Slide 1

Nakambale Museum

Nakambale Museum

Information

Nakambale Museum and Rest is situated 20km from Ondangwa. It is an independent organization that was initiated and endorsed by ELCIN in 1995. The museum building originally served as the residence of Finnish Missionary Martti Rautanen and his family. After renovations to the museum building in 1995 were complete, the site (including the old church and graveyard) was declared a museum and national monument. Since then, the organization has received support from the Embassy of Finland, the Museums Association of Namibia and from ELCIN to extend the museum into a cultural tourist attraction. As part of the Embassy of Finland’s support, Nakambale is one of the three projects administered by the Museums Association of Namibia under the title, ‘Promoting and Preserving the Cultural Heritage in Northern Namibia’. You can read more about the project here https://www.museums.com.na/images/MAN_Finland_Visit_June_2015.compressed.pdf

The museum aims to introduce the history of the Church and the Finnish Mission of the North to the public, with respect to both the past and present. The mission house displays exhibitions on various topics including the old missionary architecture, the Rautanen family, Olukonda, the development of the church, everyday missionary life, traditional musical instruments, decorations, toys, household utensils, livelihoods, the political history of Ovamboland and the kings of the North.

Nakambale museum is one of the few museums in northern Namibia.  A tarmac road leads all the way to the museum making it easily accessible and it can provide a day trip for tourists based in the Etosha National Park who can reach it by driving through the new King Nehale Gate.

"In 2019 the church property was leased by Southern Cross Adventure Lodges from the local community on the condition that they will provide jobs and that the historical site will be restored." - Southern Cross Adventure Lodges

Oombale Dhi Ihaka: A Bond That Cannot Be Broken Mobile exhibition and Catalogue 

 Screenshot 2022 10 27 at 11.16.05 AM

A mobile exhibition and catalogue entitled Oombale Dhi Ihaka: A Bond That Cannot Be Broken was developed by the Museums Association of Namibia (MAN), with funding from the European Union. The exhibition was based on photographs of 126 cultural artefacts that had been collected by the Finnish missionary, Martti Rautanen (better known in the north as “Nakambale”). The objects are currently held by the National Museum of Finland. The mobile exhibition is available for loan from the Museums Association of Namibia. To loan the mobile exhibition, one should complete the MAN Exhibition Loan Form. The catalogue is available for free download.

Mobile Exhibition: To get the MAN Exhibition Loan Form and/or download the catalogue, click here https://www.museums.com.na/mobile-exhibitions
Catalogue:  You can access the catalogue here https://www.museums.com.na/images/Oombale_Dhiihaka_Catalogue_Email.pdf 
Read more about the MUSEUM DEVELOPMENT AS A TOOL FOR STRENGTHENING CULTURAL RIGHTS IN NAMIBIA Project here https://www.museums.com.na/images/EU_Project_Booklet.pdf

Facilities

  • Restaurant – Fully licensed
  • Swimming Pool
  • Conference facilities and lunch meetings on request
  • Camping and Glamping facilities

Contact

Location

Gallery