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Fascinating
Stop at Aus Info Centre - 01.08.06
In which way are Hansheinrich von Wolf, legendary founder
of Duwisib, Emil Kreplin, Mayor of Lüderitz, and
air force lieutenant Fiedler connected to the Wild Horses
of the Namib? The answer can now be gained at Aus Information
Centre which opened its doors to the public just in
time for the peak tourist season. Situated on the way
into Aus, in south-western Namibia, the centre aims
at introducing visitors and locals to the hamlet’s
wealth of plants and animals, history and tales, in
an entertaining way. At the same time it offers jobs
and income to the community of Aus. |
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The first
six of a total of 23 display boards were ready
for installation by mid July. Words and pictures
explain about the origins, life and future of
the fascinating horses which can be watched 20
km further west, at Garub. Tour operator Cheetah
Tours meets the bill for designing and printing
the six display boards. The owner of the company,
Helmut Schäfer, pledged his support as soon
as he heard about the project for the community
of Aus. Research and texts are paid by the Gondwana
Desert Collection which runs four nature reserves
in southern Namibia. Sponsors are still being
sought for several display boards.
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. Among other exciting topics at
the centre are diamond and zinc mining; |
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Horse-lovers Helmut Schäfer, Sybille Redecker
(both from Cheetah Tours) and Mannfred Goldbeck
(Gondwana Desert Collection) with the display
boards on the Wild Horses. |
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the First World
War, called to mind by the remnants of a POW camp; as
well as the history and everyday life of the people
who live in Aus.
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To help digest
the wealth of information, the centre includes a cosy
café & restaurant which serves coffee, snacks
and light meals. The souvenir shop sells arts and crafts,
postcards and books dealing with the area. |
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Soon
after the inauguration the centre welcomed a high-ranking
visitor: Namibia's Speaker of Parliament, Theo-Ben Gurirab,
and his entourage stopped over in Aus on a tour of the
south. At the Information Centre he met with representatives
of the community and declared himself highly impressed
with the initiative. The purpose of his tour was to
explain the functions of the bicameral parliament and
to keep informed about everyday life in the south and
the problems the people are dealing with. |
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Speaker
of Parliament, Theo-Ben Gurirab, at the Aus Information
Centre. |
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The centre
is run by 23-year-old Claudia Baisitse and her staff
of three, all of them from Aus. The young businesswoman
is leasing the premises from the 'Aus Community and
Conservation Trust' (ACCT), which was established on
the initiative of Klein-Aus Vista accommodation. The
centre was built with EU funds. The ACCT is the owner
of the building. The rental income will be used for
the benefit of the community of Aus. |
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Business
hours are daily from 9h00 to 18h00;
contact: (063) 258151.
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