4 minute read
The Land and its People
In 2020, amidst the uncertainty and turmoil of the pandemic, I embarked on a journey that would leave a lasting imprint on my soul. Tourism had ground to a halt, and livelihoods across northwest Namibia – where entire communities rely on the industry – hung precariously in the balance. When Wilderness extended an invitation to document the impact on these communities, I knew I had to go. We packed up and set off into the vast and wild northwest – the Kaokoland – determined to witness firsthand the resilience of those who call this breathtaking but unforgiving region home.
I was climbing into the Land Rover, that quintessential safari workhorse transformed into an all-terrain lifeline, when I met Agnes Tjirare. A remarkable young woman who, at the time, served as the coordinator for the Children in the Wilderness Foundation – a charity founded by Wilderness.
Agnes introduced me to a way of thinking that continues to shape my perspective on tourism and conservation. She showed me that communities, landscapes, and conservation are not separate entities; they are a single, inseparable whole. The people are as much a part of the ecosystem as the wildlife and the land itself. It was a revelation as humbling as it was profound.
Over the next seven days, I watched Agnes and her team deliver food parcels to families who, in the absence of tourism, had no access to even the most basic necessities. I saw gratitude etched into weathered faces and hope kindled where despair had taken root. By the end of the trip, Agnes and I had become fast friends, bound by shared experiences and a deep admiration for her unwavering dedication.
Today, Agnes continues her work as Wilderness’s Impact Manager, a role that amplifies the purpose she has always embodied: connecting communities to the landscapes they steward and the tourism that sustains them. Her work reminds me of the essential truth that conservation is not just about saving wildlife or protecting land – it is about supporting the people who live alongside these ecosystems and are their fiercest guardians.
That journey inspired me deeply, and the video we produced from it became a testament to the power of storytelling. Even now, I revisit it when I need a reminder of why we do what we do at Venture Media: telling stories that matter.
Recently, as Namibia endures the grip of a severe drought, Wilderness has revived its food parcel delivery initiative. This time, their efforts have extended to five conservancies in the northwest and two communities in the south, bringing desperately needed relief in the form of sustenance. These efforts, like everything Wilderness does, underscore a profound understanding: you cannot separate the people from the land, nor the human story from the narrative of conservation.
This interconnectedness is at the heart of the story I wanted to share in this month’s Inspired column. Because to truly honour the landscapes we cherish, we must honour the lives entwined with them. The lives of people like Agnes, who inspire us to see conservation not as an abstract ideal, but as a deeply human endeavour.
I love the word impact. Learn more about Wilderness and how they do things: https://www.wildernessdestinations.com/impact
Watch our video from the 2020 food parcel delivery project here: https://vimeo.com/456855046?share=copy
