Himba communities near Wilderness Serra Cafema in Namibia’s Kunene region now have safer access to water following the launch of the Himba Water Infrastructure Project in the Marienfluss Conservancy.
Funded by the Danson Foundation and implemented by Wilderness Namibia, the six-month project introduced solar-powered pumps, storage tanks and access points to provide daily clean water for people and livestock.
Traditionally, the Himba have collected water from the Kunene River – a practice that exposed them to health and safety risks, including crocodile attacks. “The dangers were very real,” said Agnes Tjirare-Kerji , Wilderness Namibia’s Impact Manager. “There have been many incidents over the years with the most recent involving a young boy from Sesfontein who sadly lost his life in a crocodile encounter. These weren’t isolated events. They reflected a deep need in the community, which we were pleased to help address.”
The project was developed in consultation with local Himba leaders, government representatives through the Kunene Governor’s office and technical partners. Wilderness Namibia trained community members to monitor and maintain the infrastructure and has committed to continued support.
Wilderness Namibia plans to replicate similar community-led water access projects across partner conservancies in line with its impact strategy, Namibia’s Vision 2030 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
“This initiative not only addresses basic human needs but promotes local resilience, safety and dignity,” said Tjirare-Kerii. “With generous support from partners like the Danson Foundation, we’re showing how sustainable tourism and philanthropy can have lasting, life-changing impact on the communities we partner with.”
