The community of Tsintsabis in the Guinas constituency is lobbying for financial assistance to revive and boost operations of the Treesleeper campsite.
This campsite, an income-generating project for the Hei//omn San community, is in a deteriorating state due to the unavailability of funds to maintain and upgrade it, and to run day-to-day operations.
“Having contemplated many ideas on how we can make the project work and grow over the past years, we have now decided to seek help from private investors or businesses who we can enter into a joint-venture agreement,” said camp manager Moses //Khumub.
Hei//omn means ‘treesleepers’, derived from the time members of the community were forced to spend nights in trees to evade lions.
The campsite started its operations in 2007 and offers, among others, bushwalks, traditional performances and village tours in addition to fully-fledged camping facilities.
However, it was brought to its knees a few years back when a contractor vanished, leaving the project partially incomplete. An amount of N$3 million was spent at the time.
The campsite has the potential to unlock the economic potential of the marginalised people of Tsintsabis, which lies 65 kilometres northeast of Tsumeb. The area is in close proximity to the Etosha National Park. The road passing through leads to the Kavango West and further to Angola, through Mpungu and Katwitwi border post.
The project was initiated by the tourism ministry for the benefit of the community.
“We have presented this idea (fund sourcing) to the ministry and they will assist in facilitating. We are asking investors to submit their expression of interest on how they can come on board and assist,” said //Khumub. There are eight campsites and 10 bungalows.
“Basically, the little we generate just goes to the upkeep of the campsites as well as payment for the two colleagues assisting. So, we haven’t really gone that far in terms of infrastructure maintenance, as it is a costly exercise, hence we are looking for bailouts elsewhere,” he stressed. – osimasiku@nepc.com.na