San people eco-tourism initiative in Bwabwata.
Dropping Rocks Lodge and Campsite invites donors to seed a small, powerful project that turns Bwabwata’s untapped tourism potential into dignified jobs, skills, and steady income for San and Khwe families who call the park’s edge home.
Vision
Build a low-impact, community-run campsite that honours the land and the people who steward it. Visitors will arrive at a simple reception, sleep at six serviced campsites, wash with solar-heated water in a communal ablutions block, and eat meals cooked by local staff. Every design choice will prioritise local materials, minimal footprint, and shared decision-making with community leaders.
What we will build
- Reception office to welcome guests and showcase local crafts.
- Six serviced campsites with low-impact infrastructure.
- Communal ablutions block with solar-heated water.
- Staff kitchen for safe, nutritious meals prepared by local teams.
- Site-access improvements to make the campsite safe and reliable.
Immediate community benefits
- Jobs: 25–30 permanent and seasonal roles in reception, guiding, maintenance, catering, and hospitality.
- Skills: Practical training in hospitality, site management, food safety, customer service, and bookkeeping.
- Local sourcing: Materials and labour bought locally to put cash into community hands from day one.
- Priority hiring: Women, youth, and San and Khwe community members given first consideration for roles.
Long-term impact
A fixed portion of campsite earnings will feed a community development fund governed by local leaders to pay for housing repairs, water projects, schooling, and small enterprise grants. As the campsite grows, revenue will fund conservation-friendly livelihoods, reduce reliance on unsustainable practices, and create a visible model of how tourism can be a tool for dignity rather than extraction.
Why donate now
Your gift launches a self-sustaining cycle: construction creates immediate income, the finished campsite creates ongoing wages and training, and revenue reinvests in community priorities and conservation. Support from donors today won’t just build facilities — it will expand opportunity, preserve culture, and prove that community-led tourism can deliver long-term, resilient change.
Call to action
Join us in making Bwabwata a place where travellers meet culture and communities thrive. Donate to Dropping Rocks Lodge and Campsite and be part of a project that turns a remote idea into reliable jobs, practical skills, and lasting pride.
