Community Based Tourism in Namibia
Namibia is the first country in the world to incorporate environmental protection into its Constitution. From this commitment many Community Based Tourism options have sprung forth, each providing real monetary and social benefits to the local communities who provide them, and ultimately a more authentic Namibian experience to the tourists who visit. Come discover local habitats and wildlife or celebrate traditional cultures, rituals and wisdom. Leave knowing your tourism dollars will have a real, sustainable impact on environmental and wildlife conservation.
Ngoma Craft Centre, Ngoma – Zambezi Region
Ngoma Craft Centre Voluntary Association promotes the marketing and development of products in communities primarily east of Katima Mulilo. It has over 100 members including potters, carvers and basket makers. Ngoma Craft Centre is located 1km before the border with Botswana on the far eastern side of the Zambezi region on the B8. The Craft Shop and Café make an appealing place to stop to do the last minute souvenir shopping and buy a cool drink, iced tea or coffee before embarking on the rest of the journey. It’s unusual and unexpected displays make it striking and are certain to attract your attention. A series of posters on the people behind the products makes interesting reading and if you have time to book in advance you too can learn how to make a basket, reed mat, a clay pot or join the carvers fashioning something to take home with you.
The newly renovated centre and ablutions are visible from the road and very eye catching. The fresh new look will intrigue you and, we hope, tempt you to stop.
Sheshe Craft Centre, Sangwali-Zambezi Region
Sheshe Craft Centre lies just north of the entrance into Nkasa Lupala National Park in the village of Sangwali. It is located on the road approximately 10km north of the park boundary next to the bridge over the first channel of the Linyanti Swamps. Sheshe promotes the development, marketing and sale of products from communities primarily north of the park, supporting local craft makers mainly carvers and basket makers in the Wuparo and neighbouring Dzoti Conservancy. Wuparo is a conservancy lying between Mudumu and Nkasa Lupala National Parks covering 148km2 and was gazetted in December 1999. Wuparo was originally a floodplain but is now a mosaic of woodland and grassland, receiving an annual rainfall of 600mm.
A new and beautifully constructed Craft Centre was opened in June 2013. The Craft Shop is an unusual design with doors woven out of plastic piping to mimic the basket weaving that is a tradition in this area. It is run by the Community Resource Monitor employed by the Conservancy.
In addition to Sheshe Craft Centre that is stocked with a variety of wood and palm products Wuparo has a community run campsite and an environmental centre.
Sheshe is well worth a stop before continuing on your way to the park where you can spot lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, roan, tsessebe, kudu, duiker, reedbuck and blue wildebeest.
