The Brandberg, known locally as Dâureb, attracts an ever-growing number of tourists, who mainly come to see the “White Lady”. However, hundreds of visitors also come every year for challenging trekking tours in the upper part of the mountain. With the appointment of the Daureb Mountain Guides (DMG) by the National Heritage Council, the management of tourist flows, particularly in the area of the “White Lady”, has improved significantly in recent years. Among these guides, all young adults from the nearby town of Uis, there are some highly qualified female guides, but none of them have ever climbed the upper mountain – mainly out of unwarranted respect. However, their male colleagues have always gladly accepted the hardships involved for the higher income that can be achieved there. Under the highly topical buzzwords of “empowerment” and “capacity building”, a training course on the mountain aims to change this. Under the guidance of Angula Shipahu, undoubtedly the best expert on the mountain, Marie-Theres Erz and Tilman Lenssen-Erz, the guides are to acquire everything that makes a good mountain guide: specialist knowledge of the upper regions, acquired on site, knowledge of the water points that are vital for survival or practicable paths and routes in the pathless mountains. Added to this is knowledge of communication techniques, guiding principles, safety, health, hygiene, ecology and, of course, archaeology, rock art and natural history. Acquiring such a wealth of knowledge in combination with an extraordinary and demanding physical experience not only increases the young women’s professional qualifications, but will also undoubtedly help to boost their self-confidence.
