An inspiring mixture of mystery and magic, the Nyae Nyae Conservancy is unlike anywhere else in the world. It is sprinkled with trees that are so large you could live in them, folklore so rich that the stories have endured for thousands of years and home to the Ju/’hoansi people, members of one of the oldest cultures on Earth.
For more than 40,000 years, the Ju/’hoansi people have lived here in harmony with nature. They have a wealth of knowledge and a sustainable approach to living with diverse wildlife and plant life. Though their lives are changing, community elders cherish the history of their hunter-gather lifestyle and pass the culture down to the next generation.
Namibia was the first African country to incorporate protection of the environment into its constitution, and the government gave people living in communal areas the opportunity to manage their natural resources through the creation of communal conservancies. In 1998 the Nyae Nyae Conservancy became the first communal area in Namibia to be declared a conservancy by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, giving local communities the right to manage and benefit from their natural resources.
Spanning over 9,000 km², the Nyae Nyae Conservancy is a vast, captivating landscape punctuated by enormous baobabs, omarumbas, and the Nyae Nyae pans, a proposed wetland of international importance that is vital for migratory birds. It is also the only place in Namibia that is home to Africa’s to Big Five—lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino, and elephant. Nyae Nyae borders Khaudum National Park and is part of the vast Kavango-Zambezi (KAZA) Transfrontier Conservation Area, the largest terrestrial transfrontier park in the world.
Nyae Nyae’s wild landscapes, remote location and cultural significance offer adventures that are lost to much of the world but are found here - just waiting for you to explore.
Culture
The Ju/’hoansi people, who have retained their historical claim to the land, are custodians of one of humanity’s oldest living cultures, and their home, the Nyae-Nyae Conservancy represents more than a natural haven—it is a cultural heartland. The Ju/'hoansi are traditional hunter-gathers, with a deep knowledge of wildlife, natural food, and medicinal plants.
Wildlife species and conservation
Nyae Nyae / Khaudum is a vast landscape, where wildlife may be hiding in plain sight. It is home to herds of elephant, springbok, zebra and wildebeest, along with rare sable antelope, giraffe, and the largest population of roan antelope in Namibia.
Large carnivores, lion, leopard, spotted hyena, and black-backed jackal, are also found here. The landscape and its wildlife play a vital role in the ecological balance of the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA), the largest terrestrial Transfrontier park in the world.
The Nyae Nyae Conservancy and the Ju/’hoansi people also play a critical role in the protection of the pangolin, the world’s most heavily trafficked animal, and in providing habitat for the endangered African Wild Dog, South Africa’s most endangered carnivore.
Independent, non-governmental organisations have embraced the traditional knowledge of San trackers and, with the conservancy, they have selected skilled individuals and formed the Lion Rangers (Kwando Carnivore Project), Rhino Rangers (Save the Rhino Trust) and Pangolin Guardians (Pangolin Conservation and Research Foundation) to protect these critical species and work with communities to ensure their safety, particularly from large animals, predators and potential poachers. These efforts help to drive conservation success, employ local community members and reinforce traditional tracking skills
Birdlife
More than 300 species of birds have been recorded in Nyae Nyae, including the rare and endangered ground hornbill, African hobby falcon, racket-tailed roller, sharp-tailed starling, bateleur, tawny eagle, white-backed and lappet-faced vulture, Bradfield's hornbill, coppery-tailed and Senegal coucal, rufous-bellied tit and black-faced babbler.
During the rainy season (December to March), the Nyae Nyae and Khebi pan systems offer an unexpected bird refuge, creating a bird lover's paradise. Rare and endangered species that flock to the pans during in the wet season include wattled cranes, saddle billed stork, flamingo, various geese and ducks, coots and plovers.
Vegetation
From the tops of trees to roots found under the soil, the rich vegetation found in Nyae Nyae is critical to survival. The Ju/'hoansi have a use for almost every plant resource in the area, varying from medicinal uses to food and craft production. Prominent trees in the area include the majestic baobab, which has heavy pods full of nutrient-rich seeds, leadwood, commonly used for firewood, the amarula known for its sweet fruit, and the tamboti, which is vital in making local crafts.
The mangetti produces nutrient-rich nuts and various species of Grevia deliver nutritious, edible fruits, medicinal compounds, and strong, fibrous bark used for ropes.
Devil’s claw, traditionally used by the San and now widely sought after in modern herbalism for its anti-inflammatory properties, is sustainabily harvested by San communities. Harvesters dig only one side of the plant's secondary roots and leave the mother root intact, allowing the plant to regenerate, ensuring the plant’s survival. While local harvesters benefit directly from the botanical trade while actively monitoring and protecting the local biodiversity.
Landmarks
Straddling Botswana and Namibia, the 700-million-year-old Aha Hills are a landmark in the flat forest savanna of the Nyae Nyae. There is a community campsite at the base of the hills and a nearby village where water and wood can be purchased.
In the Nyae Nyae almost all roads lead to baobab trees. The Holboom, which is within a distinctive cluster of baobabs, has a nearby viewing platform and is located just 12 km from Tsumkwe on the Tsumkwe-Botswana road, while numerous large baobab trees are found near the Xamsa and Nama villages. !Ao≠0 community campsite, located in a grove of baobab trees, features a viewing platform, ideal for observing the night sky.
The Dorslandboom, which is estimated through radiocarbon dating to be approximately 2,100 years old, is one of the oldest trees on the continent. It was used as a campsite by the Dorsland Trekkers during their late-19th-century migrations to Angola. The Dorslandboom is close to the track between Tsumkwe and the Khaudum National Park.
The Boabab Trail links Xamsa, Makuri, and Djokhoe community campsites in the central part of the conservancy on a 3–4-day hike past pans, villages and forests. Please treat these ancient trees with respect!
To book campsites or request more information on activities and recommended payments, please enquire at the G!hunku Craft Shop in Tsumkwe or email visit.nyae.nyae@gmail.com
