, one starts wondering if there is going to be an end to the long and dusty roads. All of a sudden the small town of Uis appears out of nowhere. Your eye is immediately drawn to the tourist centre at the entrance of town. After the heat you have just endured, the building made from big boulders and surrounded by a cool veranda is the perfect place to hide from the sun and relax.
You have just arrived at the Uis Tourist Centre, owned and managed by the Tsiseb Community. Here you will be spoiled with friendly service while you decide on a range of activities to choose from. Next to a coffee shop, the Centre houses a crafts shop, an internet café, and an information office from where you can plan your next days. While enjoying your fresh coffee you have the opportunity to chat to the local entrepreneurs and learn more about their culture, the fascinating natural beauty of the area and the latest town gossip. Four big posters inform you about the mining, the history, and the flora and fauna around Uis.
All enterprises are owned by groups or individuals who rent their shop space from the wider community. They have enough activities on offer to keep you occupied from 2 hours to 5 days. Uis boosts three accommodation establishments. Outside town, on your way to the Brandberg is a newly build lodge and campsite from where you have a spectacular view of the mountain. The area is frequently roomed by desert rhino’s and groups of desert adapted elephants.
Forty kilometres from the Uis Tourist Centre, but still within the Tsiseb community are the Dâureb Mountain Guides. A group of professional guides who take you up the Brandberg and show you its magnificent rock painting. The standard tour takes about 2 hours but can be adapted on request. For the fitter hikers there is a three day trip top the top of the mountain from which you have the most spectacular view over the desert.
Other attractions in the area are the Twyfelfontein rock engravings (on UNESCO’s list to become a world heritage site) and the Spitzkoppe Mountains.
Location
The Uis Tourist Centre is situated on the main road through Uis. When entering the town on the C 35 or C 36 you will immediately see the natural stone building at the little road-triangle. Uis is reachable by normal sedan car and by air. It is about a two hours drive from Swakopmund and three hours from the Okaukuejo gate of Etosha National Park
Contact
Tsiseb Conservancy
P.O. Box 4, Uis
Tel. : +264 (0)64 504 162
Fax : +264 (0)64 504 182
Internet : www.nacobta.com.na
NACOBTA
Tel. : +264 61 250558
Fax : +264 61 222647
Email : office.nacobta@iway.na
It is not necessary to make a booking in advance : the Centre is opened 7 days a week from 8 AM till 5 PM. The common language is English
Cultural Information
The majority of the community from Tsiseb belong to the DamaraNama tribe. The most common income generating activity is small stock farming. This remains an uncertain form of living due to the harsh and dry conditions in the area. After the tin mines closed, many people lost their job. Currently there are still a handful of miners who mine tin on marginal bases. Income generated from this hard work is not enough to sustain a family.
The most valuable assets of the community are their natural resources. The community has also realised this and they work together to protect wildlife, stop poaching and maintain their cultural attractions. They have managed to attract tourist to their area who come for the rock paintings on the Brandberg, the desert adapted elephants and the very rare desertt rhino’s. the Brandberg is a micro-climate on itself and houses many unique species of flora and fauna. Through tourism the community has regained its cultural pride and a sustainable form of income.
Range of activities and services offered
Target : families, groups, and individuals
Recommended seasons : All through the year, but the summer months (November-February) can be extremely hot when you plan to go hiking at the Brandberg.
Types of tours provided : daily trips, cultural centre, and full packages
Short description of the services offered : internet café, crafts initiatives, hiking trails, historical sites, birding trails, elephant/rhino tracking