Namibian Conservancy Tourism Exchange

No Borders Tour – Montana Program September 6-16, 2012

Austin-Lehman Adventures in conjunction with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and others hosted a delegation of 14 Namibian tourism industry representatives, including four conservancy reps (some of whom are members of the Himba and Herero tribes) on a "No Borders Tour" of Southeastern Montana and Yellowstone National Park. Delegates met with property owners, managers and government officials to explore how they manage these wide open spaces and incorporate sustainable adventure tourism activities such as biking, rafting, wildlife viewing and horseback riding. In turn, our international guests shared their Land Conservancy model and how it works in Namibia and how it might apply to Native American tribes and reservations in the West, meeting with Crow tribal leaders and officials. The tour wrapped up in Bozeman with an American football game as guests of Montana State University.

Check out photos from the 2012 Nam Fam Trip!

Sponsors:
-Austin-Lehman Adventures
-World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
-The Billings Chamber of Commerce/Convention and Visitors Bureau
-Yellowstone National Park Lodges/Xanterra
-O.A.R.S.
-Southeast Montana Tourism Region
-Zoo Montana
-Billings Tourism Business Improvement District
-320 Guest Ranch

Patricpants and Organizations:
-Conservancy Development Support Services (CDSS)
-Namibian Association of Community Based Natural Resource Management Support Organizations
-Wilderness Safaris
-Yellowstone County Museum
-Native American Tribal Leaders from Southeast Montana
-Namibian Development Trust
-Minisitry of Environment & Tourism
-Wuparo Conservancy, Caprivi Region
-Namibian Exclusive Safaris
-Omatendeka Conservancy
-Sheya Uushona Conservancy, North Central Region

Hosted By:
Dan Austin- ALA Director
Kasey Austin- ALA Field Operations Liaison and Guide

The Purpose
Why Namibia? Namibia’s Competitive Advantage!
Photos from Dan and Andy Austin's trip to Namibia
Photos of where the No Border's Tour is headed- The No Border's Tour visited parts of Montana and Yellowstone National Park.

Press Release/News
Wheels of Change Teams Up With Zoo Montana - WOC has teamed up with Zoo Montana to collect bicycles for the Wuparo Conservancy by Dave Wiggins
The Wuparo Conservancy first BEC - Plans to build a Bicycle Empowerment Center on the Wuparo Conservancy in Nambia
Tourism Exchange Bringing Namibian Delegation to Montana by Dave Wiggins
Austin-Lehman Adventures to Host Namibian Officials in Montana by David Cogswell

Stay tuned for more information, photos, insights and learnings from this extraordinary event.

For questions and more information please contact Austin-Lehman Director Dan Austin at dan@austinlehman.com
For press and media ideas please contact Dave Wiggins at dave@travelnewssource.com

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