Tourism in Namibia is one of the fastest growing sectors within the Namibian economy and more and more people are jumping on the bandwagon to get a piece of the pie. Notably local communities are getting seriously involved with tourism ventures realizing that they have something unique to offer that others want to see and learn more about.
NACOBTA (Namibia Community Based Tourism Association) is instrumental in helping along the efforts of local communities and conservancies to establish these projects. The main emphasis is to offer tourists an insight into the various ethnic groups & cultures that make up Namibia.
One of these community projects is the Nakambale Museum and Rest camp. The Museum is housed in an old Finnish mission that was built in the late 19th century at Olukonda. The Museum traces back the beginning and development of the Finnish and Rhenish missionary work as well as that of the Ovambo culture. On tour your guide will explain to you the many different photos, exhibits and text present in the museum. The tour also includes a visit of the old mission church which is now a national monument. The traditional village next door to the Museum depicts a day in the life of the Ovambo people, their rituals and traditions.
For a minimal fee you can even spend a night in one of these traditional huts or alternatively make use of the nearby campsite and homestead. The nearby small shop offers craft items from the area.
This unique cultural encounter can easily be incorporated with a visit to the wildlife rich Etosha National Park. With the new ‘King Nehale’ gate open, it providing excess to the north of Namibia and connects with the B1 leading to Ondangwa. Olukonda and the Museum are just 10 km south of Ondangwa and are easily accessible from the tar road.
If you are staying at Namutoni or one of the private lodges near to the ‘Von Lindequist’ gate this makes for a nice day excursion. Start your day off with an early morning drive to the waterholes ‘Groot Okevi’ and/ or ‘Andoni’ before heading through the ‘King Nehale’ gate and onto the Nakambale Museum. After your visit of the Museum and the traditional village you might like to stay for a traditional meal (by pre- arrangement only) before returning back to Etosha. Time permitting you can travel back the same way you came, enjoying some further game viewing in the late afternoon. Alternatively you take the B1 around Etosha and back to your overnight stay.
Make your next visit to Namibia one of wildlife and culture!
