NAMUTONI ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTRE
Contact details:
Namutoni E.E. Centre
Private Bag 2014
Tsumeb
Telephone: 067-229201
Fax: 067-229200 or 229343
Email: neec@mweb.com.na or lerckie@met.na
Visitors’ Guide
The Namutoni Environmental Education Centre is located in the Etosha National Park, one of Namibia’s foremost areas for conservation and tourism. Dominated by the vast Etosha Pan, the park is home to the world’s largest population of black rhinoceros, abundant elephant herds, lion prides, dozens of other large and small mammal species and prolific birdlife.
The EE Centre is a venture of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET). It strives to establish environmental education programs that will promote environmental education as a continuous process that occurs in and out of school and considers the environment in its totality, emphasizing the compatibility of conservation and sustainable development.
Objectives of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism’s Environmental Education Centre:
1. To increase knowledge and awareness of the diversity within the fragile nature of the Namibian environment, and to encourage the sustainable use of Namibia’s natural resources for the present and future generations
2. To positively influence peoples’ attitudes, knowledge and behaviour towards the environment
3. To deepen peoples’ understanding and heightening awareness of our natural world
4. To fostering creativity as well as ingenuity in caring for the environment
5. To build capacity among Namibian youth and encourage them to take the lead in sustainable environmental, social and economic development
6. Share and develop skills for identifying, critically evaluating and solving environmental problems
7. To stimulate action education
8. Strive to achieve the objectives of Article 95 of the Namibian Constitution
9. To increase knowledge and awareness of the mission of the MET
Where is the Centre?
The Namutoni E.E. Centre is located at the Von Lindequist Gate in the Etosha National Park, 100 km from Tsumeb and 200 km from Ondangwa. From the north, please enter through the King Nehale gate, 22 km from Omuthiya, and travel south to the Centre.
Bookings
To make a booking, please send a written request to:
Namutoni Education Centre
Private Bag 2014
Tsumeb
Namibia
Booking can also be made by phoning or faxing 067-229200/1, or by contacting the warden via e-mail at neec@mweb.com.na or lerckie@met.na
Once your booking request has been received, staff from the Centre will confirm it and discuss your programme and itinerary with you. In planning your dates, please allow sufficient time for booking confirmations.
Categories of fees charged per person per night:
1) Public Schools
a) Rural Schools N$ 10-00
b) Urban Schools N$ 15-00
2) Private Schools N$ 20-00
3) Institutions N$ 25-00
(Institutions include: communal community groups, university groups, women’s organizations, Girl guides, Scouts, environmental clubs, and conservation career guidance groups)
Facilities
A minimum number of 12 and maximum number of 40 people, including supervisors and caterers, can be accommodated at the Centre. The Centre consists of an office, lecture facilities, a communal kitchen, and dormitories (40 beds with mattresses). There are ablution facilities with toilets and showers with warm water.
The kitchen is equipped with the following:
- 1 x freezer
- 2 x fridges
- 2 x gas stove
- Cooking and eating utensils
- Braai places with grids
Plan to bring along the following:
1) Catering - enough food and soft drinks for the group, washing-up liquid, sponges and pot scourers, dishcloths, matches, and a torch.
2) Clothing - all clothes must be old as many of the activities may ruin good clothes. Please remember bath towels.
3) Bedding – while the Centre provides a bed & mattress, you must bring blankets or sleeping bags.
Each group is responsible for arranging their own transportation to and from the Centre. The Environmental Centre only provides transportation for game drives within the park.
NO alcohol, radios or loud games are allowed at the Centre.
Programmes
The Centre’s programmes are designed to involve learners in “hands on” experiences in the environment and can be adapted for the specific needs of a group. The programme has been developed around the syllabi of grade 7 -12 but can be adapted to accommodate other grades. Target groups are invited to visit the Centre for 1-3 days.
Please discuss your programme and itinerary with the education staff at the centre to ensure the smooth running of your programme and excursion.
Teachers are to coordinate:
1) The discipline of the pupils.
2) Organizing the pupils into cooking, cleaning and other work groups and the supervision of these tasks.
Conferences, seminars and workshops:
The Centre has the facilities to accommodate conferences, seminars and workshops, provided they adheres to certain requirements:
a) The conference, seminar or workshop should be of an environmental/conservation nature
b) Environmental/scientific related organizations enjoy priority in booking
The lecture hall is fully equipped and ideal for these occasions. To arrange your seminar, workshop or conference, contact the Centre staff for more details.
Administration
A free entrance permit will be issued to each group visiting the Education Centre. In case of cancellation, please notify the Centre at least three weeks before the due date so that others are given the chance to use your booking. Remember to confirm your booking as soon as possible. If you have further questions, please contact the Centre staff.
Contact: Mrs. Laimi K. Erckie or Mr. Erastus Mbongaura
NB: The gates of the park closes at sunset. Groups are therefore expected to arrive before sunset.
The King Nehale gate closes one hour before sunset.
The MET has a second Environmental Education Centre at Okatjikona in the Waterberg Plateau Park. Approximately 114 km east of Otjiwarongo in the Otjozondjupa region, the Centre is located 22km east of the Bernabe de la Bat resort on the eastern border of the Waterberg Plateau Park.
For more information on the Okatjikona EE Centre, please contact:
The Warden
Okatjikona Environmental Education Centre
Private Bag 2506
Otjiwarongo Namibia
TeleFax: 067 – 306320