Through the offices of the Namibia Development Trust (NDT) and the Namibia Community Based Tourism Assistance Trust (NACOBTA) funding generated from overseas donors is to be made available shortly to support a minimum of two unique Tourism and Community Partnership opportunities, specifically in the South of the country.

The Berseba/#Kharis Emerging Conservancy have made application to the relevant authorities and Government for the Conservancy to be gazetted and registered. This process is underway. Once registered, the final name will be the #Kharis Conservancy, and it will cover a staggering area of 728,106 hectares (some 1.8 million acres or 7,281 sq km).

The Conservancy land, incorporating the villages of Berseba and Snyfontein, lies to the north of Keetmanshoop and to the west of Tses. It is wholly within the Karas Region. The members of #Kharis are virtually all of the Nama tribe; the Nama language is their mother tongue, though good proportions have knowledge of both Afrikaans and English too. They are a people with the most proud and colourful of cultures, and genuine warmth towards visitors and tourists. This semi-desert area is arid and consists in the main of flat dwarf shrub savannah and sparse grassland; rainfall is likely to be in the region of 150mm per year. The ephemeral Fish River runs north to south through the Conservancy, and usually flows once a year. Smaller tributaries, such as the Camel River near Snyfontein, feed into the major flow. Mature tree growth is only noticeably found adjacent to these river courses. There are areas of quite deep sand and small dunes, whilst some impressive Sandstone mountains lie more to the south of the area.

Successful investors will, in forming a Partnership with the Community, mutually agree on a site within the Conservancy on an exclusive area of reasonable size to support a Tourism venture. This demarcated zone is usually 10 hectares in extent; furthermore exclusivity is protected in that no other tourism construction is allowed within a radius of 5 kms, whilst the operator will be allowed to freely traverse the Conservancy and its villages and settlements too.  Since the Community as a whole do share all the surrounding land, there might be issues regarding confrontation between, say, subsistence farmers and tourism; but both the NDT and NACOBTA are keen to ensure there will be no such zonation problems. Indeed the NDT are developing a Management Utilization Plan (MUP) which the Conservancy Management and their partners would then adopt.

In the Snyfontein section of the proposed Conservancy, the Snyfontein Community-based Tourism Enterprise Committee have, under the stewardship of the Emerging #Kharis Conservancy and their role as the coordinating body, identified three separate possible sites for Tourism enterprises to be established. 21kms, and furthest from Snyfontein Village itself, lies a beautiful secluded setting amongst giant rocks and boulders; blessed with strong underground water, the setting is nature at its kindest. However the site’s likely boundary would be adjacent to a commercial farm, with no access permitted from that side. Some 2km nearer to Snyfontein lays a site with vistas to die for. Huge tracts of land sweeping down from some of the loftier reaches of the Conservancy towards the distant Fish River make a splendid setting; furthermore huge numbers of Quivertrees exist here, a terrific attraction for visitors no doubt. Water would need to be piped in from over 2 kms away. The Negerdal Dam, in major disrepair, lies south from here on the Fish River; all three mooted possibilities would benefit from the re-instatement of the dam. Not only would surface water back up and remain much longer after any flow of the ephemeral Fish, but it would also provide another access point for vehicles. Just 12 kms from Snyfontein, with the imposing Trougoth Mountain passed en route, lays perhaps the most favourable site. Ururuses sits close to the confluence of the Fish and Camel Rivers and there are some excellently flat but elevated sites nearby allowing wonderfully commanding views. There are thick glades of tree life, and copious fonteins (springs) nearer the level of the usually dry water courses, providing excellent shade for day activities, walks and the possibility of lapas away from the main site. Ururuses was the original settlement here for the Nama peoples and some Afrikaans farmers, dating back to 1910. This setting would benefit from copious underground water, although it would best to use strong filtration. 

Parts of the Karas Region carry a population density of just 1 person to 16 sq km, making it one of the least populated areas on the planet, almost virgin territory; yet it is full of tourism attractions and provides astonishingly wide, almost mesmeric and ethereal, scenic landscapes. All within easy reach of both the Conservancy and Keetmanshoop are: Mount Brukkaros , The Fish River Canyon, Ai-Ais / Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, Quivertree Forest, Giant's Playground, the Mesosaurus Fossils site, Naute Dam, Warmbad Hot Springs & Museum, Groot and Klein Karas Mountain ranges, the historical town of Bethanie plus Luderitz & Kolmanskop (for the diamond story), all wonderful tourism experiences. The South is doubtless where, within Namibia, that new enterprises can flourish most easily, for it is massively underdeveloped and opportunities abound. The specific attractions of these Snyfontein areas earmarked as potential sites are a closeness to nature not often achieved, some remarkable land formations and the River itself. The Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) have re-introduced game and wildlife into three other Karas Conservancies in the past few years. There is no reason why a successful application could not be made here. Furthermore, it has been historically suggested that the Ministry of Forestry might fence off the vast swathe of Quivertrees for their ongoing protection and encouragement. Fencing is not usually permitted, of course, on any communal land, unless a specific concession area has been applied for and granted by Government.

The Snyfontein Community-based Tourism Enterprise Committee does have a preference in terms of what development might be carried out. It is a prerequisite of any investment that the experienced tourism operator would perhaps better judge that, and be able to call upon current regional tourism studies and market indicators. Camping would obviously work, but Snyfontein feel that a middle market level might be happily achieved. This could be perhaps in the form of a luxury tented camp or a small lodge all built form local stone and materials. There is an obvious need for more accommodation of any class in the South of Namibia, particularly amongst self drive tourists and those enjoying the very strongly marketed Cape/Namibia route. Also it is a perfect stepping stone to the capital Windhoek and beyond to the north, the Kalahari to the east, and the Namib and Atlantic Coast to the west. Marketing could furthermore dwell on the plethora of local and worthwhile attractions reached easily from any such establishment construction here. Access to the sites is excellent via the B1 tar road and D609 & D3907 District gravels roads; Snyfontein Village is some 54 km from Keetmanshoop itself and easily reached in 45 minutes. However, the local community tracks within the proposed Conservancy are not ideal for a sedan car, and it is recommended that 4x4 vehicles be a prerequisite for any visit, especially after seasonal rains. More so, much re-instatement would be need at the sites, for Tourism has not previously played a role in these specific parts. The Snyfontein Committee does not however intend that any Investor is also expected to assist in the development of other areas and needs for the overall benefit of their own community; simply, rather, to provide a sound, working and profitable partnership platform for any agreed Joint Venture.

Snyfontein. It’s waiting to happen!

Olga Katjiuongua

Executive Director 

Namibia Community Based Tourism Assistance Trust(NACOBTA)

2878 Johann Albrecht Street, Windhoek North,

PO Box 86099

Windhoek, Namibia

Tel: (061) 250558 / 228783

Fax: (061) 222647

e-mail: olga@nacobta.com.na

website: www.nacobta.com.na

Mr Jeremy Muller                                               

NDT Mariental                                                   

881 Leonard Street,                                                                

Mariental                                                                      

P O Box  870                                                    

MARIENTAL                                                       

Tel:  + 264 63 240790                                       

Fax: + 264 63 240790                           

e-mail:jeremy@ndt.org.na