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.
What to do
Experience the authentic Namibia
Get started by exploring our suggested activities below or read more about what to do.
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.
