NamibRand Nature Reserve has gained its status as Africa’s first Wilderness Quiet Park, with another South African reserve ‘under evaluation’ for the global status.
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Quiet Parks are locations across the world that remain free from noise created by humans.
This form of ‘quiet preservation’ was started by ecologist Gordon Hempton in 2005, in his initiative of One Square Inch of Silence, which then evolved into Quiet Parks International, an NPO focused on preserving these quiet destinations on Earth.
Recently, NamibRand Nature Reserve in Namibia gained its status as one of these destinations, becoming Africa’s first country to scoop the award and one of four destinations worldwide with a Wilderness Quiet Park status.
According to the NPO, Wilderness Quiet Parks are “large pristine areas offering exceptional sonic beauty and opportunities for extended periods of pure natural quiet.”
Image: Quiet Parks / Edward Alant
The NamibRand spans over 200,000 hectares and shares borders with the Namib-Naukluft National Park and the NamibSand Sea World Heritage Site.
Since 1994, the reserve has limited guest accommodations to one bed per 1000 hectares and restricted development in designated wilderness areas. The reserve is not only known for its quietude thanks to its responsible tourism practices, but also for its exceptionally dark skies.
In 2012, it was designated as an International Dark Sky Reserve at the Gold Tier level, making it an ideal location for stargazing and nocturnal wildlife observation, reports Quiet Parks.
Describing NamibRand as “the land of red dunes and fairy circles,” Field Recordist Edward Alant says that the peace and tranquility that exists within this shifting desert landscape makes it an incredible destination where nature can still be appreciated in true quiet.
“When I listen to the recordings, I can relive the moments, walking through the deep sand, setting up my recorder in an Acacia tree, and taking a few minutes to listen…” he says.
SA reserve ‘under evaluation’ for Wilderness Quiet Park status
As per the organisation’s website, there are only four destinations on Earth with Wilderness Quiet Park status.
At the time of writing, these include Zabalo River in Ecuador, Glacier National Park and Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in the USA, and NamibRand in Namibia.
Currently, there are six more sites across the globe under evalaution, with SA’s Bergplaas Nature Reserve in the Western Cape making the list:
- American Prairie Reserve, Montana, USA
- Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Bialowieza Forest, Podlaskie Voivodeship, Poland
- Haleakala National Park, Hawaii, USA
- Big Bend Ranch State Park, Texas, USA
- Bergplaas Nature Reserve, South Africa
Image: Quiet Parks / Edward Alant
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