Kanaan Naankuse Desert Retreat
Situated on 35,000 hectares of unspoilt nature, guests at Kanaan Naansuke Desert Retreat will be able to bask in the beauty of sand dunes that stretch for miles and admire the breath taking views of mountain vistas. The focus of the desert retreat property is to rehabilitate the land, making it a conservation area to protect the wildlife and natural environment. The property borders the Namib Naukluft Park and with captivating scenery from every angle, it is a nature lover’s paradise and a photographer’s dream. Guests will get to choose between a luxury tent or a camp site depending on their desired experience. The luxury canvas tents each have En-suites and offer guests stunning views of a watering hole where animals can be seen roaming around. Sunrise or sunset dune drives will get guests even more up close and personal to the land at Kanaan.
Kanaan N/a`an ku sê Desert Retreat, Mt. Valley, Namibia
Situated on 35,000 hectares, the property is surrounded by sand dunes that stretch for miles. Mountain vistas also surround the property and the area and its land has been completely rehabilitated. Directions are provided on the property’s website, allowing you to track your journey and choose your route;
‘From Windhoek, driving south on the B1 to Mariental: Turn right onto the C19 road towards Maltahohe. Continue through the town to the T-junction, then turn left onto the C14 road and continue for 35km. Turn right on to D824 road. Continue for 11km and follow the D831 road on your left. Then turn right onto the D826 road towards Duwiseb Castle. Continue to Betta, then turn left onto the C27 road towards Farm Spes Bona. At Spes Bona, turn right onto the D707 road and continue for 45km to the entrance of Kanaan.’
- Guests can choose to stay at a campsite on the property or a luxury canvas tent
- Activities include horse riding, photographic tours or scenic dune drives across the expanse
- Features include housekeeping, complimentary toiletries and a private balcony
- The property offers guests free parking, free breakfast, laundry service and a welcome drink upon their arrival
- The property is located within an unspoilt nature reserve, focusing on wildlife and land rehabilitation
- Local food is served to guests at the property and each guest is offered a welcome drink upon their arrival
There are eight luxury canvas tents available at Kanaan Naansuke Desert Retreat, each with a private En-suite for complete comfort. Breath taking views can be enjoyed here as the tents overlook the watering hole. Breakfast and dinner is also included in the rate of this accommodation as is laundry service, bathroom toiletries and bottled water. Guests can also enjoy the comfort and luxury of a private balcony, a coffee/ tea maker, seating area, bathrobes and a desk.
There are eight self-catering campsites at this desert retreat, each with its own shade netting and braai area; an open fire for food to be cooked on. There are also ablution facilities available. This is perfect for the guest who wishes to visit the retreat and get more in touch with nature when doing so.
Food and drink is served at the retreat in the dining area, offering authentic food local to the area as well as a variety of local drinks. A complimentary drink is provided to each guests upon their arrival at this stunning property.
Signing up for a horseback ride at the property will take guests along the majestic landscapes of Kanaan.
There are a variety of safaris on offer at Kanaan Naansuke Desert Retreat that will suit every guest. Taking a dune drive at either sunrise or sunset will allow visitors to witness the stunning Namib in all its glory. A number of free-roaming wildlife species can also be spotted across the expanse.
Photography enthusiasts will relish the chance to take a safari tour to document the wildlife creatures that roam across the expanse. It will take guests to the most scenic part of Kanaan during this trip.
The Naankuse Foundation Wildlife Sanctuary invites people to become a wildlife volunteer, caring for cheetahs, leopards, lions and African wild dogs. This programme works to keep Namibia’s wildlife as safe as possible for the animals that roam freely there. Originating as a small wildlife sanctuary, the programme has grown and is now known worldwide for the work that it does in regards to conservation.
It provides a safe haven for injured and orphaned animals and the aim of this sanctuary is to rehabilitate and release the animals back into their natural habitat. Only those too weak to return to the wild stay at the sanctuary and people can volunteer to help the foundation continue to care for the animals at Naankuse. Volunteers come from all types of backgrounds and participate in a number of activities that are hands on. These include preparing food, feeding animals, caring for young wildlife, cleaning the enclosures, physical labour such as aiding in building facilities as well as researching and tracking.
Medical volunteering is a programme that allows The Naankuse Foundation to care for more than 3,500 patients every year – through both clinic-based healthcare as well outreach around the area. The volunteering programme is a lifeline for thousands of San Bushmen tackling tuberculosis. Other tasks that volunteers can contribute to requires more than just medical skills. IT, DIY and painting are all highly valued skills necessary to keep the clinic running smoothly.
TB, HIV and alcoholism are all prevalent in the community as well as a host of other issues among child patients such as dehydration, malnutrition and fungal infections. Volunteers who work alongside the clinic’s doctors and nurses will learn about the common diseases within the area and help to treat them. They will also give care to patients living in extreme poverty and expect teaching on basic clinical skills.
School volunteering is a programme that makes a positive impact on the local San Bushman children. Located at the Naankuse Wildlife Sanctuary, both nature and education are combined. Children are taught new skills such as arts, crafts, music and dance. Those who volunteer will assist the students as well as help with cleaning up of the school itself. The aim of the Clever Cubs School where this programme is hosted is to provide an education to children who have historically been denied such an opportunity.
The Naansuke Foundation Wildlife Sanctuary is a world-famous conservation organisation for the vital work it does with countless injured animals in the Namibian bush. ‘Returning the wild to the wild’ is their mantra and this forms the backbone of all of the ongoing projects at the sanctuary. It provides a safe haven for injured and orphaned animals with the aim of releasing them back into their natural habitat.
Only animals that are too injured remain at the sanctuary for their safety and survival rates. Orphaned animals are raised with incredible dedication, creating an environment that encourages their natural behaviours. The sanctuary homes a variety of animals such as baboons, meerkats, mongooses, leopard, cheetahs as well as feathered and scaled animals.
Naansuke has removed all man-made fencing that surrounds the wildlife reserve to allow the wild animals to roam freely and more naturally.