N/a'an ku se Wildlife launches four new projects

March 2, 2012 - PRLog -- N/a’an ku sê Foundation launch four new projects!

On the evening of 29 February 2012 conservationists Dr Rudie van Vuuren and wife Marlice van Vuuren hosted the prestigious launch event of four new and exciting projects which are great news for Namibian conservation and tourism: N/a'an ku sê Lodge and Wildlife Sanctuary; Utopia Medi Spa and Boutique; Namib Carnivore Conservation Centre  and Neuras Wine and Wildlife Estate.

We welcomed many of the key players from Namibia, including the Minister of Health and Social Services, Hon. Dr. Richard Nchabi Kamwi and the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Immigration, Hon. Elia George Kaiyamo along with many Tour Operators and Business Executives from across Namibia.

N/a'an ku sê Foundation was established in 2006 with two aims – to protect and conserve Namibia’s vulnerable wildlife and to improve the lives of the marginalised San Bushman community. Since 2006 we have come a long way and are delighted to introduce you to our new initiatives.

Our Lodge and Wildlife Sanctuary have been open to the public since 2007 and has gone from strength to strength. Our stunning lodge and holiday homes have retained their exclusivity, and exceptional standards and are conveniently located just 30 minutes from the airport and an hour from the city centre. We are therefore ideally placed for holiday breaks or day visits alike.

We endeavour to be at the forefront of conservation and seek to give the general public access to conservation opportunities. At last nights launch we revealed our exciting new initiative in conservation and education, by the end of 2012 visitors will have the fantastic opportunity to track two white rhino on our 3,200 ha reserve. Our experienced guides and biologists will accompany guests on our reserve and teach you the techniques involved with tracking as you also learn about white rhino in their natural habitat.

Our next new project launched was, our host for the evening, the Utopia Medi Spa and Boutique, located at 64 Nelson Mandela Avenue, Windhoek. This is the first and only medi spa in Namibia. This modern and up-market Boutique Establishment is set in the most tranquil suburb in the heart of Windhoek.

The Utopia Boutique consists of 7 luxurious and spacious en-suite rooms, all with balconies overlooking the Klein Windhoek River, all rooms are equipped to the highest standard. In addition we have a fully equipped boardroom which can host up to 8 people. At The Utopia Boutique and Medi Spa we have only one vision and that is for our guests to rest, rejuvenate and refresh. The food is made from the freshest and healthiest ingredients and guests have access to the fully equipped gym, swimming pool and can even consult the resident biokineticists. The Utopia Boutique is perfect for a city break or if you have friends or relatives coming to visit, we can even arrange an airport transfer.

Our third new initiative is the Namib Carnivore Conservation Centre, working in partnership with Solitaire Guest Farm Desert Ranch, N/a’an ku sê is hosts a carnivore research base in the heart of Namibia’s southern desert. The aim of this project is to help solve human-wildlife conflicts in Namibia through sound scientific research on densities, home ranges and territories of Cheetahs, Leopards and Hyena. We also seek to promote the rehabilitation and reintroduction of large carnivores. In addition to our important research project and carnivore releases we offer a unique educational cheetah tracking safari for tourists.

Only 6km from the small town of Solitaire and an hour from the famous Sossusvlei,  the Namib Carnivore Conservation Centre is situated at the edge of the Namib Desert, in a paradise of open grass plains, speckled with camel thorn trees and other mature trees, rough mountain ranges with stunning mountain features and dry riverbeds. The accommodation is cosy with rustic dining and farmhouse style  rooms along with a swimming pool for guests to enjoy at the end of a long hot day.

Our final surprise new project for the evening was greeted with a huge round of applause, N/a’an ku sê, takes ownership of Neuras, home to the world’s driest vineyard to become Neuras: N/a’an ku sê Wine and Wildlife Estate, where wine supports conservation.

Protection of habitat for wildlife is the main mission behind acquiring the 14,400ha of desert, thereby extending the mission of N/a’an ku sê to promote co-existence of humans and wildlife. The land is situated close to NamibRand and Neuhoff, both conservation areas which offer protection to large carnivores. N/a’an ku sê has already celebrated the release of a collared male leopard named Tyson, who is thriving in his new habitat, and last week a young caracal female.

N/a’ankusê will follow in the footsteps of Allan and Sylvia Walkden-Davis, who owned and cultivated the land since 1997 when the first vines were planted. They have built a mythical wine brand and N/a’an ku sê founders  Rudie and Marlice van Vuuren, are proud to work with them to continue their legacy: “We are extremely excited to get involved with Neuras, with Chris Heunis, Dr. Jannes Brandt and our long time friend Jan Verburg we were able to purchase Neuras specifically for protection of habitat. With Allan’s help we will most certainly keep on making the mythical Namib red wines, hoping to bring people to Neuras and to showcase our conservation efforts”.

The land, which is 80km from Sossusvlei, produces around 3000 bottles of Namib red wine a year specializing in Shiraz and Merlot. As well as producing wine, Neuras: N/a’an ku sê Wine and Wildlife Estate will offer delicious food and rustic accommodation and unique activities for tourists including tours of our winery, vineyard and cellar, wine tastings, carnivore tracking and birding tours. We also arrange visits to the 'Honey Canyon' home to  the 14th longest cave in Namibia, where you will learn about how the ancient San lived  and excursions to the Tsauchab River which rises in the Naukluft and Tsaris Mountains and flows through the Sesriem Canyon and beyond. Neuras: N/a’an ku sê Wine and Wildlife Estate will also form part of N/a’an ku sê’s Volunteer Programme which sees over 400 people from all over the world each year work with N/a’an ku sê research biologists.

This prestigious launch evening was rounded off with an exclusive showing of an episode of Wild Animal Orphans, a 13 episode TV programme featuring  N/a'an ku sê and the work of Rudie and Marlice van Vuuren. As the evening wore on guests relaxed and enjoying their surroundings, whilst sampling the delicious Neuras wine, enjoying canapes and delicious cheeses from Fresh 'n Wild.

               [Press release ends]

Notes to Editor:
Marlice van Vuuren, one of Namibia’s most well known conservationists, and her husband Dr. Rudie van Vuuren started N/a’an ku sê Foundation in 2007 with two aims – to protect and conserve Namibia’s vulnerable wildlife and to improve the lives of the marginalised San Bushman community. In addition to the projects mentioned above we now run several projects including:
A Wildlife Sanctuary for orphaned and injured animals
Carnivore Conservation Research Project to protect and conserve wild cheetah, leopard and brown hyena in Namibia.
Clever Cubs School and education for San children
Lifeline Clinic and medical outreach for the San community
For further information on N/a'an ku sê Foundation, please visit the website www.naankuse.com or email gemma@naankuse.com

# # #

Naankuse Foundation is a UK registered charity organisation based in Namibia and has two aims: to protect and conserve Namibia’s vulnerable wildlife and to improve the lives of the marginalised San Bushman community.