See also: Actor of "The Gods Must Be Crazy"

Nhoma Safari Camp is a small activity orientated, tented camp, situated in the north eastern corner of Namibia 80 km from Tsumkwe within the traditional area of the Ju/’hoan San or Bushmen (as they are commonly known in Namibia). It borders the Nyae Nyae and Nna Jaqna Conservancies. Tourism allows the community to earn cash in order to buy food and supplies not provided by the surrounding environment.

YouTube video of Bushmen Living Museum:

Activities offered at the camp ranges from hunting with the Bushmen hunters, veld food collection, the making of hunting equipment to traditional games and the healing dances. When conditions are suitable a short night drive is undertaken to view springhare and look for other nocturnal animals.

A 5-day Bushcraft and Tracking Course is offered on set dates between March and July every year.

A visit to Nhoma Safari Camp will destroy the stereotype image people have of Bushmen and replace it with a more realistic view as well as amazement for the skills and knowledge lost by modern man. This is only possible due to the limited number of visitors facilitating individual attention, the location of the camp close to the village, the remoteness and wildness of the surrounding area, the natural friendliness and spontaneity of the community and the impromptu activities.

Accommodation and camping has to be pre-booked. Accommodation is in ten safari tents on wooden decks with a view over the Nhoma omuramba (fossil river bed). The tents are well spaced and shaded by Zambezi Teak trees.

The tents

Three tents have double beds with corner baths - the bathroom in a partition of the tent. Two tents have a double and a single bed and corner bath - the bathroom in a partition of the tent.

One tent has a double and a single bed and shower - the bathroom in a partition of the tent.

Four tents have twin beds with showers - the bathrooms are grass-enclosed and connected to the bedroom by a door.

Camping: We have a campsite with ablutions consisting of two showers and two toilets.

Water: Water comes from the village borehole and is safe to drink, but purified water is provided for drinking.

Electricity: There are no electrical points in the tents. Batteries can be charged in the dining area. Lights are solar powered.

Hot water: Hot water is provided by gas geysers or wood fired boilers.

Cell phone reception: It is possible to have cell phone reception, but only in the dining area. if the Tsumkwe signal is not working, there is no reception.

Internet: Internet is not available.

Safes: All tents have a small safe.

Meals and drinks: Meals and drinks are provided in the central dining area and are included in the rates.

Khaudum day tour: The best time to visit Khaudum is outside the rainy season from June to October when animals visit water holes. The entrance to the park is 60km or a one-and-a-half hour drive away.

Overnight Khaudum tours:
From 2012, we will be doing overnight tours to Khaudum again as the facilities are to be upgraded. The best is to combine a stay at Nhoma with a stay in the park. The minimum recommended stay at Nhoma is one night to allow for a bush walk on the second morning and to depart for the park in the afternoon. The minimum recommended time in the park will be two nights so that one has at least one full day in the park.

Khaudum escorts:
A Khaudum escort is a guided tour, but the guests drive their own vehicle and have their own food and accommodation arrangements. It is advisable not to travel through Khaudum with only one vehicle. The tour can return to Nhoma, Tsumkwe or exit the park in the north. Exiting the park in the north means our guide have to drive all the way back to Nhoma and it is therefore only possible if the group consists of at least four people or an extra day is paid for.

General

The 3 842 square km park was only proclaimed in 1989, making it a relatively new park. The park is in the Kavango region, bordering Botswana and the Nyae Nyae Conservancy. The area used to be inhabited by Ju/'hoan Bushman or San groups, but they were relocated to the Nyae Nyae area when the park was proclaimed Except for the border with Botswana, the park is not fenced and game migrate freely into the neighbouring conservancies. The park was proclaimed to protect the woodland savannah biome of north eastern Namibia which is the habitat for the endangered roan antelope. They occur here at the edge of their natural distribution. Wild dogs are another endangered species that occur in the park, but they are usually only seen in September and October at waterholes before the rains start. Ground hornbills and several species of raptors are amongst the vulnerable bird life found in the park. Game and bird viewing is only really good when the clay pans have dried up by the end of August. This is also the time of year when huge herds of elephants congregate at the waterholes in the late afternoon, often keeping other game from drinking. The estimated number of elephants during October in the park is 3500. Because of its inaccessibility, visitors to the park are few and animals are not accustomed to vehicles, causing them to flee. Two fossil river beds traverse the park and are where most game is found. In between these omuramba, the roads are very sandy.

Only four-wheel drive vehicles can negotiate the roads in the park and tourists should travel in groups of two vehicles - for their own security. The southern part of the park along the Nhoma omuramba is more accessible than the northern part where the tracks are very sandy. The two unfenced camps, Khaudum Camp and Sikereti, are neglected: the facilities are not functional and visitors should be self sufficient, except for firewood, which is still supplied. Even water is not always available and the nearest fuel stations are at Tsumkwe, Divundu, Rundu and Grootfontein. No advanced bookings can be made for the camps and no camping fees are charged. Permits are issued and entrance fees are charged at the camp offices. Sikereti camp is 57km north of Tsumkwe. Driving time to Sikereti from either Tsumkwe or Nhoma is two hours. Camping is only allowed in one of the two camps, but one may stay at the water holes until after sunset.

Location

The turn-off is approximately 185 km on the C44 gravel road when coming from Grootfontein or 40 km from Tsumkwe. Nhoma is 40 km along road D3301; four wheel drive is not required. Keep below 80 kph because of unexpected sandy stretches after Vicksrus village. Two wheel drive vehicles must park below the dune and wait to be picked up.

Notes:

Rates are subject to change without prior notice should tax be increased or Government levies introduced. Rates include Value Added Tax.

Contact & reservations:
E-mail: info@namibweb.com

Reservations are only accepted in writing: by fax or via e-mail.
Final availability confirmation: in writing: by fax or via e-mail.

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