NamibRand Nature Reserve consists of 13 commercial farming units that were amalgamated into one conservation area of 180,000 hectares or 1800 square kilometres. It is 80 kilometres from the northern to southern boundary and varies in width. It borders in the west on the Namib-Naukluft National Park.

The area has four distinct habitats:

- Mountain ranges with steep rocky slopes, up to 2000 metres high
- Plains of impressive vastness at 900 to 1000 meters above sea-level
- Aeolian dunes of deep red colouration
- Clay pans

Each habitat has its own vegetation composition and associated fauna. The predominant large mammal is the oryx gazelle, locally called the gemsbok or oryx. The 1999 game census indicated that there were 2500 to 3500 oryx on the Reserve. Fluctuations in game populations do occur due to migrations, both internally and also neighbouring territories. This is possible because the eastern boundary coincides with the Nubib mountain range where there is no fence and because the western boundary is in part in a dune field. The mobile dunes often breach the fence allowing game to move across in both directions. Other large mammals include: Kudu, Springbok, Hartman's and Burchell's Zebra, Klipspringer, Steenbok, Hartebeest and Baboon. Predators include Leopards, Spotted and brown Hyena, Black-backed Jackal, Aardwolf, Bat-eared Fox, Cape Fox, African wildcat, Caracal and Genet. Over 100 bird species have been identified so far. Work is still in progress with the inventory of rodents, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates and plants.

A minimal interference policy is being maintained with constant monitoring taking place in order to have pro-active management. A water management plan has been compiled to utilise this scarce resource in a sustainable manner. A zonation plan has not been addressed as yet. Regular censuses of game populations are carried out.

To transform 13 over-utilised commercial farms into a cohesive conservation area required a substantial amount of rehabilitation work to be done first. These tasks include:

-	Removal of farm fences. This was a priority and over 1500 km of fences have been removed so far.
-	Track rehabilitation. Most of the unsightly farm tracks were closed to allow them to grow over again.
-	Removal of structures. Many old buildings, 28 unused water reservoirs, 80 km of water pipeline, some windmills for pumping water and many cattle and sheep pens were removed.
-	Refuse removal. Enormous amounts of scrap metal, roof sheeting, wire, household litter and 6 motor vehicle wrecks were removed from the properties.
-	Removal of Alien Vegetation. Many plants are exotics in this environment and those that posed the danger of being invasive were removed from farmsteads and the surroundings.