The Henties Bay Aerosol Observatory (HBAO) has been established in 2011 at the SANUMARC Research Centre of the University of Namibia at Henties Bay (22°6'S, 14°30'E, elevation 20 m).

It is funded by the French Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and the South African National Research Foundation (NRF) through the Bilateral research Project "Atmospheric Research in Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean" (GDRI-ARSAIO) as well as by the Partenariats Hubert Curien (PHC) PROTEA of the French Ministery of Foreigns Affairs and International Development.

The Sam Nujoma Campus is located on a 100 ha site to the north of Henties Bay, on dunes overlooking the ocean and the Omaruru Riverbed. The population of Henties Bay ranges between 4 600 and 6 000 inhabitants.