The Gobabeb Training and Research Centre was founded in 1962 as the Namib Desert Research Station by Dr. Charles Koch (1904-1970) in association with the Transvaal Museum. After a decade of expedition through the Namib and Kalahari, Dr. Koch realized the importance of a research facility in the Central Namib.

In 1963, the Station changed to Desert Ecological Research Unit (DERU) and continued its research activities. Dr. Mary Seely served as director from 1970 to 1998. Scientific research in the 1960s, '70s and '80s was principally focused on climate ecology, physiology, geology and geomorphology of the desert landscape, and archaeologicaly of early inhabitants

 

 

In 1990, after Namibia's independence, DERU expanded and the Desert Research Foundation of Namibia (DRFN) was established.  The Foundation grew from the need to expand the activities of DERU beyond the Namib and to apply arid-land expertise to environmental issues in Namibia and the southern African region. The resources available at Gobabeb are of great value to Namibia, a country of which 97% is arid to semi-arid, where desertification and environmental change loom on the horizon as a potential threat.

Gobabeb is an international focus for desert research as many scientists from various countries have visited or worked at this site over the decades. This research has yielded over 1800 scientific and popular articles, making the Namib one of the most thoroughly known deserts in the world.

 

 

The legal framework of the Centre was based on a multi-institutional partnership formed in 1961, which was redefined in the Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) between DRFN and the Ministry of Environment & Tourism (MET) in 1998, using a unique model of Government-NGO equal partnership. MET and DRFN have many responsibilities concerning Gobabeb, and at the same time, Gobabeb presents many opportunities to serve as vehicle for their programmes While it is embedded within this framework, utilising assets that belong to these two core partners, and relying on their support, the Gobabeb Centre operates as an independent institution.

In 1998 Gobabeb formally expanded its ongoing training programmes, hence it is known today as the Gobabeb Training and Research Centre.

The Centre has operated under the directorship of Dr. Joh Henschel since 2002.