Hoanib Valley Camp

Those who stay at Hoanib Valley Camp will experience complete immersion into the surroundings when staying in one of just six guest tents. 5 of these are twin tents whilst one is suited for family travellers. Each tent is still luxurious and includes an Ensuite bathroom with an indoor shower. Complimentary Wi-Fi is also available as are battery charging facilities so that guests are never disconnected. Complimentary laundry service is also provided. The colours and textures of the accommodations themselves are incredibly inspired by their natural surroundings, featuring rich colours and geometric patterns. True to the property’s ethos, materials have all been sourced locally. There is also a separate lounge area to create a homely atmosphere when staying at the camp.

Guests here have the option of either dining under the stars or dining in the mess. The communal lounge, dining room and bar are all within a spacious mess tent atop a deck made of partially recycled materials. Two large tables and chairs supply the spot for breakfast, lunch and dinner, which is all included in your stay. Aside from this there is a small bar and guests are welcome to eat and drink on the deck of the camp. The property also has its own fire-pit for socialising when the sun goes down.

This stunning location is virtually untouched, making a beautiful place of exploration during your stay at Hoanib Valley Camp. Bird watchers can keep their eyes peeled for Monteiro’s hornbills or Ruppell’s korhaans in the valleys and there are even eagles that fly across the mountains to be observed.

Discovering the wildlife is the perfect opportunity to take a game drive at Hoanib Valley. Game drives will reveal guests to a number of beautiful wild creatures such as elephants, giraffes and the desert lion. Other animals that move freely across the mountains include zebras and klipspringers. The region is also home to the largest population of free-ranging black rhino and seeing all of these wild animals in their natural habitat truly is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Guests are welcome to learn about the vital work that is being done in the local area to protect the array of wild animals such as giraffes. Guests can take recording of giraffe sightings as part of the work carried out at the camp in hopes to help the endangered species. One of the camp’s partners, Dr Julian Fennesy is one of Africa’s foremost giraffe experts.

Natural Selection is a foundation that is fully committed to making a positive impact on wildlife conservation and the lives of local people in areas of wildlife in Africa. Not only does 1.5% of every guest’s stay with Natural Selection go to conservation but a number of projects are underway across Africa to improve the quality of life for locals and protect endangered species.

Sustainability is continuously improving through waste management systems. In partnership with Sesfontein community, partners at Hoanib Valley Camp are upgrading their existing dumpsite to improve efficiencies and create a recycling depot for the area.

80% of the staff at Hoanib Valley Camp are from the Sesfontein Community and the property pays 8% pf their turnover as rental to the community, which is then in turn used to finance the salaries of rhino rangers and game guards.

The guest tents rest on decks that are made of wood, bamboo and 70% recycled-material composite, ensuring that virtually no footprint is left on this fragile ecosystem. The indigenous materials also keep the footprint down to a minimum and allow the accommodations to suit their natural environment. Materials that fill the interiors of the guest tents have also been sourced locally, with furniture shaped by local Rundu carpenters and baskets being weaved by the people of the Omba Project.

Working alongside the local community is incredibly important to Hoanib Valley Camp and this includes the implementation of wildlife-friendly uses of land. By working closely with local grass harvesters in the Khwai Village, local families are supported with food, accommodation and transport all throughout harvesting season. Anything harvested is then used for building and selling, impacting both the local community’s income as well as the wildlife.

Natural Selection and its partners are able to support children from disadvantaged backgrounds through an environmental programme. This approach to outdoor education provides a supportive foundation for children dealing with obstacles and pressures such as drug abuse and township living. Staff are able to support Eco-leaders for their full 6 years in the programme and take them to events and on hikes.

Due to tourism being greatly affected amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, revenue has declined for many families who rely on tourism. Over the past three years 1.5% of every guest’s stay in any of Natural Selection’s camps has gone towards the community and conservation projects. They are now reaching out to agents, friends, relatives and former guests to help support the locals who are greatly affected. Food parcels are being transported to remote villages and they have also partnered with Coaching Conservation to provide the locals with vital information to stay safe amidst the pandemic.

This initiative provides support for rural communities to develop sustainable land-use practices that promote both conservation-based economic opportunities and climate change resilience. Due to climate change, natural wildlife is declining and poverty is increasing. Food security is also deteriorating and by facilitating landscape-scale wildlife movements, communities and the land can be better supported.

This programme uses sport to inspire the next generation of children to care about Africa’s natural resources such as wildlife and natural habitats. Through sport, children are able to connect with the wildlife around them, something that has proven to be incredibly valuable.

This project supports local villages as well as preschool children. The Feed A Child Programme was developed to supply nutritious breakfast to those attending Khwai Village PreSchool, preparing them for a day of learning and focus. The project also supports local communities that have lived off the land for generations. The village is supported and those who visit the lodges in Khwai Private Reserve are able to visit and gain insight into the cultural heritage of the area. Salaries for teachers at the local school are also supported by this project. The project is also able to use technology to their advantage in supporting the community, investing in solar power for the Khwai Village.

The Khomas Environmental Education Programme is inspiring children to become environmentally responsible members of their communities. In its three years the programme has managed to reach over 6600 students and 200 teachers, giving them hands on experience in the bush.

This is an interactive project that aims to raise awareness and help save the population of the giraffes that roam in their natural habitat. Guests at Hoanib Valley Camp can help monitor the desert-giraffe population. This foundation has the foremost experts on these creatures and are also the only organisation in the world that focuses on the management and conservation of giraffes in their natural habitat throughout Africa. Through their own research they have elevated the importance of conservation and have managed to increase their numbers over the past few years through their work with tourism companies as well as Hoanib Valley Camp.

This project aims to protect the desert-lion species by implementing an automatic monitoring and early warning system that aims to prevent conflict with livestock herders. Satellite software warns farmers of nearby lions so herders can prevent predation on their livestock. The Natural Selection Foundation is proud to support this programme.

The Natural Selection Foundation works with Round River Conservation Studies and the Okavango Research Institute to monitor birds and herbivores in the wet and dry seasons. The work tests and develops guidelines on efficient surveying techniques as without the birds and herbivores, life at Khwai Private Reserve would halt.

The entire camp is solar powered, taking advantage of the naturally hot climate and leaving virtually no carbon footprint to the ecosystem.