An environmental consultancy company, Green Earth Environmental Consultants (GEEC), has been appointed to carry out the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environment Management Plan on the feasibility of a plan to construct and operate a motorised passenger transport system and a tethered helium balloon at Sossusvlei, Namib Naukluft National Park in Namibia.
According to GEEC the project is to be operated by Sky Eye Tours & Hospitality. It will include supporting facilities such as a ticketing office, boarding facilities, ablutions, a snack shop, bar area and a medical room at Sossusvlei.
The proposed motorised transport system (monorail) is expected to cover a distance of up to four kilometres from the end of the tar road to the vlei area. Currently, this section of the road to Sossusvlei and the Deadvlei area is only reachable using a 4x4 vehicle.
The plan is to close this stretch of the road for all vehicles by instead offering a train that will take tourists from the end of the tarred road to the vlei area and back. The tethered helium balloon will be positioned at the western end of the rail which will take tourists up in the air to allow them to view the vlei area and dunes from above.
GEEC has extended an invitation for interested parties to give input, comments and opinions regarding the proposed project. A public meeting is scheduled to be held in Windhoek at a date and venue to be confirmed and will be shared with those who registered as interested and affected parties.
The consultancy firm has given a deadline of up to the end of this month, March 31, for registration. Email carien@greenearthnamibia.com for further information.
