Harnas Wildlife Foundation

Harnas is one of the first orphanages and welfare centres in Africa. Several wild animals, including lion, leopard, Cheetah, Wild dog etc. even the smallest Suricatand baby baboons have made Harnas their sanctuary and home, after being neglected, abused or abandoned.

The van der Merwe family has been farming in the Gobabis district in Namibia for three generations. The farm is situated next to the communal farming Herero land and between other commercial farms. 

Harnas also offer 6 lovely camping sites and a 3 bedroom self catering house.

Harnas do not purchase animals, as this will certainly create a market. Poor local economic circumstances, combined with inadequate law enforcement further result in indiscriminate poaching of wild animals, mostly for their meat and hides.

The international trade in animal hides and trophy hunting certainly also does its part in the decimation of our wild animals. Harnas is fully devoted to preserving our animals and supplying them with habitats as natural as possible.

This is the dream of Harnas and we live this dream every day!

Harnas Wildlife Foundation was initiated some 30 odd years ago by acquiring a single vervet monkey that was abused and an alcoholic. This Monkey was time rehabilitated and eventually released in the wild.

Today Harnas is home to a host of animals including lions, leopards, cheetahs and wild dogs. The legend continues…

Harnas also boast of excellent accommodation, breath taking activities and wholesome cuisine.

Our activities include feeding tours, nature drives, birdwatching, and exciting animal interactions.

The guests are treated to an unforgettable experience while being pampered with all the comfort of home.

Marieta van der Merwe and the management of Harnas invites you to come live the legend.

Expect the unexpected.

Some of the exciting activities include:

• Morning Feeding Tour

On the morning feeding tour you will hear about the history, facts and stories on our big cats, wild dogs, baboons etc. The drive is conducted in an open game drive vehicle ensuring impeccable views during the feeding tour.

You will witness the beastly grip of a lion grabbing a chunk of meat in mid-air as well as the immense power of a leopard leaping up a tree for his meal.

The amazing sounds and behaviour of the endangered wild dog will leave a lasting impression on you before seeing the agile and graceful cheetah.

One of the highlights of this tour is watching the baboons feed. Large and small baboons scramble around like naughty school kids while grabbing food from each other and stuffing their faces with as much as they can eat!

The tour starts at 09h00 and continues for about 3 hours.

• Afternoon Tour

• Lion Roar Sundowner

The tour departs around 18h30 ,depending on the sunset time, and the duration is about 1 ½ hours.

Harnas is also one of the only foundations offering interaction with the animals, such as walking with Cheetahs.

There are many more activity options available to guests and can be discussed at reception.

Directions to Harnas from Windhoek:
As you enter Gobabis, you will approach a 4-way stop. Turn Left. You are now on the road directly to Botswana. Follow this road for 6km towards Botswana. Turn Left onto road C22. The road sign Harnas Wildlife Foundation indicates the direction and distance. Drive until the small town of Drimiopsis. Here the tar road will end and change to gravel road. There will be Harnas road sign. Turn Right. Drive for 7.5km. There will be Harnas Road sign. Keep Left and drive for 38km. The entrance to Harnas is on the Left.