PERFECTLY situated on the plateau of the Grootberg mountains, perching on the Klip River valley, is the renowned tourist hotspot Grootberg Lodge.
Constructed with the assistance of European Union funds and joint ventures in 2005, Grootberg Lodge has not only become a tourist hotspot and place for trophy hunting and wildlife viewing but it has also contributed greatly to the growth of the ≠Khoadi //HÔas conservancy.
Two weeks ago, the lodge celebrated its 10th anniversary. Although it started off with only three employees, the lodge now employs about 50 more.
Speaking at the celebration, Simonetta van Wyk, who –together with her husband Dominic–manages the lodge said it’s been an interesting journey.
“In the beginning, we simply thought ‘Wow, what a beautiful place, on the edge of the plateau but how are we going to get everything up here?” van Wyk said, saying they had received a lot of support from the conservancy.
“The business now contributes to predator and educational funds, which have been established to further support the members of the conservancy, addressing human-wildlife conflict and furthering education of secondary school goers,” said van Wyk.
Deputy minister of tourism Tommy Nambahu, who was also present at the event, said there are about 89 communal conservancies in Namibia, which are generating income and improving the lifestyles of many in rural communities.
“We have 31 joint venture tourism agreements in place, while there are still many more under active negotiation. Over 800 full-time jobs and 250 seasonal jobs have been created as a result. Benefits from joint ventures lodges were approximately N$ 29 million compared to N$16 million in 2008,” added Nambahu.
Asser Ndjitezeua, chairman of the ≠Khoadi //HÔas conservancy said the road to successes is never an easy one and the same can be said for Grootberg lodge.
He said the partnership between the conservancy and the lodge should be celebrated as it had brought about much development within the community.
He stated that before the conservancy was established, there was a lot of imbalance in the needs of the people as well as that of the wildlife.
“Wildlife remained a state property and natural resource governance on communal land was weak. Wildlife had no legal economic value to the communities and it was seen as a threat to the livelihood of the local communities,” said Ndjitezeua.
He said the change came in 1990 when the Grootberg farmers association was formed and the #Khoadi //HÔas conservancy founded.
The conservancy covers 3 364 square kilometres and is home to more than 3 000 people with about 2 000 registered members.
