The park was established in 1907 when the German Colonial Administration proclaimed three game reserves in
German South West Africa. Today's Namib-Naukluft park was proclaimed as "Game Reserve No. 3". The other two were the
Omuramba Omatako and
Etosha. The northern border of the reserve was south of the
Swakop River, and the southern border was south of the
Kuiseb River, so that the park included the Kuiseb but excluded the Swakop due to the economic activities at its banks. After
World War I the
South African administration of
South West Africa confirmed the proclamation of the Germans. For the Namib-Naukluft Park, the area of
Sandwich Harbour was added in 1941, and a small extension of the southern border followed in 1962. In 1966 "Game Reserve No. 3" was deproclaimed, and the
Namib Desert Park was established in its stead. The Namib Desert Park included a small area north of the Swakop River where
Welwitschia grow, as well as the Moon Landscape east of
Swakopmund. In 1979 two more large areas were added. The
Naukluft Mountain Zebra Park was included so that the
Naukluft Mountains now formed part of the protected area. It previously comprised 14 commercial farms that were bought by the government to protect the
Hartmann mountain zebra. The second area added was a strip of the
Atlantic Ocean, making the Namib-Naukluft Park Namibia's first marine reserve. The park's present boundaries were established in 1986 when the government was given control over parts of the
Sperrgebiet, an area restricted for diamond mining. This vast strip of land has remained inaccessible to the general population but is now part of the Namib-Naukluft Park. ==Gallery==