=Khoadi-//Hôas Conservancy Receives Global First Sustainable Tourism Award for Namibia

This innovative, community-based approach to natural resource management in Namibia is based on the principle that local people are the best custodians of indigenous natural resources and their sustainable management, resulting in over 45% of Namibia being under some form of conservation management. =Khoadi-//Hôas was one of the first of four such conservancies to be gazetted in Namibia in 1998 and operates the 100% community-owned Grootberg Lodge and Hoada Campsite in partnership with Journey’s Namibia. Low-impact, guided activities on offer from these off-grid operations include opportunities to experience the unique, locally-adapted wildlife, engage with local people to learn about their ways of life, and to take in the expansive, iconic landscapes for which Namibia is famed. Both Grootberg Lodge and Hoada Campsite have received the highest accolade – 5 Desert Flowers – from Namibia’s sustainable tourism certification body, Eco Awards Namibia, adding further merit to the destination’s global top 100 recognition. Ms Maxi Louis, Director of the Namibian Association for Community-based Natural Resource Management Support Organisations (NACSO), was thrilled with the recognition, saying that, “The successful achievements of Namibia’s conservancies in wildlife conservation and community beneficiation are deserving of global recognition. We offer an innovative approach where people are the focal point of finding and implementing solutions for sustainable development. We are proud of the =Khoadi-//Hôas and the lessons it may offer to other destinations.” Journeys Namibia Operations Director, Mr Dominic Du Raan, echoed her excitement at the global recognition: “Our partnership with the community of the =Khoadi-//Hôas is a great source of pride for us – the tourism experience on offer could not be achieved alone, but is a result of commitment to working together for the benefit of local people through the successful operation of their tourism businesses. We look forward to many more years of working together to host visitors from around the world.” The CBNRM Programme has introduced innovative conservation management methodologies over the years, including the Event Book Monitoring System whereby each conservancy decides what resources it needs to monitor and carries out all data collection. This includes the following for ≠Khoadi-//Hôas conservancy: counting wildlife and other data vital to conservation, e.g. vegetation counts, information about conservancy governance, and data used to calculate the improvement in livelihoods through conservation. These can be referenced on: http://www.nacso.org.na/resources The drop down list will give you the option to select ≠Khoadi-//Hôas conservancy where detailed game count data and other natural resource information can be found. You can also access the summary report via the NACSO website: http://www.nacso.org.na/conservancies/khoadi-hoas Aggregated data regarding natural and cultural resource inventories, livelihood impacts, tourism activities, etc are published here: http://www.nacso.org.na/resources/state-ofcommunity- conservation. The most recently approved audit report for the state of community conservation in Namibia is for 2016. The map uploaded below is also available at the conservancy office for visitors to explore the natural and cultural sites of the area. It is a fold-out map in the centre of the ≠Khoadi-//Hôas conservancy brochure. Non-wildlife populations densities are also available on the NACSO website. Communal areas of Namibia - including conservancies and communal forests - cover approximately 40% of the country. They have been set aside for livelihood use and benefit by and for local communities and are based on the premise that local people are the best custodians of indigenous resources and their sustainable management. ≠Khoadi-//Hôas Conservancy - the first of four conservancies proclaimed in 1998 - is in northwestern Namibia and has developed tourism experiences in a way that enable a range of travellers to enjoy the area's vast landscapes, which is the traditional home of the Damara people and their ways of living, its cultural heritage, and the natural wonders found there. 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 conservancy. Its 16 units - all offgrid and built out of natural rock and thatch - are perched on top of the Etendeka Plateau from where guests will be hosted by staff from the community. Visitors can explore this vast surrounding wilderness either by foot, by solar bicycle, or car and experience encounters with the inhabitants of this remote biosphere. Hoada Campsite is a fully staffed campsite nestled among the beautiful granite hills and mopani trees of the area. Each site was positioned to minimise disturbance to the existing vegetation and is equipped with kitchen and braai / BBQ facilities. To add an eco-friendly touch, the hot water system works in combination with the braai area where the same fire used for cooking your food heats up the water for your shower, minimising the use of wood! Both Grootberg and Hoada have had their responsible tourism commitments verified by the country's sustainable tourism certification scheme, Eco Awards Namibia, from whom both obtained the highest possible accolade of 5 Desert Flowers. The conservancy also offers a "side track" option for independent explorers to discover a number of scenic drives and viewpoints, hike to the Fig Tree Waterhole or the longer "Game Count Route", and learn about local fauna and flora including the beautiful leadwood trees. An information brochure and fold-out map can be obtained at the conservancy office.