The Harnas Wildlife Foundation in Gobabis, Namibia is a charitable organisation and one of the few orphanages and wildife sanctuaries for wild animals in Southern Africa. More than 300 animals including lions, leopards, cheetahs, endangered Africa wild dogs, meerkats, baboons and tortoises live on the 10 000 hectare farm and protected wildlife reserve.
Harnas is located approx. 300 km to the east of Windhoek near Gobabis. Harnas is dedicated to saving Namibia's endangered wild animals.
The Van der Merwe family has dedicated their lives to establishing the most adequate and secure home possible for abandoned or orphaned wild animals and succeeded in creating a Noah's Ark in the African Savannah.
From the time people became aware of the dedication of the Van der Merwe family, not a single week passed without a further injured or orphaned animal finding its way to them. In the past, farmers or trigger-happy game hunters often killed Big Cats that threatened livestock.
Today these animals are transferred to the Harnas Wildlife Foundation in order to protect them from being shot outright. Often animals that annoy their owners or can no longer be cared for end up at Harnas.
Harnas believes in life, and take their role in the conservation and protection of Namibian Wildlife very seriously. Conservation and Animal Welfare comes in many different forms. Harnas helps visitors make that special connection between man and animal. Harnas and Namibia's ambassadors do their best part to create conscious awareness and that is the first step in aiding the plight of conservation.
Funding from Angelina Jolie (the patron of Harnas) has helped turn the area into a 10 000 ha release site and will in future mainly serve as a soft release area for animals that have been successfully rehabilitated. Wild animals which are brought to Harnas can be already released into this area.
If you would like to experience Harnas in a more intense way than being a regular tourist, you can join the volunteer programme. You will need special training before you start because you will be in contact with wild animals.
Harnas is always busy and the needs of the animals must be attended to before anything else. The skills of volunteers can be used most effectively on Harnas.
All volunteers coming to Harnas can be certain that there will always be something to help with. You can make the most amazing difference to the progress of each of the projects by using your skills in a practical way. A comprehensive induction and training plan will be given with clear guidelines as to the policies and procedures of Harnas and support in your work.
Volunteer experiences at Harnas Wildlife Foundation include:
Harnas has a large community of San people who live on the property and who have called Harnas their home for over 50 years. Harnas is dedicated to the preservation of the San culture and it is one of the few places in Namibia that offers an authentic San experience. You can learn about San traditions and skills and help keep them alive.
Harnas Guest Farm offers luxury accommodation to guests wanting to support the Harnas Wildlife Foundation and its animals.