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This tour has been designed to introduce tourists to and support the work of various Namibian wildlife conservation projects. Ongava Lodge is an active particpant in the Save the Rhino Trust (SRT). The SRT has established one of the first Community Based Species Survival (CBSS) Projects for the rhino in Africa, with direct community involvement in the conservation of rhino, and benefits received through conservation and tourism going to the local population. Through an innovative public / private sector partnership by the Namibian Ministry of the Environment and Tourism (MET) black rhino (Diceros bicornis bicornis) are placed under the custodianship of Ongava Game Reserve. The lodge owners commitment to research, conservation and community empowerment in Namibia have earned it the right to host these animals at Ongava, but they remain the property of the state. This effectively expands secure black rhino range within the country, while Ongava is able to show its guests an endangered species and to participate in meaningful conservation programmes.
The AfriCat Foundation is based on the lodge at Okonjima in central Namibia. The foundation plays a crucial role in rehabilitating large carnivores captured on farms across the country. A board of trustees meets four times a year to guide conservation and animal welfare priorities, while the daily running of the organization is handled by the director and a small staff. Almost a quarter of the foundations running costs are covered by tourists including Okonjima in their itinerary. The funding of AfriCat's work is dependent on donations from the public and other large welfare organizations. We will adopt an animal from Africat on your behalf for every booking we take that includes Okunjima. As well as helping the foundation this will provide you with a newsletter and history and progress of your adopted animal for the year after your return from your holiday.
Grootberg Lodge is a landmark in Namibia for the tourism industry as it is the first middle-market establishment in the country that is 100% owned by the community. The European Union funded the project through the Ministry of Environment and Tourism's Development Programme. At the same time, the private sector has been called in to supply the training and management skills until the community becomes self-sustainable. The purpose of the Lodge is not only to offer a professional service, great surroundings, extremely good food, well-trained guides and exceptionally good local management but, at the same time, to benefit the local community thanks to the revenues generated by the Lodge.
The community of Ju/'hoansi bushman (about 40 adults and 80 children) have a contract with Nhoma Camp and are paid a set amount per activity, e.g. games, hunting, dancing, which is increased on an annual basis by at least inflation. The community earned N$130,000 in 2007 and N$140,000 in 2008 from only about 200-250 visitors per year. This does off course not include what they earn from the selling of curios. This community project is ongoing with support being sought for the operation of a school at the village, the management of game in the area and the establishment of agricultural projects.
Whilst volunteering on a coral reef in Tanzania, the founder of this company fell in love with Africa. Using her academic background in environmental science, she decided to do something practical and help the continent develop a sustainable tourism portfolio. She developed holidays which combine the obvious itinerary highlights with more unusual experiences such as home stays and township visits. She believes that there are great benefits to travel: it is a chance to widen your horizons, learn about other people and see a bit more of the world than just that little place you call home.
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We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!
