The Museum

The Living Museum of the Ju/'Hoansi-San was initiated by the Namibian tour guide Werner Pfeifer and the teacher Ghau N!aici from Grashoek. Since July 2004 the ju/'Hoansi run their museum completely on their own. The Living Museum - the Ju/'Hoansi call it /Xao-o Ju/'Hoansi-Ga (the life of the Ju/'Hoansi) - consists of four huts, but actually this is only the surrounding of the open-air Museum: the San focus on showing their original lifestyle. They present the old, almost forgotten culture in traditional dresses in the midst of their reconstructed "nomad-village" from the ancient days. Especially the two eldest of the Living Museum set a high value on presenting the hunter-gatherer culture as authentic as possible.

Three Profits

The Ju/'Hoansi-San benefit in three ways from the Living Museum. First of all it is a good source of income for the villagers who struggle with poverty. About 100 people from grashoek have a regular income, up to 1000 villagers benefit from the possibility to sell crafts in the craftshop of the museum. Second of all the San get in contact with their origins and face the loss of their original values. So the Living Musuem works as a school for history and culture. Third of all the Living Museum offers an active intercultural exchange. In the scope of the Living Museum a lot of people get in contact with the culture of the San and begin to understand what makes this unique culture so special. In turn the guests of the museum give the Ju/'Hoansi self-confidence and also the youngest take pride in their culture. Maybe the San who are indeed susceptible to social face can manage to escape their misery.

Campsite & Craftshop

In addition to the Living Museum there is a basic campsite which is situated on a nice glade. Although there is no water supply there "in the bush", you should give it a try. Campsite is 25 N$ per Person, firewood is available for 20 N$.