Growing up in the village, none of Lorna Peyavali Mbwale’s peers knew what a train was, let alone the meaning of the word ‘boardroom’. Travelling the world teaches humanity, while being surrounded by extraordinary people inspires dreams.

When Lorna left the city for Abenab Farm, surrounded by bush and local communities, little did they imagine transforming this old mine into a tourism attraction. The Abenab pit had been there for years, with the old buildings weathered by time since its closure in 1958. The destruction of buildings occurred when everyone left.

When the lodge began operating, none of the team knew exactly what to do, this story is for another day. Nor did they realise how uniquely situated they were. While the recipe for running a business may be similar across industries, every business has its own language, and hospitality was no different. Initially, the intention was unclear, but keeping busy was evident. Drawing on past experience, Lorna engaged with people from the Himba, Khoisan, and Zemba communities. To thrive, the Namibian spirit came to the fore, recognising that identity is shaped by others.

Instead of conducting market research, the place itself was in ruins; however, the determination to continue what had been started grew stronger. It would have been easier and cheaper to walk away and for Lorna to enjoy her pension. Yet, over time, it became clear that tourism is not about chasing profit, but about offering authentic experiences and delivering quality service. It is about people, their cultures, their stories, and showcasing this unique place and, indeed, the country we call home. It is about passion, compassion, commitment, perseverance, and dedication to making a difference and putting Namibia on the map.

Namibia is a truly unique and beautiful country. For it to be recognised, much marketing and awareness are required. Abenab Lodge falls into the category of the unknown. Convincing people to promote this place, when they already have established destinations, is a challenge. However, the uniqueness, tranquility, and peace offered here set the lodge apart. Within two years of operation, several accolades have spoken for the lodge. Rome was not built in a day, but “stadig maar seker” (slowly but surely), progress is being made, and in future the lodge will thrive.

Contributing to the national development plan is a responsibility for every Namibian. As a result, Abenab Lodge proudly aligns itself with this vision. With positive energy and a strong belief that everything will work out, the team continues to work towards making Namibia the best place to visit.

Original content: Lorna Peyavali Mbwale

𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘏𝘈𝘕 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘢’𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘮 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺.