By the end of 2021 there were 64 joint-venture tourism agreements with enterprises employing 774 full time and 62 part time staff. Jobs bring much needed income to rural households, as well as experience of work in the formal sector.
In 2021, community conservation in Namibia facilitated 3,548 jobs through tourism, conservation hunting, indigenous plant harvesting and craft production. These employ rural people as guides, lodge and campsite staff, handicraft producers etc.
Responsible travel promotes cultural pride and cultural heritage through development of cultural tourism activities. It minimises environmental impacts while maximising benefits to local people. Read about responsible travel in Namibia.
Remarkable wildlife recoveries have taken place in Namibia's communal areas since the 1980s due to government and conservancy efforts to minimise poaching, ensure the sustainable use of wildlife and incentivise communities to live with wildlife.
Explore Namibia’s communal conservancies where conservation, culture and authentic experiences are at the heart of a journey of a lifetime.
From the rivers of the Zambezi to the mountains of the Kunene, from the baobab studded forests of the east to the deserts in the south, Namibia’s communal conservancies encompass over 20% of the country’s land. One in four rural Namibians is a resident of a communal conservancy, where community members have the rights and responsibilities to use their natural resources sustainably, including making the bold choice to live with wildlife.
Decades of hard work and dedication by conservancy members have led to incredible results: the expansion of wildlife range and numbers, preservation of unique cultures, and the opportunity to partner with world-class tourism establishments to offer authentic travel experiences where your stay contributes directly to conservation and community development.
Explore the myriad of exciting tourism opportunities in Namibia’s communal conservancies, then contact tourism operators in your country or conservancy Joint Ventures* in Namibia to book a trip of a lifetime.
*Joint Ventures are tourism partnerships between communities who have the tourism rights to an area and private sector tourism operators who provide funding and expertise
Your journey starts here!
Where to go
Discover the best of Namibia
Use the photo-links below to start exploring the fascinating areas that are home to 86 conservancies or read more about where to go.
North West
Remote, rugged and extraordinarily beautiful, Namibia’s north west is home to a rich variety of conservancies where space for wildlife, contemplation and traditional lifestyles helped to inspire Namibia’s communal conservancy movement.
North East
Water is life, and a rare luxury in Namibia, one of the most arid countries in the world, but the north east is different. It is riddled with rivers: the Kwando, Linyanti, Chobe, and Zambezi. Each river has its own pattern, power, mystery and history to draw you here.
Central & West
Home to desert dwelling elephants, Namibia's highest mountain and rich cultural engagement, Namibia's central and west region offers a definitive conservancy experience.
East
A place of wonder and raw beauty, the eastern part of Namibia is where you venture to discover an untamed landscape where the past comes to life.
North
Namibia's northern region is one of the country's best kept secrets. It extends from the northern border of Namibia's famous Etosha National Park, across white, calcrete plains studded with Makalani palm trees and traditional wooden kraals and homesteads to the flowing waters of the perennial Kunene and Okavango rivers.
South
Given the vast, sparsely inhabited spaces of Namibia's south, it is unsurprising that there are a just a few conservancies here, but their establishment is important to the sense of ownership and responsibility felt by their residents.
What to do
Experience the authentic Namibia
Get started by exploring our suggested activities below or read more about what to do.
Wildlife
Go wild! From the big five to the little five and everything in between, Namibia's communal conservancies are home to a mosaic of life that transforms this diverse and spectacular landscape.
Culture
Authentic, ancient and evolving, Namibia’s cultures and people are vital to the spirit and the future of our communal conservancies.
Adventure
Climb. Row. Pedal. Release. Relax. Namibia's communal conservancies pack an adventure punch!
Birdwatching
Tick and tweet to your heart's content in Namibia’s communal conservancies! With 676 species to search for, Namibia is a paradise for birders.
4x4 routes & camping
Highways lead to by-ways that lead to countless side tracks in Namibia’s communal conservancies, just waiting to be explored by the intrepid traveler. From rocky rugged passes in the northwest to the east where water turns tracks into muddy quagmires, there are challenges for the toughest vehicle and driver.
Photography
Namibia is a photographer’s dream. There are magical hours, days and nights. Spectacular wildlife, landscapes and people of old, evolving cultures found in Namibia’s communal conservancies provide endless opportunities for keen amateur and professional photographers to capture stunning images.
Boating & fishing
The perennial rivers of the South, the North and North West offer unique boating and fishing opportunities from tranquil sundowner cruises to catch-and-release battles with tiger fish.
Biking, Hiking & Climbing
For the outdoor enthusiast, Namibia's communal conservancies offer the space for easy rides and gentle hikes or more strenuous challenges that will challenge the most serious biker, hiker and climber.
Landscapes & Geology
Mountains, dunes, dry riverbeds and rivers running wild, Namibia's communal conservancies offer visitors the chance to lose and find themselves in some of the most spectacular landscapes on earth.
Space & contemplation
Namibia’s is the second most sparsely populated country in the world, second only to Mongolia. In the country’s communal conservancies there is space to explore, space for camping, space for connecting and space for contemplation.
Celebrations
Namibia is a bucket list destination so why not celebrate! The perfect sunset, your first sighting of an elephant, your first day as a married couple, Namibia's communal conservancies provide the perfect backdrop to celebrate the milestones of life.
Plan your trip
Explore different regions and add diverse activities to form one incredible trip… and another…and another… there is no end to the number of combinations that lead to adventure!
Get inspired and start planning your trip.
