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Gripping
tale(s) served with a cup of coffee
The village of Aus is full of exciting stories, and
its surroundings are a biologists’ paradise. To
make travellers aware of these attractions, the Aus
Community and Conservation Trust (ACCT), which was established
on the initiative of Klein Aus Vista, set up the Aus
Tourist Information Centre.
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The
attractions are presented in words and pictures
on more than 20 display boards.
Visitors learn interesting facts about the origin,
life and future of the fascinating Wild Horses
which can be watched at Garub, 20 km to the west.
One of the rooms in the centre is dedicated to
the unique plant and animal life of this area
where three deserts overlap: the Nama Karoo, Dune
Namib and Succulent Karoo - the most biodiverse
desert on earth.
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A good idea for an entertaining stopover: Aus
Info Centre, situated on the way into the town. |
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Other fascinating
topics are the advent of the railways in the early 20th
century which revolutionized transportation in the country;
breeding Karakul sheep, the lambskins of which were
once traded as ‘black diamonds’; the mining
of diamonds and zinc in the region; the First World
War, traces of which can still be found in the form
of entrenchments and the ruins of a POW camp; and not
least the history, culture and everyday life of the
people of Aus. |
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To help digest
the wealth of information, the centre includes a cosy
café & restaurant which serves coffee and
goodies baked by members of the local community, as
well as snacks and light meals. The souvenir shop sells
local embroidery and other arts and crafts, postcards
and books dealing with the area. |
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The
centre is run by Claudia Baisitse and her staff
of three, all of them from Aus. She is the manageress
of the newly established company 'Aus Information
Centre & Tourism Venture' which rents the
premises. Baisitse holds 50 percent of the company's
vote and can expect to receive an annual incentive
of 10 percent of the shares during each of the
following five years to eventually hold a 50 percent
share in the company. The other two share holders,
Klein-Aus Vista (Gondwana Sperrgebiet Rand Park)
and Nature Investments (t/a Gondwana Desert Collection)
support her financially and with training, advice
and marketing.
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One of the display boards. |
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Claudia Baisitse with her mentors (left to right) Alain
Noirfalise (Nature Investments) and Piet and Willem
Swiegers (Klein-Aus Vista). |
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centre was funded by the European Union and is
the property of the 'Aus Community Conservation
Trust' (ACCT), which was established on the initiative
of Klein-Aus Vista. The rental income will be
used for the benefit of the community of Aus.
The display boards were largely paid for by companies
and organisations. Tour operator Cheetah Tours
& Safaris meets the bill for designing and
printing the six display boards on the Wild Horses;
research and texts are paid by the Gondwana Desert
Collection. The main sponsors of the six display
boards on plants and animals are the Critical
Ecosystem Partnership Fund |
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ACCT chairman Emil Franz and the manageress of
'Aus Information Centre & Tourism Venture', Claudia
Baisitse, sign the lease agreement. |
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(CEPF) and
the Succulent Karoo Ecosystem Programme (SKEP), financed
by Conservation International (CI). |
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Business
hours are daily from 9h00 to 18h00;
contact: (063) 258151. |
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