AP RI L2 0 1 9
T r a v e l w i t hi mp a c t
SHI F TPE RSPE CT I VE Ani n n o v a t i v ea p p r o a c ht o s u s t a i n a b l et o u r i s mi nNa mi b i a .
AL I V I NGC UL T UR E +IMPACTTOURISMFORTHEFUTURE
Di s c o v e rNa mi b i ao f f t h eb e a t e nt r a c k wi t ho u r1 2d a yI mp a c t Ad v e n t u r eT HI SJ u n e2 0 1 9
C U R A T I N GT H E A R T O F A D V E N T U R E
www. t our def or c euk. c om
Youhol di nyourhandsapr es ent at i ondes i gned t o i ns pi r e and c onnec tt o you, t he key r ol epl ayer si nt heNami bi ant our i s ml ands c ape. Col l abor at i oni st henew c ur r enc yi nourgl obal t r avelec onomyandwebel i evet hati fwewor k t oget heronades t i nat i onl evel ,s us t ai nabi l i t yi s pos s i bl e.T ourdeFor c es par kedt hef l ameand t he T r avel i ng Ci r c us i s bur ni ng wi t h pas s i on abouts howc as i ng t hi si nnovat i ve new wayof s eei ngands el l i ngNami bi a.
01180203030 c onnec t @t r avel i ngc i r c us . c o. za Copyr i ghtT r avel i ngCi r c us2019
Asgl obalc onc er nsi nf l uenc e moder nt r ends , t our i s m i s evol vi ng dai l y and t r avel l er s ar e bec omi ng mor es oc i al l yc ons c i ous as t hey s ear c h f or c onnec t i on and new ways t o par t i c i pat ei namor es us t ai nabl eandequi t abl e f or m of t r avel . The T r avel i ng Ci r c us i sa For Pr of i tc ompanywi t h,amongs tot hergoal s , t r ong f oc us on devel opi ng uni que and as i mmer s i ve exper i enc es , par t i c ul ar l y ar ound c ul t ur e and nat ur e.We s aw a demand f or i mpac t t our i s mt hr oughoutSout her nAf r i c aand anexc i t i ng oppor t uni t yt o br i ng c ommuni t i es ont heedgeoft het our i s ml ands c apei nt ot he ec os ys t em by devel opi ng new and i ns pi r i ng t r avelexper i enc esout s i de oft he mai ns t r eam t our i s mf unnel s .
I nt ot heWi l d:DeonandNei l f r om t heT r av el i ngCi r c usbus h c ampi ngof ft hebeat ent r ac ki n Nami bi a.
I nal eap off ai t h,T ourdeFor c eand Fac e Af r i c apar t ner ed wi t ht heT r avel i ng Ci r c us t oc r eat e at r i pt hati saboutmuc h mor e t han j us tr eac hi ng s pec i f i c des t i nat i ons . Thi sj our ney ofdi s c over yt akes t he TDF advent ur er sof ft hebeat ent r ac kand i nt o t he hear tofc ommuni t i es .Bys eeki ng out t hemos ti ns pi r i ngi ndi vi dual sal ongt he4x4 r out e,t heT r avel i ngCi r c ushavet appedi nt o t hei rnet wor k ofc ons er vat i oni s t s ,gui des and or di nar y peopl e who wantt os har e t hei rr i c hc ul t ur alher i t agewi t hr es pons i bl e t r avel l er s .Ourr ol easc onnec t or sext ends t o br i ngi ng t oget her T our Oper at or s , NGO' sandPubl i cSec t orOr gani s at i onst o ut i l i s eourc ol l ec t i veener gyand exper t i s e t os t i mul at e an upwar ds pi r alofgr owt h wi t hi nt he t our i s ml ands c ape ofNami bi a. Us i ng t he moment um oft hi spr oj ec t ,and t appi ng i nt o ourdynami cand mot i vat ed par t ner son t he gr ound,we c an addr es s i s s uess uc h usover t our i s mi nt he c ur r ent vi s i t or f unnel ,and c an make ameani ngf ul c ont r i but i ont odr i vi ng amor es us t ai nabl e out c ome.
FROM THEEDI TORS THEJ OURNEYHASBEGUN… I nt wobac kt obac kr ec c et r i ps ,t heT r avel i ng Ci r c usengagedwi t ht hes omeoft hei c onsi n Nami bi anc ons er vat i onc i r c l est o dr aw t hem i nt oanec os ys t em,whi c hi sever gr owi ngand expandi ng.Thepar t ner s hi pbet weenT ourDe For c e,Fac e Af r i c aand The T r avel i ng Ci r c us hasc r eat ed an oppor t uni t yf ort r avel l er st o getani nt i mat ei ns i ghti nt os omeoft hec r uc i al i s s uesi nt heNami bi anl ands c ape. I ti sone t hi ng t os ee aRhi no and c onnec tt oi ti na beaut i f ulnat ur all ands c apebutqui t eanot her t os c r at c hdeeperandunc overt hedai l ybat t l e waged t o keep t hes ec r eat ur es al i ve.Thi s uni que oppor t uni t y f or c onnec t i on f undament al l y c hanges ever y i nt er ac t i on t r avel l er shave. TheT r avel i ngCi r c uspr omi s est o‘ dobus i nes s unus ual ’ ,and ourpar t ner s hi p wi t hT ourde For c e on t hes e Nami bi an advent ur esi sno di f f er ent .We have devel oped r el at i ons hi ps wi t hs omeoft hemos tf as c i nat i ng peopl ei n t he ar eas ar ound t he T our de For c e des t i nat i ons . Thei nt er ac t i onswhi c hwear e s et t i ng up wi t ht hes ei ns pi r i ng i ndi vi dual s , t akesvi s i t or sout s i deofanor maldr es s edup, ‘ s hi nyt our i s m enc ount er ’andgi vest hem t he oppor t uni t yt obepar tofanexper i enc ewhi c h i sr eal .Thi si snotapas s i veexper i enc ewher e gues t sar epar toft he‘ audi enc e’butr at her af f or dst hem t he oppor t uni t yt o par t i c i pat e ac t i vel yandaut hent i c al l y… t oc ont r i but ei na
meani ngf ulway t ot he ongoi ng and
s us t ai nabl edevel opmentoft hes ei nt er ac t i ons t hr oughengagement ,i nputandas har i ngof exper t i s eandl i f el ear ni ngs .
We ar e pas s i onat e aboutf i ndi ng s yner gi es bet ween t our i s m pr oduc t owner s , c ommuni t ybas ed or gani s at i ons ,gover nment depar t ment sand l oc alc ommuni t i es ,t ot ake r es pons i bi l i t y f or wor ki ng t oget her i n a meani ngf ulandhol i s t i cmanner .Wes t i mul at e t r ans f or mat i onwi t hi nt het our i s mi ndus t r yt o bui l d an i nc l us i ve c ommuni t y of t hought l eader s wi t hi n a dynami c and ever evol vi ng ec os ys t em and we woul dl i ke you,a key r ol epl ayer t o be par t of t hi s evol vi ng s t or y .We hope t hat you wi l lbe i ns pi r ed by t hi s ,t he f i r s tedi t i on of"Aweh Nami bi a'andwi l lc ons i derwor ki ngwi t hust o s t i mul at e a new way f or t r avel l er st o be exper i enc i ngt hi si nc r edi bl ec ount r ybyaddi ng at our i s ml evyont oyourt our pr i c eandmaki ng yourc l i ent sawar eoft hei rc ont r i but i ont ot hi s val uabl e s oc i al r es pons i bi l i t y movement t her eby gi vi ng t hi sf or c ef or c hange t he moment um i tdes er ves .
DUNCAN MI LLI GAN T ourdeFor c e
VERI TYMI LLI GAN T ourdeFor c e
Dunc anhasbeent r avel l i ng al lhi sl i f e. Hi sf or mat i veyear sgr owi ng up i nt he Mi ddl e and FarEas tl ead t o al i f e of t r avelandadvent ur e.Hehass pentt he l as t15year swor ki ng i nt headvent ur e t r aveli ndus t r y .Thi si nc l uded dr i vi ng over l andt hr oughAf r i c a,Sout hAmer i c a andAs i a,under t aki ngs uc hj our neysas London t o Camer oon,Kat hmandu t o London( vi aTi betandCent r alAs i a)and numer ous j our neys t hr ough Sahar an and SubSahar an,Wes tAf r i c a. As a Fel l ow of t he Royal Geogr aphi c al Soc i et y ,he has c hai r ed t hei r Vehi c l e Dependent Expedi t i on Panel , whi l s t al s o hos t i ng Advent ur e Pl anni ng Semi nar satTheAdvent ur eT r avelShow onnumer ousoc c as i ons .Hi ss ki l l sasa l ogi s t i c smanagerand f i xerhavebeen ut i l i s ed on manyl ong di s t anc ec l as s i c c arendur anc eevent s ,i nc l udi ngPeki ng t o Par i s ,London t o Cape T own and Buenos Ai r es t o Us huai a. He has wor ked as an Event Manager on numer ouswi l d advent ur es ,or gani s i ng c har i t y c ar r al l i es t hr ough Cent r al Af r i c a,r i c ks haw j our neysi n Per u and t he wor l d’ sf i r s t Par a mot or r ac ei n Amer i c a.Ot herpr oj ec t si nc l ude bei ng par tofat eam t aki ng t hewor l d’ sf i r s t r oad l egalf l yi ng c aron an expedi t i on f r om Londont oTi mbukt u.
Havi ng l i ved i nJ apan f ora yearand t r avel l ed ext ens i vel yi n Sout h Amer i c a, Ver i t yunder s t andst hei mpor t anc eofa ‘ wor l d vi ew’ .A t hi r s tf oradvent ur e,a l oveofnat ur e,andades i r et os eemor e oft hi sbeaut i f ul pl anetl edVer i t yt os wap t hewor l dofadver t i s i ngi nSohof ort he s i ght sand s oundsofI ndi aand Nepal wher es hel i vedf orayear .Ver i t y’ smany year s exper i enc e wor ki ng as a TV pr oduc er means s he pays exc el l ent at t ent i on t o det ai l . She has hi ghl y devel oped pl anni ng and or gani z at i on s ki l l shonedt hr oughyear sofor gani z i ng mul t i mi l l i on pound l oc at i on s hoot sal l overt hewor l d. TDF’ st r avel l i nggour metandaes t het e– Ver i t yi sal s or es pons i bl ef orens ur i ng ever yt hi ngt as t esasgoodasi tl ooksand vi c e ver s a.A s el f c onf es s ed ‘ f oodi e’ , Ver i t y del i ght s i n r es ear c hi ng t he bes t keptf oodi es ec r et s and eat er i es whi l s tal s o unear t hi ng ‘ of ft he beat en t r ac k’beaut i f ulpl ac est os t ay .
CONTRI BUT ORS
DEON PI ENAAR TheT r avel i ngCi r c us
TI M ELLI S Fac eAf r i c a
Havi ng wor ked wi t hi n t he t our i s m i ndus t r y f or mor e t han t en year s , gai ni ng exper i enc e t hr oughout Sout her n Af r i c a. Deon’ s eye f ort he unus ual anddes i r et oc onnec tpeopl et o t he r eals pi r i tofAf r i c a,hass een hi m t aki ng on di ver s er ol es r angi ng f r om phot ogr aphy;f i l mmaki ng;des t i nat i on mar ket i ng; managi ng t our i s m l odges and, mos tr ec ent l y ,r ur alc ommuni t y t our i s mdevel opment .A gr eatl overof t r avel l i ng of ft he beat en t r ac k,he i s pas s i onat e aboutt el l i ng t he t al es of Sout her nAf r i c at hr oughengagi ng and evoc at i vei mager yand hasat hor ough i ns i ght i nt o t he i ndus t r y f r om a mar ket i ng per s pec t i ve. Deon i s hands on,dynami c ,c onnec t seas i l ywi t h peopl e and i ns pi r es new ways of t hi nki ng.
Ti m has been r unni ng hi s own T our Oper at i ng bus i nes si n Sout h Af r i c a, r unni ng s pec i al i nt er es t t our s and expedi t i onst hr oughoutt her egi on.An ext r emel y exper i enc ed Over l ander i n hi sown r i ght ,he hast aken gr oupsof NGO’ s ,s c hool s ,andpr i vat ec har t er st o i et y of di f f er ent c ount r i es – a var i nc l udi ng Mal awi , Uganda, Zambi a, Les ot ho, Bot s wana, Zi mbabwe, Swaz i l andand,ofc our s e,Nami bi a.Ti m pr ovi des key l oc al i ns i ght and knowl edgef ort hedevel opmentoft he i t i ner ar y and hi snet wor k ofc ont ac t s , s uppl i er s and i ndus t r y c ont ac t s i s i nval uabl e. Ti m’ s z enl i ke per s onal i t y keepsc al mi never ys i t uat i onand wi t h hi sl oc al l ys our c ed pr oduc e,hi smeal s ar e a del i ghtatt he end ofa day of advent ur i ng.
T
Shar i ngani nnovat i veappr oac ht ot our i s m,TheT r avel i ngCi r c us , T ourdeFor c eandFac eAf r i c ahaveembar kedonanexc i t i ngand r ewar di ng j our ney t o devel op and s uppor texper i enc es wi t h amazi ng i ndi vi dual s who i ns pi r e c ul t ur al c onnec t i on i n of f t hebeat ent r ac k des t i nat i ons . We as ked Dunc an & Ver i t y Mi l l i gan and Ti m El l i ss ome ques t i onsand t hei rr es pons e was f as c i nat i ngt os ayt hel eas t .Readon. . .
Si nc et hen,Ihav edr i v enBei j i ngt oPar i sand London t o Cape T own,v ar i ousot herl ong di s t anc e dr i v i ng adv ent ur es and al s o or gani s i ngc har i t yr al l i esi nCamer oon,Per u andt heUSA.Notf or get t i nganex pedi t i ont o t ak et hewor l d’ sf i r s tr oadl egalf l y i ngc art o Ti mbuk t u!
Q: Dunc an,you have a hi s t or yi nt he over l andi ng i ndus t r y ,t r avel l i ng ext ens i vel y t o of f t hebeat ent r ac kdes t i nat i ons .Coul d yout el lusabi taboutyouradvent ur es ? A: ‘ Ihav e been wor k i ng i nt he Adv ent ur e T r av elI ndus t r yf orov er15y ear snow.Myj obas anOv er l anddr i v erandt ourl eaderl edmet o dr i v i ng100, 000’ sk i l omet r esal l ov ert hewor l d.I s pent 15 mont hs dr i v i ng ar ound Sout h Amer i c a;7mont hsdr i v i ng f r om UK t o Wes t Af r i c a and bac k as wel l as dr i v i ng f r om Nor t her nI ndi abac kt ot heUKv i aNepal ,Ti bet andCent r al As i a. I al s os pentqui t eabi toft i me ex pl or i ngt heSahar ades er t ,i npl ac ess uc has Mal iandMaur i t ani a.
Themor er emot eand of f t hebeat ent r ac k , t hebet t erf orme.Ir eal l yenj oygoi ngt ot he pl ac est hatmos tpeopl ewoul dnev ert hi nkof v i s i t i ng.Igets uc habuz zf r om i nt r oduc i ng new andamaz i ngpl ac est opeopl e… t hi si s t hebes tandmos tr ewar di ngpar tofwor k i ng i nt r av el- t ak i ng s omeone out of t hei r c omf or tz onet oex per i enc es omet hi ngnew anddi f f er ent . ’ Q:How di d yourexper i enc ess hape and i ns pi r eyout os t ar tT ourDeFor c e? A: ‘ Wes t ar t edT ourDeFor c ebec aus ewes aw t heneedf oraut hent i c ,wel l r es ear c hedand uni que ex per i enc es .I ti st he peopl ey ou meet ,and t hei rs t or i es ,t hat ar ej us t as i mpor t antast he des t i nat i on.Wi t houtt he human c onnec t i on,i tc an of t en j us tbe an ex er c i s ei n‘ box t i c k i ng’apar t i c ul arpl ac eor c ount r y .
Q; T our De For c e of f er s uni que exper i enc es whi c h ar e not hi ng l i ke t he r unof t hemi l lt our i s tof f er i ngs .Yourt our s of f er buc ket l i s t advent ur es l i ke dr i vi ng vi nt agec ar sf r om Peki ngt oPar i s ,c has i ng t hemi dni ghts uni nSc andi navi aort es t i ng JaguarEt ypesi nt heSc ot t i s hI s l es . . .What r es onat es wi t h your c l i ent s and what di f f er ent i at es your t our s f r om ot her s c at er i ng t o t hos e c at er i ng t o an advent ur ouss pi r i t ? A: ‘ We s pend a l otoft i me,ener gyand money r es ear c hi ng our t r i ps and mak i ng t hem asi nt er es t i ngandex c i t i ngaspos s i bl e. Ev er yel ementoft het r i phasbeenper s onal l y ex per i enc edbyus .Thi si snott os ani t i s et he ex per i enc e,but r at her c ur at ei t ,t her eby of f er i ngt hebes tpos s i bl eadv ent ur e,t ai l or ed t o ourc us t omer s par t i c ul arpas s i ons and i nt er es t .But ,byi t sv er ynat ur e,adv ent ur e meansy ou mus tt ak et he r ough wi t ht he s moot h, weens ur ewear ewi t hourc l i ent st he whol e t i me, hel pi ng t o nav i gat e a wonder f ul l ydi f f er entwor l dandgett hemos t outoft heex per i enc e. Ourc l i ent sar egener al l yol der ,butwi t hno l es sofanadv ent ur ouss pi r i t -i nf ac tIwoul d ar gue ev en mor es ot han per haps t hos e y oungert han t hems el v es .Theyal lhav ea weal t hoft r av elex per i enc es ,hav es t ay edi n t hemos tl ux ur i oushot el si nt hewor l d,eat en att hebes tr es t aur ant s ,doneal lt het hi ngs t hatmos tpeopl e mi ghtex pec tt o be t he ‘ bes t ’ex per i enc e.Howev er ,t heyunder s t and t hati ti s notal laboutl ux ur y ,butr at her aut hent i c i t yandget t i ngundert hes k i nofa c ount r y . Theywantt os pendt hei rhar dear nedmoney on ex per i enc es ,notmat er i alpos s es s i ons . Theyc anaf f or dt o payf ort hepr i v i l egeof t r av el l i ng t o ar egi on t hatdoesnothav e muc hi nt hewayofi nf r as t r uc t ur e,wher et hey under s t andt her ear eno5s t arhot el sort he us ualt our i s tof f er i ngofdayt r i psandc abar et ni ght s .Theyhav et r av el l edt opl ac ess uc has Ti bet ,Mongol i a,Bhut anand T ur k meni s t an. I nmanyway s ,t heyar eof t ent hepi oneer sof t our i s m. Muc h l i k e s ur f er s , hi ppi es and bac k pac k er s ,ourc l i ent sar et hef i r s tpeopl e i nt oanewt our i s m des t i nat i on. ’
Q: Att hehear tofT ourDeFor c e,i st hi s hus band and wi f et eam bonded by a s t r ong l ove f oradvent ur e.How do you i nf us et hi s advent ur ous s pi r i ti nt o your t our s ,Ver i t y? A: ‘ We ar e al way sl ook i ng t o of f er an aut hent i cex per i enc ef orourc l i ent s .Al otof t het r i pswedo ar et o pl ac esweour s el v es woul dl i k et o ei t herr et ur nt o orgo and ex pl or e our s el v es l i k e t he l es s k nown c ount r i es ,s uc hasLes ot ho,Geor gi a,ort he mor er emot ec or nerofNami bi a.We ar e al way s on t he l ook outt of i nd pl ac es or peopl ef or our c l i ent st ov i s i tt hat t hey c oul dn’ tf i ndf ort hems el v es , orwoul dn’ thav e t he c onf i denc et o do by t hems el v es .We ens ur et hatwe wor kwi t h peopl e who ar e equal l y as ex c i t ed and pas s i onat e about t r av elaswear e. ’ Q: We know t hat one ofTDF’ s mos t r ec entt r i pswast hehi ghr oadi nLes ot ho. Thi sc at al ys ed i deas whi c h have dr i ven yourbus i nes si nanew di r ec t i on.Dunc an, What wer et he l ear ni ngs f r om Les ot ho whi c h you have us ed t o make magi ci n Nami bi a? A: ‘ Les ot howaswher et hi sal ls t ar t ed.Ti m El l i sofFac eAf r i c aandIwer ek eent oof f er t he s or tofadv ent ur es t hatwe had bot h ex per i enc ed whi l s t Ov er l andi ng. The bus hc ampsi nt he mi ddl e ofnowher e;t he f r eedom t o ex pl or ei n a wel l equi pped, s el f s uf f i c i entv ehi c l e;t hef l ex i bi l i t yt o‘ f ol l ow y ournos e’t of i ndt hebes tpl ac est os t ayand meetgr eatpeopl e.Ourl ear ni ngsf r om our t wot r i pst oLes ot howi t hc l i ent swer ec ent r ed ar ound how wel lpeopl er es ponded t ot hi s s t y l e of t r av el …. t he c hat s ar ound t he c ampf i r e, wak i ngupi nat entt ot hes oundsof anAf r i c andawn,s t oppi ngt ogi v el oc al sal i f t , pi c ni c supmount ai ns ,s t oppi ngt oc hec kout av i l l ageors c hool ,c hanc eenc ount er swi t h l oc al swer eal lhugel ymemor abl e.I twasasi f ourc l i ent sdi s c ov er ed anot herwor l d,bot h l i t er al l yandmet aphor i c al l y . I nf ac t ,t hi st es t i moni alf r om ac l i ents umsi t upbes t :
' A c ompl et el y wonder f ul and uni que ex per i enc e.Ourj our ney t hr ough Les ot ho t ookusoutofour s el v esandi nt oac ount r y and pl ac et hatf ew hav es een.Ev er y t hi ng f r om t hebr i l l i ant l yequi ppedc ar st ot hef ood t ot hel ogi s t i c als uppor t ,wasoft hehi ghes t qual i t ydev el opedbypeopl ewi t ht heper f ec t bl end ofc har m and c ompet enc e.Thec ar e and at t ent i ont o det ai lwasf aul t l es sbutal l del i v er ed i nar el ax ed and nat ur alwayt hat c r eat es a s pec i alf eel i ng ofhar mony and c ommuni t y .Y ouar egi v enpl ent yofl at i t ude f ori ndependenc e and adv ent ur e,k nowi ng t hat t her ei s al way sa s ec ur es af et y net beneat hy ou.I ti snotanov ers t at ementt o s ayi twasal lr at heri ns pi r i ngandupl i f t i ng. ’ Ti m El l i s f r om Fac e Af r i c a adds hi s per s pec t i v e: ‘ A k ey as pec t of our 4x 4 adv ent ur esar et hebus hc amps . Thes ear e r emot ec ampst hatwe c r eat ei n awes ome l oc at i ons , mos t of t en f ound by nos ef ol l owi ng ex pl or at i ons on our r ec c e t r i ps .I nmos tofr ur alLes ot ho,l and i snot underpr i v at eowner s hi pbutal l oc at edunder t he c hi ef t ai n s y s t em. Wi t hout f ai l an engagement wi t h c ommuni t y member s happens when we bus hc amp i n t hes e pl ac es .T y pi f i edbyc ur i os i t yonbot hs i des : v i s i t orandhos t .Ourt eam i sex per i enc edi n f ac i l i t at i ngt hes eengagement s :t hees s ent i al humanex per i enc e. We di d ar eas onabl y good j ob oft hi si n Les ot ho;howev er ,wheni tc amet opl anni ng Nami bi a,Iwant edt os eei fwec oul dt ak ei ta s t epf ur t her . Ik new t hatwewoul dwantt o bus hc amp on Cons er v anc yl and and t hat woul dr equi r eamor ef or malengagement .I al s o hoped t hatt hi sCons er v anc ys t r uc t ur e woul d al l ow us t oc ont r i but ei n a mor e ef f ec t i v e,mor es us t ai nabl e,way–s omet hi ng mor emeani ngf ul t hanj us tt hebenef i t sofour t ourpas s i ng t hr ough. Ti me hass hown us t hat t hi s di d happen her e and t her ei n Les ot ho –wher es har i ng s t or i esaboutt he bus hc ampst hatwec r eat ed haspr ompt ed her st of ol l ow i nourf oot s t eps .Butc oul d ot we do t hi s i n a mor e s t r uc t ur ed, dev el opment al ,wayi nNami bi a?
Q: Ti m El l i sbr oughtT ourDe For c e and t he T r avel i ng Ci r c us t oget hert hr ough a s er endi pi t ousc hai nofevent s . Ti m,what wast heal c hemyt hatyoupi c t ur edi nt he mi x? obr i ngt hi sv i s i ont or eal i t y ,Ik new t hatwe T woul dneedapar t nerwi t hanunder s t andi ng of bot h t our i s m and dev el opment i n Nami bi a. If ol l owed a t r ai lt hr ough my c ont ac t st hatev ent ual l yl edmet oNei lShaw f r om t heT r av el i ngCi r c us .Nei l ’ sex per i enc e i nt heKunener egi on,wor k i ngf oroneoft he NGOs s uppor t i ng t he c ons er v anc i es , c oupl edwi t hhi sex per i enc eofus i ngt our i s m asat oolf ordev el opment ,mademef eelt hi s wasagood f i t . Si nc et hatmoment ,Ihav e c ome t o under s t and t he c ol l abor at i v e met hodol ogyoft he T r av el i ng Ci r c usmuc h bet t erandam ev enmor ec onv i nc edt hatt hi s appr oac hhast hemos tpot ent i alIhav es een i n 18 y ear s of wor k i ng i n and ar ound Res pons i bl eT our i s m. Las t y ear I t r av el l ed t o Li mpopo t o ex per i enc et he r es ul t soft hi sappr oac h as t heyhav emani f es t edi nt hi sr egi onofSout h Af r i c a. The f oc us on dev el opi ng human bei ngst owar dst hei rpot ent i al andment or i ng t hem ont hei rj our ney( r at hert hanenac t i ng br oadt opdownt r ai ni ngwi t houtc ont i nui ng s uppor t )hasr es ul t edi nt hek i ndofaut hent i c ex per i enc est hatt r av el l er sar es eek i ng,anda t r ues ens eofs el f wor t hi nt heent r epr eneur s t hatImet .Thi sdanc et hatbr i ngst hepr i v at e s ec t or ,dev el opmentwor k and des t i nat i on mar k et er st oget heri s ,i ndeed,al c hemi c al .I t hast he pot ent i alt ol ev elt he pl ay i ng f i el d and c r eat e as y ner gywher et he pr oduc ti s t r ul ymor et hant hes um ofi t spar t s . Thi s was an i ns pi r i ng r eal i s at i on and r ei nf or c edaf eel i ngt hatwasal s oc omi ngat mef r om ot herangl es ,t os hi f tmy s el fandmy c ompany i nt o a mor ec ol l abor at i v e and c oc r eat i v ewayofwor k i ng.Upt ot hi spoi nt , I hav et endedt of oc usonwor k i ngawayatmy i deass omewhati ni s ol at i on. Now Iam f ar ei nt er es t ed i ns eek i ng c ol l abor at or st o mor c r eat eanddev el opi deaswi t h. ’
Q:Dunc an,asaT ourOper at or ,whatr ol e do you s ee your s el f pl ayi ng i n t he devel opment and s uppor t of uni que exper i enc es i n Nami bi a and how i st hi s ac hi eved? How does t hi s model of Devel opmentt hr ough T our i s m s peak t o you and whatdi d you wantt o ac hi eve wi t hyourc l i ent s ? A: ‘ It hi nkt he T ourOper at ori sc r uc i alt o dev el opi ng t hes e ex per i enc es .I ti st he f i nanc i al dr i v er , whi c h mak es t he whol e ent er pr i s ef i nanc i al l yv i abl e.T our i s mc anbe ani nc r edi bl ef or c ef orpos i t i v ei mpac t ,I Fi ti s donec or r ec t l y .Is eeusast he‘ mat c hmak er s ’ i nt hepr oc es s … weunder s t andt hi ngsf r om bot hal oc aland t our i s tper s pec t i v e,we s peakbot h‘ l anguages ’ andc anhel pmanage ex pec t at i ons on bot h s i des of t he r el at i ons hi p.Ther ei sa huge appet i t ef or aut hent i c ex per i enc es t hatc an al s o be a f or c ef orgood.Wehopef ul l yunder s t andt he i mpac tourt our sc anhav eonac ommuni t y andwantt hi st obeaspos i t i v easpos s i bl e.I f done wel l ,i ti sa ‘ wi n/ wi n’s i t uat i on -our c l i ent sgai namemor abl eex per i enc eandt he c ommuni t i est heyv i s i tgar nerav al uabl e( and hopef ul l ys us t ai nabl e)i nc ome. ’ Q: I n yourmi nd,when we t al k about aut hent i c i t y , how do you s ee a c ommuni t ybas ed exper i enc e and what needst oc hangef r om t henor mt omakei t a mor e val uabl e and meani ngf ul i nt er ac t i on? A: ‘ Of t en t he t our i s tt ol oc alequat i on i s unbal anc ed,ei t herdue t ol ac k ofc ul t ur al awar enes s( on bot hs i des ) ,an unheal t hy obs es s i onwi t ht he‘ t r ans ac t i onal ’nat ur eof s ome t our i s m enc ount er s , or j us t pl ai n mi s under s t andi ngs .I fs uc hanenc ount eri st o be s uc c es s f uland v al uabl et o al li nv ol v ed, t hens omet i mesanel ementof‘ ex pec t at i on management ’i sneededt oens ur et hatbot h par t i esf i ndt heenc ount erenj oy abl e,hones t andabov eal l ,human. Thats ai d,t hi sr eal l yi sac as eof‘ eas i ers ai d t han done’ .I ti sal lv er ywel lhav i ng s ome l audabl egoal sandi deal s ,butt her eal i t yof ac hi ev i ngt hi si sof t enadi f f i c ul tanddel i c at e pr oc es s .
Ti m El l i sadds :‘ Thi s ,i n myopi ni on,i st he hugel yex c i t i ng par toft hi ss hi f ti nt our i s m. Our k i nd of t r av el l er s eek s aut hent i c ex per i enc es ,and no l ongerwi s hes t o be s eenasa“c ons umer ”.Ther ef or e,weneed t o mov e pas t “c ons umpt i v e” t our i s m ex per i enc es . Dunc an r ef er enc es t he T r av el i ng Ci r c us f oc us s hi f t i ng f r om t r ans ac t i on t o i nt er ac t i on. I n c ommuni t y bas ed t our i s m, t hi si s LONG ov er due.Thenew t our i s m ex per i enc ei san oppor t uni t yf oraut hent i c i t y .I ti st hepot ent i al f orbot hv i s i t orandhos tt ol eav eenr i c hedby t he ex per i enc e, r equi r i ng t he t our i s tt o engage, mak i ng i t an ac t i v e ex per i enc e r at hert hanapas s i v eone.AsT ourOper at or s , wet her ef or ehav eanobl i gat i ont oeduc at e andi ns pi r eourt r av el l er s–t or eal i s et hi s ,t o under s t andt hatt ohav et heex per i enc et hey wantt heymus tbec omeanac t i v epar t i c i pant . Thi si st hemomentofmagi c .I t ’ sal s oqui t e s i mpl e,i tj us tr equi r esust oar r i v easahuman bei ngandt obr i ngourhumani t y . ’ Q: The s t r uc t ur ef ort he T ourDe For c e Nami bi at ouri squi t e uni que i nt he f ac t t hat i ti s bui l t ar ound a good mi x of ac c ommodat i on r angi ng f r om hi ghend l odgest oc ommuni t yc amps i t es .Foryour mar ket ,t hi si sanunus ualdec i s i on.T akeus t hr ought het hi nki ngbehi ndt hi s . A:‘ Si mpl e.Any onec ans t ayi na5s t arhot el . Notev er y oneev ert hi nk sabouts t ay i ngata5 ‘ mi l l i ons t ar ’hot elwhenc ampi ngi nAf r i c a.I t i st he s pec t r um oft he ex per i enc et hati s i mpor t ant -t hebes ts howeri nt hewor l di st he oney ouhav eaf t er3ni ght sc ampi ngi nt he bus h. . . ’
Q: By c ol l abor at i ng wi t ht he T r avel i ng Ci r c us ,yout ookt hebol dmovet os uppor t as t ar t up i nt he t our i s ml ands c ape.You haves par kedt heflameandputi nmot i on t he pr oc es sofal t er i ng t he wayi n whi c h T our Oper at or st ake r es pons i bi l i t yf or c ont r i but i ng t ot he t our i s m ec os ys t em t hey t r avelt hr ough. What made you make t hi s pi oneer i ng move and how woul d you l i ke t o i ns pi r e ot her T our Oper at or st o al s oc ont r i but ei n as i mi l ar way?
Q:Thec ur r entt r endss how t hatmor eand mor e t r avel l er s ar e pr es s ur i zi ng bus i nes s esf oras oc i al l yc ons c i ousf or m of t r avel .Unl i kemanyot heroper at or sT our DeFor c ei snotj us ts i t t i ngbac kands ayi ng t her e ar e no hi gh qual i t y aut hent i c exper i enc es i n c ommuni t i es and t hen doi ng not hi ng aboutc hangi ng t hi s .What i nf or med your dec i s i on t oi mpl ement a t our i s m l evy f ordevel opmentand what wast he r eac t i on ofyourc l i ent st ot hi s c onc ept .
A: ‘ Bec aus et he c ur r ent modeli sj us t uns us t ai nabl e. Ov er t our i s m i s goi ng t o bec omear eali s s uei nt henearf ut ur eandi s al r eadyhappeni ng now.Weneed t of i nd a wayt os har et he benef i t st hatt our i s mc an br i ngandmanaget hec hal l engest hatar i s e f r om i t .
A:‘ I twasabi tofa‘ Eur ek a’momentf orus . WeasaT ouroper at orr eal l yneededt oput ourmoneywher eoutmout hi sanddec i ded t hat t hi s c ommi t ment s houl d al s o be under t ak enbyourc l i ent s .Wec anus eour f i nanc i alc l outt o be a f or c ef orc hange. Unl es s bot ht he T our Oper at or ( and by as s oc i at i ont hei rc l i ent s )s t ar tt omak ear eal c ommi t mentt o dev el opi ng t our i s m,t heni t i s n’ tgongt ohappen.Weal lhav eav es t ed i nt er es ti nmak i ngi tas uc c es s . Wear es t ak i ng our pr of es s i onal r eput at i on on i t and t her ef or eneedt omak es ur ewec andel i v er t ot hebes tofourabi l i t y . ’
or eev al uat eandunder s t andt he Weneedt i mmens ev al ueofabr i l l i antandmemor abl e t our i s m ex per i enc e.I ti snots omet hi ngt hat c anbemas s pr oduc edandc hur nedoutov er andov eragai nbutr at hermus tev ol v e,adapt ands t ayf r es h-bot hf ort het our i s t sandt he l oc al s .I tmus tal s o be at ot al l ys y mbi ot i c r el at i ons hi p, wi t h bot h par t i es gai ni ng equal l y -c ur r ent l yt her ei smuc hi mbal anc e, wi t hl oc alc ommuni t i ess uf f er i ngasar es ul t . ’ Ti m El l i sagr ees ,s ay i ng:‘ If eel t hatt hegl obal l ands c apei sgoi ngt ohav et oadaptt oev er i nc r eas i ngr at esofc hange.Bus i nes sunus ual wi l li nev i t abl ybec omet henew nor mal .Our pr oc es s es as T our Oper at or s need t o bec ome adapt abl e, and f as t . Hones t r ef l ec t i on, i nnov at i on, i mpl ement at i on, ex per i enc e,r ef l ec t i on,andr oundagai n.Thi s c y c l ei s es s ent i al .We need t o hones t l y ev al uat eourbal anc es heet si nec ol ogi c al and s oc i alc ont ex t s as wel las f i nanc i al . I n T our i s m,t her ei sas t eephi l lt oc l i mbi nt hi s r egar d. ”
Ti mc ont i nuest het hr ead… ‘ T ourOper at or s needt oi nv i t et r av el l er st oamor ec ons c i ous f or m oft r av el .Thi smaybec ont r ov er s i al ,but wer eal l yneedt omov epas t“TheCus t omer i sal way sr i ght ”. Wehav es omes i gni f i c ant ex i s t ent i alc r i s esi nourwor l datt hi spoi nti n hi s t or y ,manyofwhi c hc ant r ac et hei rr oot st o unr es t r ai ned c ons umer i s m. Ibel i ev et hati f we c an t ak er es pons i bi l i t y ,and t her ef or e ac t i on,i nours pher esofi nf l uenc et henwe hav e an oppor t uni t yt o be par t of t he s ol ut i on.Atpr es ent , T our i s mi smos t l ypar tof t hepr obl em. Let ’ sus ewhatwek now,and whatwe ar e good at ,t o des i gn aT our i s m I ndus t r yt hati snotonl ys us t ai nabl ebutal s o r egener at i v e. Thatc an s omet i mes mean t el l i ngy ourc us t omer swhati sr i ght ,whi c hi s notal way si nt ui t i v ei nt he c ur r ents y s t em. Ul t i mat el y ,mos tpeopl er ec ogni s e whati s r i ghtandhav eades i r et obes hownt heway , whi c hc anbel i f ec hangi ngf oral lc onc er ned’
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The s er ent i yoft he Kunene i nt he mor ni ngi sunbel i evabl e.Doyour s el f af avourandgof oranear l ymor ni ng wal kal ongt hebanks .
WORDSBYL I SAMARTUS&PI CTURESBYDEON PI ENAAR
Thev as topenr oadsofNami bi a,onc ev i s i t ed,enl es s l yc al ly ou bac k. . . bac kt ot he v i s t ast hatar r es ty ourey es . . . v as t ,dr amat i c l ands c apess pr eadoutbef or ey ou. . . anendl es shor i z on, ami r ageof dunes ,r oc kyc l i f f sands t ar kt ower i ngmount ai ns .Qui t es i mpl y ,i t ’ s ades t i nat i ont hatt akesy ourbr eat haway .
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Wheny ouhi tt her oad,wi t hy our ey ess etony ourNami bi an des t i nat i on,y ourhear tbegi nst o r ac easy oupi c kups peed,wi t h t hewi ndf l i c k i ngt hr oughy ourhai r andt het as t eofdus tony our t ongue.I t ' sl i k eawhi s peront he wi nd,f uel l i ngy ourwander l us tand t heant i c i pat i onofnotk nowi ng whaty ouwi l lf i ndov ert henex t hi l l . . .l i k eahi t c hhi k erwai t i ngt o c at c har i det oanunk nown des t i nat i on.Ast hel i ghtc omes s t r eami ngt hr oughc l oudsofdus t , y ous ens et hef r eedom her eont he openr oad.Sl owl yy ourey eal i gns wi t ht hel ands c apeandar ound ev er yc or nery ouf i ndanewgem, s opac ky ourbagsands ur r ender t ot hewi deopens pac es . . . . Thej our neyi st hedes t i nat i on! T op:Oneoft hemany c l i f f hangi ngbaobasar oundt he f al l s . Mi ddel :Al oc alHi mbawoman hi t c hi ngar i de. Bot t om:At y pi c alv i l l ages c ene i nEpupa
Wal kt ot hef al l sf ora s pec t ac ul arvi ew. TheKuneneRi v eri soneofj us t Undert he l eader s hi p ofChi ef f i v e per enni al r i v er s i n Kapi k af oi l edt hepl anst omak e Nami bi a.I tf l owsdown f r om amas s i v edam i nt hel at e1990’ s t he Angol an hi ghl ands and andt her ei sal otofhi s t or yher e t hen s nak es wes tal ong t he ov er l ay ed wi t ht he di v er s i t yof Nami bi anbor dert owar dst he c ul t ur es s et t l ed i nt he s pac e, At l ant i c Oc ean.Epupa i s a wi t ht heAngol anbor derandt he Her er o wor d meani ng ' f oam' hi s t or ywi t ht he Hi mba,Her er o c r eat edbyt hewat er f al l s .The and Nama c ul t ur es , t he r i v er has , f or c ent ur i es c ommuni t y dy nami c s bec ome s uppor t ed t he s emi –nomadi c v er yi nt er es t i ng.Aspar tofour Ov ahi mbapeopl el i v i ngi nt he r ec c ef orourc l i ent s ,T ourde r egi onaswel lasot herc ul t ur al For c e UK f or t hei r Nor t h by gr oupswho ar e at t r ac t ed by Nor t hWes tt ouri n Sept ember he wor k oppor t uni t i es 2019,wev i s i t edt heEpupaFal l s t c r eat edbyt our i s mt ot hear ea. anddi s c ov er edpur emagi c .
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Mo s t Me ma b l e
LAZYDAYS:Epupai s pr obabl yt heonl ypl ac ey ou c abc hi l louti nahammoc k andf eell i k ey ouar eona t r opi c ali s l and.
When y ou c ome up ov er t he hi l l t owar ds Epupa, t he Kunene Ri v er s pr eadsoutbef or ey ouwi t hMak al ani pal ms wav i ng i nt he wi nd, gi ant BaobabsandFi gt r eesf ol l owi ngt he r i v erc ur v i ng i nt ot hedi s t anc e. Fi v e l odgesandc amps i t esar es pr eadout al ongt her i v erwi t hav i br antc ent r al c amphos t i ngmanydi f f er entc ul t ur es . Cr oc odi l es dr i f t downs t r eam and t her ei s a beaut i f uls ounds c ape of pal m t hr us hes and k i ngf i s her s . . .a bi r der s ’par adi s e.Wes oonf oundout t hat i n s pi t e of t he i dy l l i c f i r s t i mpr es s i onsoft hi sbeaut i f ult our i s t des t i nat i on,aswi t hev er ys mal lt own, i thasi t sownpol i t i c s .Par tofourbr i ef f orT ourdeFor c ewast of i ndamaz i ng ex per i enc esar oundt heEpupaCamp, ak eys t opont hei t i ner ar yandwhat we f ound t hatt he of f er i ngsi nc l ude Whi t ewat er r af t i ng,a ques t i onabl e bi r di ngt our ;t hel ac k l us t r ehi k eal ong t he r i v ert os ee c r oc odi l esand t he wat er f al l sora Hi mba t our15 k ms out s i deoft own.Themeagr ec hoi c e ofac t i v i t i es mot i v at ed us t os t ar t di ggi ng,and we f ound t hatal lt he l odgeswer es el l i ngex ac t l yt hes ame pr oduc tbutpeggedatv er ydi f f er ent pr i c es .Whatwe f ound wasnotan ans werbutmor el i k et heunr av el l i ng ofac r az yk not .We had met ,qui t e s er endi pi t ous l y ,a gr oup ofgui des , s ome ofwhom wer ef r eel anc e and s ome l i nk ed t os pec i f i cl odgesi na s y s t em whi c hmadenos ens e.Ther e was a l otofpot ent i alt o dev el op s omet hi ng muc h mor ei nt er ac t i v e, i nc l us i v e and t o add a dy nami c el ementt ot hec ur r entt our i s ms pac e. We s aw a mas s i v e oppor t uni t yt o wor k wi t h gui des t oi mpr ov et hei r s k i l l ss ot hatt hec r oc odi l eandbi r di ng wal k s ar e not s o bor i ng and i l l i nf or med,as wel las wor k i ng t o dev el opt het our i s mr i ghtt her ei nt he c ent r e of t own, i n t hei r own c ommuni t y .
i cwasawonder f ul TOPGUI DE:Er gui de,pr of f es i onalandl ov edt o s har ehi ss t or ywi t hus
Wemetagui de,Er i c ,whoc ame upt ousandas k edf orat ourof t hev i l l age.Whenhet ol dust hat t hev i l l aget ourwas15k m outof t own,wes ur pr i s edhi m whenwe s ai dt hatwewant eds omet hi ng i nTHI St own.Er i cs ai dt hathi s herbak espor t ugues ebr ead mot and Eau de v i ef r om mak al ane pal mswhi l e he hasdev el oped anamaz i ngv eget abl egar deni n t he mi ddl e of t he des er t . Shar i ng t hi s f r es hl y di s t i l l ed l i quoronanupt ur neddr um wi t h c hi c k ens r unni ng ar ound our f eetaswes pok et ot hi si ns pi r i ng man, wer eal i s edt hatwehadt he mak i ngsofav i l l ageex per i enc e f orot hert r av el l er s .Er i ci s an ent r epr eneur i aly oungmanwi t h av i s i on f orhi sc ommuni t yand hasf ound i nnov at i v e pr obl ems t o pr es s i ng pr obl emsi nc l udi ng how t o pump wat erf r om t he r i v ers ot hatt hel oc alk i dsdon’ t geteat enbyc r oc odi l esast hey c ol l ec twat er . Er i cs pok eofhi s Por t ugues e her i t age and we eal i s ed t hat t he c ommuni t y r her ei smade up ofac ompl ex net wor kofdi f f er entc ul t ur es .I t i snowher enearass i mpl east he s i mpl i f i ed pi c t ur ec r eat ed f or t our i s t s .
TRAVELEPUPAFALLS
Vi l l agel i f e:Chi c k enswer e c l uc k i ngar oundmyf eetas Er i ct ol dusabouthi sgar den.
Exper i enc eCul t ur e:Lear n howt oc ar v ey ourownHi mba Dol lf r om al oc alar t i s t .
TRAVELEPUPAFALLS
We l ov et he gems y ou di s c ov er unex pec t edl y . . . .Wal k i ngal ongt he mai nr oad,was a hi dden c or ner wher e a Si l v er Dol l ar c r eeper c r eat ed as hadyc or nerwher ef i v e womenwer es el l i ngar t sandc r af t s . Thewomeni nwes t er ndr es sc al l ed erandIl ook edatt hei rc r af t s meov but t he qui et l y c onf i dent , mi ddl eaged woman i nt r adi t i onal dr es s , Kak ai s howed me her beaut i f ul l y c ar v ed f i gur i nes . She t ol dmet oc omec l os erandt ook2 met al beadsandwov et hem i nt omy hai r .Is ai dIwoul dr et ur nbutKak ai was n' tt her ewhenIgotbac kl at eri n t hedaybutwhi l ehav i ngabeerata hot el , we happened t o meet Manj er owhot ur ned outt obeher s on.Het ookust oherhomewher e IboughtaHi mbadol landi ts t r uc k hati tmak ess omuc hs ens ef or met Kak ait o of f era c r af tt ourather homenotoutont hes t r eet s .Ther e ar es o manyi ns pi r i ng peopl el i k e Kak au who c ook s del i c i ous goat s t ew. We wi l lbe c onnec t i ng t he ex per i enc esonahanddr awnmap s ov i s i t or sc an f i nd t he i nc r edi bl e i ndi v i dual s wi t hi nt hi sc ommuni t y andnet wor kofgui dest os howc as e peopl edoi ng ‘ or di nar y ’t hi ngsbut wi t h an ex t r aor di nar yi nt er es tt o v i s i t or s .
Wes eet heoppor t uni t yt oc r eat eaf or um f or c onv er s at i onf orgui desandt our i s m bus i nes s es , aboutnew and i nnov at i v ei deas f ort our i s m ex per i enc es - dev el opi ng an ec oy s t em of gui des ,t r av el l er s ,l odges , bus i nes s es and peopl e who c an pos i t i v el y wor kt oget hert o mak eady nami c ,aut hent i ct our i s ms pac e. We f eelt hatwec an,t hr oughs ens i t i v ec onv er s at i ons and c ol l abor at i v e s pi r i t ,s uppor tt he l oc al ec os y s t em, pr ov i di ng oppor t uni t i es f or meani ngf uli nt er ac t i on. Butwe c an al s o put meas ur es i n pl ac et o mak es ur et hat t he c ommuni t y c an ac t i v el y par t i c i pat e i n t he t our i s m ec onomyand t hatt r av el l er sc an hav e i nc r edi bl eex per i enc eswi t hapos i t i v ei mpac t .As s oc i alent r epr eneur sweal way shav et ok eepour ey esont hegoal ,l ook i ngt ot hef ut ur e. . .s eei ng t he beaut yi n obs t ac l es ahead and f i ndi ng or i gi nalandc r eat i v es ol ut i onsf ort hem.Wear e s uperex c i t edt obr i ngours k i l l sandex per i enc e t ot he s oc i all ands c ape i n Nami bi a,ac ount r y wi t hs uc hi mmens enat ur albeaut yand c ul t ur al di v er s i t yi ns pi t eoft hei nequal i t y ,pov er t yand s oc i ali nj us t i c et hats t i l lex i s t s .Dur i ngourt r av el s i nJ uneand Augus t ,wewi l lbeengagi ng wi t h t our i s m bus i nes s es , t our i s t gui des , c ons er v anc i esand l oc alc ommuni t i est o geta deeperunder s t andi ng oft he t our i s mi ndus t r y andhow wec oul ds uppor tt hedev el opmentof t hi ss pac et hr ough ef f ec t i v e di gi t almar k et i ng, t ai l ormadet r ai ni ngandac c es st ot r adewi t hour ex t ens i v et ouroper at ornet wor k . Wewanty out o bepar toft hi sj our neyt odi s c ov ert hepot ent i al oft r ans f or mat i onwi t hi nt het our i s mi ndus t r yby t appi ngi noni nnov at i v enew i deas .Wat c ht hi s s pac e,t hec i r c usi sc omi ngt ot own.
WORDSBYLI SAMARTUS&PI CTURESBYDEON PI ENAAR
TRAVELLI VI NG CUL TUREMUSEUMS
SECRETLOCATI ON TheDamar aNamaLi v i ngmus eum wast uc k edaway ,al mos thi dden bet weent her oc k s
TheDamar aMus eum Ex per i enc ei san enr i c hi ngonef oranyv i s i t orbec aus eof i t s dy nami c gui des who br i ng t hei r t r adi t i ons t o l i f e t hr ough hands on demons t r at i ons of t hei r c ul t ur al her i t age.Ac t or saut hent i c al l yr ec r eat e t her i t ual sandt r adi t i onalway sofl i f ei n t hei rc ul t ur e and enc our age gues t st o par t i c i pat ei ns ome oft he day t oday ac t i v i t i est ogai nabet t erunder s t andi ng oft hem. When we ar r i v ed,we wer e es c or t ed t hr oughat unnel c r eat edbyt womas s i v e r oc k sasi ft hehugegr ani t eboul derwas hewn i nt wo. Es c or t ed byourgui de, Shar on, we t ur ned t he c or ner and s t eppedi nt oav i l l agebuz z i ngwi t hl i f e. Ev er y one was s o wel c omi ng and c oul dn' twai tt os har et hei rs t or ywi t hus , t eac hi ngusaboutady i ngc ul t ur et hey ar eac t i v el yk eepi ngal i v e.
NEW SKI LLSThi sl ook seas y , buti twas nt .
Wi t hi n t he c i r c l e of hut s , a t r adi t i onal l y dr es s ed woman s t r ol l ed al ongwi t hherbus hphar mac y-abas k et f i l l edwi t hmedi c i nalher bs ,ands t opped t ot el luswhateac hpl antc oul dbeus ed f or . An ol derman s ati nt he s hade, s k i l l f ul l yc ut t i ngof ft hef urf r om as al t ed goats k i n.I nt hes of tmor ni ngl i ght ,t he par t i c l esdanc edal lar oundhi m,mak i ng t het as kl ookeas y ,butofc our s ewhen wet r i edi tour s el v es ,i twasac hal l enge t ogetr i ght .
Thegui desappear edt odoadanc et hr ought he s pac eal ongwi t ht hei rvi s i t or sandi ns t i nc t i vel y s eemedt oknow t hati twast i met obr i ngt oget her t hei rgr oupsi naf i r emaki ngdemons t r at i onand j oyf uls i ngi nganddanc e.Thec r owdc heer edont he youngmanwhowass t ar t i ngt hef i r ebyr ubbi ngt wo s t i c kst oget her ,whent hes par kdr oppedi nt oapi l e ofdonkeydungandgr as s ,t hebi l l owi ngs moke t ur nedt of l i c ker i ngf l ames .Thi swas n’ tj us taj ob–i t wasawayofc el ebr at i ngc ul t ur ewi t hpeopl ewho want edt ol ear nmor eaboutt hei rt r adi t i onsand t heys har edi tgl adl y ,wi t hpas s i onandpr i de.
Al i vi ngmus eum i sapur pos ebui l t s et t l ementwher eac t or swear t r adi t i onalc l ot hesr ec ons t r uc t ed t os how,asc l os el yaspos s i bl e,t he r hyt hmsofdai l yl i f ei nt hei rvi l l age bef or et heEur opeanc ol oni al i nf l uenc ec hangedt het r adi t i onal c ul t ur e.Ever yvi s i tt oaLi vi ng Mus eum ac t i vel yc ont r i but est o t hepr es er vat i onoft r adi t i onal c ul t ur eandi dent i t ynotonl yf or t hevi s i t orbutal s of ort hec hi l dr en andyout hwi t hi nt hec ommuni t y whomayhavel os tt ouc hwi t ht he or i gi nsoft hei rownc ul t ur e.The ac t or soft heLi vi ngMus eum ar e notonl yper f or mer s ,t heyar e t eac her sf orgues t sandt hei rown c hi l dr en,enc our agi ngi nt er c ul t ur al di s c us s i onandunder s t andi ng.
TRAVELLI VI NG CUL TUREMUSEUMS Shar on was out s pok en aboutt he f ac tt hatt hi si snothowt heyl i v enow buti ti si mpor t antt ok eept r adi t i ons al i v ef ort he y out h. We f ound i t r emar k abl ehowmanyoft hegui des wer ey oungpeopl e,whi c haddedt o t hes pi r i tandener gyt hr oughoutt he ex per i enc e. They t eac hy ou t he gr eet i ng i nt hei rl anguageand t he wor df ort hanky ou.Nobodyt her e ex c eptShar ons pok eEngl i s hwhi c h enr i c hed t he ex per i enc e and i t bec ame al mos tl i k e a pi ec e of i mmer s i v e t heat r e. The ac t or s dn’ t mak e i t eas yf or us by di c ons t ant l yt r ans l at i ngors peak i ngi n ourownl anguage… wehadt os t ep outofourc omf or tz oneandmak e c ommuni c at i onpos s i bl e.Iwi l l nev er f or get t he c hor us of v i s i t or s t hank i ng t he pot t er and wood c ar v eri nNama.‘ Ay os ’ …i tmadeus al lf eelpar toft hec ommuni t yi na par t i c i pat i v eandmeani ngf ulway . St r ol l i ng ar ound t he v i l l age wi t h Shar on,t her ewer emoment swhen we c ompl et el yf or gotourr ol e as dev el opment s pec i al i s t s and bec ame t r av el l er sc onnec t i ng t oa r i c hc ul t ur e, butal s oc hal l engi ngour i deaofaut hent i c i t y . An aut hent i c c ul t ur alex per i enc edoesnots i ti n t he moder n c ont ex t al one but al l owsust os t epoutoft hec ur r ent momentandac c es swhathasgone bef or eandwhati sy ett oc ome.
A DANCE Theent i r eex per i enc ewasl i k ea danc e.Ourgui deShar on ( mi ddel )wass opas s i onat eand i nf ec t eduswi t hherener gy .
TheLi vi ngCul t ur eFoundat i onNami bi ai s anor gani z at i onwhi c hhases t abl i s hed t hes epl at f or msac r os st hec ount r y ,wher e i ndi genouspeopl ec anr evi vet r adi t i onal val uesandc us t omsand,i nt hi sway ,c r eat e awar enes sf orc ul t ur alor i gi nsandhi s t or y wi t hi nmoder ndayNami bi a.Li vi ng Mus eumsar eani mpor t ants our c eof i nc omei nr ur alc ommuni t i es ,enc our agi ng ent r epr eneur s hi pt hr ought he es t abl i s hmentofs us t ai nabl epr oj ec t s wi t hi nt het our i s mi ndus t r y .Theyal s ohel p vi s i t or st ounder s t andt hec ompl i c at ed s oc i opol i t i c als i t uat i oni nmoder nNami bi a andc oul d,ul t i mat el y ,pl ayar ol ei nhel pi ng t of i nds ol ut i onsf orc ur r ents oc i al pr obl ems .
DAI L YLI FE:Agr oupofy oung Hi mbawomanandaf r i endl y l i t t l ek i ddi epl ayi nt hes un.
TRAVELLI VI NG CUL TUREMUSEUMS TheDamar aLi vi ngMus eum i st he mos tpopul arandr ec ei vesl ar ge number sofvi s i t or sbec aus eofi t s l oc at i ononamai nt our i s tr out e ar oundt heT wyvel f ont ei nWor l d Her i t ageSi t ehowever ,t her ear ea numberofot herLi vi ngMus eums t hr oughoutNami bi as uc hast he Ovahi mbaLi vi ngMus eum,40kms outoft heOvahi mbac api t al , Opuwo,aneweraddi t i ont ot he LCFN por t f ol i oandagr eat exper i enc ef ort our spus hi ngup i nt oNami bi a’ sf arnor t h.
TheMus eum c ons i s t sofal ar ge t r adi t i onalhomes t eadc ent er ed ar oundt heHol yf i r e,i nwhi c ht he Ovahi mbai nt r oduc ei nt er es t ed gues t st ot hei rdai l yr out i nesand enc our aget hem t ot akepar t .The Ovahi mbaar et heor i gi nal t r adi t i onalHer er owhoc r os s edt he Kuneneandc amef r om Angol at o Nami bi ai nt hemi ddl eoft he16t h c ent ur y .Theys et t l edi nt he Kaokovel d,t henor t hwes t er npar t ofNami bi aandl i veda s emi nomadi c ,pas t or all i f es t yl e. Ot j i hi mbai st hes pokenl anguage oft heOvahi mba,adi al ec toft he wi des pr eadOt j i her er ol anguage butt hegui det r ans l at es c onver s at i onsi nt oEngl i s hwhen nec es s ar y .
Thr oughas er i esofs er endi pi t ousev ent s , wec onnec t edwi t hJ ohn,t heor i gi nat orof t heOv ahi mbamus eum,ady nami cy oung manwhohasbr oughtt oget heragr oupof pas s i onat epeopl ewant i ngt os har et hei r c ul t ur ewi t ht r av el l er s .J ohnwaseagert o s how us t he new c amps i t et hey ar e bui l di ng and t o gai ni ns i ght si nt o how t hey c oul d k eep t he Li v i ng Mus eum ex per i enc e aut hent i cbutmak ei tmor e i nt er ac t i v eandenj oy abl ef orv i s i t or s .Thi s ex c hange of i deas and c ul t ur al per s pec t i v esmadet hewhol eex per i enc e s o muc h mor es at i s f y i ng f or us and pl ant ed t he s eed t o i nv i t e i mpac t t r av el l er s t o j oi n us on our ex per i enc edev el opmentt r i pst omak ea mor e meani ngf ul c onnec t i on and c ont r i but i onr at hert hanj us tdr oppi ngi n att he end oft he pr oc es s ,when t he pr oduc ti sal r eadymor er ef i ned. Si t t i ng ar ound t he f i r et hatni ght ,we c hat t edt oRober tandSer at i ,t wooft he y oung gui deswor k i ng wi t hJ ohn. We s pok eopenl yabouthowi mpor t anti ti sf or t hem,asy oungHi mbament or ec onnec t t ot hei rc ul t ur eandac t i v el ypar t i c i pat ei n t hei rc ommuni t y . Rober twoul dl i k et o bec ome al eaderi n hi sc ommuni t yand us ehi seduc at i onandhi smoder nc ont ex t t odov et ai lwi t hhi st r adi t i onalbel i ef sand s uppor thi sc ul t ur et ot hr i v e.Asamoder n mani mmer s edi nhi sc ul t ur e,heear nsan i nc ome f r om t he Li v i ng Mus eum whi c h c oul df ur t herhi sdr eamsand as pi r at i ons r om wi t hi nhi sc ommuni t y . f
NATURALTEACHER:Pr of ,our gui dewasex c ept i onaland s har edmanyi nt er r es t i ngf ac t s wi t husaboutHi mbac ul t ur e
TRAVELLI VI NG CUL TUREMUSEUMS
CHORES:Ay oungHi mbagi r l gr i ndi ngc or nonar oc ks l ab.
Bec aus et heOv ahi mbaLi v i ngMus eum i ss t i l li n i t si nf anc y ,t heyhav en’ tf i gur edouthowt omak e t hev ar i ousac t i v i t i esmor ei nt er ac t i v eand t he ex per i enc ec an bec ome a l i t t l ef or c ed and unc omf or t abl e.Wehad di s c us s i onswi t ht hem aboutt hi sand i ns t ead ofj us twat c hi ng t hem v er ys k i l l f ul l yc r af t an ar r ow out ofnat ur al mat er i al sf orex ampl e,we s hi f t ed t he whol e ex per i enc ebypr ac t i c i ng s hoot i ng t hear r ow.I was n' tv er ygoodati ti npar t i c ul arandhadt o beart hebr untoft hej ok esbutt hi sv ul ner abi l i t y ofmak i ngf ool sofour s el v esbr eak st hebar r i er s ofc ommuni c at i onandc ul t ur alunf ami l i ar i t yand mak esi tahumanex per i enc e.Wes howedt hem howt heyc oul dappl yt hi st ot hewoodc ar v i ngor pot t er yex per i enc e,dr awi ngf r om ourl ear ni ngs i n Li mpopo wher e ar t i s t s and c r af t er s us e aut hent i ci mmer s i v e ex per i enc est o mak e an oppor t uni t yf orc ul t ur alc onnec t i on.Nek o,one oft hey oungac t or sembr ac edt hi snewr ol easa t eac hernat ur al l yandc r eat edanunf or get t abl e momentofc onnec t i onbyt eac hi ng ushow t o c ar v eas mal lhi mbaf i gur ef r om as of tpi ec eof wood.
A BURSTOFCOLOUR: Dy nami s mi nev er ymov e made byt hes ey oungHi bawoman whi l edanc i ng.
TRAVELLI VI NG CUL TUREMUSEUMS
Oneoft hel as ts t opsi st o ent ert he mai nr i t ualhutwher et heFi r s tWi f eof t he c hi efand ot herwomen do t hei r c l eans i ngr i t ual s . Thear omaofbur ni ng c omi pher a gum and gl owi ng woody ember s wel c omed us i ns i de,i nt he dar kt he woman wher e us i ng t he ar omat i cs mok et oc l eans et hems el v es and t os mel lbeaut i f ul . One oft he el derwomen was c ur i os ‌ ar ey ou mar r i ed? I fnot ,whynot ?Ther ewasa s hor ts i l enc e. . . Woul dy ou l i k e a wi f e s heas k ed gl anc i ng ov ert oourt eam mat eTi m?Oneoft hewomenmov eda i t t l e c l os er , s mi l ed gent l y and l pr oc eededt oputapl ai ti nhi shai rf or hi mt or ememberherby ,c r eat i ng a beaut i f ul , t ender moment of c onnec t i on,whi c hhewi l lnev erf or get . Somet i mest hes et y peofex per i enc es c angetqui t eper s onalandi tr equi r es ust r av el l er st obeopenandt oj us ts i t i nt he ex per i enc e,s t ep outofour c omf or tz onef orabi tt obr eakt hr ough ourown bar r i er s ofj udgementand c onf i ned t hi nk i ng.Thi st y peoft r av el has t he power t ot r ans f or m us – mak i ng usf eelt hatwe ar e par tof s omet hi ngbi gger ,notj us tac ons umer pay i ng f ora pr oduc tbutac t ual l ya humanbei ngs har i ngar eal momentof c onnec t i onwi t hanot her .
THEMAI N HUT: A gr oupofc ur i ous youngs t er spos i ng f oraphot o.
T o be hones t ,when we f i r s tc ame ac r os s t he LCFN model , we appr oac hed wi t hc aut i on k nowi ng t hatof t en t hes et y pes ofCul t ur al Vi l l age ex per i enc es c an be r eal c ul t ur al c abar et wi t h l i t t l e t o no aut hent i c i t yandhear t . I nt hi sc as e, we c oul dn' thav ebeenmor ewr ongand we ar ev er y ex c i t ed t o be wor k i ng wi t hLCFN andt heOv ahi mbaLi v i ng Mus eum t or ef i neand i mpr ov et hei r c ur r entex per i enc e of f er i ng f orour v i s i ti n Sept embert hi sy earf ort he f i r s t T our de For c e Nor t h by Nor t hwes t adv ent ur e, but al s ot o enc our age ot herT ourOper at or st o i nc l ude t hes e ex per i enc esi nt ot hei r t hei ri t i ner ar i es .We ar es oi ns pi r ed andwewantt os har et hatex per i enc e wi t hot hert r av el l er s .
A MOMENTI N TI ME:Thi s neut i f uli magewasc apt ur edby t r av elwr i t erandphot ogr apher Mel ani eJ anev anZy l .
EXPERI ENCERHI NO TRACKI NG
I ti sonet hi ng t os eeaRhi no and c onnec tt oi ti nabeaut i f ulnat ur al l ands c ape but qui t e anot her t o s c r at c h deeper and unc over t he dai l ybat t l e waged t o keep t hes e c r eat ur esal i ve. Expl or e auni que oppor t uni t yf ort r avel l er st ogetan i nt i mat ei ns i ghti nt os ome oft he c r uc i al i s s ues i n t he Nami bi an l ands c apewi t ht heSavet heRhi no T eam.
www. s avet her hi not r us t . or g
TRAVELHAFENI ’ STOWNSHI PTOURS
T ASTETHEFLAVOUR: Hei nr i c hHaf eni ,t ourgui de andent r epr eneurs howi ngus ar oundhi shome.
WORDSBYL I SAMARTUS&PI CTURESBYDEON PI ENAAR
WemetHei nr i c hHaf eniatt heHAN c onf er enc el as tyeari n J unewhenwewer ei nvi t edt odel i veraKeynot eaddr es s abouthow i mmer s i vec ommuni t ybas edexper i enc eshave t hepot ent i al t ounbl oc kt hec ur r entvi s i t orf unnel s ,c r eat i ng adi f f er ents t r eam oft r avel l er swi t hi nt heNami bi ant our i s m l ands c ape.Ourpr es ent at i onwaswel l r ec ei vedandwehad s omes t i mul at i ng di s c us s i onsf ort her es toft heeveni ng. J us taswewer eaboutt ol eave,aT ourOper at orwor ki ng mai nl yi nt hePol i s hmar ket ,Hel mi ,as kedusi fwehadmet Hei nr i c hHaf eniand,t heans werbei ng' no' ,t hatver yni ght s het ookusoutf ordi nneratHaf eni ' sT r adi t i onal Res t aur ant i nt heMondes aT owns hi p.Shewasoft heopi ni ont hatwe woul dn' tf i nd abet t erexampl e ofwhatwe had s poken aboutands hewasr i ght .
LOCALI SLEKKER:Hei nr i c h andDeonget t i ngat as t eof s omel oc als t r eetf ood.
Onc et hef i nali t i ner ar ywasdec i dedonand Swak opmundwasc onf i r medast hef i nal s t op, wewer egi v enac hal l engebyT ourdeFor c e t oputt oget heramemor abl egal adi nnert o endof ft het r i pwi t habang.Theonl yunus ual ev enti nt own wast he di nneri nt he des er t wi t hopt i onsf r om r edc ar pet sandar r i v i ngon c amel bac kt os k y di v er sdi v i ng i nt ot hes i t e wi t hc hampagne on i c e,butt hi s di d not r es onat ewi t ht hek i ndofex per i enc eswehad beendev el opi ngf ort her es toft het r i p.So, af t erdr i v i ng 600k m al ong t hec oas twi t ha br ok enc oi ls pr i ngbac kt oSwak opmund, i t wasanobv i ousmov et oc al lupHaf enit of i nd outi fi twoul d be pos s i bl ef orhi m c oul d or gani s es omet hi nguni quef orT ourdeFor c e. Het ookmear oundt ot het owns hi pi nWal v i s Baywher ehehasdev el opedat owns hi pBnB wi t har es t aur ant . Her e,he s howed me anot hers i deoft hes eemi ngf ai r y t al es t or yi n t hi squai ntGer mant our i s tt own.Mos toft he t our i s t beac hes hav e a number of s i gns f or bi ddi ngv ar i oust hi ngs ,butHaf enit ookme t oabeac hus edbyl oc al s . . .f ami l i es . .bal l s . . . dogs. .awonder f ul l yv i beys pac ej us tout s i de t he t our i s t sv i ew. Wi t h Haf eni ,a mor e bal anc eds t or yoft hec ommuni t yunf ol ds .
TRAVELHAFENI ’ STOWNSHI PTOURS
Ther es toft heT ourdeFor c et eam ar r i v ed i n Swak opmund l at ei nt he af t er noon. Al t hough Iwasex t r emel yex c i t ed about s pendi ngt heev eni ngwi t hHaf eni ,Ic oul d s ee t hatt heywer e dubi ousbec aus e,as ex per i enc ed t our i s m peopl e,t hey hav e donemanyoft hes et our sbutev er y t hi ng c hangedwhenHaf eniar r i v edpr ompt l yat 4. 00wi t hhi sbr andedl i t t l ebus .Ev er y t hi ng i spr of es s i onal l ydoneandhet r ul yl i v eshi s t our i s m br and.Haf eni t ookust hr ought he s t r eet sofMondes at owns hi pandt ol dus aboutt hes t or yofs epar at i on,l i t t l eac c es s t o hous i ng and t he c os t of l i v i ng i n t owns hi p. . .pr ov i di nguswi t hamuc hmor e r eal i s t i cc ont ex t . Thef i r s ts t opwaswi t h t he poor es tofpoor . . .s hac k smade wi t h what ev er was av ai l abl e. When we s t opped,t he f i r s tt hi ng Inot i c ed wasa y oungdr eadl oc k edguybui l di ngahous e wi t hpl as t i cbot t l esf i l l edwi t hs and. . . i twas s uc hahopef ulges t ur e.Thef i r s tpl ac ewe v i s i t ed wasac r af tc ent r er unbywomen wi t haf eedi ngpr ogr ammef ork i ds .They s el lt he t r i nk et st hey mak e and r el y on s uppor tf r om v i s i t or sanddonat i ons . We wer e gr eet ed wi t h as ong s ung by t he whol er oom,f r om t woy earol dst o60y ear ol dgogos .Onac hal k boar di nt hec ent r e oft her oom,t hewor dNAM waswr i t t eni n c api t all et t er sal ongwi t hv ar i ousv er s i ons of t he pr onunc i at i on i n t he Nama l anguage. A beaut i f ul woman c al l ed Rael enef or mal l ywel c omedusandt aught us how t o gr eet whi c h ac t ed as an i nt er ac t i v ei c ebr eak er . .ac onnec t i onr at her t owhatc oul dhav ebeenanunc omf or t abl e and a s t ar k ex per i enc e. I had f el t unc omf or t abl ei ni t i al l ybutwhats t r uc kme now wast he r es pec tt hatt hes e women hav ef orHaf eni-a s hi ni ng l i ghti nt he c ommuni t yandy ets ohumbl e.
KAPANA KI NG:Unc l eJ oe s er v i ngupt hebes tMondes a hast oof f er . .
I fy ou wantt o getundert he s k i n ofa des t i nat i on,i ti ss oi mpor t antt os t epout ofy ourc omf or tz oneandc hal l engey our per c ept i onsbyt her eal i t i esofl i f ei nt he ar easwher ey ouar et r av el l i ng.Bynowt he t eam wer eget t i ng hungr y ,s o wemov ed on t ot he mar k etwhi c h wasv i bey and bus t l i ng wi t hc ommut er satt hatt i me of t heday ,Wes t oppedatt hemar k et . . . .t he s un was s i nk i ng l ow and t her e was an or angegl ow l i ght i ngupt het owns hi p.I t wast hebus i es tt i meofdayandwef el tl i k e we wer e wal k i ng wi t hac el ebr i t y as ev er y one s t opped t o gr eet Haf eni . . . wav i ng and c al l i ng outgr eet i ngsaswe went pas t . Vendor s wer e s el l i ng a f as c i nat i ngar r ayoft hi ngsi ngl as sbot t l es and mai z es ac k si nc l udi ng Sealbi l t ong, bot t l esofs ealf atand ot heri nt er es t i ng t hi ngs . Haf enis k i l f ul l yt ol dt hes t or i esof t he s pac e and made i tc ome al i v e, c onnec t i ng t ot he f as c i nat i ng peopl e on t hes t r eet sandt ant al i s i ngusf orwhatwas t oc ome.Thehi ghl i ghtwasUnc l eJ oe' s. . . we c oul ds mel lt he s mok ey ar oma of c ook i ngmeat ,Kapana. . .t hebes tk nown t r adi t i onalNami bi andi s hofgr i l l ed meat onanopenf i r eand del i c i ouss pi c esy ou c andi py ourmeati nt o.Ther ewer ehor des ofpeopl ear oundUnc l eJ oe' ss t ands owe hadt os houl deri nbet weent hec r owdst o gett ot hegoods t uf fmader i ghti nf r ontof usbyt heKi ngofKapana. CULI NARYDELI GHTS:The t owns hi pmar k eti sal i v ewi t h f l av ourandl oc aldel i c ac i es .
Af t ereat i ngourf i l l ,wet ookas hor ts t r ol ldown t hes t r eett oHaf eni ' sr es t aur antandwer emetby t wo f r enc h guy sl i v i ng i nt he t owns hi p who gr eet edHaf eni i nFr enc h.T ourdeFor ec eowner , Dunc an c onnec t ed wi t ht hem and c hat t ed i n Fr enc haboutt hei rex per i enc esi nt hear eawhi l e Haf eni t ur nedt ot al kt ot hel oc al pas t orwhohad s t oppedt ot ouc hbas e.St eppi ngof ft het our i s t t r ac k al l ows y ou t o mak e c onnec t i ons i n unex pec t ed pl ac es wi t ht he mos ti ns pi r i ng peopl e. . . mak i ng f or t he mos t memor abl e t r av el l i ng ex per i enc e whi c h Haf enihad made pos s i bl e,s i mpl ybybei ngwhohewas .
TRAVELHAFENI ’ STOWNSHI PTOURS
J us tt hen,t hes t r eetl i ght swentonandt he t owns hi p was l i t up. . . .r ows ofc ol our f ul homesr ev eal ed t hems el v esand we went i nt ooneoft hem t omeetOpana,abeaut i f ul 19 y ear ol d Her er o woman. As Opana wel c omed uswi t hadaz z l i ng s mi l el i ght i ng upherf l awl es sc ompl ex i onandt heof f erofa c upoft ea,i twasc l eart hats hewasaboutt o l aunc hi nt oal ec t ur e about t he Her er o t r adt i onalc ul t ur e.Bef or es hec oul dbegi n,I j umped i n and as k ed hers ome ques t i ons aboutherl i f e asa y oung Her er o woman l i v i ng i n a moder ns oc i et yand aboutt he as pi r at i ons f orherl i f ei nt er ms ofbot h educ at i on and wor k br i dgi ng t he gaps bet weenat r adi t i onalandmoder nc ont ex t .
Wewer eal lgl uedt oherwor dsi nwhats eemed t o be an hones tc onv er s at i on bet ween new f r i ends-Opanawass ody nami c , war m andopen t hatwe gai ned a f as c i nat i ng i ns i ghti nt ot he Her er oc ul t ur e whi c h we woul d nothav e had ac c es st o on t he mai ns t r eam t our i s tr out e. Haf enil i t er al l yhadt odr agusaways owec oul d got ohi sr es t aur antf ordi nner .
THEATEAM:Hei nr i c hHaf eni ,Dunc an, Deon,Ti m andNei laf t eradel i c i ous t r adi t i onalmealatHaf eni ’ sT r adi t i onal Res t aur ant .
St eppi ng outonc e mor ei nt ot he dar k ni ght , t hebuz zont hes t r eet swasel ec t r i ca v i br ant ,c ol our f ul pl ac e. Haf eni ' s T r adi t i onal Res t aur ant s howed hi s pat r i ot i s m, wi t ht he c ur r ent and pas t pr es i dent ss mi l i ngf r om onewal lac r os st o t he t r adi t i onal Ov ambu danc er s and Her er oWomenher di ngc owsont heot her wal l .I nt hemi ddl eofi tal lwasac l own. . . The T r av el i ng Ci r c us i nt he hear t of Nambi a.Haf eni ' sdy nami ct eam ofwomen wel c omed uswar ml yand i twas n' tl ong bef or e our t abl e was pi l ed up wi t h t r adi t i onalc ui s i ne. . . .pap,meat ys t ews , c hi c k en, mopane wor ms and wi l d s pi nac h. . . . . whi c h wass o del i c i ous ,t her e wer e onl ys c r apsl ef tbehi nd. moder n c ont ex toft het r adi t i onalc ul t ur eswehad metal ong t he waygi v i ng a whol e new pi c t ur et odi s c ov er .I ft hemeali t s el fwas n' t enoughofani nc r edi bl eex per i enc e. . .t he bes twasy ett oc ome-t hr eemember sof anACapel l ac hoi rf r om t het owns hi phad s t r ol l ed ov ert o pr ov i de us wi t hs ome af t er di nnerent er t ai nment . . .
Themi nut et het r i os t ar t eds i ngi ng,Ihad goos ebumpsal lov ermybodyandt her es t oft he t eam wer e mes mer i s ed by t he mus i c .Shar i ngs t or i esaf t er war dspr ov i ded s uc hani ns i ghti nt owhot hes ey oungmen wer e as wel las what t hey want ed t o ex pr es st hr ough t hei r mus i c and t hei r dr eams f or t he f ut ur e. Thi sk i nd of c onnec t i onwi t hv i br ant ,i ns pi r i ng peopl e who ar es i mpl ybei ng t hems el v es ,gi v es v i s i t or sac hanc et oc onnec twi t ht hewi t h t he moder nc ont ex t of t he t r adi t i onal c ul t ur eswehadmetal ongt hewaygi v i nga whol e new pi c t ur et o di s c ov er .We ar e c ur r ent l ywor k i ngwi t hHaf eni t or ai s ef unds t of ur t herdev el opmenty oungl oc al gui des i nt he t owns hi p and Haf eni ' s dr eam of dr i v i ng l oc al t our i s m f or war d i n t he t owns hi p may wel l be r eac hed by dev el opi ng t hi s ex per i enc ef orT ourde For c ev i s i t or sandenc our agi ngot herT our Oper at or st o i nc l ude t hes e aut hent i c i mmer s i v eex per i enc esi nt hei ri t i ner ar i es . Lett hemagi cbegi n. . . .
Thanky ouf orr eadi ngt hef i r s tedi t i onofAwehNami bi a. I fy ouwoul dl i k et obec omepar toft hi sdy nami cec os y s t em, geti nt ouc hwi t husatc oonec t @t r av el i ngc i r c us . c o. z a Wewoul dl ov et ohearf r om y ou.