Omaheke - Otjozondjupa
San communities, remembering the old ways of the hunter and gatherer. Baobabs and elephants in endless bushland; magical pans that attract great flocks of waterbirds.
The expansive landscape extending from the Kalahari-veld of Omaheke to the open thorn-savanna of Otjozondjupa is home to a significant network of communal conservancies. In the Omaheke Region, communities built around livestock herding and foraging in the Kalahari dominate: herders of cattle roam the semi‐arid plains, while San, Herero and Damara people maintain strong cultural traditions of gathering, festivals and traditional dance.
In Otjozondjupa, about eight conservancies operate across a region where wildlife-friendly tourism, small‐scale horticulture and cattle-based livelihoods converge. Villagers and farms alike live with a strong cattle-culture: regular auctions, festivals and communal gatherings form much of the social fabric.
Both regions’ conservancies participate in the national community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) framework, under the auspices of NACSO (Namibian Association of Community-Based Natural-Resource-Management Support Organisations). For example, Otjozondjupa hosts conservancies such as Ondjou Conservancy (area approx. 8 730 km², population ~3 068) in this landscape.
Thus, these regions represent a dynamic zone of communal conservation co-existing with livestock farming, sparse human populations, and wildlife utilisation, a less visited but significant part of Namibia’s conservation architecture.
(Visit NACSO for more details on Namibia’s community conservancies.)
When to Be There
- The regions can be visited year-round, but conditions vary markedly.
- The cool, dry winter months (roughly May to September) are most comfortable for travel: fewer heavy rains, easier access to remote tracks, clearer skies.
- During the summer and rainy season (Nov to March) the heat intensifies, and in some areas, tracks can become impassable after storms; hence less ideal for less-experienced travellers.
- Because these regions are remote, with limited infrastructure, ensure your travel plan considers seasonal accessibility and vehicle capability.
What to Do
- Visit and support community-managed conservancies: for example, Ondjou Conservancy offers the opportunity to see how cattle culture, wildlife conservation and community management integrates.
- Learn about the cattle-culture in Omaheke: attend local auctions or festivals (where possible), engage with community traditions of herding and craft-making.
- Explore the bushveld: despite being livestock dominated, these landscapes still harbour wildlife and rural wilderness, with large tracts of open savanna and Kalahari woodlands.
- Stay in or travel with community‐based tourism enterprises (if available) which ensure the benefits go back to local members.
- Engage with communities (San, Herero, Damara) to learn about their traditions, livelihoods and relationships with the land.
What to Remember
- Remoteness & infrastructure: Many conservancy areas have limited amenities, sparse cell phone coverage, few fuel stations and rough tracks. A 4×4 vehicle, extra fuel, and water are advisable.
- Respect for culture: These areas are home to traditional communities with deep cultural practices. Always ask permission before photographing, participate respectfully in local events, and seek community-run tourism options.
- Support livelihood and conservation: By choosing community-based lodging, local guides or craft purchases you help the models of conservancy benefit local people, not just external operators.
- Terrain & access: The environment is semi-arid; access can be tricky after rains; check weather and track conditions ahead of time.
- Environmental sensitivity: The bushveld and Kalahari ecosystems are fragile. Travel responsibly, stay on tracks, take out what you bring in, and respect wildlife and grazing lands.
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