Sustainability & Charities

Sustainability at the Heart of Wild Cherry Adventures

At Wild Cherry Adventures, sustainability is not only a practice but a philosophy deeply embedded in everything we do. Namibia, with its breathtaking landscapes and diverse wildlife, offers some of the world’s most pristine natural settings, and we are dedicated to preserving them through responsible tourism. This commitment shapes our approach, as we strive to minimize environmental impact, support local communities, and promote conservation efforts.

Namibia’s landscapes are uniquely fragile, from the shifting sands of the Namib Desert to the delicate ecosystems of Etosha and the wild expanses of the Kunene Region. Sustainable tourism plays a vital role in ensuring that these environments—and the communities within them—thrive for generations to come. By focusing on eco-friendly practices, ethical wildlife interactions, and community-led tourism, we aim to offer adventures that protect Namibia's natural resources while also giving back.

Charities

The Oerwoud Project

Through the Oerwoud Project, Wild Cherry Adventures, in partnership with the Elverum Kolkehogskule in Norway, has made a lasting impact in Namibia’s Otjozondjupa district. This project has funded the construction of a kindergarten located 10 km south of Tinsabis. By establishing the kindergarten, we aimed to give children in the community the opportunity to spend an additional two years at home before transitioning to boarding school, easing the journey into formal education.

With funding and support from Wild Cherry Adventures, the project built classrooms, bathrooms, and provided a generator for essential power needs. Additionally, our offices at Cardboard Box Backpackers previously served as a base for selling products and local curios to support this initiative until the location’s closure in 2019.

The Oerwoud Project remains a testament to our commitment to community upliftment and sustainable development in Namibia.

Giraffe Conservation and Chad’s 2017 Namib Desert Walk

In 2017, Chad Wratten undertook a grueling 300 km trek through Namibia’s Kaokoveld, stretching up to the Kunene River on the border with Angola, to raise awareness and funds for the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF). This unique initiative was driven by Chad’s dedication to the preservation of Namibia’s desert-adapted giraffes, a lesser-known but equally significant part of the country's wildlife heritage. Chad’s journey across the Namib Desert highlighted the giraffes' resilience and the importance of protecting their dwindling populations in Namibia and across Africa. The funds raised through this walk helped support the GCF’s projects, including critical research, conservation education, and community engagement, all focused on ensuring the survival of giraffes in their natural habitat. The GCF continues to work on the ground, tracking giraffe populations, promoting conservation awareness, and working with local communities to foster sustainable solutions.

For those wishing to contribute to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation’s vital work, please visit their website: https://giraffeconservation.org/.

Your support helps preserve one of Africa’s most iconic species and ensures that giraffes continue to roam Namibia’s beautiful, expansive deserts for generations to come.

The Desert Lion Conservation

In April 2019, Chad Wratten embarked on an extraordinary journey across the Namib Desert to support the Desert Lion Conservation, raising awareness and funds for the preservation of Namibia’s desert-adapted lions. These lions, unique to Namibia, are a rare population specially adapted to the harsh desert conditions, making their survival crucial to Namibia’s ecological diversity. Chad’s walk covered some of the most challenging terrain in the region, symbolizing his dedication to protecting these remarkable animals and highlighting the work of the Desert Lion Conservation, which aims to monitor and protect these lions, promote peaceful human-wildlife coexistence, and educate communities about their importance. Through the funds raised, the Desert Lion Conservation can continue its critical work, which includes tracking lion movements, mitigating human-wildlife conflicts, and ensuring that local communities are part of conservation efforts.

Chad’s 2019 walk exemplified the commitment of Wild Cherry Adventures to Namibian conservation efforts and raised significant awareness for the protection of the desert lions.

If you wish to support the Desert Lion Conservation directly, visit their website:
https://www.desertlion.info/support/donate.html

Your support helps preserve one of Africa’s most iconic species and ensures that lions continue to roam Namibia’s beautiful, expansive deserts for generations to come.

Supporting the Wild Horses of the Namib

The iconic wild horses of the Namib Desert, known for their resilience and beauty, are one of Namibia’s natural treasures. These horses have roamed the desert landscape near the Namib-Naukluft National Park for over a century, adapting to some of the harshest conditions on earth. However, survival has grown increasingly challenging for them due to climate change, drought, and habitat encroachment, which have diminished their access to water and food. The preservation of these horses has become an urgent focus for conservationists, animal welfare groups, and local communities.
At Wild Cherry Adventures, we support efforts to sustain the Namib wild horses through donations, awareness campaigns, and collaboration with conservation initiatives that supply feed, monitor water sources, and promote long-term survival strategies for the herds. By supporting these conservation projects, we not only help preserve the horses but also protect a unique part of Namibia’s heritage and biodiversity. Our commitment to responsible tourism and conservation allows travelers to witness these extraordinary animals while contributing to their survival in the heart of the Namib Desert.

If you wish to support the Desert Lion Conservation directly, visit their website: https://www.wild-horses-namibia.com/donate

Food Donation Drive for the OvaHimba Community in Namibia’s Kunene Region

Since 2021, Wild Cherry Adventures has been actively organizing food donation collections to support the OvaHimba community in Namibia’s remote Kunene Region. This initiative was born from the urgent need to assist the OvaHimba people, whose traditional livelihoods are frequently threatened by severe droughts and limited access to essential resources. These donations help provide staple foods and essential supplies, directly benefiting families in one of Namibia’s most underserved regions.

The Kunene Region is known for its arid landscape, which poses a challenge for food security and limits access to basic amenities. Through the ongoing support of generous donors, this initiative aims to make a tangible difference in the lives of the OvaHimba community, ensuring that food and resources reach those who need them most.

We invite everyone to join us in this effort, knowing that each contribution helps build a more resilient and supportive environment for this vibrant community.

Sustainability at the Heart of Wild Cherry Adventures

At Wild Cherry Adventures, sustainability is not only a practice but a philosophy deeply embedded in everything we do. Namibia, with its breathtaking landscapes and diverse wildlife, offers some of the world’s most pristine natural settings, and we are dedicated to preserving them through responsible tourism. This commitment shapes our approach, as we strive to minimize environmental impact, support local communities, and promote conservation efforts.

Namibia’s landscapes are uniquely fragile, from the shifting sands of the Namib Desert to the delicate ecosystems of Etosha and the wild expanses of the Kunene Region. Sustainable tourism plays a vital role in ensuring that these environments—and the communities within them—thrive for generations to come. By focusing on eco-friendly practices, ethical wildlife interactions, and community-led tourism, we aim to offer adventures that protect Namibia's natural resources while also giving back.

Charities

The Oerwoud Project

Through the Oerwoud Project, Wild Cherry Adventures, in partnership with the Elverum Kolkehogskule in Norway, has made a lasting impact in Namibia’s Otjozondjupa district. This project has funded the construction of a kindergarten located 10 km south of Tinsabis. By establishing the kindergarten, we aimed to give children in the community the opportunity to spend an additional two years at home before transitioning to boarding school, easing the journey into formal education.

With funding and support from Wild Cherry Adventures, the project built classrooms, bathrooms, and provided a generator for essential power needs. Additionally, our offices at Cardboard Box Backpackers previously served as a base for selling products and local curios to support this initiative until the location’s closure in 2019.

The Oerwoud Project remains a testament to our commitment to community upliftment and sustainable development in Namibia.

Giraffe Conservation and Chad’s 2017 Namib Desert Walk

In 2017, Chad Wratten undertook a grueling 300 km trek through Namibia’s Kaokoveld, stretching up to the Kunene River on the border with Angola, to raise awareness and funds for the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF). This unique initiative was driven by Chad’s dedication to the preservation of Namibia’s desert-adapted giraffes, a lesser-known but equally significant part of the country's wildlife heritage. Chad’s journey across the Namib Desert highlighted the giraffes' resilience and the importance of protecting their dwindling populations in Namibia and across Africa. The funds raised through this walk helped support the GCF’s projects, including critical research, conservation education, and community engagement, all focused on ensuring the survival of giraffes in their natural habitat. The GCF continues to work on the ground, tracking giraffe populations, promoting conservation awareness, and working with local communities to foster sustainable solutions.

For those wishing to contribute to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation’s vital work, please visit their website: https://giraffeconservation.org/.

Your support helps preserve one of Africa’s most iconic species and ensures that giraffes continue to roam Namibia’s beautiful, expansive deserts for generations to come.

The Desert Lion Conservation

In April 2019, Chad Wratten embarked on an extraordinary journey across the Namib Desert to support the Desert Lion Conservation, raising awareness and funds for the preservation of Namibia’s desert-adapted lions. These lions, unique to Namibia, are a rare population specially adapted to the harsh desert conditions, making their survival crucial to Namibia’s ecological diversity. Chad’s walk covered some of the most challenging terrain in the region, symbolizing his dedication to protecting these remarkable animals and highlighting the work of the Desert Lion Conservation, which aims to monitor and protect these lions, promote peaceful human-wildlife coexistence, and educate communities about their importance. Through the funds raised, the Desert Lion Conservation can continue its critical work, which includes tracking lion movements, mitigating human-wildlife conflicts, and ensuring that local communities are part of conservation efforts.

Chad’s 2019 walk exemplified the commitment of Wild Cherry Adventures to Namibian conservation efforts and raised significant awareness for the protection of the desert lions.

If you wish to support the Desert Lion Conservation directly, visit their website:
https://www.desertlion.info/support/donate.html

Your support helps preserve one of Africa’s most iconic species and ensures that lions continue to roam Namibia’s beautiful, expansive deserts for generations to come.

Supporting the Wild Horses of the Namib

The iconic wild horses of the Namib Desert, known for their resilience and beauty, are one of Namibia’s natural treasures. These horses have roamed the desert landscape near the Namib-Naukluft National Park for over a century, adapting to some of the harshest conditions on earth. However, survival has grown increasingly challenging for them due to climate change, drought, and habitat encroachment, which have diminished their access to water and food. The preservation of these horses has become an urgent focus for conservationists, animal welfare groups, and local communities.
At Wild Cherry Adventures, we support efforts to sustain the Namib wild horses through donations, awareness campaigns, and collaboration with conservation initiatives that supply feed, monitor water sources, and promote long-term survival strategies for the herds. By supporting these conservation projects, we not only help preserve the horses but also protect a unique part of Namibia’s heritage and biodiversity. Our commitment to responsible tourism and conservation allows travelers to witness these extraordinary animals while contributing to their survival in the heart of the Namib Desert.

If you wish to support the Desert Lion Conservation directly, visit their website: https://www.wild-horses-namibia.com/donate

Food Donation Drive for the OvaHimba Community in Namibia’s Kunene Region

Since 2021, Wild Cherry Adventures has been actively organizing food donation collections to support the OvaHimba community in Namibia’s remote Kunene Region. This initiative was born from the urgent need to assist the OvaHimba people, whose traditional livelihoods are frequently threatened by severe droughts and limited access to essential resources. These donations help provide staple foods and essential supplies, directly benefiting families in one of Namibia’s most underserved regions.

The Kunene Region is known for its arid landscape, which poses a challenge for food security and limits access to basic amenities. Through the ongoing support of generous donors, this initiative aims to make a tangible difference in the lives of the OvaHimba community, ensuring that food and resources reach those who need them most.

We invite everyone to join us in this effort, knowing that each contribution helps build a more resilient and supportive environment for this vibrant community.