Experience nature untouched and deeply alive. The abundance and diversity of species that can be found in the ≠Khoadi //Hoas Conservancy is a far cry from the way things were at the turn of the century. Thanks to the determined efforts and cooperation of forward-thinking conservationists, government, private concerns and the once marginalised community that live here, game numbers have made a turn
around to become a global success story. This includes endangered species such as black rhino, desert-adapted lion and elephant. Around the early 1990’s, game numbers were at an all time low due to human-wild animal conflict. Wild animals were seen as a nuisance at best while elephant and predators posed a threat to the livelihood of the local communities. As a result, animals were worth more dead than alive. Poaching and the persecution of so-called “problem” animals (such as elephant, lion and other predators) went ahead unchecked. At the same time, antelope and zebra were unsustainably hunted for their meat and skins until almost all but the smallest of invertebrates disappeared from the area. A turnaround came when in 1990, the Grootberg Farmer’s Union was formed. This instigated policy changes and formed the basis of what was to become the ≠Khoadi //Hoas Conservancy. Thanks to funds donated by the European Union, the Grootberg Lodge was built. This was to become the first lodge to be wholly owned by the community. The establishment of the lodge brought employment and a more sustainable income to community members as well as a revenue stream to aide and promote social initiatives and resources.
