Our History

Jan Verburg and his wife donated 20 000 Euros to the van Vuurens to open the Naankuse Lifeline Childline Clinic in Epukiro that treats over 4 500 San community members every year. The Clinic has become a beacon for TB research in Namibia.

The Naankuse Foundation was founded by Dr. Rudie and his wife, Marlice van Vuuren along with other founding members dedicated to conserving land, cultures and wildlife of Namiba. Marlice, who grew up on Farm Harnas, a renowned sanctuary for injured wildlife, had a burning ambition to open a wildlife sanctuary of her own. In an effort to make her dream come true, Dr. Rudie with the help and support from the Verburgs bought Farm Frauenstein outside Windhoek. Together they transformed the farm into the world-renowned wildlife sanctuary it is today.

The founders decided to build a lodge on the property in order to create jobs for the San people whom they treated and befriended at the Naankuse Lifeline/Childline Clinic in an effort to improve their living standards even further. The Lodge was registered as the only “charity lodge” in Namibia and provides employment for dozens of marginalised Namibians.

The van Vuurens transformed their home in Klein Windhoek into Naankuse @ Utopia to offer accommodation for the Naankuse Lodge guests who need to over-night in Windhoek. This garden paradise partnered with Bougain Villa to offer 14 standard rooms, 7 luxury suites and 1 stylish executive suite to all travellers who want to relax, refresh and rejuvenate.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie chose to make Naankuse a partner of the Shiloh Jolie-Pitt Foundation, in honour of their Namibian-born daughter, Shiloh. Marlice and Angelina met in 1998 and have worked closely together since then. In 2017, the Shiloh Wildlife Sanctuary was opened to rehabilitate elephants and rhinos injured or orphaned by poaching.

The Naankuse Foundation purchased the Neuras Wine and Wildlife Estate in southern Namibia in an effort to make quality wine that could be sold to support their conservation efforts. Neuras Wine and Wildlife Estate is the second – driest vineyard in the world as well as an important site for research pertaining to the conservation of the African Leopard and Spotted Hyena.

Naankuse, with the help of the van Uden Group, purchased the Kanaan Desert Retreat in the remote Karas Region of Namibia. The farm was stripped of all man-made fences and considerable efforts were made to rehabilitate the landscape from the damages caused by vehicles and fencing. The site is now home to hundreds of species of wildlife, an important research site and also famous for its breath-taking scenery and dark night skies.

Rooster & Co. Restaurant, located inside Naankuse @ Utopia Boutique Hotel opened its doors in early 2019 to serve not only our in-house guests but also the public with fresh and healthy food daily. Together with the restaurant Utopia also offers the most authentic function venue and conference facilities.   

The N/a'ankusê Ecotourism Collection expands again and this time with a 'boutique backpackers'. Nestled in a quiet suburb of our capital city, Windhoek, N/a’an ku sê Travellers Inn is a mere 45-minute drive from Hosea Kutako International Airport. Three dorm rooms and four tents are all furnished with bunk beds epitomising true backpacker comfort. We also have a ‘budget room’ with a double bed a bit more privacy. 

Welcome to the future… welcome to the TimBila Nature Reserve by N/a’an ku sê. 33,000 hectares of not only iconic Namibian bushveld landscapes and wildlife, this reserve will herald prime conservation practices complemented and supported by exclusive ecotourism. Perceived problem and conflict animals will be provided with a second chance – Namibia’s magnificent wild species given life where persecution would otherwise have prevailed.

Now under the management of the N/a'an ku sê Foundation, Harnas Guest Farm and Wildlife Sanctuary has stepped into a new era. 
The meaning of 'Harnas' is a protective shield or armour - the shield we use to protect the lives of the Ancient San people and the lives of conflict animals in need.