Introduction
The Iona–Skeleton Coast Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA), bridging southwestern Angola and northwestern Namibia, represents one of the most ecologically significant and geographically strategic wilderness corridors in southern Africa. The integration of Angola’s Iona National Park and Namibia’s Skeleton Coast and Namib-Naukluft National Parks under this TFCA offers a prime opportunity to leverage regional tourism economies of scale, enhance conservation financing, and catalyze socio-economic upliftment in marginalized border communities.

This article presents a technical justification for why Angola’s Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Environment must proactively reach out to their Namibian counterparts to operationalize bilateral and regional tourism mechanisms. Conversely, Namibia stands to benefit from structured engagement with Angola to unlock new frontier destinations and diversify its northern tourism circuits. Drawing from the GEF-funded Angola project (being implemented by IBAC and Conservation International ) and regional SADC protocols, this paper articulates the policy, institutional and market-based rationale for regional cooperation.
The strategic value of the Iona–Skeleton Coast TFCA
The TFCA covers nearly 5 million hectares of contiguous desert-adapted ecosystems and is one of the last remaining large-scale coastal wilderness areas on the African continent. Angola’s Iona National Park alone spans 1.5 million hectares and contains high endemism, globally threatened species, and unique geomorphological features such as the Moçâmedes Desert and Welwitschia mirabilis ecosystems. Its connectivity to Namibia’s Skeleton Coast ecosystem—renowned for marine biodiversity, dramatic desert landscapes, and high-value ecotourism—makes this corridor a globally significant conservation and tourism landscape.

The potential to establish integrated tourism circuits (coastal dune routes, transboundary wildlife safaris, and cultural heritage trails) would extend tourist stays, increase regional spend, and diversify source markets.
Angola’s position: Building on the GEF-funded platform
The GEF project ‘Strengthen Management and Climate Change Resilience in Angola’s Conservation Areas for Sustainable Development’ provides a foundational framework for regional tourism development. Under Component 2, the project aims to improve management of the Angolan portion of the Iona–Skeleton Coast TFCA and reduce poaching of priority species. Component 3.4 explicitly supports building institutional and private sector capacity to develop Nature-Based Tourism (NBT) and sustainable use activities in Angola’s conservation areas.

This includes:
– Promoting tourism investment readiness in Iona.
– Strengthening institutional and regulatory frameworks.
– Facilitating partnerships with experienced tourism operators.

However, Angola’s tourism sector is nascent. The country lacks infrastructure, international marketing reach, and an enabling investment environment. Namibia’s technical assistance, institutional exchange, and regional integration could accelerate Angola’s tourism readiness while ensuring coordinated biodiversity outcomes.
4. Namibia’s opportunity: expanding into untapped Angolan markets
Namibia’s tourism model—built on conservation-compatible development, community-based natural resource management (CBNRM), and high-value, low-impact tourism—serves as a benchmark. Its northern regions, particularly Kunene and Omusati, remain underutilized in terms of transboundary tourism despite bordering Angola.

Strategic benefits for Namibia in partnering with Angola include:
– Market Expansion
– Circuit Extension
– Brand Enhancement
The Case for mutual outreach and institutional engagement
Angola’s Ministries of Tourism and Environment Should:
– Initiate structured dialogue with Namibia’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT)
– Leverage Iona’s inclusion in the GEF project
– Utilize PESAC and NBSAP

Namibia should:
– Support Angola in capacity-building for tourism
– Extend marketing partnerships
– Advocate for SADC tourism mobility instruments
Regional frameworks and instruments to reinforce
The following regional instruments provide a legal and policy foundation:
– SADC Protocol on Wildlife Conservation and Law Enforcement (1999)
– SADC Tourism Programme of Action
– SADC TFCA Programme
– African Union Agenda 2063
– KAZA and SPACES 30×30 Initiatives
Economies of scale and investment incentives
Joint action by Angola and Namibia could unlock:
– Cost-sharing in infrastructure
– Risk reduction for private investors
– Tourism SME development
– Employment and gender equity in isolated communities
Conclusion: A bi -national imperative for a regional asset
The Iona–Skeleton Coast TFCA is not just a biodiversity gem but a strategic node in southern Africa’s tourism landscape. Angola stands to benefit immensely from Namibia’s experience, markets, and institutional infrastructure. Conversely, Namibia can consolidate its northern circuits and diversify products through structured Angolan engagement.

Both nations must act decisively—at ministerial, institutional, and operational levels—to transition from fragmented aspirations to a fully functional regional tourism corridor.
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To transform the vision of regional tourism cooperation in the Iona–Skeleton Coast Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA) into a practical and implementable initiative, several strategic transboundary actions should be prioritized. Angola and Namibia can transform the Iona–Skeleton Coast TFCA into a beacon of integrated conservation and sustainable tourism. These recommendations are rooted in the GEF-7 Angola project, the regional TFCA framework under SADC and the historical socio-political and ecological linkages between Angola and Namibia. Specific action could include the following:

Establishing bilateral tourism and conservation implementation taskforce
Lead Institutions: Ministry of Tourism and Culture and Ministry of Environment (MINAMB) in Angola; Ministry of Environment and Tourism Namibia in Namibia
• Formalize a bilateral taskforce with representatives from protected area authorities (INBAC and Namibian Parks), customs/immigration, tourism boards and private sector actors.
• Align with the SADC TFCA Programme’s Joint Management Structures framework to ensure legal consistency.
• Develop MoUs covering shared priorities such as joint infrastructure investment, cross-border permit harmonization and community benefits sharing.

Operationalizing transboundary access and movement protocol
What will this focus on: Enable seamless tourist movement across the Angola-Namibia border in the TFCA
• Negotiate a local tourism mobility pass (TFCA-specific visa or permit), potentially piloting elements of the SADC Univisa scheme – there are examples from East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda)
• Upgrade and formalize the Iona–Skeleton Coast border post (e.g., Foz do Cunene) with joint customs and immigration services for tourist flows.
• Facilitate bilateral agreements for recognition of tour operator licenses and driver permits between the two countries.

Develop a joint Iona–Skeleton Coast tourism product
Themes – example: Desert biodiversity, cultural routes and coastal wilderness
• Create integrated itineraries linking Iona’s desert flora and endemic reptiles with Namibia’s shipwreck coastlines and desert-adapted megafauna – Welwitschia routes.
• Standardize branding under “One Desert – Two Nations” destination marketing campaign as an example.
• Develop joint eco-lodge circuits, transboundary self-drive 4×4 trails and cultural heritage routes involving local communities on both sides.
Mobilize investment through a Joint eco-tourism investment prospectus
Priority: Co-hosted Angola-Namibia investment forums targeting sustainable tourism developers
• Identify cross-border anchor investment zones for key tourism hot spots such as Foz do Cunene, Tombwa-Puros corridor.
• Leverage Angola’s GEF-7 funding to de-risk early-stage investment through feasibility studies, legal framework development and concessions readiness).
• Namibia can offer mentorship via existing PPP mechanisms (e.g., Namibia Wildlife Resorts, communal conservancies).

Facilitate community exchange and capacity building
What could be an ideal objective: Build shared community engagement platforms and learning exchange
• Promote community-to-community exchanges between Iona and Skeleton Coast Conservancies to transfer knowledge on benefit-sharing, craft markets, and wildlife monitoring.
• Integrate Angola’s community members into Namibia’s CBNRM certification schemes through training partnerships.
• Jointly develop guides and rangers training curricula using the local language modules
Establish a transboundary biodiversity and climate change monitoring system
Let seek the strategic link: Ensure ecological integrity and climate resilience across shared ecosystems
• Harmonize biodiversity indicators across Iona and Skeleton Coast for joint monitoring reports.
• Establish mobile research units operating across the TFCA to track key species and threats.
• Apply climate vulnerability assessments in both countries’ park management plans and enable data sharing.

Engage the SADC secretariat for policy and resource support
Do we have the regional instruments:
• SADC Protocol on Tourism (1998)
• SADC TFCA Guidelines (2013)
• SADC Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan (RIDMP)
• Mobilize technical and financial support for infrastructure upgrades, digital connectivity & policy harmonization.
• Advocate for inclusion of the Iona–Skeleton Coast TFCA as a priority node within the SADC Tourism Investment Corridors Initiative.

Revitalize historical linkages to strengthen soft diplomacy
Historical Context: Angola and Namibia share longstanding liberation history, cultural continuity among Ovambo/Himba peoples and post-war reconstruction cooperation.
• Promote heritage tourism along liberation routes
• Celebrate shared cultures such as cross-border Himba cultural festivals and oral histories in tourism marketing.

Author Note
Israel Chauke is a seasoned programme development specialist with over three decades of professional experience in humanitarian and development programming across North, West, and Southern Africa. His expertise spans programmes development, implementation and overall grants compliance within complex and multi-stakeholder environments. This article draws on his direct involvement as the Safeguards and Compliance Officer for the Angola