Our History

Our Loyal Partners 

We are eternally grateful for the support from individuals, companies, trusts and organisations – our valued partners in conservation and patrons of our community projects. The vision and goals of the Naankuse Foundation would simply not be attainable without your cooperation and shared enthusiasm in conserving the wildlife, landscapes and cultures of unique Namibia.

Jannes & Dien-Marie Brandt

Dr. Jannes & Diene-Marie Brandt

Jan & Tineke Verburg

Burgland Group - Jan & Tineke Verburg

Ten Brinke

Ten Brinke Group - Albert & Anneke ten Brinke  

Henk & Anja Bakker   Thierry and Annemarie van't Hoff  Sytske & Patrick van't Hoff

The van Uden Group - Henk & Anja Bakker, Thierry & Annemarie van't Hoff and Patrick & Sytske van't Hoff

 

 

Our Story 

  • Namibian Bushmen

    Jan Verburg and his wife donated 20 000 Euros to the van Vuurens to open the Naankuse Lifeline Childline Clinic in Epukiro that treats over 4 500 San community members every year. The Clinic has become a beacon for TB research in Namibia.

  • Marlice van Vuuren

    The Naankuse Foundation was founded by Dr. Rudie and his wife, Marlice van Vuuren along with other founding members dedicated to conserving land, cultures and wildlife of Namiba. Marlice, who grew up on Farm Harnas, a renowned sanctuary for injured wildlife, had a burning ambition to open a wildlife sanctuary of her own. In an effort to make her dream come true, Dr. Rudie with the help and support from the Verburgs bought Farm Frauenstein outside Windhoek. Together they transformed the farm into the world-renowned wildlife sanctuary it is today.

  • Naankuse Lodge

    The founders decided to build a lodge on the property in order to create jobs for the San people whom they treated and befriended at the Naankuse Lifeline/Childline Clinic in an effort to improve their living standards even further. The Lodge was registered as the only “charity lodge” in Namibia and provides employment for dozens of marginalised Namibians.

  • The van Vuurens transformed their home in Klein Windhoek into Naankuse @ Utopia to offer accommodation for the Naankuse Lodge guests who need to over-night in Windhoek. This garden paradise partnered with Bougain Villa to offer 14 standard rooms, 7 luxury suites and 1 stylish executive suite to all travellers who want to relax, refresh and rejuvenate.

  • Jolie-Pitt Foundation

    Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie chose to make Naankuse a partner of the Shiloh Jolie-Pitt Foundation, in honour of their Namibian-born daughter, Shiloh. Marlice and Angelina met in 1998 and have worked closely together since then. In 2017, the Shiloh Wildlife Sanctuary was opened to rehabilitate elephants and rhinos injured or orphaned by poaching.

  • The Naankuse Foundation purchased the Neuras Wine and Wildlife Estate in southern Namibia in an effort to make quality wine that could be sold to support their conservation efforts. Neuras Wine and Wildlife Estate is the second – driest vineyard in the world as well as an important site for research pertaining to the conservation of the African Leopard and Spotted Hyena.

  • Naankuse, with the help of the van Uden Group, purchased the Kanaan Desert Retreat in the remote Karas Region of Namibia. The farm was stripped of all man-made fences and considerable efforts were made to rehabilitate the landscape from the damages caused by vehicles and fencing. The site is now home to hundreds of species of wildlife, an important research site and also famous for its breath-taking scenery and dark night skies.

  • Naankuse @ Utopia Restaurant

    Rooster & Co. Restaurant, located inside Naankuse @ Utopia Boutique Hotel opened its doors in early 2019 to serve not only our in-house guests but also the public with fresh and healthy food daily. Together with the restaurant Utopia also offers the most authentic function venue and conference facilities.   

  • Naankuse Travellers Inn

    The N/a'ankusê Ecotourism Collection expands again and this time with a 'boutique backpackers'. Nestled in a quiet suburb of our capital city, Windhoek, N/a’an ku sê Travellers Inn is a mere 45-minute drive from Hosea Kutako International Airport. Three dorm rooms and four tents are all furnished with bunk beds epitomising true backpacker comfort. We also have a ‘budget room’ with a double bed a bit more privacy. 

  • Welcome to the future… welcome to the TimBila Nature Reserve by N/a’an ku sê. 33,000 hectares of not only iconic Namibian bushveld landscapes and wildlife, this reserve will herald prime conservation practices complemented and supported by exclusive ecotourism. Perceived problem and conflict animals will be provided with a second chance – Namibia’s magnificent wild species given life where persecution would otherwise have prevailed.

  • Harnas Guest Farm

    Now under the management of the N/a'an ku sê Foundation, Harnas Guest Farm and Wildlife Sanctuary has stepped into a new era. 
    The meaning of 'Harnas' is a protective shield or armour - the shield we use to protect the lives of the Ancient San people and the lives of conflict animals in need. 

Naankuse Lodge

Farm Frauenstein, no. 277
Windhoek District
Tel: +264 81 677 13 45
Contact Naankuse Lodge

Neuras Wine & Wildlife Estate

Farm Neuras on the D850
Hardap Region
Tel: +264 63 293 417
Contact Neuras Wine & Wildlife Estate

Kanaan Desert Retreat

Farm Kanaan on the D707
Karas Region
Tel: +264 81 681 74 22
Contact Kanaan Desert Retreat

Naankuse @ Utopia

No. 64-66 Nelson Mandela Avenue
Windhoek
Tel: +264 61 211 299
Contact Naankuse @ Utopia

Naankuse Bush Camp

Farm Frauenstein, no. 277
Windhoek District
Tel: +264 81 677 13 45
Contact Naankuse Bush Camp

TimBila Nature Reserve

Farm Osondjisse 55, D2329
Omaruru District
Tel: +264 61 22 88 69 
Contact TimBila Nature Reserve

Harnas Guest Farm

Farm 418 Gobabis
Drimiopsis District
Tel: +264 62 568 828
Contact Harnas Guest Farm