More than 400,000 Namibians live in areas designated as wildlife conservatories, and they see financial value in protecting their wildlife stock, according to a blog at NationalGeographic.com.

The story of wildlife, people and tourism in Namibia is tied to the country’s economy. Forty-two percent of the land is protected by the government.

Namibia has more than 70 community-run conservatories that protect wildlife for tourists and hunters.

Gone are the days of rampant poaching, according to a blogger at NationalGeographic.com. Now there are 800,000-plus eyes watching to be sure that the rhinos bed safely at night. It’s not perfect and the system can break down, but Namibia is a tourism success story to be told and seen.

Wildlife officials, local tribes, the Namibian government, local lodge owners and others work together to see that tourism revenue benefits everyone, not just one party. Tourism doesn’t always protect wildlife, locals, and business interests, but it can, the blogger says.

With recovering wildlife stocks, sparse population, spotty history as a former part of South Africa and larger cities founded originally by German colonists, one of the funny sayings about Namibia that seems to bear some truth is, “It’s like Africa—only better,” according to the NationalGeographic.com blog.