Just over a year after reopening, Granietkop Campsite in the Doro !Nawas Conservancy has generated enough profit to purchase a brand-new Toyota Hilux outright, a milestone that reflects the success of a locally owned tourism enterprise built on collaboration and long-term capacity development.
The vehicle was purchased entirely from profits earned by the campsite, which had remained closed for nearly two decades before undergoing a complete refurbishment in 2024.
The restoration was funded by tourism company ultimate.earth, its non-profit arm, the Conservation Travel Foundation, and the Community Conservation Fund of Namibia (CCFN), reviving infrastructure that had fallen into disrepair after years of neglect.
Rather than operating the facility themselves, ultimate.earth worked alongside the conservancy on a pro bono basis to help establish a sustainable, community-managed business.
According to ultimate.earth, support included developing a dedicated website, implementing an online booking and payment system, mentoring staff and assisting with overall business management, to equip the conservancy to run the operation independently.
The company said that in just over a year, Granietkop has created four permanent jobs, generated sufficient income to cover all operational costs and maintenance, and accumulated enough profit to purchase the new vehicle, which will be used to support the conservancy's ongoing activities.
Doro !Nawas Conservancy chairperson Anna Haraes said the achievement belongs to the entire community.
"Granietkop belongs to our conservancy, and seeing it succeed is something our entire community can be proud of," she said.
"This vehicle is the result of hard work by our team and the support we have received from partners who believed in our ability to make this business work. It shows that, with the right support, communities can build successful enterprises that create jobs and generate lasting benefits."
Doro !Nawas Conservancy is also home to Onduli Ridge, a luxury safari lodge developed through a joint venture with ultimate.earth that has created employment opportunities and generated income for the conservancy.
However, while operating a high-end safari lodge requires specialised expertise in hospitality, marketing, finance and guest services, Granietkop serves a different but equally important purpose, said ultimate.earth.
The campsite provides the conservancy with an opportunity to own and manage a business on a scale that allows local staff to develop practical management experience, strengthen financial skills and build confidence in running tourism enterprises.
According to ultimate.earth managing director Tristan Cowley, the real success of Granietkop extends beyond financial returns.
"The Hilux is wonderful, but it isn't the biggest achievement," he said.
"The real achievement is seeing a conservancy-owned business become financially sustainable while developing the people and systems needed to run it successfully. That's something that cannot simply be bought; it has to be built."
Cowley said community-owned enterprises complement, rather than replace, Namibia's successful joint venture tourism model.
"Joint ventures like Onduli Ridge bring world-class expertise, investment and market access, while enterprises like Granietkop provide a platform for conservancies to develop their own business and management capabilities. One strengthens the other," he said.
He added that projects such as Granietkop help develop future tourism leaders within rural communities.
"Every successful community business builds confidence. It develops leaders, creates opportunities for young people and strengthens institutions," Cowley said.
"Perhaps today's campsite manager becomes tomorrow's lodge manager, or perhaps a future generation develops the expertise to operate increasingly sophisticated tourism businesses themselves. That journey has to start somewhere, and Granietkop is an inspiring place to begin."
