Namibia Holiday and Travel 2020/21- This is Namibia by Venture Media

this is namibia N A M I B I A

H O L I D A Y

T R A V E L

2 0 2 0 / 2 1

2020/21 THE OFFICIAL NAMIBIAN TOURISM DIRECTORY

Part of the THIS IS NAMIBIA Campaign 2020/21 www.thisisnamibia.com

FNB Namibia forex outlets

Oshikango

Katima Mulilo

Oshakati

Ondangwa

Opuwo

Rundu

Tsumeb

Otavi

Otjiwarongo

Grootfontein

Okakarara

Omaruru Okahandaja Swakopmund

Usakos

Gobabis

Windhoek

Walvis Bay Rehoboth

Aranos Mariental

LĂźderitz

Keetmanshoop

Rosh Pinah

Oranjemund

> Aranos > Gobabis > Grootfontein > Katima Mulilo > Keetmanshoop > Luderitz > Maerua Park Branch > Mariental > Okahandja > Old Power Station > Omaruru > Ondangwa > Ongwediva > Opuwo > Oranjemund > Oshakati > Oshikango > Otavi > Otjiwarongo > Outjo > Rehoboth > Rosh Pinah Branch > Rundu > Swakopmund > Tsumeb > Usakos > Walvis Bay > Windhoek Main Branch

Visit www.fnbnamibia.com.na | Terms and Conditions apply.

MESSAGE FROM THE NAMIBIA TOURISM BOARD

Namibia is ready for you

here are many reasons why Namibia is ready to welcome travellers from all over the world after the COVID-19 pandemic. Obviously the most important one is that visitors will feel safe and be safe.

Hotels, lodges, restaurants, tour operators, transfer companies, shuttle services and car rentals implement these operating procedures in line with the toolkit, to ensure a safe travelling environment for visitors.

In a country as big as Namibia, with less than three people per square kilometre and with more than 47% of its surface area under some form of conservation management, social distancing is not a problem. It is a given.

NTB addressed all possible scenarios and put measures in place to assure visitors and operators from source markets that tourism businesses in Namibia are aware of international expectations and that actions are geared toward a safe and hygienic environment. It is, of course, impossible to know how the impacts and risks following the pandemic will change future travel trends in the short and long term. But NTB will be guided by international stakeholders and will adapt the procedures as it becomes necessary and will assist the local tourism sector to be prepared.

What Namibia has in abundance is wide open spaces, endless horizons, unspoilt natural wilderness areas, lots of sunshine, fresh air and zero pollution. The challenge for us is to ensure that visitors are safe even in the most remote places of the country and in situations where they cannot avoid some measure of contact with others. During the pandemic, when borders were still closed but local facilities in Namibia started to open up for domestic travel, when the Namibian government started to ease restrictions, NTB prepared a toolkit, based on the WHO guidelines, for tourism service providers on how to manage internationally accepted protocols post-COVID.

Visitors to Namibia have the option to travel completely independently, isolated as a family in a rented vehicle, and stay at off-the-beaten track camping sites or small lodgings or in self-catering accommodation. However, they still have to fly to Namibia, clear customs at the airport and follow procedures to get on the road. All of these steps require human interaction. NTB made sure that

the service providers are well versed to manage those interactions effectively, efficiently and according to the protocol. We canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait to welcome you back to Namibia, and for you to enjoy all the wonders of what has always made our special corner of Africa so unique â&#x20AC;&#x201C; natural, rugged, soulful and liberating.

Digu //Naobeb CEO: Namibia Tourism Board

NTB Head Office C/O Haddy & Sam Nujoma Drive Private Bag 13244, Windhoek Tel (+264 61) 290 6000 Fax (+264 61) 254 848 info@namibiatourism.com.na www.namibiatourism.com.na

NTB South Africa 25th Floor, Atterbury House, Unit 2502 9 Riebeeck Street, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa Tel. +27 (0) 21 4223298 namibia@saol.com www.namibiatourism.com.na

NTB Europe Schiller str. 42-44 60313 Frankfurt/Main, Germany Tel (+49 69) 133 7360 Fax (+49 69) 133 73625 info@namibia-tourism.com www.namibia-tourism.com

NTB Trade & PR Representative in United Kingdom c/o HB Portfolio, Colechurch House 1 London Bridge Walk London, SE1 2SX Tel (+44 0) 20 7593 1777 Fax (+44 0) 20 7022 8662 Namibia@hbportfolio.co.uk www.travelnamibia.co.uk

NTB Trade Representative in China c/o DPS Consulting Co. Ltd Room 201, Zhongguancun Development BuidlingNo.3 Xiaoyunli, Chaoyang District Beijing 100025, China Tel (+86 10) 844 66463 Fax (+86 10) 658 22772 huhm@dps-china.com

NTB PR Representative in China c/o Oriental Gateway Consultancy Room 405, No.7, Building A, Lane300, Panyu Road, Changning District, Shanghai, 200052, P.R.C Tel(+86 21) 6280 1700 Fax(+86 21) 6280 1078 zhuzheng0312@yahoo.com www.namibiatourism.com.na

YOUR COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE To Exploring Namibia extraordinary Namibian stories. The Namibia Holiday & Travel is an annual tourism directory with over 200 pages of up to date information on the country, regions, people, activities and wildlife. Venture Media is the pioneer of Namibia tourism promotion. We are the leader in spreading the tourism word around the world. We distribute accurate, credible, up to date and regular tourism-related information on paper, in social media, on the internet, and on mobile apps. We have reached hundreds of thousands over more than two decades. Be part of our community and letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s do it together.

Namibia TRAVEL NEWS

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this is namibia IS A DESTINATION BRAND CAMPAIGN AIMED AT PROMOTING NAMIBIA TO THE WORLD. This may well be considered one of the most extraordinary years in recent history. The world is on lockdown and everyone is confused as to what will happen next. Where will we go from here? Namibia’s tourism sector has been especially hard hit by travel restrictions and the decimation of an entire industry.

Not because it is the cheapest, but because it will be memorable, invoke change, make a difference to the people of the country and its conservation initiatives, and because they understand that what they need after (or during) all this confusion and fear is... freedom.

Nobody in the world can claim to know how to save tourism in the post COVID reality. Will anything ever be the same as before?

And to feel safe.

The most important thing we can do for the industry right now, is to ensure that the world knows that Namibia will be waiting when the time to visit is right. To inform and inspire them with stories that will touch their hearts and make them realise why Namibia is the travel destination for them.

web tv series. • • • • • • • •

Destinations & Experiences Travel tips Travel Gadgets Tourism Talks Conservation success stories Featured stays Wild Cooking Local Travel Specials

View our Web TV series at: www.thisisnamibia.com

And to be able to absorb the vastness and beauty of what has always made Namibia special - “rugged, natural, soulful and liberating.” We will continue to share Namibia’s story with the world, in the right way and with the right voice.

Windhoek, Surroundings and Central East

Kavango, Zambezi and Surroundings

NAMIBIA HOLIDAY & TRAVEL PO Box 21593, Windhoek, Namibia Tel (+264 61) 383 450 e-mail: info@venture.com.na

Managing Editor Production Manager Public Relations and Sales

Etosha National Park and Owambo

Layout Admin and Enquiries Printing Text Contributors

Kaokoland and the Kunene Region

RiĂ¨th van Schalkwyk Elzanne McCulloch Janine van der Merwe Liza de Klerk Bonn Nortje John Meinert (Pty) Ltd Willie Olivier Elzanne McCulloch Le Roux van Schalkwyk

Photographs ÂŠ The Venture Media Team Elzanne McCulloch, Le Roux van Schalkwyk, Liza de Klerk and various contributors as indicated.

Coastal Strip

Waterberg, Khaudum and Surroundings

Sossusvlei and the Namib-Naukluft Park

Damaraland, Brandberg and Twyfelfontein

Fish River, Coastal and Deep South

Whilst every care has been taken in the preparation of this publication, no liability can be accepted by the publishers for any errors or omissions that may have occurred. The publication is the exclusive property of the publishers and it is a criminal offence to reproduce any copyright material from it without written permission from the publisher.

contents WINDHOEK, SURROUNDINGS & CENTRAL EAST 68

1 2 3 4

Message from the Namibia Tourism Board About Venture Media This is Namibia Campaign Map of Namibia

TIPS FOR TRAVELLERS

08 Travelling Tips 15 Tourism & Travel Companies 16 Plan Your Trip 25 First-timer Route 30 Joint Venture Tourism in Communal Conservancies 32 Camping 36 Namibian Lodge Groups 46 Cuisine 50 Adventure

70 Walk through Windhoek 72 National archives and library 73 Botanical Garden 73 Day trips from Windhoek 74 Towns close to Windhoek 77 Khomas Hochland 78 Map of the region 78 Accommodation

NORTHEAST, KAVANGO & ZAMBEZI

88 Kavango East and West regions 89 The Zambezi Region 90 Parks in Zambezi 91 Basket traditions 91 Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area 92 Map of the region 92 Accommodation

CULTURES 58 59 The Aawambo - People of the North 60 The People of Kavango 61 The Zambezians of Northeastern Namibia 62 The San - Namibiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s earliest inhabitants 63 The Ovaherero - From the Great Lakes of East Africa 64 The Ovahimba - The Last True Nomads 65 The Basters - Proud of their Heritage 66 The Nama - Denizens of the south 67 Damara - An enigmatic race

ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK & OWAMBO 98 98 100 101 101 102 102

Etosha National Park Gateways to Etosha The traditional land of the Aawambo people Towns north of Etosha Main tourist attractions in Owambo Map of the region Accommodation

SOSSUSVLEI & THE NAMIB NAUKLUFT PARK 144

KAOKOLAND & THE KUNENE REGION 114 114 115 115 116 117 117

112

Kaokoland’s famous ‘desert elephants’ The desert lions’ fight for survival Epupa Falls Opuwo Camping on the Kunene Map of the region Accommodation

WATERBERG, KHAUDUM & SURROUNDINGS 120 122 123 123 124 124 124 125 126 126

Waterberg Plateau Park Hoba Meteorite Dinosaur footprints Dragon’s Breath Towns in the region Okakarara community cultural tourism and centre Khaudum National Park Map of the region Accommodation

DAMARALAND, BRANDBERG & TWYFELFONTEIN 130 132 Twyfelfontein & surrounds 132 Khorixas and environs 133 Kamanjab 133 Messum Crater 133 The Brandberg 134 Omaruru 136 Spitzkoppe 136 The Erongo Mountain and Tsiseb Conservancies 136 Karibib 137 Otjimbingwe 137 Usakos 138 Map of the Region 138 Accommodation

146 147 148 148 149 150 150

Namib section Sossusvlei Naukluft section NamibRand Nature Reserve Duwisib Castle Map of the region Accommodation

COASTAL STRIP 160 161 166 168 168 170 171 172 172

158 Dorob National Park Swakopmund Walvis Bay Sandwich Harbour Henties Bay Cape Cross Seal Reserve Skeleton Coast Park Map of the regions Accommodation

FISH RIVER & SURROUNDINGS

178

180 180 181 185 186 186 186 187 188 188 188 189 189 189 190 190

Top attractions in the South Fish River Canyon & /Ai-Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park Lüderitz Aus Rosh Pinah Oranjemund Tsau//Khaeb National Park Bethanie Keetmanshoop Quiver Tree Forest and Giant’s Playground Seeheim Brukkaros Mountain Helmeringhausen Warmbad Map of the region Accommodation

194 204

General information General index

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travellers TIPS FOR

The Land of Open Spaces, as Namibia is affectionately known, with its undiscovered landscapes and unspoiled nature, makes for a perfect and widely diverse travel destination. The well-developed road infrastructure, the abundance of scheduled tours and charter companies, and the friendly welcoming people will ensure that your visit to Namibia is an unforgettable experience. Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in search of the perfect romantic breakaway, ultimate adventure or just wish to lose yourself in the wildlife, cultural diversity and mesmerising scenery reflecting Namibiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s untouched beauty, the following information and tips will leave you well equipped to explore even the remotest parts of the country. Seasonal Tips | Accommodation | Time Facts | Money Matters | Photographing People | Responsible Tourism | Local Lingo | Travelling With Children | Public Holidays | Health | Neighbouring Countries | Key Tourism Associations

ELZANNE MCCULLOCH

| TIPS FOR TRAVELLERS |

SEASONAL TIPS

•

• •

•

between May and September, when it is cool and dry. In the rainy season from November to March it is hot and somewhat humid, sometimes with heavy rains. December to January is the main school holiday season in Namibia, when much of the population heads to the coast, and some of the smaller shops and restaurants in the interior might be closed. If you’re visiting southern Namibia and the desert areas surrounding Sossusvlei it is best to avoid the summer months, as temperatures can be extreme. The period between May and September is generally better and more comfortable for visiting, but keep in mind that in winter, especially at night, it can be cold. The climate at Lüderitz and the southern coast is hospitable from February to May, but quite cool and misty year-round, and particularly windy in August. From October to March is the best time to go to the coastal areas of Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and Henties Bay, as the weather is pleasant compared to the hot interior. When the dry easterly winds blow, however, it can also be very hot. The northern Skeleton Coast has much the same moderate weather, with mist, wind and very little or no rain all year round. For fishing enthusiasts, this area is best visited between November and March. In Kaokoland the best time to visit is from May to August, as it is dry and cool. The summer months bring extremely high temperatures and occasionally flash floods, as most rain falls between January and March. The best time to visit Etosha is from April to September when the temperatures are tolerably cool, especially at night. This is also the best time for game viewing, as many animals gather at the waterholes to drink. For birdwatching, on the other hand, summer is the best time to visit, as migratory birds flock into the park after the summer rains. The summer months are hot and humid in the northern regions of Kavango and Zambezi, but this is also the best time for birdwatching. Rains and seasonal flooding might make it difficult to travel there, as some of the tracks might be inaccessible. It is advisable to check the condition of the roads before embarking on a trip. The months from April to October are the best time to travel to the Zambezi Region for game viewing, as it is much cooler and drier then, with practically no rain. April and May are pleasant months in Namibia. This is usually when the last rains of the season fall, the air is fresh and free of dust, and the land is green, vibrant and full of new life. During the winter months from June to August the country cools down and nights can become quite cold. As it becomes drier, game migrates to the waterholes, and is easier to spot. By September and October it warms up again and game viewing in most areas is at its best, although there’s often a lot of dust around and the vegetation has lost its vibrancy. November is a highly variable month. Sometimes the hot, dry weather will continue, at other times it might be humid, the sky will fill with clouds, and the first thunderstorms and rains might occur.

ELZANNE MCCULLOCH

• The best time to visit the capital and surroundings is

ACCOMMODATION Any person intending to operate an accommodation establishment or conduct a regulated business in Namibia is required by law to be registered with the NTB. Before such registration is granted, the premises and facilities are inspected by a tourism official who recommends whether approval for registration should be granted or not.

Establishments are classified as:

• • • • • • • • • •

Backpackers’ hostels Bed-and-breakfast establishments Campsites Camping and caravan parks Guest farms and guesthouses Hotels and pension hotels Lodges (other than tented lodges) Rest camps Self-catering establishments Permanent tented camps and tented lodges

The majority of resorts run by Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) are situated in state-owned conservation areas. They consist of accommodation ranging from luxury flats to bungalows, tents, camping and caravan sites. Major towns have municipal caravan parks or rest camps. Community-based camps and lodges situated in conservancies comply with the concept of ecologicallyoriented tourism, and have a low impact on the environment. Exclusive game lodges offer air-conditioned en-suite facilities, combining four-star luxury with nature and wildlife. Guest farms offer accommodation for visitors wishing to experience the warmth and hospitality of life on a farm or game ranch.

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HEALTH Malaria is potentially a serious disease that could be fatal if not treated timeously and properly. • It is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected Anopholes mosquito, usually after dark. • It is prevalent primarily in the north of the country, mainly in summer during the rainy season. • The risk of malaria can be reduced by using personal protection measures and prophylactics.

Take Note

If any flu-like symptoms are experienced on the way home, seek immediate medical attention and inform your doctor that you recently visited a malaria-prone area. Visit our website for more information on malaria and precautions that can be taken.

MONEY MATTERS Currency and credit cards

• The Namibian dollar (NAD) is fixed to and equals the

South African Rand (ZAR), which is also legal tender in Namibia. Please note: the Namibian dollar is not legal tender in South Africa. • International Visa, Diners Club, American Express and MasterCard credit cards are generally accepted, while Speedpoint and ATM facilities assure quick and efficient service. • Note: Petrol can be bought with internationally accepted debit or credit cards if the service station has point-ofsale devices.

Duty-free allowances

While all goods and gifts acquired abroad or in a duty-free shop, including goods bought duty-free on an aircraft, are subject to payment of customs duty and VAT when brought into Namibia, travellers may qualify for the following concessions: • Certain duty-free allowances • A flat-rate assessment on goods brought into Namibia as accompanied baggage. Visitors are allowed the following goods duty free: • 400 cigarettes • 50 cigars • 250 grams of cigarette or pipe tobacco • 2 litres of wine • 1 litre of spirits or alcoholic beverages • 50 ml perfume • 250 ml eau de toilette • New or used goods to the value of N$ 1 250

TIME FACTS Central Africa Time zone in Namibia (GMT+2)

TIPS FOR TRAVELLING WITH CHILDREN • Arrive at your destination in the early afternoon to give your children an opportunity to work off their surplus energy.

• Even in the middle of winter, it is warm enough to swim in the middle of the day.

Tax and customs

• Children too young to take malaria prophylactics should

on goods and services at the point of sale. Foreign visitors to Namibia can claim VAT on holiday purchases exceeding N$ 250 when they leave Namibia via Hosea Kutako International Airport and at the border posts at Ariamsvlei and Noordoewer. www.airports.com.na VAT on services rendered or goods consumed cannot be refunded.

• We recommend itineraries that include fewer

No VAT is payable on exports of goods when sold, consigned or delivered by the seller to the purchaser at an address outside Namibia.

• Keep in mind that destinations can be quite far from

• Value-added tax (VAT) is levied at a rate of 15%

No customs duties are applicable within SACU (Southern African Customs Union) countries, these comprising Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. Firearms must be declared and need a temporary import permit, obtainable on arrival. Only hunting rifles with magazines not exceeding a five-round capacity may be brought into the country. The importation of handguns is prohibited. Formalities concerning trophies are handled by the professional hunter concerned, who contacts a forwarding agent to make arrangements for the trophy to be sent to the hunter’s destination.

not visit northern Namibia.

destinations, with more time to spend on activities.

• If the family is interested in conservation, make sure to include places with an education centre, rehabilitation programme or other conservation activities.

• Visits to ‘living museums’ are enjoyable for children, as

guests are invited to join in the dancing and participate in everyday activities. each other and children might become bored or frustrated on the road, so make sure they have enough to keep them busy. It is also advisable to stop frequently to stretch your legs and admire the surroundings.

• Many accommodation facilities cater for children,

but not all of them, so it is advisable to establish this when making a booking. Some guest farms have tame animals such as meerkats that children can pet and play with, while other establishments offer them the opportunity to come into contact with wild animals such as cheetahs and lions.

• Depending on the age of the children, adventure

activities such as quad-biking, dune-boarding and dolphinwatching can be a lot of fun.

ELZANNE MCCULLOCH

| TIPS FOR TRAVELLERS |

TIPS FOR PHOTOGRAPHING PEOPLE

• Remember that it’s illegal to take photos of men and women

• Make friends with the locals. If you’re planning on taking

• When taking photos at a cultural village, at a cultural

• Always ask before you photograph someone. Not everybody

• When on an organised tour, many photo opportunities are

photos of them in their private surroundings, it’s always best to have a local guide take you around to converse with them and overcome the barrier of photographer versus subject. likes to have his or her picture taken, so avoid conflict by asking first.

• Some people will expect payment for having their picture

taken. This includes the Himba and Herero people, who still dress traditionally and are thus interesting subjects. They spend considerable time and effort on their appearance and if you ‘steal’ their image without asking their permission and offering payment, it might make them angry and put you at a disadvantage. The best option is to ask them first and agree on a price before taking the photo.

• Young children are often fond of being photographed, but it’s always best to ask a guardian or parent first.

• Older people might be more hesitant to have their picture

taken. Once again, with friendliness you will achieve more.

• If you take a digital photograph of someone, show it to

him or her afterwards. Many people don’t own cameras and are amazed by the possibilities of technology. This gesture will make them warm to you, and might result in you taking a great photograph.

• If possible, try to send a printed copy of the picture to the

person you’ve photographed. Those living in rural areas will truly appreciate it. But don’t promise to do so and then not deliver. If you’re not sure whether you’ll get round to sending the photo, rather not make the promise.

in uniform, except when they are performing in a public parade, or something similar. Taking a picture of a police officer on duty is therefore out of the question.

performance, or on a pre-arranged photographic tour, it’s not necessary to ask permission. To be on the safe side, check with your guide or local companion first. pre-arranged, making it easy for you to just snap away, while leaving the formalities to your guide. Ask your guide about this if you’re not sure.

2021 NAMIBIAN PUBLIC HOLIDAYS New Year’s Day: Independence Day: Good Friday: Easter Monday: Workers’ Day: Cassinga Day: Africa Day: Ascension Day: Heroes’ Day: Human Rights Day Christmas Day: Family Day:

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1 Jan 21 March 10 April 13 April 1 May 4 May 25 May 21 May 26 Aug 10 Dec 25 Dec 26 Dec

LOCAL LINGO The following words are typical local vernacular, influenced by Afrikaans – still largely the lingua franca – and other indigenous languages. Using these words will do much to improve your communication with locals. aweh – said in excitement. The word has many meanings and uses, including hello, goodbye, and yes bakkie – a pickup truck biltong – dried and seasoned meat (like jerky), a popular snack braai – a barbecue. Braaing – a national pastime that traditionally entails turning the meat with one hand while holding a beer in the other – is taken very seriously brötchen – a bread roll, offered with different toppings, to be eaten as breakfast, lunch, supper or a snack dorp – small town droëwors – dried sausage, a snack often eaten with biltong efundja – periodic flood in the Owambo regions, northern Namibia eish! – an interjection expressing resignation jol – to have fun, to party just now / now-now – meaning anytime within the next 50 years other than right at this moment

kapana – traditionally barbecued meat, usually sold in the townships and at the side of the road lekker – nice, good, great, tasty, awesome mémé – respectful form of address for an adult female oshana(s) – shallow pools and watercourses in the Owambo regions, northern Namibia pap – traditional maize porridge plaas – farm potjie – a three-legged cast-iron pot used for cooking stews over the fire robot – a traffic light shebeen – an informal bar that’s open 24 hours sosatie – meat (traditionally lamb) and vegetables skewered on a stick, usually accompanying other meat on a braai táté – respectful form of address for a male vetkoek – deep-fried bread dough, often sold with kapana wors – spicy sausage for accompanying meat on a braai yoh – an expression of surprise

KEY PHRASES IN SOME OF THE LOCAL LANGUAGES Afrikaans Goeie môre Good morning Hoe gaan dit? How are you? Goed dankie Fine, thanks Asseblief Please Dankie Thank you Totsiens Goodbye Batswana Dumela O kae? Ke a leboga Sala sentle Caprivian Ma lumele sha! Ni itumezi Na lapela Mu siale hande

Hello How are you? Thank you Goodbye I greet you! Thank you Please Goodbye

Owambo Wa lelepo nawa? Did you sleep well? Eee! Yes! Nawa! Well! Tangi unene Thank you very much Kalapa nawa Goodbye Herero/Ovahimba Perivi? Are you well? Nawa Yes, well Okuhepa Thank you Kara nawa Goodbye Kavango Morokeni! Na pandura

Hello! Thank you

ELZANNE MCCULLOCH

Nama/Damara Matisa? How are you? Ayo Thank you Moro Good morning Gaiseha Goodbye San Am thai? Mem ari gu Mem tlabe

How are you? I am thirsty I am hungry

TOURIST INFORMATION Tourism promotion, the registration of accommodation establishments and tour guides, and the provision of tourist information are the functions of the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB), which has its offices on the corner of Haddy Street and Sam Nujoma Drive in Windhoek. Tel (+264 61) 290 6000, e-mail: info@namibiatourism.com.na, website: www.namibiatourism.com.na. For further information on NTB offices abroad, see page 1.

RESPONSIBLE TOURISM • Respect the customs and traditions of your hosts. • Support local people and their products by spending your money within the local economy.

• Bargain fairly. • Don’t insult Namibians by turning them into beggars. • Try to learn a new local word every day, and be open

LE ROUX VAN SCHALKWYK

| TIPS FOR TRAVELLERS |

to friendship.

• Keep the realities of the economy in mind. Even though

Namibia is a developing country, the hotels and lodges are graded according to international standards, hence prices will more or less tally with international prices. • Namibians are very relaxed people, so please be patient with them!

Best-culture practice

• It is polite to begin conversations with a courteous greeting.

• If you wish to stay in a traditional village, request permission from the headman.

• If you want to draw water from a community well, permission must be sought.

• In a Himba village, it is disrespectful to walk between

the sacred fire and the kraal (animal enclosure) or the headman’s hut. • Show respect when approaching a traditional Herero or Himba grave, often indicated by an array of cattle horns.

40 UNIQUE SHOPS

CRA FT CA FÉ A R T GA LLER Y BOOKSHOPS

A hot air balloon safari over the Namib Desert will be the best experience of your trip www.namibiacraftcentre.com

craftcentre@iway.na | 061 242 222 | Old Breweries Complex, 40 Tal St Windhoek OPEN: Monday - Friday 09:00-17:30, Saturday 09:00 – 16:00, Sunday and Public Holidays: 09:00 – 13:30

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+264 81 304 2205 +264 63 683188 info@namibsky.com

Opening times at border posts

ELZANNE MCCULLOCH

Noordoewer: 24 hours Ariamsvlei: 24 hours Buitepos: 07:00–24:00 Wenela: 06:00–18:00 Ngoma: 07:00–18:00 Mata Mata: 08:00–16:30 Sendelingsdrift: 08:00–16:30 Dobe: 07:00–16:30 Impalila/Kasane: 07:00–17:00 Oshikango: 08:00–19:00 Katitwe: 08:00–18:00 Velloorsdrift: 08:00–16:30 Klein Manasse: 08:00–16:30 Oranjemund: 06:00–22:00 Ruacana: 08:00–19:00 Omahenene: 08:00–19:00 Muhembo: 06:00–18:00 Hohlweg: 08:00–16:30

LINK YOUR TRIP WITH A VISIT TO NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES TO BOTSWANA

Fly from Windhoek’s Hosea Kutako International Airport to Gaborone and then onward to Maun for a safari in the Okavango Delta

OR Fly from Windhoek to Katima

Mulilo (Mpacha Airport), for a safari in Chobe National Park and on to the Okavango Delta

OR Link a self-drive safari through

Namibia with a visit to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in South Africa, Botswana and the Kalahari in eastern Namibia.

TO SOUTH AFRICA

Fly from Windhoek to Cape Town or Johannesburg on any of the frequent daily scheduled flights

OR Link a self-drive safari to

southern Namibia with a visit to the Richtersveld in South Africa

OR Link a self-drive safari through

Namibia with a visit to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in South Africa, Botswana and the Kalahari in eastern Namibia.

TO ZIMBABWE

Fly from Windhoek’s Hosea Kutako International Airport to Harare or Victoria Falls

OR Include Victoria Falls in a self-

drive safari that includes a visit to the Zambezi Region.

TO ZAMBIA

Fly from Windhoek’s Hosea Kutako International Airport to Lusaka on a scheduled flight

OR Include Livingstone in a self-drive safari that visits the Zambezi Region.

TO ANGOLA

Fly from Windhoek’s Hosea Kutako International Airport to Luanda

OR Include Iona National Park,

Angola, in a self-drive itinerary to northern Namibia.

SEE FOUR OF OUR FIVE NEIGHBOURS Visit the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA) and see Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

DID YOU KNOW?

KAZA is the largest conservation area in the world! Visit www.kavangozambezi.org or see page 91 for more information.

| TOURISM & TRAVEL COMPANIES |

KEY TOURISM-RELATED ASSOCIATIONS Federation of Namibian Tourism Associations (FENATA)

Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN)

FENATA acts as an umbrella organisation for tourism associations in the private sector. (+264 61) 23 0337, welcome@fenata.org www.fenata.org

Its members are: • The Namibian Professional Hunting Association (NAPHA) • Tour and Safari Association (TASA) • Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN) • Namibian Academy for Tourism and Hospitality (NATH) • B&B Association of Namibia (B&BAN) • Car Rental Association of Namibia (CARAN) • Tour Guides Association of Namibia (TAN) • Namibian Association for Community Based Natural Resources Management Support Organisations (NACSO) • Association of Namibian Travel Agents (ANTA) • Tourism Related Enterprises and Business Association (TRENABA) • Emerging Tourism Enterprises Association (ETEA) • Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) • FNB – Tourism Desk • Namibian Association for Protected Desert Areas (NAPDA)

With the people, for the peop le; to

g et

her i

n H •

The Hospitality Association of Namibia has since its inception in 1987, grown from an initial 16 members to a total of close to 400 members. HAN represents the full spectrum of the hospitality industry, from hotels, to guest houses, guest farms, lodges, rest camps, restaurants, conference centres and catering services. Over the years, more and more tourism and hospitality related businesses also joined the Hospitality Association, making HAN a true umbrella-body and an important factor in the tourism & hospitality industry of Namibia in general. (+264 61) 22 2904, info@hannamibia.com www.hannamibia.com

Tour and Safari Association of Namibia (TASA)

Founded in 1989, TASA is a voluntary private-sector body that acts on behalf of its members, encourages the development of responsible tourism in Namibia, ensures standards and reliability in the Namibian tourism industry and furthers the common interests of Namibian Tour Operators. (+264 61) 23 8423, info@tasa.na www.tasa.na

A• N

H•A•N members • offer a total of over 10 000 beds and close to 6 000 rooms in Namibia • enjoy special deals and rates from a number of companies and suppliers H•A•N offers • its members representation at all levels, official, commercial and internal • ongoing information flow and communication via electronic channels

www.hannamibia.com www.thisisnamibia.com

ELZANNE MCCULLOCH

PLAN YOUR

trip

| PLAN YOUR TRIP |

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

TRAIN TRAVEL

Foreign nationals must carry a passport that is valid for at least six months after the date of entry. A visa is required from all visitors except nationals of countries with which Namibia has the necessary visa abolition agreement. • No visas are required by bona fide South African passport holders travelling as tourists. • All other South African citizens, including business people, require visas. • Business visas are granted at the discretion of the immigration authorities. • Holidaymakers and tourists are welcome to remain in the country for 90 days.

Affordable train travel between Windhoek and all the main towns is offered by TransNamib’s Starline Passenger Service. Several South African trains visit the country on regular scheduled services. Situated in the Windhoek Railway Station building at the bottom of Bahnhof Street, the TransNamib Railway Museum is a veritable mine of information for railway enthusiasts, as well as for the general public.

The process for a UNIVISA (a common EU Schengen-style visa) by RETOSA (the Regional Tourism Organisation of Southern Africa) in conjunction with the relevant Southern African Development Community (SADC) documentation allowing the free movement of visitors from SADC countries within the SADC Region is still ongoing. www.mha.gov.na, www.retosa.co.za Visas can be obtained from the Ministry of Home Affairs, at Namibian embassies and the NTB office in Cape Town. Please note: • Immigration officials are authorised to grant duration of stay based on the information provided on the arrival form. • Tourists are advised to check their passports and documentation to ensure that the visa granted matches the duration of stay intended. • Tourist visas for visitors from 47 countries can be obtained on arrival at Hosea Kutako International Airport. • Visas can be extended only by applying at a Home Affairs Office, with prescribed fees applying. • If visitors to Namibia have tourist/holiday visas, they are not allowed to engage in any employment while in the country. • Visitors wishing to work in the country should apply for an employment permit in their country of residence prior to entry. • This also applies to study permits.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT In Windhoek locals use a 24-hour taxi service, while a daily bus service provides them with transport to and from work. A scheduled bus service and private operators transport passengers in registered taxis to and from Hosea Kutako International Airport and the capital, while daily shuttle services transport guests between Windhoek and Swakopmund or Walvis Bay. Informal minibuses travel all over the country. A bus service (www.intercape.co.za) runs between major centres in Namibia and connects with Johannesburg, Cape Town, Pretoria, Upington and other towns and cities in South Africa. This service is also available between Windhoek and Walvis Bay, Victoria Falls and Livingstone. Another service connects Windhoek with Katima Mulilo, Oshakati, and Lusaka twice a week and covers the Cape Town route three times weekly. There is also a twice-weekly service from Windhoek to Gaborone.

driving

TIPS FOR CAR RENTALS AND SELF-DRIVES Namibia has an excellent road system that extends to just about every popular tourist destination in the country. However, the majority of the roads are gravel, and in the more remote areas they become tracks, which require careful driving, and for safety considerations, a second vehicle. These areas are not recommended for the inexperienced driver, for whom guided tours or organised safaris are recommended.

Which vehicles are the most suitable to rent?

The main choices are: • Any 2WD with good ground clearance and standard high-profile tyres. • Any 4WD with suitable tyres as described above. • A camper van or motor home with suitable tyres as described above.

Important facts to consider

• 4WD vehicles cost more to hire and run, but have good

ground clearance and are normally fitted with tyres that are better suited to Namibian roads. • 2WD vehicles have less ground clearance and carry less. • 2WD camping cars come equipped with everything you’ll need. • 4WD camping cars also come equipped with everything you’ll need, but are more versatile than normal sedans or other two-wheel drive vehicles equipped for camping. • Motor homes are usually better suited to tarred roads, as they tend to be top-heavy and have poor ground clearance. NOTE: When you reserve a vehicle with a CARAN member, enquire about the class of vehicle for which you have been given a quotation. CARAN vehicles are classed in five categories, ranging from Class 1 representing the latest vehicles with the lowest mileage available for rent to Class 5 representing the oldest vehicles with the highest mileage available for rent. You will obviously pay more for a Class 1 vehicle than for a similar model Class 5 vehicle. Your final choice will be a question of where you intend travelling and your budget.

www.thisisnamibia.com

ELZANNE MCCULLOCH

GENERAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS • In Namibia we drive on the left side of the road. • The driver and all passengers must wear seatbelts. • It is compulsory to drive with headlights on dim

during daytime on any road outside municipal areas.

• You need a valid driving licence and must carry it

• • • • • • •

• •

•

• • • •

with you when you are driving. If your driver’s licence is not printed in English, it is advisable to travel with an International Driver’s Licence. Make sure you are fully insured. Make sure the brakes of your vehicle are in good working order. Your tyres must have the correct air pressure. Always carry at least one spare tyre. Take two, if possible. Four-by-four vehicles are recommended when travelling through remote areas. Carry a well-equipped first-aid kit. Plan your trip carefully, ensuring that you have enough fuel for the journey. Fill your tank at every opportunity available, even though you may not be in immediate need. Always carry water when you travel. It is advisable to leave your itinerary with your tour operator, hotel or friends, so that in the unlikely event that you might become lost, authorities will be able to find you. Make sure you have a current, authoritative map before you leave on your trip. When you leave the official roads marked on your map, there may be no road signs to direct you, and the condition of the roads may be poor. Listen carefully to the safety briefing given by your car-hire company. Ask advice on the condition of the roads in the areas you plan to visit. If your car has extra tanks for fuel and water, use them. Watch out for animals crossing the road or grazing near the roadside. Avoid travelling at night. Wildlife is most active at

dusk, and the possibility of a collision at this time of day is vastly increased. • When entering any game park or other area where there are wild animals, read the safety guidelines provided. It is dangerous to leave your vehicle when you are in a wildlife area. • Destinations are far apart, so take regular breaks.

TIPS ON TRAILER TOWING • Ensure that your trailer is in a good roadworthy condition. • The tyres fitted to your trailer should match the towing

• •

vehicle's in size and should be in good condition, as they will travel the same roads. Having that extra spare for the vehicle may be a lifesaver. Tyre pressure should be the same on the trailer and the tow vehicle. It is advisable to have a break coupler that may be locked to de-activate the brake system. Excessive and unnecessary stress is placed on a trailer’s breaking system during severe off-road conditions. Maintain a manageable and safe travelling speed at all times. Pack the trailer to place a positive weight distribution of between 30 kg and 80 kg on the tow ball of the vehicle.

BEWARE OF FLASH FLOODS • Due to the erratic nature of Namibia’s rainfall, the rivers in the interior are ephemeral and usually dry.

• Runoff occurs only when the intensity of a rainstorm is high or if it lasts long enough to produce runoff.

• In terms of driving, all dry riverbeds should be

considered as hazardous during the rainy season, especially when clouds are visible on the horizon. • Devastating flash floods can occur especially in the period between late afternoon and early morning. Visitors should therefore never drive along a dry riverbed or camp near the river in the rainy season.

| PLAN YOUR TRIP |

DRIVING IN SAND • The keys to successful sand driving are momentum and

• • • • •

tyre pressure. Momentum and speed stop the vehicle from becoming mired in the sand, while dropping your tyre pressure creates a bigger tyre ‘footprint’, spreading the vehicle’s weight over a larger area and giving you more grip. Remember that fast cornering on soft tyres is highly dangerous, as you can roll the tyre off the rim. Don’t forget to re-inflate when you are back on hard ground. Never brake hard in soft sand. Your wheels will dig in and you’ll stop faster than you expect. Simply decelerate, as the loss of momentum will halt the vehicle. Always stop on a downhill or on the flat. Avoid wheel-spin – the vehicle will simply dig into the sand.

SELF-DRIVING • The Namibian landscape is extremely fragile, so please

• •

•

follow only well-defined tracks and roads. In certain areas, such as the gravel plains, a single set of tracks can remain visible for decades. Deviating off existing tracks not only spoils the scenery and enjoyment of others, but also destroys plants and small creatures. Respect the culture and traditions of those inhabiting the area through which you are travelling. Disrespect causes resentment and ill feeling towards other tourists. Bear in mind that assistance could be days away in the event of an unexpected breakdown. A minimum of two vehicles travelling together is, therefore, strongly recommended. Engage four-wheel drive and manually lock front hubs (if required) before negotiating difficult terrain or steep inclines or declines. Inspect the terrain for obstacles and plan your route accordingly. In sandy terrain, deflate the tyre pressure to about 1 kPa (front) and 1.2 kPa (rear). If the vehicle becomes stuck, remember that brute force will not get you out of trouble. If anything, you’ll become bogged down even more. Check whether the vehicle is engaged in four-wheel drive and the front hubs are locked, and clear the sand in front and behind the wheels. Other options are to deflate the tyres a little more or jack the vehicle up and place stones or dead branches under the wheels.

• Observe road traffic signs conscientiously, particularly those indicating a gentle or sharp curve ahead, and reduce your speed accordingly. • In dusty conditions it is advisable to switch on the headlights of your vehicle. • When there is oncoming traffic, reduce speed and keep to the left of the road as far as possible. • In rainy or wet conditions, beware of slippery roads, sections of the road that have washed away, and running and/or stagnant water at drifts and/or causeways. • Be on the lookout for animals, domestic and wild, at all times. • Be constantly on the lookout for the unexpected, such as loose and sandy patches, potholes or a sharp bend in the road. • Other hazards are dry riverbed crossings and dips in the road. These are often eroded or rocky. • Be constantly on the alert, as road signs have sometimes been removed or run over. • Overtaking on gravel roads is dangerous. Draw the attention of the driver in front of you by flicking your headlights, indicating that you wish to overtake. • The simple rule when going into a skid is: skid left, steer left – skid right, steer right. Gently! Take your foot off the accelerator for a moment as the car is gently brought under control, and stay off the brakes! • Be careful when you approach the top of a blind rise, as there is often a slight bend just out of sight that could catch you off-guard. • The major hazards when driving on gravel roads are: driving TOO FAST, not concentrating, or taking a chance by overtaking ‘blind’ into the dust of another vehicle.

SPEED LIMITS

Tarmac: 120 km/h | Gravel: 80 km/h | Towns: 60 km/h

Not all gravel roads are the same. Be aware of this and drive accordingly. Take note of the following before you set out: • Punctures are common on gravel roads, so carry two spare tyres. • Do not exceed the prescribed speed limit.

ELZANNE MCCULLOCH

SPECIAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS FOR GRAVEL ROADS

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Our tested and approved 4x4 fleet Is designed for namibian off road terrain, Ensuring a comfortable And hassle-free Adventure.

We offer you top-of-the-range vehicles ranging from SUV’s, 8- & 14-seater Buses (with or without driver) to all-terrain 4X4s, with or without camping gear.

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where your

adventure begins

“Rental of specialised 4x4 vehicles in Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique”

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| PLAN YOUR TRIP - DRIVE |

Discover Namibia at its best!

Our Car Hire welcomes you to

NAMIBIA

If you are looking for an exciting and unique way to experience the nature of this beautiful country you are at the right place! We have a wide range of 4x4 vehicles that are suitable for your self-drive tour through Namibia. With no set timetable you can work out the tour that suits your interests and experience the best parts of our country with one of our luxury 4x4s!

Tel: +264 61 232871 24hr emergency no: 081 129 3355 Email: info@africa-on-wheels.com Website: www.africa-on-wheels.com

www.thisisnamibia.com

fly

Scenic flights and fly-in safaris in Namibia offer the discerning traveller the chance to explore parts of Namibia that are almost exclusively off-limits from the ground. Flying by plane, the landscape unfurls before you and the breathtaking views make for once-in-a-lifetime photographs. Flying gets you to your destinations in a short period of time. As opposed to driving vast distances on dusty roads, take to the skies instead. A flight to Namibia’s northwest passes over its dramatic desert landscapes, all along the coast and over famous fishing-waters off Swakopmund, Wlotzkasbaken and Henties Bay. See shipwrecks abandoned along the lonesome beaches and the bright orange lichen fields all the way up to the Kunene River. Admire the line where Namibia’s sand dunes and the dark blue waters of the Atlantic coast meet. From above, the Skeleton Coast becomes completely open to visitors. The area is unlike anywhere else in the country. The isolation and desolation lend themselves to the legendary area’s dramatic name. This is a part of Namibia that up until recently very few

people had the opportunity to see, and it continues to be one of the least-visited places in the country. Further east, moving inland towards the Kaokoland and Kunene River, visitors have the opportunity to land in the heart of the Himba community and pay a visit to one of the last semi-nomadic cultures in the world. The landscape might even offer a rare sighting of an endangered desert-adapted rhino. Many Namibian companies offer day trips along Namibia’s coast, setting off from Swakopmund and looping around the area. Other flights are available to lodges from Eros Airport in Windhoek, and between lodges around the country.

AIR TRAVEL

The national carrier, Air Namibia: • Maintains direct international flights between Windhoek and Frankfurt on a daily basis. • Flies directly between Windhoek and Lusaka (Zambia), Harare and Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe), Gaborone (Botswana) and Johannesburg

Windhoek Office: Tel: +264 61 249 268 Email: windhoek@scenic-air.com

www.scenic-air.com

•

• •

•

and Cape Town (South Africa). Flights from Windhoek to Durban in South Africa via Gaborone are also operated. Provides domestic flights to local destinations such as Walvis Bay, Katima Mulilo, Rundu, Lüderitz, Oranjemund, and Ondangwa. Operates scheduled regional and international freight services to and from Namibia. The Namibia Airports Company (NAC) provides and facilitates airport infrastructure, facilities and airport services. The NAC owns and manages eight airports: Hosea Kutako International, Eros, Walvis Bay, Lüderitz, Keetmanshoop, Ondangwa, Rundu and Katima Mulilo.

Foreign airlines flying to Windhoek: • South African Airways • TAAG Angola Airlines • Condor • Qatar Airways • KLM Royal Dutch Airlines • British Airways/Comair • Ethiopian Airlines

Swakopmund Office: Tel: +264 64 403 575 Email: swakopmund@scenic-air.com

| PLAN YOUR TRIP - FLY |

WHEN LUXURY IS THE DESTINATION Your journey to the far reaches of Namibia should be as comfortably indulgent as your breathtaking destination.

t +264 839378247 w westair.com.na e reservations@westair.com.na PO Box 407, Aviation Road, Eros Airport, Windhoek, Namibia

www.thisisnamibia.com

T: +264 61 228 101 | E: info@desertair.com.na www.desertair.com.na

Experience Namibia from the skies. Specialising in the professional flying industry for over two decades, we offer private fly-in safaris, scenic tours, medical evacuations and corporate flights. • • • • •

We are equipped with top of the range aircraft that we service in-house. With our fully licensed flight school, we train our own aircrew to the highest standards and offer pilot training to the public. Desert Air also operates the very popular scenic flights from Sossusvlei. We pride ourselves of efficient professional service on all aspects of the industry. Your flying is a guaranteed success with us.

Desert Air Africa Safaris design and create personalized, detailed and tailor-made itineraries suiting your individual needs and wishes in Namibia. • • •

T: +264 61 223 699 /+264 81 472 3070 | E: safaris@desertair.com.na www.desertairsafaris.com

We specialise in luxury fly-in safaris, nature adventures, guided tours, romantic getaways and incredible wildlife encounters. We invite you to experience the exceptional destinations in sun-filled Namibia, the wilderness of Botswana and the secrets of the vivacious Victoria Falls. Make your visit count with our professional team at hand.

a truly exceptional experience

FIRST TIME IN NAMIBIA? EXPERIENCE THE BEST OF NAMIBIA WITH THIS

first-timer route

Travelling through Namibia is like a good red wine, it’s meant to be savoured, not rushed. Time should be taken to enjoy every detail. The more time you have to discover the finer intricacies, the Ondjiva ANGOLA more you will be able to unearth the hidden memorable tones and thus be greatly rewarded by the ANGOLA experience. Keeping this in mind, Namibia is a large country and if the time for your visit is limited Ohangwena don’t try to do too much. You will miss out on the hidden gems. For those first-time visitors this is an itinerary that showcases what Namibia has to offer while still allowing enough time to appreciate your Oshana Kavango surroundings and relax. It also makes for a great introductionOshikoto to the country and will allow you to plan Omusati future Namibian trips in finer detail.

Luena National Park

Epupa

Kava

Naulila

Calueque

Ruacana Falls

Oshikang

Uutapi (Ombalantu)

On do

IPA JIH OT MTS

ZE BR AM TS

Cu ito

State Forest

Cuangar

Otjijandjasemo Hot Spring

State Forest

Van Zyl's Pass

STEILR

AN D

ila

Oshakati

Ongula Village Homestead Lodge

Ondangwa

Otjiv ero

GIR

Opuwo

i us ar Ho

Rundu

Nakambale Museum & Church

Oponono Lake

Dorsland Trekkers Monument & Ruin

Khaudum

Spring

Nehale Lya Mpingana

E N D

Robbie's Pass

E K A

Dorslandtrekkers Monument im

Blinkwater Falls

Fort Sesfontein

Ovamb

Groot Klein Okevi Okevi Etosha Fort Namutoni Okerfontei n Von Chudo Springbokfontei Lindequi bKalkheuwe st n l Rietfontei n

Etosha National Park Ozonjuitj i m’Bari

Okondek a

Lake Guinas

Moringa Forest

Giant Baobab Tree

Lake Otjikoto

Aus

Elands Drink Waterhole

Tsumeb

Nho

Andersson

Fort Grootfontein

Hoba Meteorite

Khorab Memorial

Rock Engravings

Kunene

ata k

Grootfontein

G (G Tr

Otavi

lic

Pub

Holboom Axel Eriksson’s Grave

Gamkarab Cave

k ar

Grootberg Pass

Salt Flats

C39

Koic ha

Palgrave Point

Danei

Otjozondjo

C38

Waterberg Wilderness Trail Waterberg Walks German & Herero Military Graveyard

Burnt Mountain

Ugab River

Durissa Bay

Rooiboklaagte

Kalkveld Ugab Brandberg

Ugab Guided Trail

Kungveld

Dinosaur's Footprints

2573mWhite Lady

Painting

Salt Flats

Bandom Bay

Bocock’s Bay Horing Bay

Franke Tower & Roman Catholic Omaruru Church & Rhenish Mission

a raw

National West Coast Tourist Recreational Area

PPE

SPITZKO

Rock Arch

aru

Cape Cross Diego Cão Cross Cape Cross Seal Reserve

su Mes Messum Crater

B1 Ovikokorero War Memorial

ERONGO

Okaharui War Memorial

2350m

Rietfontein

Ombo Ostrich Farm

Philips Cave

1728m Gross Spitzkoppe

Karibib

C34

Rock Paintings

Usakos

Von Bach Recreation Resort

D1992

Erongo

Hot Springs

Regimental Rock Bay

WITSCH EL DRIVE IA

Welwitschia Plains Swa ko

Tinkas Nature Trail

Rock Sculpture Trail

Bosua Pass

PERMIT

Namib Desert Park

PE RM

1 14

Kupferberg Pass

Witvlei

WINDHOEK Prayer 2479m

2300m

PERMIT

MIT P ER

E RG

Rehoboth

Lake Oanob Resort

Gaub Pass

Leonardville

C24

Dassie Trails

Us ib

Spreetshoogte Pass

Kalkrand

1973m

Aranos Naukluft

NAUKL 4x4 Trail UF T Olive Trail

C19

Hardap Recreation Resort

Cemetery at Nomtsas

a Ts

h Fis

Har dap

Mariental TSARISBERGE 1895m

Zarishoogte Pass

www.thisisnamibia.com

Hu am s

Gochas Hu du

Gibeon

ts fan Ol i

Hudup

SCHWARZRAN

Namib Rand Nature Reserve

Duwisib Castle

Easter

Waterkloof Trail

Naukluft Hiking Trail

Namib-Naukluft Park

Easter

Stampriet

Kub Memoria

Maltahöhe

D E

St Francis Bay

Sossusvlei

Sesriem Canyon Hot-air Balloon Flights

Fish

o Au

Hollandsbir d

B M I N A

Salt Flats

b sso

Remhoogte Pass

Tson

ts an Olif

Tsondab Vlei Salt Flats

Meob Bay Black

1530m

Arnhem Cave

Auasberge

C14

Conception Bay

Gobabis

Fort

EROS

Khomas

S KO

Kuiseb

Black Cliff

Gamsberg Pass

Zebra Pan

MIT

Kuiseb Pass

Kuiseb Canyon

MIT PER PER

H OC

Sweet Thorn Hiking Trail Daan Viljoen Game Park

C14

Namib-Naukluft Park

Sandwich Harbour

Von François Fort

German Lazarette

Usib

Old Rhenish Walvis Bay Mission Dune 7 Church & Hope Walvis BayBoundary Post, Locomotive Nature ReserveKuiseb River Sandwich Harbour

Tsaobis Leopard Nature Park

HOSEA KUTAKO (International

Walvis Bay

Arandis

Charles Wit-Nossob

Powder Tower

o ak Sw

Goanikontes

Moon Landscape

Swakopmund

Omaheke

Okahandja

Moordkoppi

Henties Bay

Ogden Rocks

Otjozondjupa

Waterberg Plateau Park

Dramatic Cliffs

Salt Flats

Ambrose Bay

Naulila Monument & Stone Tower

Otjiwarongo

Salt Flats

Twyfelfontein Rock Engraving

C34

C39

Vingerklip (Rock Finger)

Khorixas

Petrified Forest

IN MTS 1553m

Gun

Springbok Wasser

ONTE NSF

Outjo FRA

at a

Unia

Dune

PE R

P st o a ccess

Kamanjab

MIT

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Cuvelai and Etosha Pan

Western area of park open to registered tour operators only Nomab Tobieroe Sonderko n p Dolomietpun t Teespoe Duiwelsvuu r Okawao d Rateldraf Charl Marais Jakkalswate Aasvoëlba Pan r d Duinevel d

Otjita

Ganamu

si aru Ho

Natukanaok a Pan

State Forest

JOUBERTBERGE

Fish

Kaokoland

Fallen Mukorob

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

iro

Day 1:

After a long and tiring flight you will not be too keen to immediately get into your car and drive to your next destination. Take time to explore the capital, Windhoek, with its historical monuments and buildings on foot. Visit the local museums or take a city or township tour to gain some first-hand knowledge about the country and its people, before setting off on your adventure. Taste local cuisine, like Oshiwambo chicken or spicy mopane worms, at Xwama Restaurant – or if you are not so brave, head to Joe’s Beerhouse for their mouth-watering selection of game steaks and more.

Day 2:

ELZANNE MCCULLOCH

Drive north on the B1 to your first stop, Waterberg National Park. Keep an eye out during this three hour trip, as you’ll be able to spot wildlife on the commercial farms on either side of the road. Towering above the surrounding landscape, Waterberg with its steep sandstone cliffs and lush vegetation on the plateau is the perfect wildlife sanctuary. Stretch your legs and go for a hike to the top to have a bird’s eye view of the landscape, or join a guided tour on the plateau to see some of the rare animals that reside there, i.e. rhino and buffalo.

Day 3:

Etosha National Park is your next destination and is reached by continuing north on the B1. History buffs can stop at the small town of Otavi and try to locate the Khorab Memorial where Imperial Germany surrendered to the Union of South Africa in 1915, marking the first permanent victory for the allied forces. Further north, some 20 km northwest of Tsumeb, is Lake Otjikoto. A sinkhole significant not only for its natural mystery, but also for the weapons dumped into the lake by the German Schutztruppe during World War I. A last 80 km trek will take you to the Von Lindequist Gate, the western entrance to Etosha National Park.

ELZANNE MCCULLOCH

Day 4:

Experience wildlife from up close and watch the interaction between species at different waterholes dotted all along the road from Namutoni to Okaukuejo inside the park. The drive will also take you along the vast white salt pan that Etosha is known for. Spend the night

next to the world-famous Okaukuejo waterhole where predators like lions and other species such as rhinos like to drink after dark.

Day 5:

Drive through the less frequented western part of the park and notice how the landscape and vegetation changes. Exit through the Galton Gate and drive south towards Kamanjab. From Kamanjab it’s only 100 km to Grootberg. Marvel at the view from the top of the Etendeka Plateau, looking down on the Klip River Valley. This will be one of the best views you’ll have in Namibia. Be sure not to miss the opportunity to track the famous desert adapted elephants.

Day 6:

A short 130 km drive south will take you to Twyfelfontein where one of Africa’s largest concentrations of rock engravings can be found. Interesting geological formations in this area are the Burnt Mountain and the Organ Pipes. Another fascinating site is the Petrified Forest with its 280 million year old petrified trunks.

Day 7:

Continuing south, another short drive will take you to Brandberg, Namibia’s highest mountain. Visit the mysterious White Lady rock painting deep in the mountain. Keep your eyes open for desert adapted elephants which are often seen browsing in the Ugab River just north of Brandberg.

Day 8:

The next leg of the journey, on the D1930, will take you to the Spitzkoppe, a striking group of bare granite peaks that seemingly rise out of nowhere. Take a swim in one of the natural rock pools when doing some exploration of the weathered granite domes. Have your camera and a sundowner drink ready, for when the sun starts dipping on the horizon the light reflected off the granite makes for a magical experience.

Day 9:

After enough time spent inland it is time to travel west on the B2 to visit the small coastal town of Swakopmund. This town with its German colonial architecture that dates back more than a century is best explored on foot or by bicycle. Also visit the surroundings and acquire a permit to drive into Namib-Naukluft

| FIRST-TIMER ROUTE | National Park. The Welwitschia Drive will take you past fields of Welwitschia, a plant endemic to the Namib Desert that can live up to 2000 years. On this route you will also enjoy great views of the barren and inhospitable Moon Landscape. The more adventurous can go skydiving, quad-biking or sandboarding in the dune belt just south of Swakopmund.

Day 10:

Namibia’s main harbour, Walvis Bay, is 40 km south of Swakopmund. There you’ll find the Walvis Bay lagoon, a Ramsar site and birder’s paradise, with the main attraction being the lesser and greater flamingos foraging in great numbers in the shallow waters. Activities in and around the harbour town include boat cruises, kite surfing, kayaking and 4×4 trips into the dunes. A day trip to Sandwich Harbour, where the Namib dunes run straight into the Atlantic Ocean, is also a wonderful adventure. Don’t forget to visit the highest dune in the area, Dune 7, just outside Walvis Bay.

Day 11:

Travel deep into the desert on the C14 towards Sossusvlei. Be sure to get away early as the gravel road can be busy and in poor condition due to heavy traffic. The route takes you through Namib-Naukluft National Park and up the Kuiseb and Gaub passes – note the sign marking the Tropic of Capricorn – and eventually to the desert oasis of Solitaire, where good coffee and freshly baked apple crumble will fortify you for the last leg of the journey.

Day 12:

Have an early start to visit the much photographed Dead Vlei and its neighbour Sossusvlei. Get your heart pumping by climbing one of the big dunes, like Big Daddy or Dune 45. When the heat of the day subsides, take a hike down into Sesriem Canyon and uncover its hidden nooks and crannies. After a long day’s exploring enjoy a desert sundowner with barking geckos as your soundtrack.

Day 13:

Start your day with a sunrise balloon trip over the breathtaking scenery of the Namib Desert. This is a great way to appreciate the vastness of the Namib Sand Sea, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which lies to the west. On landing you will be spoilt with a champagne breakfast in the middle of nowhere. Make sure to thoroughly absorb the freedom and space of the desert before you have to go back to reality.

Day 14:

Heading back home is always the worst part of any holiday, but at least the drive back to Windhoek will take you through some scenic surroundings. After driving up the escarpment which connects the desert with the Khomas Hochland, make time for a pit-stop on top of Spreetshoogte Pass. Take it easy on the last stretch of gravel road to Windhoek and start planning your next Namibian adventure.

Get in touch with yourself again through nature

THE

Journey

Nothing is more spectacular than exploring the vast diversity of Namibia through a birds-eye view – fly-in safaris are an experience of a lifetime.

BEGINS HERE

Through collective and inspired experience we create the extraordinary by bringing you to africa, and making your venture into the unknown, known!

Enjoy an exclusive tour that includes individual itineraries, educational programs with and in nature. We also offer programs where you can contribute to conservation. We only use highly qualified tour guides and our team strives to fulfill all your wishes so that you may enjoy a perfect African adventure. Contact: Tel: +264-61-256848 Cell: +264-81-889 9199 Email: info@bushbird.com www.bushbird.com

+264-64-463434 | +264-811434343 info@aboutafrica.co | www.aboutafrica.co

www.thisisnamibia.com

African Profile Safaris provides a holistic experience and our safaris are nature based. Our product is flexible because we serve the low-volume, high end of the market. With our intimate knowledge of Namibia, we can guarantee excellent attention to detail and the flexibility and freedom it affords. Covid-19 has changed the future of travel into a “new norm”. Luckily for us here in Namibia, our country is naturally suited and adaptable to this new concept of traveling. Sunshine, wide open spaces, endless horizons and smaller, intimate lodges gives our travelers the accepted “Social Distance” without compromising on your African experience.

www.profilenamibia.com

| TOUR COMPANIES |

A NEW CLASS OF LUXURY TRAVEL

WE MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE

Cheetah Tours & Safaris cc PO Box 23075, Windhoek, Namibia | Tel: +264 61 230 287, Fax: +264 61 230 286 Email: cheetour@iafrica.com.na | www.cheetahtours.com / www.cheetahexclusive.com

SWA SAFARIS

NAMIBIA

www.thisisnamibia.com

communal conservancies: JOINT VENTURE TOURISM IN NAMIBIA’S

PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE FUTURE

This is your dream holiday come true: the expansive space you’ve been craving, spectacular views and stunning wildlife, warm hospitality and exquisite accommodation. These words could describe a multitude of lodges and campsites in Namibia, so why, when you are presented with so much choice, should you choose to stay at a conservancy joint venture property? The answers are rooted in a commitment to conservation, communities and the future, where despite low season blues, community members can count on the conservancy joint venture partnerships for benefits and Namibia’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) can count on concession fees from these private sector partners that help to protect some of the most vulnerable wildlife and spectacular places on the planet. Namibia’s communal conservancies encompass over 20% of the country’s land, from the rivers of the Zambezi to the mountains of the Kunene, from the baobab studded forests of the east to the deserts in the south. One in four rural Namibians is a resident of a communal conservancy, where community members have the rights and responsibilities to use their natural resources sustainably, including making the bold choice to live with wildlife. Decades of hard work and dedication by conservancy members have led to incredible results: the expansion of wildlife range and numbers, preservation of unique cultures, and the opportunity to partner with world-class tourism establishments to offer authentic travel experiences where your stay contributes directly to conservation and community development. These tourism partnerships are called joint ventures. They are contractual agreements between communities who have the tourism rights to an area and private sector tourism operators who provide funding and expertise. But the commitment goes much deeper than a contract or a cheque. Joint venture partnerships change lives. In remote areas in Namibia, where economic development is limited and the principal commodities are space, spectacular landscapes and stunning wildlife, rural communities and their joint venture partners have created conservation-based economies. Private sector joint venture tourism partners invest in developing stunning lodges and camps and then providing training, employment and opportunities to community members. In turn, communities have a vested interest in providing the best possible experience to guests, thus building the value of this shared asset and protecting the landscape and wildlife that attracts the world’s most discerning guests.

Support to conservancies from joint venture partners goes beyond the lodge and its activities to encompass support for education, nutrition and health care, culture heritage and community-backed conservation initiatives. Joint venture partners also support anti-poaching units that monitor and protect rare and endangered species often in unfenced wilderness areas, which has provided space for expansion in range and numbers of wildlife populations. Joint venture partners also pro-actively and reactively respond to human-wildlife conflict. The symbiotic nature of these partnerships has created trust, care and concern that has been strengthened over time, so when communities lose valuable livestock or are fearful of potentially dangerous animals, joint venture partners respond, because they have a first-hand understanding of these difficulties. They also share the communities’ sense of pride in working through these challenges and protecting wildlife for future generations. Many conservancy joint ventures are located next to or inside protected areas or national parks, such as Bwabwata, Etendeka, Etosha, Hobatere, Nkasa Rupara, Palmwag, and the Skeleton Coast. Guests get a chance to experience these stunning areas with local guides, while rural communities receive benefits, and joint venture partners pay concession fees to the MEFT that have proven vital to the long-term conservation of these natural treasures. For you, the traveler, joint venture properties provide experiences of a lifetime. Joint venture tourism is as varied as the landscape and the people of Namibia. Enjoy world-class hospitality and lodges, go tracking and learn the signs of the wild, dance to traditional music, visit a living museum, watch as traditional arts and crafts are being made, and listen to stories told around the fire. This is authentic tourism, where partnerships matter, benefits last, and where you come away knowing that your holiday made a difference to communities, conservation and the future. You will be rewarded with fresh insights into worlds you could never imagine, and more lives will be changed, including your own. Look for the community conservation logo in Namibia Holiday and Travel and visit our website at www.conservationtourism.com.na for more information.

AT THE BEGINNING OF 2020, JOINT VENTURE TOURISM INCLUDED SUPPORT FOR: • 56 joint-venture lodges • 21 joint-venture and community campsites • 12 living museums, craft and indigenous product development enterprises • Over 1,300 full and part-time employees at jv lodges, enterprises and campsites

• •

Over 1,500 craft producers and harvesters

•

Growing populations of elephant, lion, leopard, giraffe, and other wildlife species, including more than 10,000 animals of 15 different game species that have been translocated out of national parks into communal lands to boost populations there

Largest free-roaming population of critically endangered black rhino left in the world

www.thisisnamibia.com

avid campers COMMUNITY CAMPSITES FOR

The interesting and diverse cultures of the people of Namibia – their customs, traditions, languages and beliefs – have fascinated visitors for centuries. Namibia’s richness in LIZA DE KLERK

cultural and natural heritage is the basis for the development of cultural tourism.

CAMPING TIPS

Apart from the usual gear – tents, sleeping bags, cooking utensils, food, emergency supplies and a first aid kit – consider packing the following to make your adventure more enjoyable: • Binoculars for catching sight of free-roaming game. • Toilet paper – handy in all sorts of emergencies. • Hand sanitiser, as it can be difficult to find clean water or facilities in some places. • Items for campsite fun, such as balls, kites, frisbees etc., especially when travelling with children. • Insect repellent for those buzzing and flying annoyances. • Books and magazines for when relaxing under a tree. • Water, water, water – rather too much than too little. Remember, Namibia is a desert country. • Rope, which can be used to pull your car out of thick sand or even as an emergency washing line. • Sunscreen – with Namibia’s bountiful sunshine, it’s always a good move to cover your sensitive areas with a protective layer of UVA + UVB cream (at least factor 30). • Locks and protective covering for your valuables. Holiday stories are just not the same when the camera disappears halfway down the line. Also keep in mind: • Firewood should always be purchased in a prepacked form, not collected from the veld. • Take along a small hatchet, firelighters and matches, two powerful torches and plenty of spare batteries. • Vehicle spares should include a spare wheel (preferably two), air compressor or pump, tyre gauge, battery leads, towrope, shovel and basic toolkit.

NORTH-CENTRAL REGIONS 1 A variety of accommodation options are available at the Nakambale Museum in the village of Olukonda, 14 km southwest of Ondangwa. 2 The Omauni Community Campsite is located at the Centre for Sustainable Forest Management, east of Okongo.

3 The Ombalantu Baobab Tree Campsite is situated on community land behind the brightly-painted open market in Outapi. It is a heritage site with a large baobab tree at the centre of the campsite. 4 Hippo Pools Campsite, 12 km west of Ruacana, has shady campsites situated under leadwood and mopane trees, with superb views over the Kunene River.

ERONGO REGION 5 Nestled between the huge boulders in the magnificent mountain world of the Spitzkoppe is the Spitzkoppe Rest Camp.

6 Ozohere Campsite is located between and around huge boulders under shady trees, on the banks of the Ugab River between Khorixas and Uis.

OMAHEKE REGION 7 Kambahoka Restcamp can be found next to the Aminuis Saltpan, 180 km southeast of Gobabis. 8 For an excellent and educational San experience in the extreme east of Namibia, visit Sãa Ta Ko close to the Botswana border.

9 Boiteko Campsite, positioned at the top of the hill on the Epukiro Roman Catholic Mission Grounds, is part of the Tswana village, Metsweding. 10 For those travelling to Bushmanland and the Tsumkwe area via Gam, Kaumbangere Restcamp, located 5 km south of Otjinene, makes for a good stopover.

| CULTURAL CAMPING |

13 The Living Museum of the Ju/’Hoansi San provides an opportunity to view and learn about this subgroup of the San.

KAVANGO AND ZAMBEZI 14 Mbamba Campsite has reed-lined lapas situated on the banks of the Shamangwe tributary to the Okavango River. 15 White Sands - N//goabaca Campsite is situated next to Popa Falls, a series of rapids in the Okavango River. 16 Chobe Community Campsite is owned and managed by the local conservancy and receives management support from the nearby lodge Chobe Camp.

17 Situated in Bwabwata National Park is the Nambwa Campsite on the banks of the Kwando River. 18 Salambala Campsite can be found in mopane woodland next to a small pan and waterhole. 19 Mafwe Campsite, another community campsite managed by the Living Culture Foundation, overlooks the Kwando River.

20 Treesleeper Camp is surrounded by tamboti, leadwood and buffalothorn woodland, with wooden decks built into the trees for optimal viewing. 21 Near Nkasa Rupara National Park is the Wuparo Campsite, each site with its own reed and thatch ablution facility.

HARDAP AND KARAS 22 Camp at Bruckaros near Berseba in beautiful mountain surroundings. The facilities are basic so be self-sufficient.

23 In the very south of the country, Warmbad Hotsprings Lodge is an interesting historical and cultural stopover.

24 Garies Restcamp provides a glimpse of Baster hospitality in an anotherwise undeveloped area.

26 ≠Nudi Campsite is set amongst quiver trees and dolerite rock formations in the !Knob !Naub Conservancy.

27 Situated northeast of Tses is Ganigobes Campsite, a basic facility with views over a riverbed.

28 Goamus Campsite is surrounded by the striking mountain landscape of Gibeon, a historical area where the Nama fought against and hid from the Germans in colonial times. 29 Located in Maltahöhe, //Hai-Sores Campsite comprises six sites and several demonstration Nama huts.

ELZANNE MCCULLOCH

12 Further east is the Makuri Camspite, situated in an area hosting several pans that attract birds and wildlife.

30 Hoachanas Campsite, 53 km from Kalkrand, is situated in the Hoachanas settlement, a historically important location for the Nama people.

KUNENE REGION 31 The Aba-Huab Campsite is a busy, bustling campsite located 9 km from the Twyfelfontein rock engravings.

32 Doro !Nawas Granietkop Campsite, 20 km southeast of Twyfelfontein, offers exclusive, private sites in alcoves created by granite boulders.

33 Situated near the town of Kamanjab, Hoada Campsite is surrounded by golden-yellow grass and mopane trees, boulders and birdsong.

LIZA DE KLERK

11 Southeast of Tsumkwe is the Djokhoe Camspite.

25 Situated in a scenic rocky mountain area, the sites at Snyfontein Camp overlook an attractive section of the Fish River.

34 Perched on a hill in the midst of mountains overlooking a dry river course, is the Khowarib Campsite.

35 The Figtree Campsite, situated close to the Sesfontein Conservancy office, consists of four large sites in a grove of ancient sycamore fig trees surrounding one of the six Sesfontein springs.

36 Fonteine Community Restcamp can be found in the Twyfelfontein area of Damaraland. It offers campsites to travellers passing through. 37 Puros Campsite is positioned on the banks of the Hoarusib River, stamping ground of Namibia’s desert-adapted elephants, which often wander through the campsite.

www.thisisnamibia.com

LIZA DE KLERK

OTJOZONDJUPA REGION

41 40 42

Oshikango

Omahenene

Ruacana

Uutapi (Ombalantu)

Cuangar

Oshakati

39 43

Katitwe

Rundu

Ondangwa

Opuwo

Khaudum National Park

Etosha National Park

Namutoni

Grootfontein

Otavi

Kamanjab

I B

t as Co

Khorixas

rk Pa

Dobe

11 12

Waterberg Wilderness Trail Waterberg Walks

Otjiwarongo

Waterberg Plateau Park

Outjo

Okaukuejo

Tsumeb

Halali

on et el Sk

37 38

Mangetti National Park

Kalkveld

Ugab Guided Trail Brandberg

Omaruru

Dorob National Park

Karibib

M I B

Arandis

Von Bach Recreation Resort HOSEA KUTAKO

Sweet Thorn Hiking Trail Daan Viljoen Game Park

Tsaobis Leopard Nature Park

Rock Sculpture Trail

Swakopmund

Walvis Bay

Okahandja

Gross Usakos Spitzkoppe

Henties Bay

EROS

Witvlei

Gobabis

WINDHOEK Auasberge

Namib Desert Park

Walvis Bay Nature Reserve

Buitepos

(International Airport)

Namib-Naukluft Park

Leonardville

Dassie Trails

Kalkrand B M I N A

D E

Gochas

Gibeon

Namib Rand Nature Reserve

Mata Mata

Tses

Berseba

Great Tiras

Lüderitz

Aranos Stampriet

Maltahöhe

NamibNaukluft Park

Hardap Recreation Resort Mariental

Naukluft Hiking Trail

Sossusvlei

*Many of the campsites mentioned are often difficult to get in touch with and information regarding them may vary through the course of the year.

Rehoboth

Bethanie Aus

Rosh Pinah

Koës

26 Klein-Menasse

Naute Recreation Area

Aroab

B1 Hohlweg

Fish River Canyon Conservation Area

Grünau Karasburg B3

ang Or

Keetmanshoop

Ai-Ais/ Richtersveld Transfrontier Park

Brukktaros Mountain

Sendelingsdrift

(Gariep)

Fish River Canyon Hiking Trail

Ariamsvlei

This is just an approximate indication of where these establishments are situated

Oranjemund

Vioolsdrif

Velloorsdrif

Noordoewer

Velloorsdrif

LIZA DE KLERK

38 Providing affordable selfcatering accommodation in the area, is Puros Bush Lodge, with Himba settlements close by. 39 Situated on the Khumib riverbank, the Marble Campsite is an attractive and well-equipped facility that represents a veritable oasis in the rugged surroundings.

40 The Okarohombo Community Campsite is shaded by giant ana trees in the remote Marienfluss Valley along the Kunene River, with the mountains of Angola looming on the other side.

41 At the Epupa Falls Campsite, spread out among waving makalani palms, water rushes toward the falls and fine mist hovers in the air.

42 The Van Zyl’s Pass Campsite is only for those who are extremely well prepared for negotiating difficult and rough terrain to get there.

43 House on the Hill is a selfcatering stone cottage situated on a slope adjacent to the Marble Campsite.

lodge groups Namibia is home to dramatic sceneries, stunning vistas and endless horizons. From one corner of the country to the other, the topography and biodiversity transform dramatically. From the wet wonderland of the Zambezi Region, with its perennial river systems, to the large panoramic plains of the south that morph into canyons and mountain ranges, Namibia is an incredibly diverse and enigmatic land. Etosha National Park, the jewel in the crown of Namibia, is home to the famous Etosha Pan and teems with wildlife. At the heart and soul of this land of endless horizons lies the Namib Desert, the oldest desert in the world. With a host of lodges, hotels, accommodation establishments and campsites throughout the country, and 18 state-owned conservation areas encapsulating all of this African gemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s natural wonders, exploring Namibia should be on every travellerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bucket list. Here are a few companies who pride themselves on offering a wide range of establishments, activities and circuits to visitors, so that no corner of this epic land is overlooked!

| NAMIBIAN LODGE GROUPS |

N/A’AN KU SÊ COLLECTION N/a’an ku sê Conservation Journeys: Rudie and Marlice van Vuuren, with friends Chris Heunis and Jan Verburg, started the N/a’an ku sê Foundation in 2006 to protect and improve the lives of Namibia’s people and wildlife. “Our vision is an Africa where humans and wildlife can live and thrive together. Our mission is to conserve the land, cultures and wildlife of Namibia and rescue species threatened by an ever-shrinking habitat.”

www.naankusecollection.com

N/a’an ku sê Lodge and Wildlife Sanctuary

N/a’an ku sê @ Utopia

See page 153

See page 83

2 1 5

Kanaan N/a’an ku sê Desert Retreat N/a’an ku sê Travellers Inn See page 83

See page 82

Neuras Wine and Wildlife Estate See page 154

WILDERNESS SAFARIS As Africa’s leading authentic and sustainable ecotourism company, Wilderness Safaris prides itself on offering life-changing journeys to our guests. The company was formed in 1983 when we fell in love with the remote and wild places in Africa. We now operate in eight countries where we continue to conserve and restore Africa’s wilderness and wildlife.

www.wilderness-safaris.com

1 3

Serra Cafema

Damaraland Camp

Desert Rhino Camp

See page 119

2 4

See page 118

See page 140 67

See page 141 4

Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp Kulala Desert Lodge See page 153

Little Kulala

See page 153

Doro Nawas See page 141

www.thisisnamibia.com

NATURAL SELECTION On a Natural Selection Namibia safari, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll take you to the most remote corners of Namibia, and best of all, the experience is never shared with anyone but the wildlife.

www.naturalselection.travel

2 1 3

Etosha Mountain Lodge

Safarihoek Lodge

Safari House

See page 106 2

See page 118

See page 106 3

Hoanib Valley Camp Shipwreck Lodge See page 119

See page 106

Kwessi Dunes See page 154

PROTEA HOTELS BY MARRIOTT Protea Hotels by Marriott is one of the most widely recognised hospitality brands in Africa. With 5 hotels strategically located in Namibia and with over 4000 hotels across the world, you know you are in good hands. Our hotels offer modern design and amenities, with a unique blend of global standards combined with proactive and personalised service so that every guest feels important and cared for.

www.protea.marriott.com 2

1 4

FĂźrstenhof

Zambezi River Lodge

See page 84

See page 95 3

Ondangwa

See page 105

Pelican Bay

See page 175

Walvis Bay

See page 175

| NAMIBIAN LODGE GROUPS |

ONDILI LODGES & ACTIVITIES At the ONDILI - Lodges, travelers feel right at home on their tour to Namibia's most attractive and impressive landscapes - the Kalahari Desert, the Sossusvlei region, the Erongo Mountains, northern Damaraland and the Etosha region with its abundant wildlife. And at the beginning or end of a round trip, the guesthouse Ti Melen expects its guests in a quiet location on the outskirts of Windhoek. Warm hospitality awaits guests in the lovingly designed, comfortable and ecologically sustainable lodges, located from each other no further than relaxed day stages. In each region, ONDILI offers special, even multi-day activities that will make a stay a special one. On hikes or horse safaris one can immerse oneself into the pristine nature and unspoilt vastness of Namibia's bizarre landscapes to discover a very own, exceptional African experience. 7

www.ondili.com

4 3

Teufelskrallen Lodge

Kalahari Red Dunes Lodge

Desert Homestead Lodge

Desert Homestead Outpost

See page 85

1 2

See page 142

See page 81 3

See page 151

Twyfelfontein Adventure Camp See page 143

See page 151 4

Hohenstein Lodge

Etosha Oberland Lodge See page 103

Ti Melen

See page 83

O&L LEISURE Owned by the Ohlthaver & List Group, which was founded in 1919, O&L Leisure Hotels & Lodges is a proudly Namibian hospitality company. O&L Leisure is committed to offering our guests a unique, genuine senseof-place experience. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s our warm, down-to-earth nature, and love of our country, that turns staying at our resorts into an unparalleled experience.

www.ol-leisure.com 4 1

Mokuti Etosha Lodge

Midgard Country Estate

See page 105 2

See page 82

www.thisisnamibia.com

Strand Hotel Swakopmund See page 176

Chobe Water Villas See page 93

JOURNEYS NAMIBIA Journeys Namibia is a reputable management company that takes the strain off lodge owners by taking care of the day-to-day running of lodges. We have many years of experience in the tourism industry and share an intimate passion for Namibiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unique landscapes and its people.

www.journeysnamibia.com 6

2 4

Auas Safari Lodge

Hobatere Lodge

Hoada Camp

See page 79 7

See page 191

See page 105 3

See page 141 5

Fish River Lodge Shipwreck Lodge See page 119

Little Forest Garden Retreat See page 82

Grootberg Lodge See page 142

NAMIBIA COLLECTION Our portfolio includes a collection of hotels, lodges and leisure activities, from the Atlantic coastline to the saltpans of Etosha. We provide well appointed, comfortable accommodation in a relaxed atmosphere, with warm-hearted Namibian service and hospitality. Whether you are on business or leisure, we ensure that your experience is memorable and that you leave with a longing to return. Our hospitality team is ready to welcome you to our beautiful hotels and lodges.

www.namibia-collection.com

7 1

6 45

Atlantic Villa Boutique Guesthouse See page 173

Beach Hotel Swakopmund See page 173

Epacha Game Lodge and Spa See page 103

Eagle Tented Lodge See page 103

Olupale Safari Lodge See page 105

Swakopmund Plaza Hotel See page 176

Driefontein Safari Lodge See page 141

| NAMIBIAN LODGE GROUPS |

NAMIBIA WILDLIFE RESORTS Namibia Wildlife Resorts is a state-owned enterprise, mandated to run the tourism facilities within the protected areas of Namibia. Its only shareholder is the Government of the Republic of Namibia; hence, it belongs to the Namibian people. NWR offers something for everyone â&#x20AC;&#x201C; whether it is photography, nature, wildlife, landscapes, geology, camping, fishing, birding, history, culture or just the pure exhilaration of finding yourself surrounded by the essence of Africa â&#x20AC;&#x201C; NWR is your willing partner and host.

www.nwr.com.na

2 7 6

1 3

Popa Falls Resort

Onkoshi Resort

Namutoni Resort

Halali Resort

Okaukuejo Resort

Olifantsrus Campsite

Dolomite Resort

Terrace Bay Resort

Torra Bay

Khorixas Restcamp

Waterberg Resort

Gross-Barmen Resort

See page 94

9 10

See page 156

See page 104 3

23 22 21

15 16

7 8 9

10 11

See page 79

www.thisisnamibia.com

Mile 108

See page 174

See page 127 12

Mile 72

See page 174

See page 142

/Ai-/Ais Hotsprings Spa See page 191

See page 177

Hobas Lodge See page 191

See page 177

Shark Island Resort

See page 192

See page 104 17

Duwisib Castle See page 153

See page 104

Hardap Resort See page 81

See page 104 14

Naukluft Camp See page 154

See page 104 5

Sesriem Campsite See page 156

See page 104

Sossus Dune Lodge

Jakkalsputz See page 174

Boplaas Campsite

CLASSIC NAMIBIA COLLECTION Classic Namibia Collection creates memorable experiences in exclusive and stylish properties built in magical settings, which reflect and enhance the natural beauty of the surroundings. Inspired by the colours and textures of the natural landscapes, there is a mixture of elegance and earthiness in all the lodges in the group. These properties are ideally situated to provide discerning travellers with an ideal circuit to visit Namibia in style.

www.classicnamibia.com 3 9 10 8 2

Onguma Nature Reserve See page 110

3 4

Okahirongo Elephant Lodge Okahirongo River Camp Mowani Mountain Camp See page 143

Camp Kipwe See page 140

Wolwedans See page 157

Swakopmund Guesthouse See page 175

8 9

Nambwa Lagoon Camp Nambwa Tented Lodge See page 94

Kazile Island Lodge See page 94

| NAMIBIAN LODGE GROUPS |

NATURALLY NAMIBIA Naturally Namibia is a collective of Namibiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most character-filled independent experiences. Ownerrun and original is the way we like it. We collectively agree on sharing a warm welcome, unsurpassed local knowledge and our pride in every element of service.

www.naturallynamibia.com

1 8 7 1

The Mushara Collection See page 107

Skeleton Coast Safaris Namib Sky Balloon Safaris See page 13

Villa Margherita See page 177

5 6

Am Weinberg Boutique Hotel Ai Aiba Lodge See page 139

Etendeka Mountain Camp See page 139

3 8

Ongava Game Reserve See page 108

Okonjima & AfriCat Namibia See page 128

www.thisisnamibia.com

TALENI AFRICA Explore Namibia's main attractions while experiencing the true art of hospitality at Taleni Africa's accommodation establishments. Whether you want to roam Etosha's animal kingdom, discover the historic Swakopmund or climb the towering red sand dunes of the Namib Desert at Sossusvlei, Taleni Africa offers a truly memorable holiday experience in Namibia.

www.taleni-africa.com

2 3 4

Hotel Zum Kaiser See page 174

Etosha Village See page 103

Etosha Village Campsite See page 103

4 5 6 7 8

Etosha Trading Post Sossusvlei Lodge See page 156

Desert Camp See page 151

Desert Quiver Camp See page 151

Sossus Oasis Camp Site See page 156

a i b i m a N f o t s e B y r e The V

Take home rich memories of adventure and luxury in the African wilderness from two lodges, on private reserves spanning 27,500 hectares, just two hours’ drive southeast of Windhoek. This is the spirit of Aru Game Lodges—a family-run company with an impressive commitment to proven wildlife and habitat conservation efforts, stellar customer service and attention to every detail. Aru offers two unique, well-appointed lodges — Kalakwa Lodge and Veronica Lodge — both a short drive from Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. Veronica Game Lodge is set in a Kalahari savannah landscape with red dunes and towering camelthorn trees. Kalakwa Game Lodge offers terrains ranging from savannah grasslands to bushveld and rocky hills. These picturesque properties offer Aru’s guests a perfect mix of the very best wild country and endemic game species in Namibia, including both black and white rhino, and a healthy array of predators. After unforgettable days afield, guests are treated to luxury, elegance and privacy. Five-star cuisine. Star-filled skies. Relaxing campfires and tales of the day’s adventures. The unique ambiance that only Africa can offer abounds at Aru. And with world-class birding, photo safaris and game drives, horseback rides and quad biking, sundowner excursions and sightseeing and a relaxing sauna, there’s truly something for every taste, pace and passion. Yours truly, Danene & Gysbert van der Westhuyzen

+264 (0)81 129 5536 | info@arugamelodges.com | arusafaris.com/eco | Instagram: @aru_safaris

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cuisine Namibia’s cuisine is an eclectic mix of traditions derived from Germany, South Africa and of course Namibian traditions and ingredients. At lodges, hotels, restaurants and eateries that cater for foreign tourists, visitors will be familiar with most of the what is on menus.

Swakopmund and Henties Bay. Oysters and black mussels are popular starters, while rock lobster from Lüderitz and calamari feature on some menus. Cob, also known as kabeljou, has a firm texture and heads the list of line fish. Other fish dishes include steenbras, kingklip, hake and sole.

Since livestock are reared entirely on natural grazing, Namibian meat is free of artificial stimulants and of a high quality. It’s not an exaggeration to say, “Namibia is meat country,” with a choice between free-ranging game and succulent beef, especially steak. The natural grazing in the south of the country gives lamb and mutton a distinctive aromatic flavour.

Namibian delicacies such as omajova and Kalahari truffels are seasonally available. Omajova is the Otjiherero name for a large edible mushroom which grows at the base of termite hills in the central parts of the country shortly after the first summer rains. Sautéed in butter it is an excellent accompaniment to steaks. The Kalahari truffle, a fungus known as the nabba by the Nama people, grows in the Kalahari sands after rains. They can be cooked whole, sliced and fried in butter, or used in a delicious soup.

Gemsbok, also known as oryx, springbok and kudu are served as carpaccio, smoked, pâtés, steaks or in casseroles. Zebra, eland and warthog feature less frequently on menus. Seafood is a speciality in the coastal towns of Lüderitz, Walvis Bay,

The German culinary tradition is still strongly represented in Namibia. Typical German dishes include eisbein (smoked pork shank), rouladen

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DINING AND WINING WITH A NAMIBIAN FLAIR

(beef roll) and kassler (salted and smoked pork chops) usually served with sauerkraut (sour cabbage). Kartoffelsalat (potato salad), rotkohl (red cabbage), bratkartoffeln (pan fried potatoes) and spätzle (egg noodles) are popular side dishes. Some restaurants serve a traditional German teller essen (literally ‘plate meal’) at lunch time. Then there’s the almost endless variety of German-style cold meats, hams, sausages, salami and snacks

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ELZANNE MCCULLOCH

The German baking tradition is still alive and well in Windhoek and many small towns. Brötchens (the German equivalent of bread rolls, but more crusty) with a variety of fillings are popular as a breakfast or lunch snack. Brötchens with filling are known as belegte brötchens and include the typical German rohack – raw mince, salt, black pepper, onion and ghurkins.

produced locally by Hartlief and Windhoek Schlagterei to the highest standards. Raith Gourmet, based in Cape Town, also produces a wide variety of meat products. Typical German products include leberwurst (a spreadable liver sausage), bratwurst made from pork or veal, bierwurst, a Bavarian-style pork, beef and game, which does not contain any beer despite its name. Jagdwurst, or hunter’s sausage made from pork and beef, to mention but a few.

The Willi Probst Bakery, Boulevard Café and Restaurant, which has been a landmark in Walvis Bay since it opened its doors in August 1957, offers what is undoubtedly the largest selection of brötchens with a choice of more than 50 fillings. The Kaffee Bar, the in-store coffee shop in Wecke & Voigts in Windhoek’s Independence Avenue, also offers an extensive range of brötchens and other fare. There’s also a wide choice of German brot (bread) made from top quality whole rye grain. Three different types of grain are used in dreikorn, while katenbrot is made from a mixture

of wheat and rye flower with added sunflower seeds. Pumpernickel is a very dark, course wholemeal bread with a strong flavour. Bauernbrot (farmer’s bread, has a slightly sourish flavour.) For those with a sweet tooth there’s a wide selection of mouth-watering cakes and pastries. Indulge on a slice of Schwartzwälder Kirschtorte (Black Forest cake – a chocolate sponge cake with a cherry filling) or sachertorte (chocolate cake). Or tuck into apfelstrudel (pastry wrapped around sliced apple filling) and käsekuche (cheese cake). German stollen, a rich fruit and nut loaf, is popular at Christmas. Lebkuchen (German gingerbread in different designs), pfeffernusse (pepper nuts – which despite its name does not contain pepper, but a mixture of honey, cinnamon, allspice and ground cloves) and zimtsterne (cinnamon stars) are among the wide variety of cookies that are also available over the Christmas festive season.

At social gatherings, the traditional braai (barbecue) is a popular way of entertaining. It usually includes a combination of meat cuts, chicken, sosaties (skewered meat or chicken) and sausage cooked over the coals and served with salads. Potjiekos, a stew of beef, lamb or chicken and vegetables cooked in a cast-iron pot over an open fire is another popular dish. Other delicacies include skilpadjies and pofadder which are made from cubes of lambs liver wrapped in caul fat and cooked over the coals. Skilpadjies (little tortoises) are named after the resemblance of the parcels to the shell of a tortoise when it is roasted, while pofadder, which is shaped like a sausage resembles the pufadder snake.

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THE EVER-POPULAR BRAAI

NAMIBIAN FARE FOR THE ADVENTUROUS PALATE If you are looking for Namibia’s national dish and true street food, you would need to make your way to an open-market in Windhoek or any of the towns in the north of the country to buy kapana. These strips of beef which are grilled over the coals are named after the chilli spice that is sprinkled over it. It has become so popular that a local bank, Nedbank, has been sponsoring a national kapana cook-off, where vendors can showcase their cooking skills, since 2015. Another typical Namibian dish, the Smiley is a goat’s head cooked over an open fire until the flesh around the teeth becomes soft and tender. And, if you are more adventurous

you can try some mopane worms, which are named after the leaves of the tree they feed on. Typical Namibian dishes from the north of the country include omahangu (pearl millet), the staple dish of northern Namibia and ekaka, wild spinach harvested in the mahangu fields. Also popular is oxuxwa, a dish made from chicken fried in nuttytasting marula oil. Restaurants in the north usually feature local dishes on their menus and in Windhoek you can feast your taste buds on traditional fare at Xwama Traditional Restaurant in Katutura, Windhoek. Also well worth a visit is Hafeni Traditional Restaurant in Swakopmund’s Mondesa township.

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NINA VAN ZYL

MARKETS Locally produced cheese, meat products, organic vegetables and other Namibian delicacies are available at several markets in Windhoek and elsewhere. The Green Market, also known as the Bio-Markt, in Windhoek is the first organic market in the country. A variety of organically grown vegetables and meats, cheese and fresh farm produce is sold at the market held at 3 Uhland Street in Klein Windhoek every Saturday between 08h00 and 12h00. Well worth is a visit to The Shed Market which is held every two months or so, but has a delectable range of farmand homemade fare. It is signposted about 30km east of Windhoek at the Dordabis turnoff on the B6. Further afield, a farmers’ market is held at the town of Omaruru every second Saturday.

NINA VAN ZYL

Despite its hot and dry climate, conditions in Namibia are surprisingly ideal for growing olives. Ruheleben Estate and Shalom Farm, in the Swakop River valley, produce cold pressed virgin olive oil and olives. Further inland, in a valley along the Remhoogte Pass, is Noab Olive farm which produces a range of cold pressed olive oil and olives. The Swakop River valley is famous for its delicious asparagus grown on the Swakopmund Asparagus Farm. A wide variety of fresh vegetables are also grown on smallholdings along the valley.

PROST!

The company’s beer is brewed in accordance with the German Reinheitsgebot (Purity Laws) issued by the Duke of Bavaria in 1516, and only the purest malted barley, hops, yeast and water are used. No grains or cereals and no chemical additives, stabilizers, sugar or preservatives may be used. The brewery’s extensive range includes the Windhoek and Tafel brands, Hansa draught, King Lager (the first beer brewed from home grown Namibian barley), Heineken and Erdinger.

CRAFT BEERS Beer lovers can also enjoy a wide range of craft beers. The Camelthorn Brewing Company, Namibia’s first independent brewery, produced its first range of craft beers in 2009. It was acquired by Namibia Breweries in 2014 and its range of four beers includes Urbock – a traditional ‘bock’ beer with a sweet taste and an alcohol content of 6%. It is traditionally brewed for the winter months to meet the demand for a stronger beer and is usually served at room temperature. The Swakopmund Brewing Company in the Strand Hotel’s Brewer and Butcher restaurant has been producing a range of craft beer since the hotel opened in 2015. Also at the coast are the Namib Dunes Craft

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Namibia’s beer drinking tradition dates back to the arrival of the German soldiers and officials in the late 1880s. Four breweries, two in Windhoek, one in Omaruru and one in Swakopmund amalgamated in 1920 to form the South West Africa Breweries – renamed Namibia Breweries after independence in 1990.

Brewery at Swakopmund and the Skeleton Coast Brewery at Henties Bay. In Windhoek craft beer is produced by two microbreweries. Helles, Indian Pale Ale and a limited edition beer is brewed by Tholch Brewery. The on-site brewery at the Roof of Africa Hotel has a range for four beers – Helles, Indian Pale Ale and a limited edition Roof Reef Draught, Roof Unfiltered Draft, Roof Pilsner, Roof Dark Lager. South African beers enjoy about 20% market share in Namibia. SABMiller’s brewery at Okahandja which became operational in 2015 produces a range of three beers.

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LIFT YOUR SPIRITS

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Namibian distilleries produce a variety of uniquely Namibian handcrafted spirits made from indigenous plant products. How about trying some Eembe liqueur made from the fruit of the Jackal-berry tree, or the Essence of Namibia (a liqueur made from a mixture of ginger and aniseed and Devil’s Claw) – both from the cellars of Erongo Mountain Winery at Omaruru. The winery also distils Grappa from the skins of red grapes. Kristall Kellerei at Omaruru produces a local grappa, Nappa, Matisa, a prickly pear liqueur and Lumela, a liqueur made from the corky monkey orange. Naute Kristall, situated on the C12 to the Naute Dam, has been operating since 2014. It produces NamGin (a gin), NamGlint (a gin liqueur) and NamRum which is flavoured with Devil’s Claw. Copper & Coal Distillery Company produces a range of four gins which contains a variety of herbs, spices and local plant products such as Devil’s Claw and Marula fruit. The Copper and Coal Distillery at Walvis Bay and the Stillhouse Atlantic craft distillery at Swakopmund produces a range of local gin infused with a variety of herbs, spices and indigenous ingredients such as the !Nara and Devil’s Claw.

It comes as a surprise to many visitors that Namibia with its arid and hot climate has four wineries that produce excellent local wine. As these wineries are small-scale, production is limited, but the wines are available in selected bottle stores and restaurants. The country’s first wine was produced as far back as the early 1900s at the Catholic mission station in Klein Windhoek. The cellar initially produced communion wine because of the prohibitive cost of importing the wine from Germany. The range was later expanded to include a semi-sweet and a dry white wine, as well as brandy (locally nicknamed Katholischer), which was sold commercially. Production stopped in the 1980s.

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IN VINO VERITAS

The country’s oldest commercial winery, Kristall Kellerei, was established in Omaruru on the banks of the Omaruru River in 1990. The first harvest was produced five years later. It produces a red blend and two white Colombard wines. Also in Omaruru, is the Erongo Mountain Winery which produced its first vintage in 2014. Its range includes four red blends, three white wines and a sparkling wine made from the corky monkey orange. Thonningii Wine Cellar in the Otavi valley produced its first wines in 2005. Its range consists of a white and a red blend, Shiraz, Tinta Barocca, Barbera and a Shiraz rosé. What started off as a hobby for retired businessman Allen Walkden-Davies with the first planting of vines at Neuras in the foothills of the Naukluft mountains in 1998, has expanded over the years. The farm was bought by the N/a’an kus ê Foundation in 2012. The range consists of three red wines.

A Great Escape

So much more than just another restaurant. For people who still dream of a truly great escape.

A wide range of wines from South Africa and other wineproducing countries is sold in retail stores and bottle stores and available in restaurants.

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+264 61 232 457 info@joesbeerhouse.com www.joesbeerhouse.com

adventure Namibia is for the active. For the energetic spirit. For soul-searching and delving in deep. It’s for the adventurous among us, but also for those who seek respite from the overwhelming modern world. Namibia is for the free and young at heart. For those looking to truly touch, feel and experience nature. It will never leave you wanting. It will never leave you bored. Whether you’re looking for epic adrenaline-fuelled quests, to convene with the wilderness or to enjoy the thrill of a sporting activity, there’s something for everyone in the land of dramatic landscapes and open spaces. Here are some of the most enticing and exciting adventures to partake in on

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your visit to this special corner of Africa.

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ELZANNE MCCULLOCH

WATER ADVENTURES

he number one attraction of the Namibian coast is undoubtedly its reputation for excellent rock and surf angling, shark and ski-boat angling. Galjoen tops the list of soughtafter species, while kob (kabeljou), West Coast steenbras and blacktail are also popular species. Late summer is generally the most rewarding months for angling. Snoek and yellowtail are the most common species targeted by skiboat anglers. White stumpnose, geelbek and elf (also known as shad) are other species to be caught. November to March are usually the most productive months.

to no fewer than 76 fish species, including several fine angling species. Heading the list is the rapacious tiger fish, while bream, three-spot tilapia, nembwe and pink happy also rank high on the catch list. Hardap Dam north of Mariental, the Von Bach Dam near Okahandja and the Naute Dam west of Keetmanshoop are popular dams with freshwater angling enthusiasts. Large- and small-mouth bass, yellowfish, carp, Mozambique tilapia and barbell are the most commonly caught species. Tour operators can put visitors in touch with clubs and expert fishermen.

The coast also offers excellent shark angling opportunities from midDecember to mid-June. The bronzy, or copper shark, is renowned for its fighting spirit. Weighing up to 180kg, it is the main target of shark anglers. Cow shark, spotted gully shark and the hound shark are other species caught. Most shark angling operators support catch and release.

The fresh southwesterly winds along the coast create the ideal conditions for kite- and wind-surfing. The Walvis Bay Lagoon and the Jetty area in Swakopmund are popular, but it is the perfect conditions at LĂźderitz that attracts kite- and wind-surfers from around the world to this southern coastal town where the world-speed record for kite surfing is challenged annually in November.

The Zambezi and Okavango rivers in northeastern Namibia are home

The discovery of the best left-breaks and one of the longest tube rides at

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Donkey Bay off Pelican Point in the world in 2008 put Namibia on the world surfing map. It is renowned for its barrels that can be surfed for close to a kilometres and the incredible speed of the waves. In Swakopmund north of the Mole is a popular surf spot and further north along the coast,, at the Cape Cross Seal Reserve there are also good left-breaks when the swell is good. The Orange River has been a popular destination for canoeing trips which are offered by several companies. Trips lasting between four and six days start a few kilometres downstream of Noordoewer and end at Aussenkehr or continue some 20 km further downstream. A sea kayak is without doubt the best way to explore the Walvis Bay Lagoon. Kayaking on the lagoon, you will get real close up views of Cape fur seals as they play around the kayak and you might also see Heavisideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dolphins. No experience is required as the kayaks are very stable. Cruises from the harbour provide ample opportunity for close-ups of seals, dolphins and sea birds.

he strip of coastal dunes between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund is the perfect playground for a variety of adrenalinepumping adventures. Quad biking is the most popular activity in the dunes and guided trips of varying duration are offered. Racing up a dune at full throttle to get to the crest without getting bogged down is a thrilling experience. If you are relatively fit and know how to handle a bicycle, you can opt for

The Namib Dunes - the perfect playground for a variety of adrenalinepumping adventures. 52

something more physical but also more eco-friendly. Pedalling up and down the dunes on a fat bike is a thrilling experience and you will enjoy breathtaking views of Swakopmund, the Swakop River and the dunes. Guided trips last about 2 hours. Riding along the beach at low tide is another option and physically less demanding than longer fat bike trips along the coast to Sandwich Harbour. The many different slip faces of the dune belt create ideal conditions for yet another popular dune adventure – sandboarding. If you don’t mind getting down and dirty there are two options: lying down or stand-up. Lying down is a simple process and the only requirements are nerves and enough energy to get back up to the dune crests. You lie down on a piece of hard board, lift your legs, arms and the front of the board and off you go on a high speed thrill as you accelerate down the dune slope at a speed of up to 60km/h. No experience is needed for stand-up boarding which is somehow similar to snowboarding, but you need to have

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PAUL VAN SCHALKWYK

ELZANNE MCCULLOCH

DUNE ADVENTURES

a good sense of balance. Although speeds for stand-up boarding are slightly slower than lying-down boarding because of the soft sand, it is nevertheless an exhilarating experience. Several coastal operators have the gear and know where the best slopes are. The fresh southwesterly winds blowing off the coast and the dunes south of Swakopmund provides the ideal conditions and a perfect launching site for paragliding. Once you’ve mastered the techniques you will enjoy stunning views of the dune belt and the Atlantic Ocean as you glide effortlessly through the air like a bird. At first glance, the dune belt looks devoid of any life, but it is home to a fascinating variety of small creatures that are adapted to survive in this seemingly hostile environment. On a Living Desert trip you will learn more about the “Little Five of the Namib Desert.” In addition to the stunning scenery you will also get a fascinating insight into the survival of these creatures.

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ELZANNE MCCULLOCH

TAKING TO THE SKIES

deal atmospheric conditions over much of Namibia offer opportunities for a variety of air adventures.

Drifting silently over the Namib in a hot-air balloon is an experience that is not easily forgotten. As you float gently up, you will enjoy a birdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s-eye view of the desert plains, dunes and inselbergs. Preparations for the flight begins before sunrise and the flight takes off around sunrise when there is normally little wind. Namib Sky Balloon Safaris, the company which pioneered balloon safaris in Namibia in 1991operates from its launch site south of Sesriem. After riding the winds for about an hour itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unfortunately time to return to Mother Earth where you are spoiled with a scrumptious sparkling wine breakfast. Hot Air Ballooning, based at Swakopmund, operates flights behind the dune belt throughout the year, while Samawati operates flights over the Tsondab Vlei area from its base near Solitaire. All balloon flights are subject to weather conditions. Bitterwasser, north of Mariental, has an international reputation for

soaring and several world records have been set there. Situated at an altitude of 1,250 m, the area has excellent thermals, a climbing rate of 3 m to 7 m per second, sunny skies and visibility of up to 200 km. Between October and January each year, Bitterwasser becomes a hive of activity as an international array of gliding pilots gather there. Five flights of over 1 300 km and 210 flights of over 1 000 km have been recorded, while a total of 590 000 km has been

Drift silently over the Namib in a hot-air balloon - an unforgettable experience. www.thisisnamibia.com

flown since records have been kept. Numerous international records have been set at Bitterwasser. There are soaring opportunities on private farms, but these are normally used by associations that book in advance. Plummeting at a speed of up to 200 km/h towards earth during a 35 second tandem parachute jump is for some adventure seekers the ultimate adrenaline rush. Once the parachute opens you will enjoy the magnificent scenery of the Namib dunes, Swakopmund and the ocean as you drift down to the landing zone. Ground Rush Adventures offers the highest tandem jump in Africa (15 000 feet), as well as jumps from 12 000 feet and a standard jump. After completing a sixhour course you can also do a 3 000 feet static line jump. Several companies at Swakopmund and Walvis Bay offer scenic flights along the coast. Day excursions are also offered further afield to attractions such as Sossusvlei, the Fish River Canyon, Damaraland and even as far north as the Kunene River.

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LE ROUX VAN SCHALKWYK

HIKING

he Fish River Canyon in southern Namibia ranks as one of Southern Africa’s top trails. The 85 km-long hike is usually completed in four or five days, but is no walk in the park. Following the course of the Fish River, the terrain varies from deep, loose sand and stretches of boulders that have to be negotiated to seemingly endless tracts of round river stones. There are no set overnight stops and no facilities along the trail which ends at Ai-Ais Resort.

For outdoor enthusiasts looking to connect with nature.

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The Naukluft Hiking Trail meanders through spectacular mountain scenery, but is a tough trail that should only be attempted by fit hikers. The trail offers a choice of two four-day routes or an eight-day route. The circular four-day route from the Naukluft office covers 63 km, while the linear four-day route ending at Tsams Ost is 58 km. The full route covers 120 km. Basic overnight facilities are provided on the trail.

Düsternbrook Safari Guest Farm is the starting point of the Khomas Hochland Hiking Trail which meanders over the farm and adjoining farms. Two circular options are available: a 54 km trail over

four days, or a 90 km route over six days. Düsternbrook also offers a twoday overnight trail. For outdoor enthusiasts looking for something less energetic there are a number of short walks. Farm Windhoek, on the city’s southern outskirts, has a network of 70 km of trails along jeep tracks and tracks of varying lengths and gradients. At Daan Viljoen Game Park outside Windhoek visitors have a choice of two walks. The 3 km Wag-‘n-Bietjie Trail is an easy ramble, while the 9 km Rooibos Trail is a more strenuous circular route. For overnight visitors at Düsternbrook Guest Farm routes range from one to six hours. The Dassie Trails on Namibgrens Guest Farm follow two circular routes of 45 km with shorter options. The Rock Sculpture Trail near Bloedkoppie in the Namib section of the Namib-Naukluft Park meanders through a natural open-air rock sculpture gallery. It takes about three hours to complete the walk. Visitors to Naukluft section of the Namib-Naukluft Park have a choice of two day routes. The Olive Trail covers 10 km, while the 17 km Waterkloof Trail is more demanding and should not be attempted if you are not fit. At Klein Aus Vista near Aus in southern Namibia, visitors have a choice of 6 self-guided trails. Routes range from an easy to moderate 4.1 km to a 20 km hike graded as intermediate to advanced, depending on your level of fitness.

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NAMIBIA HORSE SAFARI COMPANY

SADDLE UP!

amels are synonymous with deserts and with its vast areas of desert it is not surprising that camels were extensively used in Namibia by the military and police to patrol remote areas a century ago. But with the advent of the motor vehicle they soon lost their utility. Fortunately, though, visitors to Swakopmund can undertake a leisurely trip in an unusual way to

Sitting astride a mighty steed for a new perspective on nature and an exhilarating experience.

experience the desert from the back of a dromedary camel which can reach a height of up to 2 m. Once you get used to the camelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rather awkward way of getting up and its rocking gait you will have a grand view of your surroundings. The Swakopmund Camel Farm in the Swakop River valley has been conducting short camel rides since 1982. Rides are conducted between 14h00 and 17h00 in the afternoon daily, except Sunday and public holidays. Desert Explorers in Swakopmundâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s camel rides take riders through the Swakop River and into the dunes. Trips are conducted daily and last around 30 minutes. Sitting astride a horse provides a totally different perspective of your surroundings and few experiences are as exhilarating as galloping at full speed over seemingly endless plains. Several Namibian companies offer short outrides for beginners intermediate and experienced riders, as well as extended horse safaris for experienced riders. Equitrails Namibia, conducts a wide variety of trails for beginner, intermediate

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and experienced riders in the Eros Mountains, just 15 km north of Windhoek. Trails range from hour-long and full day rides to one or two night overnight rides with accommodation at a lodge. At Swakopmund, Okakambe Riding Centre offers short outrides of one to three hours in the Swakop River Valley and the canyons of the Little Moon Landscape for beginners and experienced riders. Excursions range from one to three hours, while overnight rides are also conducted. Early morning and late afternoon rides are conducted from the Desert Homestead Lodge, 30 km south of Sesriem. The Namibia Horse Safari Company offers four safaris for experienced riders in some of the most scenic parts of the country. Areas covered are the Namib Desert, Damaraland and the desert canyons of southern Namibia. The Wild Horse Safari in southern Namibia takes riders over the dune sea and the Namib plains and also includes seeing the wild horses of the Namib Desert. Eight of the ten nights on the trails are spent camping in the open. The packages are fully inclusive.

ith its wide open spaces, spectacular scenery, meandering single tracks and miles and miles of gravel roads with hardly any traffic, Namibia is an ideal destination for mountain biking. The rugged terrain lends itself to a variety of extreme and physical events that draw competitors from around the world. The gruelling Nedbank Desert Dash, the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s longest single stage mountain bike race is held annually in December. It takes riders from Windhoek across the undulating Khomas Hochland and the plains of the Namib to Swakopmund over a distance of over 360 km with a 24-hour cut-off time. The race attracts over a thousand cyclists, including large numbers of international competitors, competing in different categories: solo, two-person teams, four-person teams and tandem cycles. The Windhoek Light Quest, a gruelling six-day race over 450 km usually takes place in May. Starting in Windhoek and ending in Swakopmund it is regarded as one of the toughest mountain bike races in Africa. The Khomas Challenge, a 200 km stage race over 200 km of undulating terrain is also held in May.

The Desert Knights Mountain Bike Adventure takes place in September. The cycle starts at Hobas near the northern viewpoint overlooking the Fish River Canyon and ends at Sendelingsdrift. Cyclists cover 130 km on the first three days and enjoy some canoeing on the Orange River before crossing into the Richtersveld section of the AiAis/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park. About 95 km is covered on the last two legs, ending at Sendelingsdrift. Mountain biking events are held throughout the year in various parts of the country. Popular events include the Klein-Aus Vista MTB Challenge which is held in February near Aus every second year (even-numbered years). Cyclists can enter for the 132 km race or a 66 km race. The FNB Otjihavera Experience, a 3 day race held at Midgard Lodge, covers 132 km. Farm Windhoek, on the southern outskirts of the city, has a 70-km network of jeep tracks and single tracks with different gradients and degrees of difficulty. It hosts several mountain bike events throughout the year.

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PEDAL POWER

Windhoek hosts a number of very popular mountain biking and road race events that draw in excess of a 1 000 competitors. The Nedbank Cycle Challenge which was launched in 1986 features road races as well as mountain biking races over varying distances. It usually takes place in February. The Namibian Pick â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;n Pay Cycle Classic takes place in October. Cyclists can enter for different distances in the road race as well as the mountain bike race.

Wide open spaces, spectacular scenery, challenging technical routes and epic quests - a mountain biker's paradise.

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PAUL VAN SCHALKWYK

OFF-ROAD ADVENTURES

amibia offers numerous opportunities to explore offthe-beaten track destinations – either self-guided or guided. Large tracks of the country are sparsely inhabited and the scenery range from the wilderness of Kaokoland to the seemingly endless dune sea of the Namib desert. Damaraland and Kaokoland are popular with self-drive 4x4 enthusiasts, while Bushmanland and Khaudum National Park and the Northeastern parks (Bwabwata, Mamili and Nkasa Rupara) also offer exciting possibilities. You need to be well-prepared and completely selfsufficient in respect of all your food and equipment, as well as sufficient fuel. It is advisable to travel with at least one other vehicle due to the remoteness of these areas. Ten day and overnight 4x4 routes can be explored from Henties Bay to destinations such as the Doros and Messum craters, Brandberg and the ‘Dead Sea’ at the old Strathmore Mine. A satellite map and booklets with GPS coordinates can be obtained from the Henties Bay Tourism Office.

A permit, obtainable from the Henties Bay Tourism Office, is required as the trails are either in or traverse the Dorob National Park.

Off-the-beaten track destinations and epic journeys across this wild land. Several companies offer day trips from Walvis Bay to Sandwich Harbour in their own vehicles. Companies include West Coast 4x4, Turnstone Tours, Sandwich Harbour 4x4, Unique Tours and Dolphin Tours. Contact any tour operator at the coast. You can also do this as a self-drive trip, but bear in mind that it can only be done

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at low tide and a permit, obtainable from the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism in Walvis Bay or Swakopmund, is required. One can also obtain a permit to drive in the off-road vehicle zones in the dune belt between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. Guided tours through various parts of the dune sea are offered to destinations in what was known as Diamond Area No 2 before it was incorporated into the Namib-Naukluft Park. Trips are conducted to Saddle Hill (3 or 4 days), between Lüderitz and Walvis Bay (6 days) and other remote spots along the coast. These tours will test not only test your driving skills to the limit, but also your nerves as you provide your own vehicle. The section of the Skeleton Coast from just north of Terrace Bay to the Kunene River mouth can also only be explored by joining a guided tour in your own vehicle. Operators who offer these must have a legal concession from the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism to conduct these tours and only a certain number of trips are allowed yearly.

LE ROUX VAN SCHALKWYK

cultures OF NAMIBIA

| THE PEOPLE OF NAMIBIA |

THE AAWAMBO – PEOPLE OF THE NORTH

The Aawambo communities are administered by traditional authorities headed by a king, queen or a chief. The Aandonga, Aangandjera and Aakwaluudhi are ruled by a king, while the Aakwanyama made history when a queen was installed in November 2005. The traditional authorities of the Aakwambi, Aambalantu, Aambadja and two small communities in western Owambo, the Aakonlonkadhi and Unda which are under a single traditional authority, are administered by traditional authorities headed by a chief. A council of senior councillors and councillors assists the king, queen or chief in the performance of his or her duties. It is often mistakenly assumed that Oshiwambo is the language of the Aawambo, but it is in actual fact a cluster of closely related dialects. The languages of the Aandonga and the Aakwanyama, the two largest communities, as well as the Aakwambi have been developed into written languages. The Aawambo people who live on the land practise a mixed economy of subsistence agriculture and stock farming with cattle and goats. Omahangu (pearl millet), sorghum, beans are the main dryland crops. A wide variety of leafy green vegetable plants and wild fruits are collected to supplement the staple diet of oshithima (pearl millet porridge). Fish are caught in the watercourses (iishana) during seasonal floods and in the rainy season. Aawambo houses are traditionally of the rondavel type, mostly surrounded by wooden palisades and often connected by passages. Cattle kraals (enclosures) usually form part of the complex which is surrounded by fields which are cultivated seasonally. Numerous small bars, locally known as cuca shops, small enterprises and locally owned shopping complexes are testimony to the business acumen of the Aawambo. Open markets, a feature of all the towns in Owambo, are bustling places where vendors sell a variety of traditional food and other products.

NINA VAN ZYL

he people referred collectively to as the Aawambo live in central northern Namibia, an area formerly known as Owambo, and southern Angola. In about 1550, groups of these people, who have a common origin and culture, moved southwards from the Great Lakes in East Africa and settled between the Kunene and Okavango rivers. Eight of these communities, representing around half of Namibia’s population, live in northern Namibia, while four communities live in Angola’s southern Cunene Province.

The Aawambo represent around half of Namibia's population. EXPERIENCING AAWAMBO CULTURE

The Uukwaluudhi Traditional Homestead at Tsandi in the Omusati Region is a good place to learn about the history and culture of the Aakwaluudhi. Guides take visitors through the homestead, the former palace of King Josia Taapopi, pointing out the customs and history of the Aakwaluudhi. Historic photos and maps of the Finnish Mission Society and early Owambo can be viewed in the Nakambale Museum at Olukonda. There are also several displays of traditional domestic implements, clothing, decorations and weapons of the Aandonga. The museum forms part of the historic Finnish mission complex which is a national monument which includes the church and the nearby cemetery. A guided tour through the adjacent traditional Aandonga homestead provides an interesting insight into the history, culture and way of life of the Aandonga people. The Oshituthi Shomagongo (Marula Fruit Festival) is rotated among the eight communities. The two-day event is usually held in March or April during the marula season. The festival was inscribed in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2015.

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THE PEOPLE OF

KAVANGO

he Okavango River, which forms the border between Namibia and Angola for more than 400 km, is a lifeline to the people of Kavango. It is home to a rich diversity of fish, while a variety of crops are planted on the fertile floodplains. The river is also a highway for the Kavango people who ply the waterway between distant settlements in their watus – dugout canoes made from the trunks of Zambezi teak, copalwood and wild teak trees. The Kavango people, who are closely related to the Aawambo, originated from the Great Lakes region of east Africa. They settled on both sides of the Okavango River after migrating south. Archaeological excavations place the arrival of the earliest settlers at around the 1600s.

PAUL VAN SCHALKWYK

There are considerable cultural differences between the five Kavango communities. Each community inhabits its own traditional area and is ruled by a traditional chief or chieftainess, assisted by a council of headmen. The Vakangwali and the Vambunza, the two western-most communities, have similar social practices such as preparing young boys for manhood and young girls to take care of a household. The Vashambyu and Vagiriku inhabit the central areas, while the Hambukushu is the easternmost community.

Rukwangali, the most common language, is spoken by the Vakwangali and Vambunza. Shishambyu is spoken by the Vashambuyu and Thimbukushu by the Hambukushu. The Kavango people on the land practice a mixed economy of subsistence crop farming and animal husbandry. More than 60% of the population live within 5 km from the Okavango River which usually reaches its peak in February or March. Once the water has subsided pearl millet, sorghum and maize are cultivated in the fertile ground. Other crops planted include beans, pumpkins and groundnuts. Dryland crops of cereals, which are dependent on rains, are cultivated further inland, while cattle and goats are also kept. Fish, an important source of protein, is caught for domestic consumption and as a source of income. Although commercial nets have been used increasingly in recent years, traditional methods such as fish weirs and funnelshaped baskets are still being used. Much of the rapid population growth in Kavango has been the result of immigration from Angola. Rundu, the administrative centre of the Kavango East Region, is one of the fastest growing towns in Namibia and the second largest town in Namibia. Nkurenkuru is the administrative centre of West Kavango. The Kavango people are expert woodcarvers. A wide variety of household items such as bowls, spoons, decorative items such as masks, furniture, animals and exquisitely carved wooden doors are made from teak. Woodcarvings and furniture can be bought from roadside vendors along the B8 north of Mururani veterinary control post, the Ncumcara Craft Shop, 35 km south of Rundu, and the Mbangura Woodcarvers’ Cooperative in Rundu. The cooperative also has two craft outlets in Okahandja, 70 km north of Windhoek.

The Kavango people are expert woodcarvers. EXPERIENCING KAVANGO CULTURE

The main focus of the Living Museum of the Mbunza, 14 km west of Rundu, is to provide visitors with a detailed insight into the pre-colonial culture of the Vambunza. The fishing and land-cultivation culture of the Vambunza is an essential part of the museum’s various interactive programmes.

| THE PEOPLE OF NAMIBIA |

THE ZAMBEZIANS OF NORTHEASTERN NAMIBIA

PAUL VAN SCHALKWYK

experts at basket making. Products range from the unique khwe fruit collecting baskets of western Zambezi, once used to carry fruits from the fields, and the open east Zambezi baskets used when harvesting crops and sifting millet and maize flower. Other handicrafts include woodcarvings of domestic implements, animal carvings, reed mats, pottery and necklaces made from mbono and other seeds. A variety of good quality handicrafts can be bought at the Mashi Tourism Hub, 118 km west of Katima Mulilo, at Kongola.

astern Zambezi, formerly known as East Caprivi, is a water-rich region which is virtually encircled by rivers – the Kwando River in the west, the Linyanti/Chobe River in the east and the Zambezi River in the northeast. It is, therefore, not surprising that many people live in close proximity to these rivers, while there is also a high concentration of people in the administrative centre, Katima Mulilo, and along the main roads linking villages in the region. The early history of the Zambezi Region, formerly known as the Caprivi, was characterised by consecutive periods of domination by the Lozi from southwestern Zambia and the Koloko, a South Sotho community who migrated from the present-day Free State through Botswana until they reached the Zambezi River. The Zambezians are composed of a diversity of communities. The Basubia live mainly on the floodplains in the east and the khuta (chief’s council) is situated at Bukalo. The Mafwe consists of a variety of ethnic linguistic groups which includes the Mafwe proper and Batotela, while the Mayeyi and the Mashi, which originally fell under the Mafwe umbrella, have their own traditional authorities. Zambezians practice a mixed subsistence economy of crop production and pastoralism. The main crops are maize and millet, while beans, sweet potatoes, groundnuts, pumpkins and melons are also grown. Cattle and goats are also kept. Fishing for domestic use or commercial purposes is another important economic activity. Bounded by Botswana, Angola and Zambia, a vibrant craft industry has developed in the region. Zambezian women are

Local crafts and handiwork from neighbouring countries can be bought at the Zambezi Art Centre near the open market in Katima Mulilo. Handicrafts ranging from wood and sandstone carvings to basketry, domestic implements and basketry and fabrics are for sale.

The Zambezians thrive in the water-rich region, formely known as East Caprivi. EXPERIENCING ZAMBEZIAN CULTURE

For those keen to gain an insight into the history, culture and way of life of the people of Zambezi there are two traditional villages well worth exploring. The Living Museum of the Mafwe is situated 17 km north of Kongola along the D3502. Programmes include a guided walk through the village, a short bush walk, singing and dancing. On the half-day programme visitors can get an insight and participate in various daily activities [daily routine]. At the Namushasha Heritage Centre close to the Namushasha River Lodge, 20 km south of Kongola, you can learn more about the cultural diversity of the region’s people. Information on various aspects are provided on informative information boards, while a variety of demonstrations including singing, dancing and crafts, as well as a performance by a medicine man is given.

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PAUL VAN SCHALKWYK

THE SAN

– NAMIBIA’S EARLIEST INHABITANTS

he San (Bushman), the earliest known inhabitants of Namibia, belong to the Khoesan people. Generally short in stature, they have light yellowish-brown skins, while their language, which differs among the various groups, is characterised by numerous click sounds.

Beadwork made from ostrich eggshell, seeds, berries, roots and segments of porcupine quills have formed part of the San people’s traditional crafts for thousands of years. Glass beads were traded with other communities while plastic beads are nowadays also used.

The San in Namibia are divided into five main groups, each with their own history, customs and language. What was formerly known as Bushmanland is the area in Namibia that is most frequently associated with the San people. The Ju/’hoansi of eastern Bushmanland have retained some of their traditional territories and still pursue their traditional way of life to some extent by gathering veld food, while hunting with the use of traditional weapons is still pursued.

Functional items such as bags traditionally used for collecting wild fruit and berries are made from softened antelope skin. Traditional San crafts can be bought at the Namibia Craft Centre in Windhoek and G!hunku Crafts situated next to the Nyae Nyae Conservancy office in Tsumkwe.

The Hai//om traditionally inhabited Etosha, as well as the Kunene and Western and Eastern Kavango regions. The !Kung, which had the widest traditional distribution in Namibia, include the Ju/’hoansi in Bushmanland where they have retained some access to their traditional territory. The Bwabwata National Park forms part of the traditional core territory of the Kxoe-speaking San. These hunter-gatherers roamed the southern African plains for thousands of years in small nomadic groups. The wealth of rock paintings and engravings in mountains and hills throughout Namibia bear witness to their former extensive range. The oldest rock art dates back some 28 000 years. The Brandberg has one of the largest concentrations of rock paintings in Africa, while Twyfelfontein, Namibia’s first World Heritage Site, has one of the richest collections of rock engravings on the continent. The San were systematically displaced and dispossessed of their traditional territories – first with the arrival of the Bantuspeaking people and later by the arrival of white settlers – and driven out to the most remote and harsh environments of southern Africa. Most of the San became farm workers, while large numbers joined the South African Defence Force during the war of independence.

The San are the origional, endemic people of Namibia. EXPERIENCING SAN CULTURE

The Living Museum of the Ju’Hoansi at Grashoek and the Living Museum of the Little Hunters provide a fascinating insight into the history, culture and customs of the San people. TUCSIN Tsumkwe Lodge in Tsumkwe conducts a variety of half-day and full-day tours that feature aspects such as gathering of veld foods, hunting and traditional dancing. Other activities include village tours and half-day tours. Muramba Bushman Trails are conducted by Reinhard Friedrich on his farm near Tsintsabis. He has an outstanding knowledge of the Hai//om San and speaks their language fluently. Visitors can interact with the Ju/’Hoansi-San by participating in several programmes at Omandumba Guest Farm in the Erongo Mountains. Omandumba is renowned for its large number of rock art sites and variety of paintings.

| THE PEOPLE OF NAMIBIA |

THE OVAHERERO – FROM THE GREAT LAKES OF EAST AFRICA

he Herero is a pastoral cattle-breeding people who migrated from the great lakes region to Namibia several centuries ago. They eventually settled at the Kunene River where they remained for about two centuries before splinter groups moved to central Namibia and eastwards, while the Ovahimba, Ovatjimba and Ovazemba remained in Kaokoland.

were reburied at the town in 1923. The Zeraua Herero commemorate their ancestors at Omaruru on the weekend preceding 10 October each year, while the Ovambanderu commemorate the death of their leader, Kahimemua Nguvauva, in June each year. He was executed by a firing squad at Okahandja in June 1896 after a failed rebellion against German rule in Gobabis.

The Ovaherero of central and eastern Namibia are subdivided into several groups who are associated with and pay allegiance to different royal houses headed by a chief. Followers can be distinguished by the colours of their flag which is displayed at ceremonial occasions. The followers of Chief Samuel Maherero formed the Red Flag organisation, while the western Ovaherero, the Zeraua Ovaherero, are united under the White Flag and the Ovambanderu under the Green Flag. Another Ovaherero group are followers of the Kambazembi Royal House in the Waterberg area.

The Okakarara Community Cultural and Tourism Centre at Okakarara has interesting exhibits of the culture of the Ovaherero as well as the 1904 war. There is also a campsite.

The Herero Uprising of 1904-1907 resulted in the large-scale death of tens of thousands of Ovaherero. Following the final battle between the Ovaherero and the German military at Hamakari on 11 August 1904, General Lothar von Trotha issued his infamous Vernichtungsbefehl (extermination order). The surviving Ovaherero fled into the wastelands of the Omaheke where tens of thousands died of hunger and thirst. Others fled to what was then known as Bechuanaland – now Botswana. The Ovaherero and the Nama have been engaged in a protracted standoff with the German government for the past few years for reparations for what is considered the first genocide of the 20th century.

The otjikaera headdress of Ovaherero women symbolises the importance of cattle to their culture.

The distinctive Victorian-style dresses (ohorokova) worn by Ovaherero women were introduced by the wives of the German missionaries in the 19th century. Up to seven cotton petticoats are worn under the dresses which are different colours and patterns – giving it its voluminous shape. The otjikaeva distinctive headdress replaced the traditional ekori headdress worn by adult Ovaherero women. It consisted of a three-pointed leather cap with a veil in front, usually worn rolled up. The two lateral points of the otjikaeva symbolises the horns of cattle, which play an important role in the Ovaherero’s culture, religion and economy.

EXPERIENCING OVAHERERO CULTURE

Red Flag Day, known as Otjiserandu in Otjiherero, is the best known of several ceremonies where the Ovaherero pay homage to their ancestors. Red Flag Day is commemorated at Okahandja on the weekend closest to 26 August – the date when the remains of Chief Samuel Maharero

LE ROUX VAN SCHALKWYK

Ovaherero crafts include traditional hand-sewn Herero dolls, leather purses, phone pouches and knife holsters, leather handbags and hand-crafted walking sticks.

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PAUL VAN SCHALKWYK

THE OVAHIMBA – THE LAST TRUE NOMADS

PAUL VAN SCHALKWYK

Ovahimba homes (ozondjuwo) are simple, cone-shaped structures of saplings bound together with palm leaves and plastered with mud and dung. The structures which have a short tunnel-shaped entrance are built by men, while the women do the plastering. A fire burns in the headman’s hut day and night to provide light, heat and keep insects away. Every homestead has a holy fire (okuruwo) in the middle of the main dwelling and the cattle enclosure. The fire has to be kept smouldering as it serves as the sacred link between the ancestors and the living. Families may move from one home to another up to ten times a year to search for grazing for their cattle and goats. As they are frequently on the move, a family may live in hundreds of dwellings in a lifetime.

he Ovahimba of Namibia’s remote north-western Kunene Region, formerly known as Kaokoland, are semi-nomadic pastoralists who migrate in search of grazing and water for their cattle. They are the descendants of Ovaherero who remained in Kaokoland when the rest of the Ovaherero migrated further south. They came under attack from Oorlam Nama commandos who raided their cattle from the mid-1800s to the end of the 19th century, leaving them destitute. Most of them took refuge north of the Kunene River in southern Angola where they gradually rebuilt their herds and returned to Namibia in the 1920s. Despite the influences they have been exposed to in the past few decades, they have largely retained their traditional way of life. The Ovahimba live in semi-permanent settlements throughout the Kunene Region. Tall, slender and statuesque, they are characterised especially by their proud and friendly bearing. The women are noted for their sculptural beauty, enhanced by intricate hairstyles and traditional adornments.

The Ovahimba of Namibia’s remote north-western Kunene Region are semi-nomadic pastoralists who migrate in search of grazing and water for their cattle. 64

Women wear a short calfskin front apron and a black skirt made of calfskin, while most men nowadays wear a black cloth around their waist. A distinctive feature of Ovahimba women is the ochre colour of their skin. This mixture of butter fat, herbs and powdered ochre (otjize) not only protects their skins, but also keeps insects at bay and prevents their hair from falling out. Head ornamentation and hairstyles still feature prominently in the Ovahimba culture. A young girl typically has plaits (ozondato). Once she has completed her puberty ceremony, she wears the ekori – a headdress made from tanned sheep’s hide or goatskin with three leaf-shaped points, often decorated with iron beads. Ovahimba males also wear different hairstyles such as the single plait (ondato) worn by young boys down the back of the head. Men of marriageable age wear the two-plait ozondato. Married men must keep their hair covered, except when mourning the death of a close relative, and wear a fabric scarf covering the head and decorated with an ornamental band. Children, men and women wear a variety of body adornments made from iron and shells that are indicative of their status. One of the most prized adornments worn by women between their breasts is the ohumba, a sea shell which is passed on from mother to daughter.

EXPERIENCING OVAHIMBA CULTURE

The Ovahimba Living Museum, one of six living museums established by the Living Culture Foundation of Namibia, offers a fascinating insight into the culture and traditions of the Ovaherero. Visitors can experience the daily routine of the Ovahimba by joining several programmes, ranging from traditional life, bush walks and craft-making to singing and dancing. The village is 42 km north of Opuwo on the D3700/ C43 road to the Epupa Falls.

| THE PEOPLE OF NAMIBIA |

THE BASTERS – PROUD OF THEIR HERITAGE

he Basters, a name meaning half-caste or bastaards, trace their origins to intermarriage and extra-marital relations between European male settlers and indigenous Khoikhoi women in the northern reaches of the Cape Colony in the 18th century. As they were regarded as inferior by the white farmers they established several independent settlements where they pursued a nomadic pastoral way of life. The Basters, however, adopted Afrikaans as their language, as well as the religion and customs of their forefathers. Despite the pejorative meaning of the word Baster, the Basters are extremely proud of their heritage. To avoid conflict over grazing and access to water with the increasing number of white farmers settling in the northern frontier area, as well as raids by the Koranna and San, a group under the leadership of Hermanus van Wyk decided to migrate north of the Orange River in November 1868. At Warmbad, just north of the Orange River, the Basters adopted a constitution and elected Hermanus van Wyk as their ‘Kaptein’ (captain). After staying at Warmbad for a short while they continued their journey further north until they reached the springs of !Anes – a Nama name meaning ‘place of smoke’ and referring to the steam rising from the springs on cold mornings. After negotiating with Abraham Swartbooi, who had abandoned the area in 1864 but retained possession of the land, they acquired a large tract of land and settled at what had earlier been named after the biblical Rehoboth when the Rhenish mission established a mission station here.

COMMEMMORATING SAM KHUBIS

Every year, on the 7th and 8th of May, the Basters congregate in large numbers at Sam Khubis to commemorate the Battle of Sam Khubis. A large number of Basters took refuge at Sam Khubis, a natural amphitheatre of rocky outcrops, after hostilities broke out between the Basters and the German military in April 1915. The Baster force of between 700 and 800 men positioned themselves in entrenchments at Sam Khubis, but were outgunned by the stronger German force. In the evening the Basters took an oath that they would commemorate the day even if only one Baster survived. Much to their surprise, the Germans withdrew the following morning to avoid the approaching Union Forces. Nine people were killed and 24 wounded on the side of the Basters, while the Germans suffered five deaths and 9 wounded.

The Basters are extremely proud of their heritage... MARITA VAN ROOYEN

The Basters have always had a very strong sense of selfdetermination. The promulgation of the South African Act No. 56 of 1976 granted self-government to the Rehoboth Gebiet (Area) over an area of close to 15,000 km² and the Rehoboth Gebiet (area) virtually became an independent state within Namibia. Following independence the area was declared state land, despite a court case by the Rehoboth Baster Community and Kaptein Hans Diergaardt against the government.

Small-stock farming is practiced in the rural areas while many Basters commute daily from Rehoboth to Windhoek where they are employed in various trades and industries. Many men are actively involved in the building industry.

The home language of the majority of Basters is Afrikaans which is spoken with a distinctive accent. This is partly due to the influence of the German language as the result of marriages between German men and Baster women during the German colonial era. Traditional Baster attire is nowadays only worn at special occasions. Women wear long dresses, a white apron and a distinctive white ‘kappie’ (bonnet). Men wear khaki trousers and shirts, a leather hat and velskoene (handmade leather shoes).

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THE NAMA â&#x20AC;&#x201C; DENIZENS OF THE SOUTH

Eight groups are the descendants of Khoikhoi pastoralists who migrated from northern Botswana westwards along the Orange River some 3,000 years ago. As they migrated further west, the increasingly arid environment forced them to split into two groups. One group settled south of the Orange River in what became known as Little Namaqualand, while the other group crossed the river and settled in what became known as Great Namaqualand. According to oral tradition, another group the Topnaars, migrated from the north and settled in the Walvis Bay area and the lower Kuiseb valley, while some migrated to Sesfontein. The original migrants were later joined by five groups of Khoikhoi people who migrated from the Cape colony northwards across the Orange River in the 18th century. Collectively known as the Oorlams, these groups wandered northwards ahead of the white trekboers with whom they had contact. As a result they spoke Dutch and as they owned horses and guns they launched raids against the other Nama groups with devastating effect. Thousands of Nama died in battle and in concentration camps after Captain Hendrik Witbooi declared war against the German colonial government on 5 October 1904. Witbooi was killed in battle on 25 October 1905, but the Nama continued to engage the German Schutztruppe with guerrilla war until the end of 1906. After the war ended, the Nama lost most of the land they had occupied.

ANNELIEN ROBBERTS

he Nama people, who live mainly in southern and central Namibia, are light in complexion and short in stature, while their language has four distinctive click sounds.

Nama people have a natural talent for music, poetry and prose. south. They are sold by roadside vendors at Duineveld between Rehoboth and Kalkrand.

EXPERIENCING NAMA CULTURE

Nama people have a natural talent for music, poetry and prose. Numerous proverbs, riddles, tales and poems have been handed down orally from generation to generation. Praise poems range from impromptu love songs and praise of heroic figures to songs of the animals and plants in their environment. They are excellent dancers and the Nama Stap is without doubt one of the best known dances in Namibia.

Gibeon becomes a hive of activity on the weekend closest to 29 October when the Witbooi Nama commemorate the death of Captain Hendrik Witbooi who was killed in a battle against the Germans at Vaalgras on that day in 1905. The festival is also a celebration of the life of the heroic leader who resisted German occupation. During the festival his life story is related and battles and battle techniques are enacted, while traditional songs and dances are performed.

Nama women are highly skilled in needlework. Their embroidery and appliquĂŠ work, regarded as a traditional art form consists of brightly coloured motifs inspired by their rural environment and lifestyles. The colourful patchwork dresses worn by the women are especially typical of their traditional clothing. Kaross floor rugs and blankets made from small-stock and antelope skins are a speciality of the

At Warmbad the death of the Bondelswarts leader Abraham Christiaan is commemorated every year in late October. He was shot and killed when he resisted arrest by a German military detachment on 25 October 1903. As he fell, Christiaan commanded the Bondelswarts to take up arms and in the ensuing shootout the local military commander and two soldiers were shot dead.

| THE PEOPLE OF NAMIBIA |

DAMARA

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; AN ENIGMATIC RACE

he origins of the Damara people are an enigma to anthropologists. One of several puzzling aspects is that while they differ physically from the Nama and the HaiIIom people, they also speak the Khoekhoegowab language. Another conundrum is that although they are dark skinned, they differ from other people of Bantu origin in Namibia in most other respects. Traditionally, the Damara community consists of a number of sub-divisions called haoti. These are clusters of clans and extended families that were formerly concentrated in specific areas, consisting of about 11 sub-groups. Phonological research of Khoekhoegowab dialects has provided evidence that the Damara were Khoe-speakers before they came into contact with the Nama. Their original distribution in the central part of Namibia extended from Otavi southwards to Rehoboth and the Khomas Hochland west of Windhoek as well as the areas between the Kuiseb and Swakop rivers. Other areas inhabited by the Damara include the Tsumeb, Grootfontein and Otavi triangle, as well as the arid pro-Namib from Sesfontein southward to the Brandberg.

The two-day annual Damara Festival takes place at Okombahe, about 60 km west of Omaruru, in November. The festival commemorates deceased Damara leaders and also aims to raise awareness of Damara traditions among the younger generation through the inclusion of cultural performances.

The origins of the Damara people are an enigma to anthropologists.

In pre-colonial times, the Damarasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; way of life was similar to that of the San insofar as they lived from hunting and gathering veldkos (veld food), but they also kept small herds of small stock, especially goats. Nowadays, rural Damara people cultivate corn and vegetables, while livestock production has become an important source of income. Many work on commercial farms; others in mines while some make a living from small-scale gemstone mining in the vicinity of Spitzkoppe and the Brandberg in the Erongo Region. A relatively large number are employed in urban centres as teachers, clerical workers and officials.

At the Damara Living Museum, just 8 km from the Twyfelfontein World Heritage Site, visitors can get a glimpse into the history, culture, daily routine and crafts of the Damara people. Also offered is a guided walk to collect plants for food, medicinal purposes or perfume, as well as setting traditional traps and snares.

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LE ROUX VAN SCHALKWYK

EXPERIENCING DAMARA CULTURE

LE ROUX VAN SCHALKWYK

The Damara were ousted from their traditional areas by the advancing Nama and Ovaherero. In German colonial times they were settled in the Okombahe area, as well as other smaller reserves, including land that was subsequently proclaimed as the Daan Viljoen Game Reserve, west of Windhoek. An area of close to 4.7 million hectares was proclaimed as Damaraland by the South African administration in 1973, with Khorixas as its administrative capital. Following independence, this area became part of the Erongo Region.

AMORA ERASMUS

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SURROUNDINGS & CENTRAL EAST

Windhoek,

Windhoek The Windhoek, Surroundings and Central East

Region is dominated by its capital, a bustling city with an estimated population of 340 900 (based on the 2011 census). Windhoek lies in an airy basin in the central highlands, surrounded by the Auas Mountains in the southeast, the Eros Mountains in the northeast and the Khomas Hochland in the west.

indhoek is often described as a city with a ‘continental’ atmosphere. This can be ascribed to its architecture – historical buildings dating back to German colonial rule – as well as to its cuisine, culture, dress codes and educational institutions. At the same time Windhoek has the colour, sounds and pace of a modern African city. Pavement displays of African drums and woodcarvings from the north contrast with elegant shops offering sophisticated Swakara garments and Namibian gemstones set in individually designed jewellery. While some shops display clothing, silver and glassware imported from Europe, others stock casual and colourful garments from West Africa. Because of the many hot springs in the area, Windhoek was initially known as Ai-gams (correctly spelt /Ai //Gams to indicate the click sound), a Nama word meaning ‘firewater’, ‘steam’ or ‘smoke’, and Otjomuise, a Herero word meaning the ‘place of steam’. The Nama captain, Jan Jonker Afrikaner, gave the town the name it carries today. In the early 1840s Afrikaner settled where the most powerful spring reached the surface. It is thought that in a moment of nostalgia he named the place after Winterhoek, the farm in the Cape where he was born. During the German colonial administration the town was called Windhuk, which was subsequently changed to Windhoek. Public transport in the city consists mainly of taxis, while a bus service transports passengers between Katutura and Khomasdal to Windhoek and its various suburbs.

CHARENE LABUSCHAGNE

WALK THROUGH WINDHOEK

If you’re keen on walking and would like to orient yourself in the capital, a leisurely circular route starting and ending at the golden Independence Museum in Robert Mugabe Avenue will give you a good idea of what the LEFT The National Independence Memorial Museum

ELZANNE MCCULLOCH

CHARENE LABUSCHAGNE

| WINDHOEK SURROUNDINGS & CENTRAL EAST |

ABOVE, LEFT TO RIGHT Supreme Court of Namibia • Independence Street and the Zoo Park in central Windhoek

city has to offer, and a glimpse of Namibia’s cultural diversity. After a visit to the Independence Museum, dedicated to the Namibian liberation struggle, make a stopover at the neighbouring Alte Feste (old fort), built in the early 1890s to protect the new settlers in Windhoek and provide accommodation for members of the Schutztruppe. Opposite, in the historical Emma Hoogenhout building, are the administrative headquarters of the National Museum of Namibia. Further south along Robert Mugabe Avenue, on the right, is the Office of the Ombudsman, built in 1906 as a residence for senior government officials and converted into offices following independence. Take a sharp turn right into Sam Nujoma Avenue, and at the first traffic light, do a quick detour to the right into Rev. Michael Scott Street to look at the Supreme Court building, the only development after independence that reflects an African, albeit northern African, style of architecture.

Having viewed this imposing building, head back to Sam Nujoma Avenue and proceed down to Independence Avenue. On your right you will be greeted by Namibia’s first five-star accommodation establishment, the Hilton Windhoek, which was opened in 2011. On your left in front of the Municipality Building is the statue of Curt von Francois, commander of a small force of Schutztruppe, who established the Alte Feste as his headquarters in Windhoek in 1890, and who is regarded by some historians as the city’s founder. Go one more block further down and turn left into Tal Street, where you will find the Namibia Craft Centre in the Old Breweries Building. The best examples of handiwork by Namibia’s craftspeople can be viewed and purchased here, and the Craft Café offers delectable refreshments. From here return to Independence Avenue and stroll northwards until you reach the Gustav Voigts Centre. Built in the early seventies and conveniently central, the Gustav Voigts Centre offers a great deal more than convenience stores and banking facilities, such as outlets for hand-crafted jewellery, Swakara garments, camping and safari gear, curios and hand-made souvenirs, maps and books and other utility stores. The historical Wecke & Voigts store can be found here. The centre is flanked by the Carl List Mall, also

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a great place for shopping or a cup of tea. From the Gustav Voigts Centre, cross Independence Avenue at the first set of traffic lights and then cross Fidel Castro Street to Zoo Park – named after the zoo that once existed here. Here you will see a curious two-metrehigh stone column sculpted by wellknown Namibian artist, Dörte Berner. The monument marks the place where the remains of elephant bones were excavated in the fifties, now on display at the Earth Science Museum near Eros Airport. Also in the park is the Witbooi Memorial, unveiled in 1997 to commemorate the lives of soldiers lost in battles fought between the Schutztruppe and the legendary Nama chief, Hendrik Witbooi. Cross Independence Avenue for a short detour down Post Street Mall. Completed shortly after independence, the Mall has a large number of shops

Windhoek has the colour, sounds and pace of a modern African city. 71

PAUL VAN SCHALKWYK

On the opposite corner is the FrancoNamibian Cultural Centre (FNCC), one of the most important players in Namibia’s cultural scene. When you proceed southwards down Robert Mugabe to where it crosses John Meinert Street, you will find the National Art Gallery of Namibia, well worth a visit to see the Permanent Collection established and owned by the Arts Association Heritage Trust, which features historical and contemporary Namibian art. Next door is the National Theatre of Namibia, and opposite the Namibia Scientific Society, where a wide selection of authoritative publications on the country published by the Society can be purchased.

ABOVE Statue of Reverend Theophilus Hingashikuka Hamutumbangela in the Namibia Parliament Gardens, with the Christuskirche in the background.

and boutiques and is a favoured venue for street vendors selling rural art, African-style clothing, curios and jewellery. While the new structures blend with Windhoek’s historical German architecture, bright colours such as blue, pink, cerise and purple give them a modern and lively appearance. Town Square, an addition to the Mall, offers more dining and shopping opportunities. Developed around what was one of Windhoek’s oldest hotels and accessible from the Mall is the genial Kaiserkrone Shopping Centre with its palm trees and a variety of shops. Mounted on steel columns and adding special interest to the Mall is the Gibeon Meteorite Fountain, where 31 of the original 77 Gibeon meteorites are displayed. The Gibeon meteorite shower occurred in southern Namibia southeast of Gibeon, and is the largest known shower of its kind in the world. Return to Independence Avenue, cross to the Main Post Office, turn right into Daniel Munamava Street and then left into Lüderitz Street, proceeding down the hill until it runs into Independence

Avenue again. On your right you will pass the Public Library, then the Magistrate’s Court and, on the corner with John Meinert Street, the High Court of Namibia. The bronze kudu mounted on a high stone plinth on the corner to your left is a landmark often used by locals when giving directions. From here you turn right into Independence Avenue, cross at the traffic lights, and at the next set of lights, veer left into Mburumba Kerina Street. At the bottom of Mburumba Kerina Street on the right is the historical Windhoek Railway Station, built in 1912/1913. In front of the building is a narrow-gauge locomotive, and on the first floor is the TransNamib Railway Museum, well worth a visit. Double back up Bahnhof Street, cross Independence Avenue and proceed eastwards until you reach Robert Mugabe Avenue, having taken note of the Turnhalle Building on the right-hand corner.

In front of the Tintenpalast are the Parliament Gardens, a great place for relaxing with a book under age-old trees.

Up the hill on Robert Mugabe (on the right) is the former State House, a renovated version of the original house occupied by the former South West African administrators and now the official residence of Namibia’s prime minister. At the top is the Christuskirche, an Evangelical Lutheran Church, one of the city’s most striking landmarks, built from local sandstone and completed in 1910. Its design was influenced by Romanesque, neoGothic and Art Nouveau styles, and its stained-glass windows were donated by Kaiser Wilhelm II. To the east of the church is the famous Tintenpalast, meaning Ink Palace. This is Namibia’s original Government Building, completed in 1914 in time for the first session of the Landesrat. Since then it has housed a series of successive administrations and governments. After independence it was renovated to accommodate the current Namibian Parliament. In front of the Tintenpalast are the Parliament Gardens, a great place for relaxing with a book under age-old trees. When you’re done in the garden, walk back to the Independence Museum from where you started.

NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND LIBRARY

The National Archives and the National Library of Namibia share a modern archival building with spacious reading rooms at 1 Eugene Marais Street. Both institutions are open to the general public. The National Archives of Namibia hold the memory of the nation, with about 7 km of shelving filled with government records dating back to the beginning of German colonisation

| WINDHOEK SURROUNDINGS & CENTRAL EAST | in 1884. Computerised registers make it easy to search for people, places and subjects. Apart from government records, a variety of private papers are preserved in the collection, some of them dating back to the pre-colonial times of the mid-19th century, as well as some 15 000 indexed photographs, 6 000 maps and plans and posters, and a film, video and oral history collection. Of particular interest are the correspondence books of the famous Namibian leader, Captain Hendrik Witbooi (1835–1905), a treasure whose international importance is recognised by an inscription on the Unesco Memory of the World register – one of very few African items on that list. The National Library of Namibia keeps the largest collection of Namibiana, that is publications from and about Namibia, in existence. This includes the very first travel report about Namibia by the Frenchman Le Vaillant, published in 1790; an almost complete collection of all Namibian newspapers since the first one appeared in 1896; and books on Namibia published in 50 languages and in 80 countries.

other regions, identifying them by their nametags, and rest on a bench while enjoying the peaceful atmosphere and watching the visitors to the birdbaths. The entrance to the grounds is at the NBRI, 8 Orban Street. The garden is open on weekdays during office hours (8:00 to 17:00). A tour is conducted on the first Saturday of each month by a member of the Botanical Society of Namibia, Tel (+264 61) 202 2014. The tour starts at 8:00.

BOTANICAL GARDEN

DAY TRIPS FROM WINDHOEK

The National Botanical Garden of Namibia (NBGN) in the heart of Windhoek is undoubtedly one of the capital’s gems. Situated on the slopes of a hill that forms a natural divide between the city centre and the suburb of Klein Windhoek, it was proclaimed a conservation area in 1969. In 1990 the National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) moved to the site above the garden. Since then, the Botanical Garden has become a versatile paradise of greenery and flowers, providing sanctuary to many small creatures and birds. Wandering along the paths you can learn about plants from Namibia’s

There are several recreation resorts and guest farms close enough to Windhoek in the Central Region for day and weekend excursions. These include the Daan Viljoen Game Park, the Gross-Barmen Hot Springs Resort about 100 km northwest of the capital, the Von Bach Recreation Resort, 65 km north of Windhoek off the B1 (a popular venue for aquatic sports and freshwater angling enthusiasts), and the Hardap Recreation Resort, 250 km south of Windhoek.

BELOW Hike in the Daan Viljoen Game Park

WILLIE OLIVIER

Namibian-published and archival heritage is also preserved by two

private scientific societies. The Namibia Scientific Society in Windhoek, which publishes a scholarly journal, maintains a reference library on Robert Mugabe Avenue opposite the National Theatre. The Society of Scientific Development in Swakopmund maintains not only the well-visited Swakopmund Museum, but also the Sam Cohen Library and Otavi Railway Station. Both libraries are open for research and include archival material, photographs and maps.

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Kudu, baboon, Hartmann's mountain zebra, gemsbok and red hartebeest can be seen at Voch Bach just outside Windhoek. Von Bach Recreation Resort

Accessible from the B1 from Windhoek to the north, sign-posted about 3.5 km south of Okahandja, the Von Bach Dam and Game Park extends over an area of 43 km². The facility, proclaimed in 1972, has become a popular venue for aquatic sports such as water-skiing, yachting, windsurfing and boating. The dam is popular among freshwater angling enthusiasts, as it has been stocked with large-mouth bass, blue kurper and small-mouth yellow-fish. Carp and barbel also occur here. Visitors can explore the surrounding nature reserve on foot. While BELOW

LE ROUX VAN SCHALKWYK

The view over the Hardap Dam

gameviewing opportunities are limited, kudu, baboon, Hartmann’s mountain zebra, gemsbok and red hartebeest are seen here. Facilities at the dam, which are on a 50-year lease by Tuneni Investments include luxury chalets, deluxe bungalows, campsites and the Daw Restaurant overlooking the dam. Activities include taking a sundowner boat cruise, canoeing, fishing and a variety of watersports.

Gross-Barmen Hot Springs Resort About 100 km northwest of Windhoek off the B1, the Gross-Barmen Hot Springs Resort is another popular day and weekend destination. The main feature of this facility is the large dome-shaped and glassenclosed thermal hall, which houses a communal bath of steaming spring water (65˚C). Under management of Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR), the resort was closed in November 2010 for renovations. Now that it has been completed, it caters for health and beauty enthusiasts as well as for fitness, leisure and adventure fans.

Hardap Game Reserve

Built in the 1960s with a capacity of 320 million cubic metres and a surface area of 25 km², Hardap was Namibia’s largest dam until the opening of Neckertal Dam near Keetmanshoop in 2018. The 252 km² game reserve and recreation resort were proclaimed in

1968. Accessible from the B1, Hardap lies 250 kilometres south of Windhoek, and 20 kilometres northwest of Mariental. Situated on the cliffs above the dam, accommodation at the Hardap Resort which is managed by Namibia Wildlife Resorts, ranges from VIP and family chalets to bush chalets, while campsites are also available Facilities include a swimming pool and restaurant overlooking the dam. A national club championship and two international angling championships are arranged at Hardap every year. Namibian, South African and Zimbabwean anglers take part in the competitions.

TOWNS CLOSE TO WINDHOEK Okahandja

Directly north of Windhoek lies Okahandja, a town of great significance to the Herero people because it was once the seat of the famous Chief Samuel Maharero. Every year on the weekend closest to 26 August – with the exception of 2011 when it was held in Gobabis, and referred to as Heroes’ Day – thousands of Hereros converge on the town to pay homage at the graves of their great chiefs. Some of the women are dressed in traditional red and black, others in green and black, while the men wear full military regalia, complete with medals. Visitors are welcome to view this rich and colourful ceremony.

PAUL VAN SCHALKWYK

| WINDHOEK SURROUNDINGS & CENTRAL EAST |

According to historian Dr H Vedder, the name Okahandja comes from Herero and means ‘small widening’, the place where the rivers meet. The earliest records of the town date back to 1844 when the first two missionaries arrived there. The year 1894, however, is regarded as the birth of the town, as Okahandja became a military base that year and a fort was built. On 26 August 1923, Chief Samuel Maherero was laid to rest in Okahandja at a funeral attended by approximately 2 000 people. Since then this day has been celebrated annually at Okahandja by the Herero people. The town is an important centre for woodcarvers from the north. They practise their ancient skills at the woodand-thatch Mbangura Woodcarvers Market next to the main road, both at the entrance and at the exit of the town. Also at the main entrance to the town, right next to the service station, is a biltong, coffee and gift shop that makes for a good pit stop. Okahandja is also a good place to buy biltong, at CLOSWA and Piet’s Biltong.

Gobabis

The largest town east of Windhoek is Gobabis, an important cattleranching centre. A monument of a bull welcomes visitors at the entrance to the town. Gobabis is the gateway to the Trans-Kalahari Highway, linking

Namibia to Botswana and South Africa. The completion of this highway resulted in the development of several new tourist lodges in the surroundings. Gobabis developed around a mission station established in 1856 by Friederich Eggert of the Rhenish Missionary Society. In the latter half of the 1800s and the early 1900s, several conflicts flared up between the Mbanderu and Khauas Khoekhoe, as well as between the settlers and the indigenous people. The Gobabis district was proclaimed by the German authorities in February 1894, and in June the following year, Gobabis was occupied by a German garrison. While the military fort, built in 1896/7, has long since disappeared, one of the few buildings dating back to that era is the field hospital, or Lazarett, which has been declared a national monument. Of special interest is the Gobabis Museum, recently rehoused by the Museum Association of Namibia in the old library building with a grant of N$ 20 000 from the Federal Republic of Germany. The new museum was established with the support of Eberhard and Elfriede Einbeck, the couple who ran a private museum in Gobabis for many years. The Uakii Wilderness & Gobabis Info and Coffee Shop in Gobabis is the only tourism information office in the

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ABOVE The main road entering Gobabis

Omaheke Region. It offers services such as bookings, tour facilitator services, a coffee shop, Internet facilities, camping and ‘information with a warm smile’. In 2011 the former Horizons Hotel was revamped and renamed the Kalahari Convention Centre, becoming the first black-owned hotel in the Omaheke Region. Another first for the region and the country, was the construction of the first house made up of tightly packed sandbags, instead of bricks, held together by a timber framework. This innovative and eco-friendly concept was used when building the kitchen for the Omuhaturua Primary School hostel and is part of an overall scheme by the Catherine Bullen Foundation to develop a canteen, kitchen and outdoor recreation area at the primary school. Approximately 100 kilometres northeast of Gobabis, the Harnas Wildlife Foundation and Guest Farm is one of the few wildlife orphanages and welfare centres in Southern Africa. The foundation focuses on the rehabilitation of neglected, abused and abandoned wild animals, while the guest farm provides a variety of accommodation.

LE ROUX VAN SCHALKWYK

Rehoboth ABOVE The view from and of the Spreetshoogte Pass

Southeast of Windhoek is the historical town of Dordabis, where cattle farmer and local businessman Michael Krafft of Farm Ibenstein has taken on the massive task of renovating the historical buildings of Dordabis. The Krafft family has lived in the Dordabis environs for many years. Michael is the grandson of August Stauch, the diamond pioneer of Kolmanskop, who developed Dordabis as a trade centre in the 1920s. Michael has restored the old stone house – once the residence of August Stauch and his wife Ida – to its former glory and uses it to accommodate hunters. He has also restored several other historical buildings, such as the dairy and abattoirs built in the 1920s. Four kilometres from Dordabis, producers of karakul carpets can be visited at Ibenstein Teppiche. Also in this area is the farm Peperkorrel, where the well-known Dorka carpets are made. Peperkorrel also houses a sculpture studio, with works by local artist Dörte Berner.

Some 88 km south of Windhoek, amongst a relatively dense acacia woodland of camel-thorn, sweet-thorn and candle-pod acacia, is the historical town of Rehoboth. It is inhabited by the Baster community, descendants of people of mixed parentage who trekked across the Orange River under their leader Hermanus van Wyk and settled at Rehoboth in 1870. The history of the Rehoboth Basters is recorded in the Rehoboth Museum, established by Namibian anthropologist and archaeologist, Dr Beatrice Sandelowsky. Displays detail the cultural heritage of the Basters and archaeological finds in the area, such as an open-air burial site. Representing a vital component in the preservation of Rehoboth’s past, displays of minerals and volcanic rocks give an insight into the geological formations on the African continent in general and in Namibia in particular, while fossil remains provide a glimpse into the evolution of man on the continent. Augmented by the many historical items representing the lives and stories of this interesting people, the reference library contains further reading on the national heritage of the Rehoboth Volk. In earlier times a camelthorn tree referred to as Kaptein’s Tree was the venue for the meetings of the Kapteinsraad, an equivalent to a Chief’s Council. Just west of Rehoboth is

Oanob Dam, which supplies Rehoboth with water. Overlooking the dam are picnic places with barbecue facilities, a restaurant, bungalows and a number of walking trails. Oanob is a favoured venue for day and weekend outings, for locals as well as bird-watchers and water sports enthusiasts. An area of some 8 400 ha referred to as the Acacia Forest and well-known for its large camel-thorn trees (some estimated to be 2 000 years old) lies within the municipal boundaries of Rehoboth. The possibility of proclaiming the area as a community park is being considered.

Mariental

Situated 178 km south of Rehoboth off the B1, Mariental is a small, quietly flourishing market town. Nearby Hardap Dam is the second largest reservoir in Namibia and provides water for irrigation, enabling the cultivation of animal fodder, as well as some fruits and vegetables. The Aimeb Superfarm in Mariental is one of the most modern dairy farms in the world and has a planned capacity of up to 2 000 cows. Sitting astride the main route into the Kalahari and Namib deserts, Mariental also services the needs of farmers in these areas. Mariental is home to a large number of Nama-speaking people, descendants of the early Khoi inhabitants of Namibia.

| WINDHOEK SURROUNDINGS & CENTRAL EAST |

When travelling in a circular route in the Gamsberg surroundings, the scenery is spectacular, especially along the Gamsberg, Spreetshoogte and Remhoogte passes. Dominating the landscape 120 km southwest of Windhoek and characterised by its conspicuous cap of weather-resistant quartzite sandstone is the Gamsberg, a large table-topped mountain that rises some 500 metres above the surrounding Khomas Hochland. At a height of 2 347 metres, it is Namibia’s fourth-highest mountain. The plateau is regarded as an outstanding site for astronomical observations, as the night sky is extraordinarily clear and the absence of towns and the resultant darkness of the surroundings makes it an ideal location from which to study the stars of the southern hemisphere. Many of the farms in the environs are involved in tourism, and can be visited to have a meal, spend a night or two, or simply relax over coffee and cake. Hakos Guest Farm is situated above Gamsberg Pass on the C26, 135 km from Windhoek and 240 km each from Walvis Bay and Sesriem. Nestled against the Hakos

RIGHT Hikers exploring the Windhoek Green Belt Landscape

Mountains, Hakos Guest Farm offers incomparable views. An observatory, run by the IAS (International Amateur Observatory Society) to keep Gamsberg accessible for astronomy, is situated on the farm and guided stargazing sessions form part of the Hakos experience.

The Windhoek Green Belt Landscape

The Windhoek Green Belt Landscape is one of five Protected Landscape Conservation Areas launched in 2011, each including a state protected area at its core. With the other PLCAs – around Waterberg Plateau Park (18 763 km²), Sossusvlei (5 730 km²), Fish River Canyon 7 621 km²) and Mudumu (2 047 km²) in north-eastern Namibia

– almost sixteen thousand square kilometres are under protected management. These are demonstration sites, but the long-term vision of the Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism is to expand such areas into a large-scale network in order to address the loss of habitat and other threats to species, to conserve biodiversity and ecosystems, and to establish corridors to sustain viable wildlife populations. Close to Windhoek the PLCA covers 760 km² in the Khomas Hochland plateau west of the capital. The area includes several state and freehold farms used for cattle, game farming, hunting and tourism, and has the Daan Viljoen Game Park at its core.

WILLIE OLIVIER

KHOMAS HOCHLAND

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alt ats

D1621

C30

D2124

D2110

Wilhelmstal

Tinkas Nature Trail

Otjisemba

D1992

D19

Rock Sculpture Trail

PE RM

D211

Vogelsang

D195

D2166

Usakos

2187

D2414

Karibib

D19

MIT

Evero

Omatako

D2121

PE R

D23

Tsaobis Leopard Nature Park

Homeb

Osire D2459

806

Okondjatu

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D2404

C36

C32

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bustling metropolitan city, surrounded by nature. B1

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Namib Desert Park

Gobabeb Desert Research Centre

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Etjo

Sukses

Otjimbovo

Erongo

Etiro

Aukas

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Dinosaur's Footprints

328

Philips Ameib Cave

ssing

C28

C22

D245

D2138

D2306

D193

2350m

Waterbank

ko p

D2454

C30

D2483

C33

Arandis

Swa

D3805

D38

Okozangoro

Franke Tower Etemba & Roman Catholic Omaruru Church D2315 & Rhenish Mission Norman House

Welwitschia Plains

Hebron

Okamatapati

D3805

WINDHOEK AND SURROUNDINGS Kaalkop

Tjirundo

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Goanikontes

338

44 Okakombo

Ebony

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1728m Gross Spitzkoppe

Trekkopje

Otjozondjup

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Rock Arch

Rock Paintings

Ozondjache

Kameelberg

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Erundu

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Okakarara

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Kalkveld

D23

Omatjete

Tubusis

TSCHIA RIVE

Otjiwarongo

D2511

Okombahe

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Waterberg Wilderness Trail Otjahevita Waterberg Walks German & Herero Military Graveyard

Otjenga

D 24

Ondumbo

Badges

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D2339

D2433

Okave

D2476

Eremutua

D37

Neineis

Coblenz

Accommodation

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Waterberg Plateau Park

Dramatic Cliffs

Otjihorongo

Uis

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Otjitasu

Omahoro

D23

804

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Heuningberg

Epupa

Ozondati

Okaputa

Otjikango

Esere

D2902

8 D3

Orusewa

C35

C38

D235 1

D2743

D2752

C39

Naulila Vrindskap Monument b & Uga Stone Hartseer Tower

D3802

C39

Gainatseb Vingerklip (Rock Finger)

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Cauas

1553m

D28

D2775

D274

Outjo

Nugubaes

Fransfontein

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Platveld

C40

D3236

Tutara

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Goreis

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C17

| WINDHOEK SURROUNDINGS & CENTRAL EAST | 1

Auas Safari Lodge First encounters with nature Located in African savannah embraced by the Auas Mountains, Auas Safari Lodge celebrates landscape and animals. A 45-minute drive from Hosea Kutako International Airport, the lodge provides an ideal place to start and end your Namibian visit. Guided walks and game drives are a highlight, with giraffe, waterbuck, kudu, wildebeest and ostrich frequenting the sprawling savannah. Fourteen rooms provide a comfortable retreat, while the thatched lapa and turquoise swimming pool are favourite places to relax. Dinner is served indoors or on the patio under a starlit sky. Friendly staff, magnificent scenery and intriguing wildlife merge to impart the sweet taste of Africa. PO Box 91045, Windhoek Reservations Tel: (+264 61) 22 8104 Email: auassafarilodge@journeysnamibia.com Web: www.auas-safarilodge.com

Belvedere Boutique Hotel Nestled in the quiet heart of Windhoek’s residential area lies a hotel that welcomes guests to feel like a local while experiencing the pampered indulgence of being a guest. Timeless elegance encapsulated with simple white exteriors, chic detailing, a fresh green garden and a water-saving artificial lawn perfect for the arid city. Guests can work up a sweat on the fully maintained tennis court located on the premises that is a stone’s throw away from the rooms. The main areas offer wide open views of the Klein Windhoek hills and surroundings. The sky forms a wide arc of friendly blue through the huge windows. Practice your putt underneath the charming purple Jacaranda trees or take a swim in the refreshingly cool swimming pool to wash off the heat of a day exploring the capital. 76 & 78 Dr Kwame Nkrumah Road, Ludwigsdorf, Windhoek Tel/Fax: (+264 61) 25 8867 Cell: (+264 81) 127 2037 Email: belvedere@afol.com.na Web: www.belvedere-boutiquehotel.com

Casa Blanca Welcome to Casa Blanca, an oasis of easy and carefree living! With its Spanish-style architecture and tranquil garden, this boutique hotel pension provides relaxed accommodation for business travellers and tourists alike. Our à la carte restaurant is open six days a week Sunday to Friday (for resident guests only). Its welcoming ambience and inside seating makes it a perfect place for travellers and locals alike. Come and relax at our private bar and outdoor lounge area with friends, family or business associates. The pension hotel provides complementary gym facilities and a swimming pool area. Come and enjoy our warm hospitality and personalised service. Cor. Gous & Fritsche Street, Pionierspark, Windhoek Tel: (+264 61) 24 9623 Fax: (+264 61) 24 9622 Email: Casablanca@afol.com.na Web: www.casablancahotel.com.na

Gross-Barmen Resort Gross-Barmen, a short distance out of Okahandja north of Windhoek, has been a popular destination for locals and visitors alike for many years. State-of-the-art spa and wellness facilities, a variety of accommodation options, conferencing and event venues make this an ideal location for all your needs. The resort’s iconic indoor and outdoor swimming pools ideally round-off your stay. For those looking for a home away from home for weekends and holidays, Gross-Barmen is the place to go.

P/Bag 13378, Windhoek Tel: (+264 61) 285 7200 Fax: (+264 61) 22 4900 Email: reservations@nwr.com.na Web: www.nwr.com.na

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Droombos A culmination of perfection is what comes to mind when visiting Droombos, an exclusive lodge that refuses to be associated with the ordinary. And rightly so. Situated only a few minutes drive outside Windhoek, Droombos brings a unique flair to celebrations of any kind. Whether it's celebrating birthdays, weddings or the beauty of Droombos by staying in one of the luxurious rooms, the dream-like atmosphere of the manicured gardens and towering ancient trees will enchant you. Droombos creates an opulent setting that is a perfect eclectic balance between nature, self-sustainability and luxury. Suitable for everything from conferences, corporate functions, weddings, celebrations to baby showers, Droombos is the perfect location where your dreams will become a reality.

Farm Klein Windhoek Portion 41, Windhoek Town and Townlands No. 70, Klein Windhoek Tel: (+264 83) 288 8352 Email: info@droombos.com.na Web: www.droombos.com.na

Eningu Clayhouse Lodge Space and tranquillity – creativity, style and inspiration – archaeology and art – fine food and good company… This is Eningu, the Clayhouse Lodge in the Kalahari. Eningu is a window on the Kalahari Desert, providing a creative view from a place of style and beauty. It is a lodge imbued with warmth, handcraft and art, nestled in camel-thorn savannah where the last rocky outcrops of the central Namibian highlands dip their jagged edges into deep red sands, creating the gentle ripples that are the first dunes of the Kalahari. Eningu Clayhouse Lodge, situated on Farm Peperkorrel, offers nine private, individually styled guestrooms, a swimming pool, a rooftop sundeck, a lounge, indoor and outdoor dining areas, an archery range, a wine cellar, a souvenir shop and much more. Complete your stay with a visit to the Home of Sculptures by Dörte Berner, an internationally recognised sculptor. PO Box 11558, Windhoek Tel: (+264 64) 46 4144 Fax: (+264 64) 46 4155 Email: info@eningulodge.com Web: www.eningulodge.com

| WINDHOEK SURROUNDINGS & CENTRAL EAST | 7

Hardap Resort Overlooking Hardap Dam, about 260 km south of Windhoek, is Hardap Resort. Accommodation options at the resort include VIP rooms, family and bush chalets, a dormitory and camping sites. Other amenities and facilities include a swimming pool, conference facility, restaurant and shop. Hardap is well known as an angler’s paradise, with annual competitions held regularly for enthusiasts. But few know that the small Hardap Game Reserve is a haven for black rhino and that the dam and surroundings accommodate one of Namibia’s most strategic Great White Pelican breeding colonies and a thriving freshwater fish institute that is supporting the country’s growing aquaculture industry. P/Bag 13378, Windhoek Tel: (+264 61) 285 7200 Fax: (+264 61) 22 4900 Email: reservations@nwr.com.na Web: www.nwr.com.na

Hillside Suites Hillside Suites offers fully serviced apartments with breakfast included and in walking distance from the city of Windhoek. This Apartment Hotel boasts stylish, modern, spacious interiors and is the perfect home away from home for our guests.At Hillside suites we surprise and delight our guests with service and experiences that create unforgettable memories. Our seamless delivery of service excellence and shared local ‘secrets’ ensure our guests experience a crafted, bespoke stay that exceeds their needs and desires. We have many services to make your stay comfortable like breakfast included, free Wi-Fi, daily housekeeping Service, free parking on site, a fully-equipped kitchen, laundry arrangements, 24-hour Security and a pool for your relaxation. Nelson Mandela Av 93, Klein Windhoek, Windhoek Tel: +264 (61) 248 300 After Hours: +264 81 287 9910 Email: admin@hillsidewindhoek.com Web: www.hillsidewindhoek.com

Suites

Hotel Thuringerhof Hotel Thuringerhof is an elegant city hotel, conveniently located on Independence Avenue, the main street in Windhoek. It is the ideal hotel for business travellers or guests wanting to explore the local attractions. The hotel offers guests 43 rooms, each room stylishly appointed with air-conditioning, en-suite bathroom and other guest amenities. All of the rooms offer Wi-Fi. Hotel Thuringerhof offers conference facilities with standard business services and can accommodate 150 people. Guests can mingle and network at the vibrant outdoor beer garden or The Thuringerhof Restaurant, which is very popular for lunch-time get-togethers. Airport shuttles and transport can be arranged for guests wishing to explore the many interesting places to visit in the capital. Corner of Bahnhof & Independence Avenue, Windhoek Tel: +264 61 226 031 Email: cro@united.com.na Web: www.unitedafricagroup.com.na

Kalahari Red Dunes Lodge Kalahari Red Dunes Lodge is a veritable Luxury of Solitude that offers its visitors abundant space and privacy. The main house consisting of a reception area, lobby, restaurant, bar, pool and shaded deck is situated in a dry vlei (pan). A 120-metre-long boardwalk connects the main building with the chalets. These are nestled around the vlei, which is often frequented by game. Each chalet has a tented and stone- and thatchroofed section, as well as a private terrace. There is also one superior unit. During the nature/game drives and nature walks, visitors are given the opportunity to experience the breathtaking beauty of the Kalahari with its up to 30-metre-high red dunes and huge variety of game. P.O. Box 90819, Windhoek Bookings: Tel +264 61 240 020 Email: reservations@redduneslodge.com Tel: +264 (0) 84 000 6011 Email: info@redduneslodge.com Web: www.ondili.com

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Lake Oanob Resort Situated on 6200 hectares in the beautiful Hardap Region and only 100 kilometres south of Windhoek, Lake Oanob Resort is a unique resort featuring spacious luxury chalets, cosy rooms and unique campsites. Open all year, Lake Oanob Resort offers superb lake views, genuine, heart-felt hospitality and is the perfect place to relax and be invigorated. Some activities you can enjoy year-round include nature drives, hiking, boat rides, canoeing, aqua cycling, pool bar, swimming in our outdoor pools or in the lake. PO Box 3381, Rehoboth, Namibia Tel: (+264 62) 52 2370 Fax: (+264 62) 52 4112 Email: reservations@oanob.com.na Web: www.oanob.com.na

Little Forest Garden Retreat Let your journey begin The guesthouse, situated in Olaf Palme str, Eros park, Windhoek, provides an elegant selection of accommodation for the discerning traveler who seeks a sophisticated life style. All of our rooms provide a comfortable and luxurious stay with a family atmosphere. With a stunning fresh water outdoor lap pool, restaurant and bar, BBQ and picnic area, Little Forest Garden Retreat Guesthouse is a perfect venue for small gatherings. Enjoy your cozy surroundings at this little retreat in the heart of Windhoek.

PO Box 91045, Windhoek Reseration tel: +264 61 228104 Email: littleforest@journeysnamibia.com Web: www.namlittleforest.com

Midgard Country Estate Midgard Country Estate is an ideal family hide-away, a first or last stop for international visitors, the perfect venue for intimate meetings, team-building events or weddings. Acquired in 1937, Carl Werner List originally farmed the 12 000 hectare estate, developing this private and intimate world into a household name in Namibia. Midgard Country Estate was born. Today we invite our guests to enjoy the tranquillity, while marveling at the pioneering German Settler spirit which gave birth to it all. “Midgard”, a word found in Old Norse, Middle English and High German languages, has varying meanings, but is popularly thought to mean “A paradise where the earth rises again, fertile and green, creating a protected world and a safe empire for the people”. Central Reservations Tel: (+264 61) 431 8002 Email: midgard.res@ol.na Web: www.ol-leisure.com

N/a’an ku sê @ Utopia The modern, up-market N/a’ankusê @ Utopia Establishment offering serene rooms, luxurious suites and an executive suite, situated amidst beautiful, green lush gardens. It is also conveniently situated in the most tranquil suburb, Klein Windhoek. The N/a’ankusê @ Utopia guesthouse is a perfect hideaway making you feel at home away from home. Our on-premises restaurant, offers the perfect venue for meetings, be it with business acquaintances or friends. This fashionable restaurant is ever tempting the palate for more as it provides wine lovers, foodies and gourmets with an everlasting experience, serving delicious cuisine created with love, detail and perfection. Tel: (+264 61) 21 1299 Cell: (+264 85) 588 7704 Email: utopia@naankuse.com Website: www.naankusecollection.com Location: corner of 66 Nelson Mandela Ave and Barella Street Klein Windhoek

| WINDHOEK SURROUNDINGS & CENTRAL EAST | 15

N/a’an ku sê Lodge and Wildlife Sanctuary On a 3,200-ha reserve near the Hosea Kutako International Airport and central Windhoek our property offer Carnivore Feeding Tours, Ancient Skills Academy, Cheetah Experiences and the ‘Behind the Scenes’ tours. You have a choice of staying in one of our six individual chalets, family villas or canvas bush camp tents. We offer a dining area where we serve award-winning cuisine, with stunning views, a bar and a swimming pool – in short, a delightful blend of rich ethnicity and modern luxury. The N/a’an ku sê Lodge is the only Charity Lodge in Namibia, with all the profits going back to our charitable projects. PO Box 99292, Windhoek Tel: (+264 61) 30 7338 Email: lodge@naankuse.com Web: www.naankusecollection.com Directions: 45km outside Windhoek in an easterly direction (towards the international Airport) on the MR53. GPS Coordinates: South: -22° 21’ 51.82” East: 17° 22’ 44.80”

N/a’an ku sê Travellers Inn Welcome to N/a’an ku sê Travellers Inn, where we have perfectly captured the true soul of Namibia and the spirit of the devoted traveller. Namibia beckons… and we are the ideal stopover to refresh, revitalise and meet fellow adventurers. Nestled in a quiet suburb of Windhoek, N/a’an ku sê Travellers Inn is a mere 45-minute drive from Hosea Kutako International Airport. Four rooms and four tents are all furnished with bunk beds epitomising true backpacker comfort. And to give your sleeping bag a well-deserved break, comfy duvets, pillows and sheets are provided. The rooms and tents have a communal bathroom with four cubicles, each with their own toilet, shower and basin. For those who prefer privacy, the fabulous flat with its very own kitchen and bathroom is also available. Enjoy our pool and braai facilities and grab an ice-cold beer at the bar afterwards. Town transfers can be arranged for those looking to explore other delights the city has to offer. Tel: +264 81 446 6621 Website: www.naankusecollection.com Email: travellersinn@naankuse.com Location: 2 Chapman Street, Klein Windhoek

NUST Hotel School The three-star NUST Hotel School is surrounded by the hustle and bustle of central Windhoek, entrenched in a scholarly atmosphere, with an innovative and technologybased approach. Earthy tones, secluded corners with water features and glimpses of open blue skies all come together to create a tranquil and relaxed environment. Escape to comfortably furnished rooms with private patios, enjoy leisure time in the gym or relax around the private swimming pool. All rooms are air-conditioned, offer Wi-Fi, TV and a mini-bar. We offer numerous conference facilities for 10 - 50 persons. The banqueting hall caters for small exclusive events with a maximum of 100 guests in winter and 150 in the summer. The Aloe Restaurant & Cocktail Bar offers elegant dining. Alternatively, guests can enjoy a hearty meal al fresco-style in our courtyard. Beethoven Street, Windhoek Tel: (+264 61) 20 72233 Email: hotel@nust.na Web: www.nusthotelschool.com.na

Ombo Rest Camp Ombo Rest Camp offers you a peaceful retreat just outside of Okahandja. Our self-catering bungalows are fully equipped with airconditioners, kitchen and barbecue facilities, and each bungalow offers safe and secure parking. Guests are welcome to stay on a B&B basis, or enjoy dinner at our A-La-Carte Restaurant, which is open daily from 8h00 to 14h00 and serves dinner on request. Dishes include everything from ostrich and crocodile to traditional Namibian Omajovas, during the rainy season. Ombo Rest Camp’s campsites have power points, hot showers and their own barbecue areas and backpacker rooms adjacent to the campsites can also make use of these facilities. Daily Ostrich & Crocodile Tours can be enjoyed between 9h00-12h00 and 14h00-16h00, or you can choose to watch game at our waterhole from the comfort of your bungalow or the restaurant. We also offer a hiking trail and nature walk for birding enthusiasts. Day visitors welcome. PO Box 368, Okahandja Tel: (+264 62) 50 2003 / (+264 81) 206 2791 Fax: (+264 62) 50 3768 Email: omborestcamp@africaonline.com.na Web: www.ombo-rest-camp.com

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Onjala Situated only 75 km northeast of Windhoek and 45 km from Hosea Kutako International Airport, Onjala is easily accessible and childfriendly. The lodge invites you to relax and enjoy the serenity of the surroundings in peace and tranquillity. Stargazing with one of the world’s best Zeiss refractors, game drives, a wellness centre with an exquisite bush spa and two swimming pools are just a few of the activities you can choose from. Uniquely designed rough natural stone en-suite double rooms and freestanding bungalows, tucked away in the bush, as well as luxurious and private panorama suites offer quality accommodation in a warm and creative African ambience. Transfers between the lodge, the airport and Windhoek can be arranged on request. PO Box 90938, Windhoek Tel: (+264 61) 25 9325 Cell: (+264 81) 122 7171 Email: res@onjala.com Website: www.onjala.com

Otjimbondona Cradled amongst camel thorn trees with vistas of undulating Kalahari landscape, Otjimbondona offers those seeking tranquillity, exclusivity and luxury the ideal African holiday. Situated 120km southeast of Windhoek and 80km from the Hosea Kutako International Airport on a 3000-hectare Private Nature Reserve on the fringes of the Namibia Kalahari basin, this boutique retreat is the perfect getaway to relax and unwind. The Manor House is the original homestead of the Slaney family, which was built in 1923 and now consists of a large lounge, dining area and infinity pool with deck boasting breath-taking views over the surrounding bush veld. The Manor House holds a historical charm, which invites intimacy, tranquility and the romance of a bygone era. Stay in one of the four luxurious Villas offering modern comforts, each decorated to depict a different theme and offering complete privacy to complement the romantic setting. This is a home away from home experience where you can enjoy delicious al-fresco dining, ultimate flexibility whilst viewing giraffe, plains game and numerous bird species on nature walks, game drives or on a fat bike.

PO Box 11013, Windhoek, Namibia Cell: (+264 81) 243 5478, Anita Slaney (+264 81) 127 4358, Wilfried Slaney Email: welcome@otjimbondona.com Web: www.otjimbondona.com

Protea Hotel by Marriott Windhoek Fürstenhof Experience the alluring charm of true old-style Namibian hospitality in a modern setting at Protea Hotel by Marriott’s first hotel in Windhoek. Protea Hotel by Marriott Fürstenhof is only five minutes’ walk from the city center and offers easy access to taxis. Friendly people and sunny skies make this the ideal place for leisure and corporate guests to do business and unwind. It’s a hotel that complements your travel style. The hotel has a sparkling swimming pool, same-day laundry services, SPA and a shuttle service. The decor is fresh and modern, offering a true escape from anything average. The hotel offers 33 en-suite rooms with balconies overlooking the city of Windhoek making it ultimate placate relaxation. The refreshing rooms are all air-conditioned, with satellite television, digital safes, tea and coffee making facilities and complimentary Wi-Fi . 4 Dr. Frans Indongo Street Windhoek Tel: +264-61-237380 Email: cro@proteahotels.com.na / fo.furstenhof@proteahotels.com.na Web: www.protea.marriott.com

| WINDHOEK SURROUNDINGS & CENTRAL EAST | 22

River Crossing Lodge Just two kilometres outside Windhoek on a pristine game farm, River Crossing Lodge offers sumptuous accommodation in 20 private chalets. With high-pitched corrugated roofs, wide balconies and gorgeous pots of geraniums, the German architecture rediscovers nuances of a bygone era of farm life. We are environmentally friendly, offer unparalleled service and a selection of function venues. We also train aspirant Namibians to make a cutting-edge contribution to lodge operations. In fact, there’s very little that’s not possible at River Crossing. PO Box 97448, Windhoek Tel: (+264 61) 40 1494 Fax: (+264 61) 24 3079 Email: reservations@rivercrossing.com.na Web: www.rivercrossing.com.na

Teufelskrallen Lodge Situated on the first Kalahari dune from the western side, Teufelskrallen Lodge offers visitors a panoramic vista across the endless plains and stretches of typical Kalahari dunes. The comfortable, fully furnished tent-houses all have a large viewing deck and an own private bathroom. A short boardwalk connects the tent with the bathroom. The old farmhouse, located three kilometres away from the tents, hosts the reception area, restaurant and swimming pool. On nature walks and nature and game drives, guests will experience the breathtaking beauty of the Kalahari Desert with its sinuous, red dunes up to 30 metres high, and the wide variety of game. P.O. Box 90819, Windhoek Bookings: +264 61 240 020 Tel: +264 (0) 840 000 6010 Email: reservations@teufelskrallenlodge.com Web: www.ondili.com

Ti Melen Ti Melen, a quiet and peaceful haven surrounded by nature, offers the advantage of being only 5 minutes by car from the city centre of Windhoek. Situated on a small hill, it offers its visitors a beautiful view of the surrounding mountains. Here you can unwind or do some birdwatching in the beautiful and tranquil garden, or cool down in a small pool. WiFi is complimentary. For the more active guest, the beautiful Avis Dam, only 5 minutes on foot from Ti Melen, offers ample opportunity for relaxed strolls or longer hikes. The international airport is only 40 km away. Schuckmann Str 27, Avis, Windhoek P.O. Box 90819, Windhoek Bookings Tel: +264 61 240 020 Tel: +264 (0) 81 1467233 Email: reservations@timelen.com Web: www.ondili.com

Windhoek Luxury Suites With its lush green gardens and lavish designer rooms, Windhoek Luxury Suites offers luxury and tranquillity in the heart of the Namibian capital. Styled with luxurious amenities and exquisitely decorated, the comfortable rooms open to a beautifully maintained private garden. The wood-decked pool area is great for relaxing and soaking up the Namibian sun, while a refreshing dip in the pool is essential for those hot summer months. Barely a stone’s throw away, our three sister restaurants will wow you with a range of mouthwatering dishes and some of the best fine dining in Windhoek. All rooms are airconditioned, equipped with comfortable bedding, flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi as well as a private bathroom and garden area with sun terrace. Corner of Hebenstreit Street and Joseph Wood Street, Klein Windhoek, Windhoek Tel: +264 83 253 5020 / +264 81 488 3156 Email: reservations@thewindhoek.com Web: www.thewindhoek.com

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PAUL VAN SCHALKWYK

www.thisisnamibia.com

KAVANGO & ZAMBEZI

Northeast

THE KAVANGO EAST AND visitors a peek into authentic African lifestyles. Perennial rivers and KAVANGO WEST REGIONS The lure of the area is its wild and untamed quality, which gives

expansive floodplains, lush sub-tropical vegetation, an abundance of game and birds, and scattered settlements provide a complete change of scenery from the rest of the Namibian landscape. The 575-kilometre tarred Trans-Caprivi Highway provides easy access to the region.

The Okavango River and its broad floodplains make the Kavango East and Kavango West regions considerably greener than the rest of Namibia. The river forms a natural boundary between Namibia and Angola for more than 400 km and is the lifeline to the Kavango people, who make a living from fishing, tending cattle and cultivating sorghum, millet and maize.

Rundu

The main town in the Kavango Region is Rundu, situated on the banks of the Okavango River. This is the home of Namibiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s well-known Kavango woodcarvers. Their ancient craft, handed down over generations, is a flourishing industry today. Wood carvings are made and offered for sale at the Mbungura Woodcraft Cooperative, which has its main workshop and office in the town. Another worthwhile stop is the Rundu Open Market to taste some local fare and experience the unique culture of the region. Here youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll also find the Kavango Basket Project, providing a source of income for local women. Rundu Airport is situated 5 km southwest of the town. Air Namibia offers three flights a week from Windhoek to Rundu. Thirty kilometres east of Rundu is the Sambyu Museum, an art and crafts facility displaying woodcarvings and traditional crafts from the Kavango Region and southern Angola, and stone tools found locally.

Mangetti National Park

LE ROUX VAN SCHALKWYK

Previously managed as a game camp for breeding rare and endangered species such as black and white rhino, the Mangetti conservation area was proclaimed as the Mangetti

LEFT Tourists enjoy the view of elephants drinking at Horseshoe Bend in the Kwando Core Area of Bwabwata National Park

PAUL VAN SCHALKWYK

| NORTHEAST, KAVANGO & ZAMBEZI |

ABOVE An aerial view of the Kwando River.

National Park in 2008 to protect its wildlife and vegetation and provide tangible socioeconomic benefits to local communities through careful tourism development. Situated some 100 km southwest of Rundu in the Kavango Region, the park extends over some 420 km² and is managed jointly by the Ukwangali Traditional Authority and the MEFT. Animals seen here include eland, blue wildebeest, African wild dog, leopard and hyaena. Additional species such as common impala, gemsbok, kudu, giraffe and Burchell’s zebra were translocated through the Enhancing Wildlife-based Economy in Rural Areas Project from Etosha National Park and the private sector.

THE ZAMBEZI REGION

Formerly referred to as the Caprivi, the Zambezi Region is a fertile wilderness of riverine forests, flood plains, swamps and open woodland created by a complex network of rivers and relatively high summer rainfall. For freshwater angling enthusiasts, canoeists and white-river rafters, Zambezi offers much excitement and challenge.

Well over 400 of Namibia’s bird species occur in this part of the country, and the region is steadily gaining a reputation as a retreat for bird-watchers, nature lovers and specialist travellers. It is also of growing interest to scientists studying the wetlands system and its flora and fauna. Formerly known as Itenga, Zambezi was ruled by the Lozi kings until it became part of the British Protectorate of Bechuanaland, today’s Botswana. In 1890, at the Berlin Conference, Germany acquired the territory, named it after German Chancellor, Count Georg Leo von Caprivi, and added it to German South West Africa. The capital of the then Caprivi was Schuckmannsburg (renamed as Luhonono in 2013) until 1935, when it was moved to Katima Mulilo, a name that means ‘put out the fire’. Katima Mulilo has since become a busy tourist centre and gateway to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and the Chobe National Park in Botswana. Travelling from Katima Mulilo on the B8, you cross into Botswana at the Ngoma border post. The road now traverses the Chobe National Park to Kasane, the springboard to Impalila Island where Namibia borders on Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The link for these attractions is the 575-kilometre

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TransCaprivi Highway, a wide, tarred road that has replaced the dusty gravel tracks of the past. The route runs through a region of which one third is a floodplain, and where the population is small and the human impact limited. Providing access to three stateprotected game reserves, it lies in the geographic heart of the KavangoZambezi (KAZA) Transfrontier Conservation Area. Read more on KAZA further down in this section.

Katima Mulilo

The largest town in Zambezi, Katima Mulilo lies on the banks of the Zambezi River, at the crossroads of Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Angola. It beats with the pulse of Africa and is a microcosm of Zambezi, a place where seven different languages and many more dialects are spoken, with traditional villages bordering the town and open markets resonating with more modern conveniences. Dirt tracks and freshly paved roads in the centre of Katima Mulilo lead you to a mixture of old and new shops, banks and small businesses. An interesting feature of the town is the public flush toilet housed in the hollowed-out trunk of an ancient baobab tree. In the centre of Katima Mulilo a large, vibrant African market provides a glimpse into the daily lives of Namibians in this lively town.

The Baobab Bistro is a great place for a meal, and also provides information on what to see and do in the area. If you’re looking for entertainment on the banks of the Zambezi River, Bezi Bar is a favoured hangout for locals and visitors alike. The Katima Mulilo Airport is situated 20 km outside the town within two hours’ drive from Victoria Falls and not more than four hours’ drive from the Okavango Delta in Botswana. Air Namibia offers flights to Katima Mulilo four times a week.

PARKS IN ZAMBEZI Mudumu National Park

Centred on the Mudumu Mulapo fossil river course, this vast 1 010 km² expanse of dense savannah and mopane woodlands bordered in the west by the Kwando River, was proclaimed a national park in 1990. Dense mopane woodlands are at the core of Mudumu, the combination of

ABOVE AND BELOW

ELZANNE MCCULLOCH

An elephant crosses the road in the Buffalo Core Area of Bwabwata National Park • A lioness in Bwabwata National Park

ELZANNE MCCULLOCH

Zambezi pots and baskets are noted for their distinctive beauty and symmetry. The fine workmanship of the Zambezians can be seen in the crafts offered for sale at several outlets, including the Katima Craft Centre next to the open market in Katima Mulilo; the Ngoma Crafts Centre near the Ngoma border post where travellers cross into Botswana; the Mashi Crafts at Kongola; and at the Lizauli Traditional Village, where a programme of traditional music and dance gives visitors an insight into Zambezian culture.

forest and water ensuring a wealth of wildlife. The park is home to small populations of sitatunga and red lechwe, while spotted-necked otter, hippo and crocodile inhabit the waterways. During a game drive, animals likely to be encountered are elephant, buffalo, roan antelope, kudu, impala and Burchell’s zebra. The park is alive with more than 400 species of birds. Of particular interest are slaty egrets, Hartlaub’s babblers, greater swamp-warblers (in the papyrus swamps), chirping cisticolas, and swamp boubous. Other noteworthy species include black coucals (an intra-African migrant), coppery-tailed and Senegal coucals, wattled cranes (floodplains) and rosythroated longclaws. In the backwaters and swamps, African pygmy-geese and comb duck (between September and April), Allen’s gallinules (between December and April), and African and lesser jacanas are found. The infrastructure and facilities of the park were upgraded in 2012.

Nkasa Rupara National Park

The 320 km² Nkasa Rupara National Park, proclaimed in 1990, has the distinction of being the largest wetland area with conservation status in Namibia. The park is characterised by a complex network of channels, reed beds, oxbow lakes and islands, with the focal point on Nkasa and Lupala, two large elevated areas that punctuate the floodplains. Up to 80% of the park can be inundated during wet periods, leaving Nkasa and Lupala isolated as islands amid a sea of water. The same bird and animal species occur in Nkasa Rupara as in Mudumu National Park.

Camping is not permitted in Nkasa Lupala National Park, but campsites with shared hot-water ablutions, braai places and water taps, as well as selfcatering chalets are available at Rupara, 3 km south of the park entrance. Please note: Visitors must be completely self-sufficient in respect of food and fuel. Four-by-four vehicles are necessary here and twovehicle parties are essential during the rainy season.

Bwabwata National Park

In 2007 the former Caprivi Game Park, proclaimed in 1968, was incorporated into the 6 100 km² Bwabwata National Park, inclusive of the Kwando or Golden Triangle, and the Buffalo and Mahango (the former Mahango Game Park) core areas. This heralded a new generation of parks in terms of an integrated approach towards park management. Bwabwata was designed not only to protect the environment, but also to accommodate the people living in the park. The central area of the park is zoned for community-based tourism, including trophy hunting, human settlement, and development. Cattle movement is controlled to prevent the spread of diseases, and communities living in the park or neighbouring areas are given conditional tourism rights to establish – either on their own or in joint ventures – tourism facilities within the park confines. Bwabwata has three distinct areas: the perennial Okavango and Kwando rivers, their riparian vegetation and floodplains characterised by reedbeds, floating grass mats and woodlands with jackalberry, mangosteen, apple-leaf, knob-

| NORTHEAST, KAVANGO & ZAMBEZI | thorn and wild date palm; a parallel system of drainage lines (omiramba) that run west-north-west or east-south-west; and deep windblown Kalahari sands that form dunes between 20 to 60 metres high and support deciduous woodlands dominated by seringa, Zambezi teak, wild teak and several wild raisin and bushwillow species. The park is sanctuary to 35 large game species – including elephant, buffalo, impala, reedbuck, red lechwe, sitatunga, hippo, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, Chobe bushbuck, tsessebe, and sable and roan antelope – and numerous small-game species. Predators such as lion, leopard, cheetah and African wild dog also occur in Bwabwata. Because there is no surface water, most species congregate along the Okavango and Kwando riverbanks and at the Malombe and Ndwasa pans in the northeast. Visitors are cautioned that there are crocodiles and hippos in the river. Bwabwata takes its name from a village in the park, and refers to the sound of bubbling water. It forms part of the 278 132 km² KavangoZambezi (KAZA) Transfrontier Conservation Area, the world’s largest conservation area. The infrastructure and facilities of the park were upgraded in 2012.

Popa Game Park

Rushing rapids, melodious birdsong and the rustling leaves of shady, riverine trees are sounds that typify Popa Game Park. Located on the Okavango River opposite Bwabwata National Park, Popa Falls is famous for its lush setting and the sound of the rapids cascading down the rocky descents in the river. Over 400 species of birds have been recorded here. Tigerfish, threespot and green-headed tilapia are just some of the game fish that occur in the Okavango River, making it a popular destination for anglers. Popa Falls Resort (managed by NWR) was renovated in 2014.

marketing and sales, have enabled women especially to create a vibrant and successful craft industry. Although baskets vary from region to region, they are generally made from the leaves of the makalani palm, Hyphaene petersiana, using the coil technique. Shades of brown, purple and yellow are obtained by boiling the leaves, bark and roots of various shrubs and trees with the strands of prepared palm leaves. Musemes, the Lozi name for reedfloor mats, are made from papyrus by Zambezian women. Each reed is halved lengthwise and dried in the sun to allow the inner pith to shrink, thus making the reed curl inwards, which makes it more durable. The reeds are then sewn together tightly, using string made from the locally grown mafuu (mother-in-law’s tongue) and narakuku plants.

KAVANGO ZAMBEZI TRANSFRONTIER CONSERVATION AREA

In 2011 a treaty was signed at the SADC Summit in Luanda, Angola, by the Presidents of the republics of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, which formally and legally established the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA). Spanning over 444 000 km² (similar to the size of Sweden), KAZA is the world’s largest conservation area. It includes about 40 formally proclaimed national parks, game reserves, community conservancies and game management areas

KaZa incorporates the largest contiguous elephant population on the African continent. in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Namibia has designated Bwabwata National Park, Mudumu National Park, Nkasa Rupara National Park, Khaudum National Park, Mangetti National Park, the Caprivi State Forest and Conservancies, and community forests between and around these protected areas for inclusion in the KAZA TFCA. Over 400 bird species have been recorded in this area. A key objective of a TFCA is to join fragmented wildlife habitats into an interconnected assortment of protected areas and trans-boundary wildlife corridors. This will facilitate and enhance the free movement of animals across international boundaries. The KAZA TFCA incorporates the largest contiguous elephant population on the African continent, while it also includes some of the world’s renowned natural features and tourist attractions, such as the Victoria Falls and Okavango Delta, the largest Ramsar Site in the world.

BELOW Basket-weaving, a traditional activity in the Kavango and Zambezi

A basket-making tradition has survived in Kavango and Zambezi, where the time-honoured baskets still used by women in the mahangu fields for harvesting and winnowing their grain are ideal containers for transporting goods when on foot and for storing the grain in homesteads. The revival of inherent traditional skills, seemingly rendered redundant by modern times, and the acquisition of new skills in

PAUL VAN SCHALKWYK

BASKET TRADITIONS

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Accommodation KAVANGO & ZAMBEZI

The lush northeastern wetlands region of Namibia - explore its parks, rivers and wildlife.

ANGOLA State Forest

Luena National Park

Cuangar

Nkurenkuru

1 5

Rundu

ngo Kava

Kavango

Mudumu National Park

ANGOLA

D3405

Nkasa Rupara National Park

ito

st 3407

Mucusso National Park

Nkurenkuru Dorsland Trek Baobab

Holboom

Axel Eriksson’s Grave

Mutango

Otjozondjupa

Kavango B OT S WA N A

Tsitsib Khaudum

Utokota

Rundu

Sambusu

Dirico

Mashari 0

Rupara

Dobe C45

Nyangana D3309

Calai

Grootboom (Giant Baobab Tree)

Maiuvo

Tondoro

Nepara

Grootfontein

D340

Fort Grootfontein

D3400

Mpungu

Hoba Meteorite

Cuangar

D3404 Tsumeb

Khaudum Game Park

Giant Baobab Tree

Taratara

D3403

Ncaute

Kungveld

a Kh

Tamsu

Omaheke Giant Baobab Tree

Karakuwisa

D330 6

Om ata

D2 87

4 C42

Nkasa Lupala Tented Lodge

Popa Falls Resort

Protea Hotel by Marriott Zambezi River

D3306

303

Klein Dobe

Dorsland Trek Baobab

Serondela Lodge Grootboom

Tsumkwe(Giant Baobab Tree) 10 Taranga Safari Lodge

Tweeputte

Holboom 02

D33

Caecae (Xaixai)

D38

Coblenz

D3805

Gochas

D2895

Nama Pan

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Otjozondj upa

Quankwa Dobe

Djokwe

D3 8

Xaudum

Nhoma Soncana Waterhole

Har dap

D3312

D2868

D2845

84 8

M73

Kazile Island Lodge

D3311

Nambwa Tented Lodge

Aasvoëlnes

D28

Stampriet Jackalberry Tented Lodge 3

Mariental

800 D3 D2

C44

D3300

D2830

Rietfontein p on xel Eriksson’s rave

Aranos

3 80

Chobe Water Villas C42 Otjituuo

arand

Luhebu

D330

D2893

D2844

Leonardville

Nhoma

Nhom

This is just an approximate indication of where these establishments are situated.

Grootfontein 874 Lodge 1 Caprivi Mutoya D2

Kano Vlei

D2 84

D2898

Sikereti

Samagaigai

Maroelaboom

C44

Abenab

Fort Grootfontein

Maanlig

D3301

D2848

D3303

1530m

D2858 1

2 D30

D3016

Charles Hill

Gobabis

5 D285

Arnhem Cave

Khaudum

Park Elands Drink National Dussi Waterhole Waterhole

German Lazarette

Witvlei

Doringstraat Waterhole

Mururani

D3016

D29 08

D30

D3016

udum

Khaudum

Mangetti National Park

Mangetti

bis

D3039

C44

| NORTHEAST, KAVANGO & ZAMBEZI | 1

Caprivi Mutoya Lodge Caprivi Mutoya is an intimate owner-run lodge that offers a variety of comfortable accommodation, which includes en-suite chalets and luxury tents, as well as a lawn campsite set under large ancient indigenous trees. From the restaurant/bar deck guests can enjoy fabulous scenery and sunsets while having an ice-cold drink. Delicious meals are available in the restaurant. The lodge is situated on the banks of a tranquil backwater lake of the Zambezi River, approximately 24 km east of Katima Mulilo. Activities include boat cruises for photography and bird watching, fishing, canoeing, nature walks, cultural village tours and floodplain drives. Kalimbeza Road, Katima Mulilo, Namibia Tel: (+264 66) 253 553 Cell: (+264 81) 287 5438 Email: info@caprivimutoyalodge.com Web: www.caprivimutoyalodge.com

Chobe Water Villas Chobe Water Villas is an exclusive and intimate boutique lodge on the banks of the Chobe River, located on the eastern tip of the Caprivi Strip of Namibia. Situated only 15 minutes by River Safari Boat from the adventure town of Kasane in Botswana. Guests can enjoy the spectacular views of world renowned Chobe National Park and Sedudu Island. Chobe Water Villas promises guests a warm Namibian welcome. We offer 16 free-standing water villas located at or over the Chobe River

Central Reservations Tel: (+264 61) 431 8002 Email: chobe.res@ol.na Web: www.ol-leisure.com

Jackalberry Tented Camp Jackalberry Tented Camp is built inside Nkasa Rupara National Park. The ONLY 4 luxury tents are situated close to the banks of the Linyanti River and the fact that there is no fence allows large mammals and other animals to roam freely in the surroundings and to be sighted from the rooms. Jackalberry Tented Camp welcomes guests to one of the most unique areas in the Zambezi Region, the wetland paradise for ultimate adventure. This enhances the sense of remote wilderness and adventure. Guests will experience an environment like the Okavango Delta, combining wetland, woodlands and open plains, which is characteristic of the Zambezi Region and unique to Namibia. The lodge offers four double rooms and one double guide room, restaurant, bar, lounge area, transfers, specials & activities, and birding. Both Visa and Master Card are accepted. Tel: (+264 66) 686 101 Tel Reservations: +264 (0)61 250725 Email: Jackalberry[at]resdest.com Web: jbcamp.com

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Kazile Island Lodge Kazile Island Lodge is situated on a private island on the banks of the Kwando River, within the heart of KAZA. The only way to reach the lodge is via a leisurely boat ride amongst hippos. Kazile together with its sister lodge Nambwa are the only lodges in Bwabwata National Park. The lodge offers 13 Meru tents nestled within a Mangostene forest. Tents overlook the Kwando River as well as the expansive floodplains between the island and the famous Horseshoe Bend. Here, herds of buffalo and elephant traverse the wet Zambezi landscape. Sitatunga, an elusive aquatic antelope, are often spotted along the floodplains and marshes. Fall in love with this enigmatic corner of Namibia as the sun rises over the tree canopies. Enjoy the sounds of birds chirping from your tent, explore the waterways and absorb the ambiance of this beautiful wilderness. Tel: (+264 81) 125 2122 Lodge Tel: (+264 81) 828 1756 Email: reservations@africanmonarchlodges.com Web: www.africanmonarchlodges.com

Nambwa Tented Lodge Nambwa Tented Lodge together with its sister lodge, Kazile, are the only two lodges within Bwabwata National Park. The lodge offers ten luxurious tents nestled high in the majestic jackalberry, sausage and knobthorn trees. Respecting the elephants’ right of way, the lodge is built in exquisite comfort above the African wildlife. Our unquenchable desire to create the most authentic African experience takes you drifting down the unspoilt Kwando River. The famous Horseshoe Lagoon is the ideal spot for a sundowner after a riveting game drive. Soak up the breathtaking sunsets together with hippos and large herds of elephants silhouetted in purple hues over the water. An exclusive night drive to view the nocturnal wildlife takes you back home.

Tel: (+264 81) 125 2122 Lodge Tel: (+264 81) 125 1465 Email: reservations@africanmonarchlodges.com Web: www.africanmonarchlodges.com

Nkasa Lupala Tented Lodge Located on the banks of one of the many channels in the KwandoLinyanti river system is Nkasa Lupala Tented Lodge. This unique Namibian wetland paradise in eastern Zambezi was proclaimed as Mamili National Park in 1990 and recently renamed Nkasa Rupara NP. The Lodge offers ten luxury tents with en-suite facilities and is 100% powered by solar energy. Be ready to experience a truly eco-friendly holiday in one of the most exclusive and unknown parks of Namibia. This is sustainable tourism at its best! The Italian owners/managers are looking forward to welcoming you. A renovated campsite and new self-catering chalets are now available. Reservations Tel: (+264 61) 22 4712 Lodge Tel: (+264 66) 686 101 Email: info@nkasalupalalodge.com Web: www.nkasalupalalodge.com

Popa Falls Resort With its perennial river, magnificent indigenous riverine forests, expansive floodplains and reed-lined channels, Popa Falls Resort is the ideal destination from which to explore Bwabwata National Park, comprised of the former Caprivi, Kwando, Buffalo and Mahango core areas. Over 450 bird species and a wide variety of wildlife species – including elephant, hippo, African buffalo, crocodile, red lechwe, reedbuck, roan and sable antelope and the elusive sitatunga – can be viewed here. Beautiful chalets are surrounded by lush woodland and luxury villas overlook the rumbling of the falls. The main viewpoint of the ‘falls’ – a series of cascades created by a quartzite ledge that splits the river into numerous channels – is from the resort’s riverside beach bar. P/Bag 13378, Windhoek Tel: (+264 61) 285 7200 Fax: (+264 61) 22 4900 Email: reservations@nwr.com.na Web: www.nwr.com.na

| NORTHEAST, KAVANGO & ZAMBEZI | 8

Protea Hotel by Marriott Zambezi River Lodge Set on the banks of the Zambezi River bordering Katima Mulilo in the eastern Zambezi Region, this hotel is ideal for an overnight stay en-route to the many tourist destinations in the area. Protea Hotel by Marriott Zambezi River Lodge is your gateway to Victoria Falls and Chobe National Park. The hotel has 38 standard twin and four luxury double en-suite rooms overlooking the Zambezi River, garden or pool areas. The TafuleYaka Restaurant and bar offers the perfect place to take a break and soak up the beauty of the hotel’s natural surroundings. It’s a hotel that complements your travel style. The hotel has conferencing facilities that can accommodate up to 90 guests and offers standard equipment. The hotel can also arrange day trips to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Chobe National Park in Botswana. Ngoma Road, Katima Mulilo Tel: +264 66 251 500 Email: cro@proteahotels .com.na / res.zambezi@proteahotels.com.na Web: www.protea.marriott.com

Serondela Lodge Serondela Lodge is located on the Namibian side of the Chobe River, precisely in front of the famous sighting spot in Chobe NP called Serondela. With only 8 rooms, the guest at Serondela will have a dedicated service with a smile. The free boat transfer from Kasane situated 17 km away is in itself a unique game viewing experience. All the rooms are on high ground overlooking the banks of the Chobe River. The southwest-facing balconies overlook the Serondela area, especially famous for big herds of elephants and many other animals that come to feed and drink. Tel: +264 (0)81 1477798 Tel Reservations: +264 (0)66 252677 Email: info(@)serondelalodge.com/ reservation(@)resdest.com Web: www.serondelalodge.com

Taranga Safari Lodge Taranga Safari Lodge is one of very few luxury bush lodges in the Rundu-Kavango region. With 2 Deluxe and 8 Classic Luxury open fronted riverbank tented cottages, situated amongst tall riverine trees and a green campsite, guests are offered ample opportunity to take in the sights and sounds of the African bush with views across the river into the nearby floodplains and, during season, the lily covered wetlands. The Okavango River, which is home to crocodile and hippo, flows from west to east past the lodge on its journey towards the Okavango Delta. There are daily guided river safaris taking you out for an adventure; an early sunrise cruise through the rising early morning river mist or a late afternoon sundowner or fly fishing. You may plan to go on a bushwalk, traditional village tour or choose to celebrate the end of a lazy day by spending memorable time at night stargazing by the firepit. The large wooden decks offer a private and idyllic location for those wishing to unwind. You’ll find a swimming pool at the main deck to keep everyone cool or allow you to just relax and enjoy the African sun.

Reservations: (+264) 81 1692186 Lodge: (+264 66) 257 236 Email: info@taranganamibia.com Web: www.taranganamibia.com

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NINA VAN ZYL

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NATIONAL PARK & OWAMBO

Etosha

Central North

The internationally renowned Etosha National Park – undoubtedly Namibia’s most popular tourist attraction – is the heart of the north-central region. The park serves as the ultimate stopover before heading for the arid northwest, the water-rich northeast, or the largely unexplored culturally rich Land of the Owambo People. Due to the constant maintenance of the infrastructure – including the completion of the tarred road between Rundu in the Kavango Region and Elundu in Ohangwena – the region is easy to navigate and allows travellers a glimpse of rural roadside life. Slowly opening up to tourism, the northernmost region of Namibia plays host to our largest population group, the Aawambo.

ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK

Etosha owes its unique landscape to the Etosha Pan, a vast, shallow chalky white depression of approximately 5 000 km² that forms the heart of the park. Once a large inland lake fed by the early Kunene River and rivers from the north, it began drying up about 3 million years ago when the Kunene was diverted to the Indian Ocean. A series of waterholes along the southern edge of the pan guarantee rewarding and often spectacular game viewing. In good rain years the pan fills with water draining southwards from Angola via a delta-like system of shallow rivers and oshanas, drying out in the winter to become an austere expanse of white cracked mud, shimmering with mirages and upwardspiralling dust devils. What we call Etosha today was proclaimed as Game Reserve No 2 in 1907 by the then German Governor Friedrich von Lindequist. With subsequent additions it became the largest game reserve in the world, covering a vast area of ±80 000 km². For political considerations its size was progressively diminished, until by 1975 it had been reduced by 77 per cent to its present surface area of 22 912 km². Nevertheless, it is still one of the largest game reserves in Africa. Of the 114 mammals species found in the park, several are rare and endangered, such as black rhino and cheetah, and the lesser-known blackfaced impala, which is endemic to northwestern Namibia and southwestern Angola. Etosha’s current population of black rhino represents one of the largest populations of black rhino in the world.

Other large mammals in the park include elephant, giraffe, blue wildebeest, mountain and plains zebra, hyaena and lion. Cheetah and leopard complete the trio of ‘big cats’. Antelope species range from kudu, gemsbok and the large and stately eland, to the diminutive Damara dik-dik. Smaller mammals include jackal, bat-eared fox, honey badger, warthog and the ubiquitous ground squirrel. For the greater part of the year (the dry season) Etosha’s animals and birds are dependent on about 30 springs and waterholes. These provide excellent game viewing and photographic opportunities. A good policy before setting out is to enquire from camp officials what the current game movements are. During the rainy season, the bird life at the main pan and Fischer’s Pan is well worth viewing. Etosha’s vegetation varies from dwarf shrub savannah and grasslands, which occur around the pan, to thorn-bush and woodland savannah throughout the park. Eighty per cent of all of Etosha's trees are mopane. West of Okaukuejo is the well-known Sprokieswoud – Fairy, Phantom or Haunted Forest – the only place where the African moringa tree, Moringa ovalifolia, grows in such a large concentration on a flat area. Etosha is open throughout the year and is accessible by tarred roads via the Andersson Gate on the C38 from Outjo, the Von Lindequist Gate in the east from Tsumeb on the B1, the Galton Gate in the west from Kowares on the C35 and the King Nehale Gate located on the Andoni plains just north of the Andoni waterhole, which provides access from the north-central Owambo regions on the B1 from Onyati.

Birding in Etosha

About 340 bird species occur in Etosha, about one third being migratory, including the European Bee-eater and several species of wader. Larger birds include Ostrich, Kori bustard and Greater and Lesser Flamingo, of which tens of thousands congregate on the pan to breed during a good rainy season. Ten of Etosha’s 35 raptor species are migratory. Those most commonly seen are Lappet-faced, White-backed and Hooded Vultures, while sightings of the Cape, Egyptian and Palm-nut Vultures have been recorded. There are eight species of owl, including the Pearl-spotted Owlet and Southern White-faced Scops-owl, and four species of nightjar.

Etosha is known as the jewel in Namibia's crown. GATEWAYS TO ETOSHA Outjo

Located amidst a cluster of low hills is the town of Outjo, an important cattle-ranching centre and regarded as Etosha’s gateway to the south. Situated on the C38, Outjo is about 100 km from the Andersson Gate. The history of the

Accessed from the B1 and situated about 96 km from the Von Lindequist Gate, the town of Tsumeb was founded in 1905. While initially closely linked to the mining industry, operations have been scaled down considerably. The colourful jacarandas, flamboyant trees and bougainvillea that line the town’s streets have earned Tsumeb the title 'Namibia’s garden town'. The history of the town is depicted in the Tsumeb Museum, where a comprehensive collection of rare minerals can be viewed. An interesting facet of the Tsumeb Museum is the Khorab Room, displaying a collection of restored cannons and other armaments dumped into Lake Otjikoto by retreating German forces shortly before the signing of the Khorab Peace Treaty. It is estimated that at least 30 cannons and 4 500 boxes of ammunition were plunged into the lake. The museum is housed in the former German Private School Building, constructed in 1915, and is today a national monument. The Tsumeb Arts and Crafts Centre, situated in the main street, is run by an educational trust

ELZANNE MCCULLOCH

Tsumeb

ELZANNE MCCULLOCH

town and surroundings is depicted in the Outjo Museum, where the focus is on gemstones and wildlife. The museum is housed in Franke House, built in 1899 for the German commanding officer, Hauptmann Franke. Other places of interest are the Naulila Monument, erected in 1933 to commemorate the 12 soldiers who lost their lives on 18 December 1914 under Major Franke; and the Water Tower, constructed in 1900 to provide fresh water for German soldiers, their horses, and the hospital. Outjo Bakkery, a good place to stop for refreshments, offers tasty freshly baked German delicatessens, while The Farmhouse, which is open from breakfast to dinner has a shaded beer garden. The regional tourist information centre, Etoscha i Büro, is situated in Hage Geingob Street. Besides providing information on the town and surroundings, it also sells a large variety of local gemstones. On the C39 road from Outjo to Otavi are the Rare and Endangered Species Trust (REST) headquarters, originally founded to help conserve the Cape Vulture, but later expanded to support other sensitive species representing biodiversity within the land ecosystem of Namibia.

ELZANNE MCCULLOCH

| ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK AND OWAMBO |

promoting traditional arts and crafts. An African style, open-air market on the outskirts of Tsumeb gives small traders the opportunity to sell their wares. The Arts Performance

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ABOVE Black rhino • Black-faced impala • A lion quenches his thirst

Centre is another popular attraction in Tsumeb. The Centre presents concerts, African dance, music, and typical plays from the north of Namibia for tourists. The Tsumeb Cultural Village, also known as the Helvi Mpingana Kondombola Cultural Village – named after founding president Sam Nujoma’s mother – is located in the southern outskirts of town. This community project is presented as an open-air museum, while exhibits display the life, history and culture of the majority of Namibians. The centre also hosts a curio shop and bungalows for overnight guests. The oldest building in town is the Otavi Minen und Eisenbahn Gesellschaft (OMEG) Minenbüro, completed at the end of 1907, while the Second Director’s House, erected in 1912, is the second-oldest building. The latter still houses some of the original furniture and retains its original appearance. St Barbara’s Roman Catholic Church, which was built in 1913, is one of the town’s most prominent landmarks. Popular places to dine at or stop for a refreshment include the Etosha

BELOW Lake Guinas

Café & Beergarten, Sindano Court, and Cosmos Nursery. The Tsumeb Airstrip meets International Civil Aviation Organisation standards and is the closest commercial airstrip to Etosha National Park.

Otjikoto and Guinas lakes

Lake Otjikoto, located 24 km northwest of Tsumeb in the Oshikoto Region, was used as a unique underwater dumping site in 1915 when retreating German forces disposed of their military equipment into it during the South West Africa Campaign. South African divers of the Ministry of Works recovered armaments in January 1916 while several more pieces of armaments were brought to the surface during subsequent diving expeditions. What’s left of these interesting relics can be inspected by qualified divers. Today the majority of the armaments are on display in the Tsumeb Museum. The 130 metre-deep Lake Guinas, which lies northwest of Otjikoto, is noted for its beautiful setting and the dark inky-blue colour of its water. However, since it is on a farm, permission to view it needs to be obtained from the farmer. Visitors to Namibia who are qualified divers are welcome to join club members on a journey of underwater exploration to view these two interesting curiosities.

A rare, mouth-breeding species of tilapia or dwarf bream is found in both of these subterranean lakes.

THE TRADITIONAL LAND OF THE AAWAMBO PEOPLE

A large percentage of Namibia’s inhabitants live in the Omusati, Oshana, Ohangwena and Oshikoto regions between Etosha National Park and Namibia’s northern border with Angola. After the capital, this region has the largest urban concentration of people in the country.

The major portion of these four regions, which have a total surface area of just over 56 100 km², consists of communal farming land - that is land where there is no individual ownership or demarcation and where the majority of the inhabitants live from subsistence farming. Life on the vast plains of these essentially agricultural regions depends on the seasonal efundja, the floods that feed the rivers and iishana. The latter are flat, shallow depressions, many of which light up with copious growths of white lilies soon after they have filled with water in the rainy season. The highlands of Angola are the origin of these waters. After a long journey southwards, the Cuvelai River disperses its contents into many channels, covering the sandy flats of southern Angola and spreading into northern Namibia to form a large expansive delta of rivulets and oshanas. These, in turn, provide drinking water for humans and animals, protein in the form of fish and a habitat that supports large numbers of aquatic birds.

ANNALIEN DAVIN

The essentially flat landscape is characterised by huge expansive spreading marula trees and sporadic stands of the tall makalani palm, Hyphaene petersiana. Sap is tapped from the growing tip of the stems of these palms and left to ferment into a potent drink called palm wine. The fruit of the makalani palm takes two years to mature, and has a white, bony kernel. Referred to as vegetable ivory, the hard kernel is suitable for carving small ornaments, jewellery and curios.

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The best time of the year to visit these regions is from April to August, after the rains. By this time the roads are suitable for driving on, the heat of the summer has abated, and the wetlands still host many water birds, such as cranes, storks, ducks, herons and small waders.

| ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK AND OWAMBO | RIGHT Annual Mahangu Festival

TOWNS NORTH OF ETOSHA Owambo’s two main centres, Oshakati and Ondangwa, are in the Oshana Region. These two bustling towns have the same informality and happygo-lucky character as urban centres throughout much of Africa. Their main streets are lined with a haphazard arrangement of residential houses and shops, and the traffic varies from donkey carts to the latest in luxury fourwheel-drive vehicles.

The Oshakati Omatala (open market) is the largest in Namibia and a big tourist attraction in the north. The Tulipamwe Sewing Project in the main street of Oshakati – marked by the vibrant pink materials on display – is a great place to learn about traditional Oshiwambo attire and buy yourself some unique clothing. The Ongwediva Trade Fair has been held annually since 1995. Apart from an array of local stands, it also hosts exhibitors from Botswana, South Africa, Ghana, Kenya and Zimbabwe. Situated across the road from Ongwediva Medi Park, Bennie’s Entertainment Park and Lodge is a popular meeting place that provides leisure activities in many forms. Afrika Stadt Haus is another good place to enjoy a meal or a drink. The town hosts two modern shopping malls, which feature the most popular fast-food restaurants, including a Silver Wolf Spur, and an assortment of retail outlets. Since independence, the OshakatiOngwediva-Ondangwa complex has experienced dramatic urban growth. The complex plays an increasingly important commercial role in the north and has considerable industrial potential. The Ondangwa SME Start-Up and Tourist Information Centre is a good place for visitors to find their bearings and gain access to information on the surrounding area. Call the Ondangwa Town Council at 065 24 0101 to be transferred to the centre. In close proximity to the town, at Olukonda, is the oldest building in northern Namibia, the Nakambale Mission House.

ANNELIEN ROBBERTS

Oshakati, Ongwediva, Ondangwa

A new concept for Namibia, the Ongula Village Homestead Lodge allows visitors to experience authentic village life at an Owambo homestead. Situated in the Omusati Region, west of the Oshana, is Uukwaluudhi Safari Lodge from which guests can further explore the Owambo culture through visits to the Uukwaluudhi Royal Homestead and Museum at Tsandi. Situated about 85 km from Opuwo, Uukwaluudhi Safari Lodge also offers the opportunity to learn more about the nomadic Himba people living in the area. Air Namibia conducts flights to and from Ondangwa, twice daily, seven days a week.

Mahangu Festival and Championship

The annual Mahangu Festival and Mahangu Championship, locally known as Oshipe, and held after the harvest in August/September, is hosted in the region of the Overall National Crown Champion, which includes all the northern and north-eastern regions, where mahangu (a kind of pearl millet) is the staple food for many. The festival creates a platform for mahangu farmers to share ideas, motivate each other, and engage in healthy competition while showcasing their products. Important topics of discussion include the improvement and modernisation of mahangu production by introducing new technologies and cultivation methods,

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and by improving soil fertility. The festival is organised by the Namibian Agronomic Board.

MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN OWAMBO Tourism in this vast flat region, typified by oshanas, makalani palms and herds of cattle, used to be virtually non-existent. However, these days it is steadily increasing. The area has a rich and interesting cultural and historical tradition, which can be explored by visiting some of the sites in the surroundings.

The town of Oniipa hosts the historical Onandjokwe Lutheran Hospital, built in 1911 by the Finnish Missionary Society. It is still in use today, serving as the primary health-care facility for the Onandjokwe District. The Eenhana Heroes’ Memorial Shrine depicts the history of the liberation struggle, and acknowledges the courage of the combatants of the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) and the civilians who supported them. The main attraction at the Ombalantu Baobab Heritage Centre is a huge Baobab tree estimated to be around 700-750 years old. During tribal wars the tree served as a hiding place and was later also used as a post office and a chapel. The centre, located in Outapi, also offers camping sites laid out under the tree, a small kiosk, a craft centre and facilities for day visitors.

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Accommodation ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK & OWAMBO

Namibia's central north, characterised by culture and the country's most famous Ombala-io-Mungo Ondjiva

Onesi

D3617

State Forest

Okahao

Oshana

Etilyasa

Opuwo

Ondangwa 9

Omusati

kers Ruin

2 C38

D2779

Goreis

Ora

Protea Hotel by Marriott C33 Erundu D2 Ondangwa 41 7

C36 D19 30

Neineis

Otjumue

Okozangoro

Okombahe

344 Okakombo

Franke Tower Etemba & Roman Catholic Omaruru Church D2315

51 2

Etjo 9

2 D23 D2

328

Sukses

Osire D2459

D2404

Dinosaur's Footprints

Epako

C36

D2483

Tjirundo

C22

D245

Evero

Omatako D21

C30 120

Uis

D2454

C30

Otuwe

D2 Kaalkop

Ondumbo

Kalkveld

338

Hebron

5 71 D3

Avond

Okakarara

C22

Ozondjache

D2511 Natural Selection Kameelberg

D2339

Omatjete

D37

D19 31

3 30 D2

Dorob

Eremutua

D3712

D23

102

D2306

sum Mes Messum Crater

OngumaDramatic Nature Reserve Cliffs

Bay

2573m White

34 D2

Salt Flats

D23

D2359

Lady Painting

Brandberg

Ugab Guided Trail

Olupale Safari Lodge

Otjiwarongo

Otjitasu

51 D23

r e

Ozondati

Ugab

Otjihorongo

Sorris Sorris Brandberg West

Ongava Game Reserve

Omahoro

5f Namutoni Resort

Waterberg Wilderness Trail Otjahevita Waterberg Walks German & Herero Military Graveyard

Otjenga

Mokuti Etosha Lodge 05 D25

Heuningberg

D24

NWR - Etosha National Doros Park

Okave

D2476

5e Olifantsrus Camp

612

Waterberg Plateau Park The Mushara Collection D2433

D2475

EpachaBurnt LodgeD2 Mountain

4 Twyfelfontein Rock Engravings

Epupa

Otjikango

D251

C35

C38

334

5c Okaukuejo Resort 5d Halali Resort Orusewa

Hobatere Lodge

Etosha Village

D2743

D2752

Vingerklip

D2902

804

D28

Etosha Oberland Lodge C39

5a DolomiteGainatseb Resort (Rock Finger) 5b Onkoshi Resort

Esere

Naulila Vrindskap Monument b & Uga Stone Hartseer Tower

1553m

D235 1

Khorixas

NTE NSFO C39 FRA

C39

A G

Okaputa

8 46

Petrified Forest

ser

D26 Eagle Tented Lodge 25

D274

Outjo

Nugubaes

D2775

Fransfontein

Cauas

Otjihaenen

Kombat

D28

3 77

Bergsig

alt ats

D3236

This is just an approximate indication of where these establishments are situated IN MTS D2633

Wêreldsend

Tutara

Komukanti D2

D32

C43

C40

D2809

Platveld

Hoba Meteorite

125

11 2

D2670

D2650

Hohental

D28

Gamkarab Cave Neina

Elefanteberg

C42

D30

D2612

696

Otjikondo

Otavi

D287

D2869

0 78 D2

Otjitambi C35

C39

D2782

Ghaub Cave

Schumannsthal Hermanstal Gross-Otavi

10 D28

Palmwag

46 D26

Grootberg Pass

D265

Khorab Memorial

D27 D2710

D2807

Grootberg

D28

Jakkalsberg Tsobis

11 6

695 D2 C40

Kamanjab

C40

Biermanskool

Rock Engravings

Weissbrünn

D2695

D2430

e nd

C43

Mon Desir

Tsumeb

Bobos

Andersson Gate

D3031

Gagarus

Lake D3043 Guinas Lake Guinas Otjikoto

Aus

D3028

Okaukuejo

D2866

D2 69 7

D269

Rietfontein

Otjovasandu

Moringa Forest

Tsintsa

Charl Marais Pan

D300

Baadjie

Von C38 Chudob Lindequist Kalkheuwel Gate

Springbokfontein

Okondeka

Teespoed Duiwelsvuur

Jakkalswater

Aasvoëlbad

Ozonjuitji m’Bari

13 11

D30

Okawao

Rateldraf

Etosha National Park

Sonderkop

Fort Namutoni Okerfontein Namutoni

D3047

Dolomietpunt

Etosha Pan

D3007

Western area of park open to registered tour operators only Nomab Tobieroen

D3028

5a C35

Ovambo D3001

Groot Okevi Klein Okevi

Duineveld

Kowares

Oshivelo

D3004

Cuvelai and Etosha Pan

Okatjiura

D37

Nehale Lya Mpingana Gate Andoni

State Forest

Otjondeka

Dorslandtrekkers Monument

Blinkwater Falls Warmquelle Khowarib

Natukanaoka Pan

D2671

8 Otjitunduwa

D370

Otjomatemba

Oshikoto

D2 40

Okatumba

C43

D3603

Onyati

C35

Otjitoko

Ombombo

Odi

D2761

TBERGE

C45

Ekoko

D3710

D3709

C43

Olukonda Nakambale Museum & Church

605

705

Okongo Oshititu

Omulunga Okankolo

Oponono Lake

C41

C45

Ohangwena

D3604

Oshigambo Ongula Village Homestead Lodge Oniipa

C46

Onaanda

State Fo

Epembe

Ongwediva

9 61 D3

C41

Ondobe

Omundaungilo

Elundu

Eenhana

Ohangwena

Engela

Okatana

Oshakati

Oshikango

Ongenga

Oshikuku

Ogongo

Tsandi

C35

D3608

Okalongo

D3609

Ehomba

C46

Oshikango

D3608

11 D36

Uutapi (Ombalantu)

602

Mahenene

Ruacana

D3 612

ooisdrift

D3622

Ruacana Falls

Naulila

Calueque

370

and successful national park. A N G O L A

Hochveld

Otjo

| ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK AND OWAMBO | 1

Eagle Tented Lodge At Eagle Tented Lodge you stay closer to nature in authentic Safari Tents without compromising on any of the comfort or luxury of a room. This unique lodge, hosting 16 comfortable tents in the hills, offers you an unforgettable stay close to nature and an amazing view over the Epacha Game Reserve. When the day is done, there is no better place to watch the sunset than on your tent's private terrace. Activities include game drives on the Epacha Reserve as well as a full day drive to Etosha National Park, a visit to a local Himba village and spa treatments at the well-known Mystique Spa.

30 Blohm Street, Windhoek Tel: (+264 61) 375 300 Email: info@namibia-collection.com Web: www.namibia-collection.com

Etosha Oberland Lodge The Etosha Oberland Lodge, at the southern entrance of Etosha National Park, combines luxury with a lot of privacy. The main house reminisces of an English garden with restaurant, pool, bar and a cozy lounge with a fire place. In the evening a 4-course menu is served. Large mopane trees create private spaces that have a fantastic view of the wide grassy plain and the waterhole. Guests can observe wildlife with a sundowner on the restaurant terrace after eventful days in the Etosha National Park. Etosha Oberland's spacious guesthouses are lovingly integrated into nature. All houses are positioned apart from each other and promise complete privacy. The chalets and their terraces offer a unique view of the surrounding savannah. Tasteful design and stylish decor present the background for an unforgettable stay. PO Box 90819, Windhoek Lodge Tel: +264 84 000 6015 Bookings Tel: +264 61 240 020 Email: reservations@etoshaoberland.com Web: www.ondili.com

Etosha Village Situated only 2 km from the Andersson Gate to Etosha National Park, Etosha Village uniquely combines affordability with comfort, style and exquisite cuisine. 55 individual suites offer a fully air-conditioned bedroom with a unique semi-open en-suite bathroom and a patio to enjoy the beauty that surrounds you. Two small children (under 12) can be accommodated with their parents on a fold-out sleeper couch in the unit. Facilities include a unique open-plan bar with big screen television, 2 sparkling pools plus a kiddie pool, a restaurant with delectable cuisine as well as a fully stocked utility and curio shop. Enjoy exciting activities including guided walking trails, stargazing sessions, sundowner drives and excursions to Etosha National Park. Taleni Africa Reservations: Tel: (+27 21) 930 4564 Fax: (+27 21) 914 9930 Tel: (+264 67) 333 413 (for last minute reservations only) Email: reservations@etosha-village.com Web: www.etosha-village.com Location: C38 on the Outjo - Okaukuejo Road GPS Coordinates: S19°21’ 8.374” E015°55’ 47.855”

Epacha Lodge Epacha Game Lodge is located on top of the hills of the 13,000 ha Epacha Game Reserve near Etosha National Park. The Lodge offers 18 luxury chalets spread over the hills overlooking the private game reserve. A Villa is available for exclusive use to larger families or smaller groups. Activities includes morning, afternoon and night drives on the Epacha Game Reserve, a full day drive to the world renowned Etosha National Park, Clay Pigeon shooting, a visit to a local Himba village as well as a spa.

30 Blohm Street, Windhoek Tel: (+264 61) 375 300 Email: info@namibia-collection.com Web: www.namibia-collection.com

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Etosha National Park - Namibia Wildlife Resorts 5a

Dolomite Resort

Dolomite Resort is perched atop a dolomite ridge in the western part of Etosha National Park, where animals abound. Built by hand, Dolomite offers panoramic views unique in Etosha. The ecologically designed thatched chalets blend into the mountaintop, creating a sense of being one with nature. Three of the twenty chalets are deluxe, with their own plunge pools. A large pool with several pavilions, a fireside boma for game viewing, dining, and relaxing complete the comfortable and ambient layout of the resort. There are more than fifteen waterholes in the vicinity of Dolomite Resort. Distances between Dolomite Resort and the other resorts in Etosha are Okaukuejo (180 km), Halali (250 km), Namutoni (320 km) and Onkoshi (350 km). 5b

Onkoshi Resort

Onkoshi Resort is a low-impact environmentally friendly accommodation facility on the eastern edge of the Etosha Pan. Built on elevated wooden decks, it offers 15 chalets, a restaurant and bar area, and an infinity pool overlooking the pan. Guests enter the park at Namutoni. The road between Namutoni and Onkoshi Resort, which was previously only accessible by NWR vehicles, is now open to guests, who can drive through with any vehicle. The lodge is situated on a secluded peninsula overlooking the immense Etosha Pan. It offers a pristine, tranquil and unique experience to its guests. 5c

Okaukuejo

Okaukuejo is located 17 km from the southern entrance of the park. The resort is famous for its floodlit waterhole where visitors can observe at close quarters a spectacle of wildlife congregating and interacting. The waterhole experience has been enhanced by reducing disturbance in this area. Five of the waterhole chalets are premier double-storey units with a balcony overlooking the waterhole. Accommodation suits every need, from premier bush chalets overlooking the waterhole to family chalets, bush chalets, double rooms and camping. 5d

Halali

Halali is situated at the base of a dolomite hill, amongst shady mopane trees. A flood-lit waterhole which is viewed from an amphitheatrestyle vantage point provides exceptional wildlife viewing day and night. Accommodation units are beautifully integrated into the natural surroundings. The largest swimming pool in the park provides a welcome respite. Other facilities include a restaurant, bar, shop and fuel station. Accommodation options include family chalets, two- and four-bed bush chalets, double units and camping.

Olifantsrus Campsite

Olifantsrus, a historical site in Etosha National Park, situated in the less utilised western section of the park, approximately 60 kilometres from Galton Gate, is the sole camping-only location in the park. It also boasts what some describe as the greatest wildlife observation hide in southern Africa. Olifantsrus Camp is situated conveniently between the Galton Gate entrance at the western side of Etosha National Park, and Okaukuejo â&#x20AC;&#x201C; one of the parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oldest accommodation sites. The campsite consists of 10 sites with a maximum group of 8 people per site. PO Box 13267, Windhoek Tel: (+264 61) 285 7200 Fax: (+264 61) 22 4900 Email: reservations@nwr.com.na

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Namutoni

Namutoni is located on the eastern side of Etosha National Park. It centres around an old German Fort, overlooking the King Nehale waterhole. Namutoni has been redeveloped to highlight the fort itself, which is a National Monument. Privacy for each unit has been enhanced. Accommodation options include comfortable double rooms, bush chalets and camping.

For more inspiration on these lodges go to www.nwr.com.na

| ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK AND OWAMBO | 6

Hobatere Lodge Become one of the pride Hobatere Lodge is strategically located 65 km north of Kamanjab on the western border of Etosha National Park. The lodge is situated in a concession area of 8,808 ha which is home to an abundance of game, including elephant, giraffe, eland, and Hartmann’s zebra. We have opened our new Tree House for the romantic adventurers at heart. The Tree House offers total isolation to become one with the wildlife drinking from the nearby waterhole. Be sure to book a Boma Dinner, sit back, relax and enjoy dinner under the Namibian sky. We also offer guided tours into Etosha National Park. The lodge belongs to the #Khoadi //Hoas Conservancy. Our lodge's primary objectives are to increase the benefits of the local community, reduce human-wildlife conflict and contribute to the conservation of the area. PO Box 91045, Windhoek Reservations Tel: (+264 61) 228 104, 330 118/9 Email: hobatere@journeysnamibia.com Web: www.hobatere-lodge.com

Mokuti Etosha Lodge Mokuti Etosha Lodge in Namibia is the perfect venue for travelers wanting to explore the famous eastern side of Etosha National Park. Known for its excellent and diverse wildlife encounters, this Namibian icon has become a popular destination resort for international, Namibian and SADC visitors. As the closest lodge to Etosha National Park, Mokuti is only a four-minute drive from the eastern Von Lindequist Gate near the historical Namutoni Fort and is located on its own private 4 000 hectare nature reserve, which shares a common border with Etosha National Park. Our rooms are available as Standard, Luxury and Luxury Family-Rooms. Central Reservations: Tel: (+264 61) 431 8001/3 Email: mokuti.res@ol.na Web: www.ol-leisure.com

Olupale Safari Lodge Situated on the northwest boundary of Etosha National Park, within the Iipumbu Conservancy you will find the luxurious Olupale Safari Lodge. The lodge overlooks a salt pan and boasts a 180 degree panoramic view of the area. Relax in our Lodge, with chalets offering everything that you would expect from superior hotel accommodation. The carefully positioned lounge, pool deck bar are there for the guests to enjoy the beauty of the landscape. The restaurant provides a different Namibian culinary experience for guests, complimented be the very best in southern African wines. Olupale Safari Lodge is accessed via Etosha National Park with its own private gate to and from the park. Opening early 2021, Olupale Safari Lodge, will include 40 Chalets, lounge, restaurant, bar and swimming pool. Lodge activities include game viewing in Etosha National Park and visiting the Salt pan and surrounding area. 30 Blohm Street, Windhoek Tel: (+264 61) 375 300 Email: info@namibia-collection.com Web: www.namibia-collection.com

Protea Hotel by Marriott Ondangwa Situated in the cultural heartland of Namibia, this oasis is approximately 92 km from the spectacular Etosha National Park, 60 km from the Angolan border and 4.5 km from Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo Airport in Ondangwa. This town in Owambo is alive with cultural flavours, giving leisure guests a host of experiences. The hotel ensures absolute convenience and comfort for business and leisure guests alike. Overnight guests can relax and unwind at the Hotel’s large swimming pool with lounge chairs and umbrellas or at the in-house casino. Relax at the Chatters Bar or savour mouth-watering buffets at the restaurant that also offers an A la carte menu, carvery meals and barbeques on request. Complimentary wireless internet access is available in public areas. For events the hotel has conferencing/meeting facilities. Protea Hotel by Ondangwa offers 67 air-conditioned, en-suite rooms. It’s a hotel that complements your travel style in this northern part of Namibia. Main Street, Ondangwa Tel: +264 65 241 900 Email: cro@proteahotels.com.na / res.ondangwa@proteahotels.com.na Web: www.protea.marriott.com

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Natural Selection Safari House Located on the Etosha Heights Private Reserve, just next to Safarihoek Lodge, it’s a traditional Namibian farmhouse that we’ve given the Natural Selection treatment and can be booked on an exclusive-use basis. Expect three, ensuite bedrooms and a fullyequipped kitchen, dining room and sitting area inside. Outside, there’s a large veranda with a braai and plenty of outdoor seating, a fire pit and a second thatched braai area, as well as a swimming pool, all amidst the luscious green gardens. With a private guide, vehicle and a chef all to yourself, it’s a safari that’s 100% on your terms whether you want to look for big game early in the morning, or have a leisurely start to the day. Flexibility is key here and the house is a perfect spot for families, groups of friends and adventurers looking for their very own, day-to-day itinerary. Safarihoek Lodge In the middle of northern Namibia’s arid, captivating savannah, bordering the world-famous Etosha National Park, is Safarihoek Lodge. Perched on top of a hill, overlooking the plains below, Safarihoek is a stylish retreat, and you’ll find cool, thatched chalets all with private decks, a double-storey photography hide, and a swimming pool with 180-degree vistas of the brilliant savannah. If there’s one thing about Safarihoek, it’s the location. Everywhere you turn, the rugged Namibian savannah stretches into the distance, with only a spangly tree here, and a spiky bush there. The wildlife roams freely across the neverending space, unhindered and unobstructed. This is a place of silence and solitude, and a rare opportunity to be at one with nature and the animals that thrive here.

Etosha Mountain Lodge Along with good wine, cheese, and the founders of Natural Selection, some things get better with age – and Etosha Mountain Lodge is one of them. Located in the exclusive Etosha Heights Private Reserve on the southwest border of Etosha National Park. Ten safari-chic chalets, all with 180 degree, camera-loving panoramas of the wilderness, a beautiful main ‘lapa’ area, and a cool swimming pool for the hot Namibian days. And the activities certainly won’t disappoint either. Think morning and afternoon game drives in the private reserve, a former hunting concession, and one which we are pleased to be rehabilitating into a photographic safari area. Go out in search of big cats and watch for signs of elephant on the horizon; watch all the action at the waterhole in front of camp; hop on a night drive with some of the best guides out there; and, of course, track endangered rhino, the icons of the area.

Tel: (264) 67 312 521 Email: resnam@naturalselection.travel Web: www.naturalselection.travel

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The Mushara Collection

| ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK AND OWAMBO |

Located only 10 km from the Von Lindequist Gate on the eastern boundary of Etosha National Park, The Mushara Collection is ideally situated for visitors to the world-famous game reserve.

Mushara Lodge Mushara Lodge consists of ten spacious chalets, one family unit, a room for three, and two single rooms. The thatched public area houses a small library with a good selection of books, a bar with an extensive wine cellar, an airy lounge complete with welcoming fireplace for winter evenings, a dining area, and a well-stocked curio shop. A great deal of attention has been paid to the décor, an eclectic blend of traditional African and modern works of art mixed with more traditional paintings.

Villa Mushara Villa Mushara, designed with exclusivity in mind, comprises only two exclusive villas, creating an ideal retreat from the stresses of modern-day life. With its aura of tranquillity and contemplation, Villa Mushara is a place that will leave you yearning for more long after your departure.

Mushara Outpost Mushara Outpost accommodates 16 guests in custom-built tent-like wood-and-canvas structures nestled on the banks of an ancient dry riverbed, known as an ‘omuramba’ in the Herero language. Mushara Outpost is all about old-fashioned hospitality and a warm, friendly and personalised service provided on the doorstep of the wonderful Etosha National Park. The main house at the lodge has been styled like an old farmhouse with high walls, a corrugated-iron roof and a large wrap-around veranda facing northeast to take advantage of the shade. The ambience is similar to that of a well-lived-in house – friendly and extremely comfortable with a light feel to it.

Mushara Bush Camp Mushara Bush Camp accommodates 32 guests and eight children in custom-built tent-like structures, offering a down-to-earth bush-camp experience and providing an exceptionally affordable base for independent travellers and families en route to explore the magical Etosha National Park. The main structure is thatched and has a true bush-camp feel to it. The early evenings are spent around a campfire for guests to exchange stories of the day’s wildlife sightings. Mushara Bush Camp is your optimal family destination on the doorstep of one of the world’s top wildlife havens. PO Box 1814, Tsumeb Booking Office: Tel: (+264 61) 24 1880 Email: reservations@mushara-lodge.com

For more inspiration on these lodges go to www.mushara-lodge.com

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Ongava Game Reserve Nestled in the mountains and plains, Ongava Game Reserve provides visitors with the ultimate in accommodation, offering comfort, luxury and a connection to the earth. Each lodge on Ongava has its own unique style, layout and atmosphere; but all offer the same wonderful sense of luxurious seclusion. Built from local materials in traditional fashion, they blend tastefully into the surrounding landscape, allowing visitors to feel at one with nature.

DANA ALLEN

Little Ongava Designed for privacy, luxury and intimacy with the land, Little Ongava is set on a high hill with pristine views across the plains. A boardwalk meanders over rocks and trees, connecting the beautiful main area with one of only three secluded en-suite thatched suites. Each suite is like a home, featuring a large sala with a cosy fireplace, comfortable seating, a private deck, infinity pool and sun loungers. The overall impression is one of pure natural indulgence indoors, surrounded by untamed nature outdoors. The lounge and dining areas have wonderful views of a popular waterhole, the open deck allowing for relaxed, stylish dining under the African sky. Guests at Little Ongava share a dedicated guide and vehicle, ensuring the best possible nature experience including bird watching, game drives, guided nature walks, white rhino approaching, excursions into the Etosha National Park and use of the photographic hide. The newly opened Ongava Research Centre's Visitors Centre boasts dozens of in-depth displays where guests can interface with science and research on a personal level.

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Anderssons at Ongava Central to the design of the new Anderssons at Ongava is the connection to the wild, and it is most keenly felt at the waterhole and nearby underground viewing hide. Here guests have a water level view of the prolific wild and birdlife on Ongava Game Reserve in a setting that inspires intimacy without intrusion. The social area, where guests gather for meals and to meet fellow wildlife enthusiasts, guides and naturalists, encompasses an undercover and open-air dining area, a spacious lounge and bar, a sunken observation terrace, an open fireplace, as well as a dedicated photographic nook for reviewing and editing images. Additional features include the curio shop, library, complimentary Wi-Fi, and connectivity to the research data gathered over years of cutting-edge scientific endeavours on Ongava. The Ongava Research Centre's Visitors Centre is a short walk away and guests can meander through the self-guided exhibition area at their own pace.

| ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK AND OWAMBO |

OLWEN OEVANS

Ongava Lodge Ongava Lodge is perched on a ridge with seemingly endless views across the plains. Ongava Lodgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fourteen air-conditioned brick, rock and thatch chalets, each with en-suite facilities, offer a relaxing retreat in the African bush. Gather at the main thatched dining area and enjoy a drink at the bar while watching wildlife interact at the floodlit waterhole. Your lodge experience includes a refreshing swimming pool, curio shop, Wi-Fi and a dedicated guide and shared game drive vehicle to participate in bird watching, game drives, guided nature walks, white rhino approaching or make use of the photographic hide. Guests now have the opportunity to explore the newly opened Ongava Research Centre's Visitors Centre.

Ongava Tented Camp Immersed in the African mopane bush, Ongava Tented Camp is a natural extension of this wild, wonderful landscape tucked in a hidden valley at the foot of a dolomite hill. Eight large, comfortable tents all have ensuite facilities, with double basins, indoor and open-air showers and private verandas. The dining area, bar and deck have an unobstructed view of the active waterhole. Your lodge experience includes nights at the campfire, stunning waterhole views, curio shop, swimming pool, a dedicated guide and shared game drive vehicle. The available activities include bird watching, game drives, guided nature walks, white rhino approaching, excursions into the Etosha National Park and the opportunity to meander through the self-guided exhibition area of the Ongava Research Centre's Visitors Centre.

PO Box 58, Okaukeujo Tel: (+264 83) 330 3920 Email: hello@ongava.com Web: www.ongava.com

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Onguma Nature Reserve Sharing the eastern border of Etosha National Park, Onguma Nature Reserve is a beguiling mixture of sophistication and relaxation, of elegance and the earth. In the local Herero language, Onguma means ‘the place you don’t want to leave’, and the 34 000-hectare reserve certainly lives up to its name. Onguma The Fort - iconic luxury The Fort, unlike any other, is built in a perfect spot to give guests a stunning sunset view across Etosha Pan and the waterhole and inspire relaxation with our Onguma-tailored massages. The Moroccan inspired Fort consists of 11 Bush Suites, one Honeymoon Suite and one Sultan Suite, all completely private and about 50 metres apart, each with a bar fridge, a fireplace and air conditioning. The spacious bathroom has an inside and an outside shower. From every area of the room, wooden decks lead you to the outside seating area with a plunge pool and sun loungers for relaxing and enjoying the extraordinary view across the Pan. Onguma Etosha Aoba Lodge – for a secluded bush-lodge experience Etosha Aoba is an intimate, relaxed bush lodge with a natural character that gives guests a taste of wilderness and yesteryear safari-style. Featuring thatched roofs and wooden furniture, the 11 bungalows and central area are surrounded by nature, with a raised deck and fire-pit overlooking the large waterhole. The down-to-earth friendly character of the lodge and staff introduces you to the true spirit of the Namibian bush. A well-stocked wine cellar complements hearty meals served under the stars.

Onguma Bush Camp - ideal for families Onguma Bush Camp offers guests a stunning waterhole around which the main guest areas are positioned, ensuring there is something to see while enjoying every meal. Thatch, wooden decks and canvas ensure the feel of Africa is experienced by all the senses. The 18 rooms provide varied accommodation for singles, couples and families. Since the camp is fenced, it is perfectly suitable for families, allowing little ones to enjoy our Young Explorer’s Walk and stretch their legs while parents relax around the pool or enjoy an Onguma-tailored massage.

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| ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK AND OWAMBO |

Onguma Tented Camp – the ultimate in safari chic Onguma Tented Camp has a stunning main building with 7 Out-OfAfrica-style tents in the tree line around an active waterhole. Each tent is an unique structure of Etosha stone and triple-layered canvas on decks. This private and spacious accommodation was designed with attention to detail and has air-conditioning over the bed, an indoor and an outdoor shower, a gorgeous modern interpretation of an old zinc bath, a separate toilet, two stone basins and a private sitting area with uninterrupted views of the waterhole. Onguma Tree Top Camp – up among the tree tops Onguma Tree Top Camp is small and intimate, especially designed for those travellers who like to truly experience the bush in all its raw splendour. The camp is small and intimate, built on wooden stilts amongst the tree tops with full views over one of the most beautiful waterholes on Onguma Nature Reserve. It is ideal for small groups or families travelling together and can be booked in its entirety – with private chef, host and guide. What better way to experience the wilderness? Onguma Tamboti Campsite - the ultimate in luxury camping Tamboti Campsite boasts a lovely restaurant overlooking the waterhole - for days when you just want to relax and enjoy a hearty meal. The 25 campsites are well placed to offer privacy and each one is equipped with generous private ablutions and ample plugs for charging cameras and equipment. The swimming pool, Wi-Fi and small supply shop ensure campers want for nothing! Game drives can be booked at reception. Onguma Leadwood Campsite Nestled in the shade of large leadwood trees are 6 private camping sites, each with their own ablution, wash-up area and power point. Leadwood campers can also make use of Onguma Bush Camp’s facilities including sipping sundowners at the waterhole or cooling off in the swimming pool. This is the perfect campsite for exclusive use and to explore the eastern side of Etosha.

PO Box 24046, Windhoek Tel: (+264 61) 23 7055 Fax: (+264 61) 23 5677 Email: reservations@onguma.com Web: www.onguma.com

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RIÃ&#x2C6;TH VAN SCHALKWYK

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& THE KUNENE REGION

Kaokoland

Northwest

Kaokoland extends from the Kunene River southwards across a sparsely populated and harsh environment down to the Hoanib River. The area holds a special allure for lovers of remote and wild places to negotiate its challenging and rugged terrain in four-wheel-drive vehicles. Attractions include the desert-adapted elephants, scattered Himba settlements, the impressive Epupa Falls, off the beaten track destinations such as the expansive Marienfluss and Hartmann valleys, the wild and beautiful Khowarib Schlucht, and Swartbooisdrift, site of a Dorslandtrekker monument.

The African elephant, a strong and majestic giant, is a key feature on the plains, in the forest and across other landscapes in Africa. In remote parts of north-western Namibia these gentle giants have adapted to survive in harsh desert conditions. In Kaokoland the desert-adapted elephant's home ranges cover as much as 3 000 km², with the animals trekking up to 200 km in search of water. It was thought initially that these elephants were a different species to the African elephant, Loxodonta africana, because they have longer legs, are taller and have larger feet. However, because they have less to eat than their Etosha counterparts, they don’t carry the same body mass, and therefore appear to be taller and have longer legs. But they do have larger feet, an environmental adaptation caused by walking primarily on soft sand all their lives. Kaokoland’s desert-adapted elephants rotate the home ranges that they occupy as the seasons change to where food and water can be found. Herds are led by a matriarch, who is usually the oldest female and has accumulated as much as 30 years’ experience of the climatic conditions in her home range. By definition, desert-dwelling elephants occupy an arid habitat for at least part of the year and have special behavioural

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GERHARD THIRION

KAOKOLAND’S FAMOUS ‘DESERT ELEPHANTS’

characteristics, large annual and seasonal ranges, and a social structure and daily activities suited to an arid environment. When feeding, these denizens of the desert take far greater care than their relatives in Etosha. They hardly ever fell trees, break fewer branches and debark much less than other elephants. Whereas adult elephants on average drink between 100–200 litres of water a day, in Kaokoland they drink only once every three or four days. During droughts they dig deep, narrow holes (gorras) in dry riverbeds with their tusks, trunk and feet to find water.

THE DESERT LIONS’ FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL

Another curiosity of the area is the remarkable desert-adapted lion. With approximately 140 of their kind left, the desert lions are a rare group of carnivores that have adapted to survive in one of the harshest, most unforgiving landscapes on earth. With their numbers dwindling as poaching and human encroachment threaten their future, sightings are few and far between. For more information on the desert lions of the Namib visit www.desertlion.info.

ELZANNE MCCULLOCH

| KAOKOLAND & THE KUNENE REGION |

EPUPA FALLS

With its scenically beautiful surroundings, Epupa is one of Namibia’s prime tourist destinations. The falls are a series of cascades where the Kunene River drops a total of 60 metres over a distance of about 1.5 km, separating into a multitude of channels and forming a myriad of rock pools. Enhanced by richly coloured rock walls, a variety of trees including wild figs, baobabs and waving makalani palms, spectacular sunsets and perennially flowing waters, the Epupa area offers much to see, do and experience. Bird-watching is rewarding, especially for the rare Rufous-tailed Palm Thrush. Also seen are Bee-eaters, African Fish Eagles, Kingfishers ranging from the Giant to the tiny Malachite Kingfisher, Rosy-faced Lovebirds, Paradise Flycatchers, Turacos, Bulbuls, Hornbills and Rollers. Scattered settlements of Himba are an especially interesting feature of the area.

OPUWO

Although officially declared as a town only at the end of 2000, Opuwo has long acted as the capital of the Kunene Region, and as the gateway to Epupa Falls and the land of the Himba people. The town itself doesn’t offer much for the tourist, except in the form of hand-made jewellery and other crafts, which can be found at street stalls and at the open market. The Kunene Craft Centre is also a good place to stock up on souvenirs from the area. Opuwo has well-stocked grocery shops, Internet cafés, a post office, banks, fuel stations, a hospital, and everything else a traveller might need. Opuwo is connected to Kamanjab and Windhoek by a tarred road that is in excellent condition. There’s an airfield in town, managed by the Opuwo Country Hotel.

The Ovahimba Living Museum

A newly opened Living Museum now allows visitors to discover the mysteries and wonders of Ovahimba

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ABOVE The Epupa Falls on the Kunene River

culture. An exhilarating, energetic demonstration, the living museum gives you the opportunity to learn about the intriguing traditional life of the Himba people. This includes their dress, food and crafts (wood carving and metal work). Guests learn about how the homestead is built, with the Holy Fire at its heart, where all the important communication with the ancestors takes place. They also have the unique opportunity to sit in a hut with a bevy of Himba women learning about their intricate beauty rituals. The Ovahimba Living Museum opened officially in November 2016 and is the sixth of its kind. The museum can be found on the C43, 40 km north of Opuwo.

Ruacana Falls

At 120 metres high and 700 metres wide, the Ruacana Falls on the

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Kunene River are one of the largest waterfalls in Africa. However, for most of the year the waterfall is dry, due to the Ruacana Hydropower Plant, which is the major source of electricity generated in Namibia.

There are several campsites along the Kunene River between Hippo Pools and the Epupa Falls. Facilities vary from campsite to campsite and you might find no-one in attendance when you arrive at some campsites. Some campsites mentioned in tourist brochures have closed down. Facilities at Kunene River Lodge and Epupa Falls Lodge are, however, of a high standard.

The Mysterious Lone Men

Kaokoland has long been described as a forelorn and mysterious place, often called the Wild West of Namibia. But, a new mystery has recently emerged, one that adds to the atmosphere of this fascinating desert wilderness: the Lone Men of Kaokoland. Nearly life-size rock sculptures of men have started appearing across the area three years ago. Made from the rock prevailing in the area, they blend in perfectly with their surroundings and take on different poses, catching you by surprise with their lifelike gait or posture. One figure sits on a hilltop, surveying the arid landscape, another one – referred to as the Dapper Stapper – strolls across the stony plains carrying a bundle on the end of a stick like an old-time traveller, another appears to be deep in thought, while yet another strides across the rugged land with a strong sense of purpose. Each figure has an aluminium disc attached to it, with a number and a message as to where it is going. The sculptures have been spotted along the road on the routes between Puros in the south, Van Zyl’s Pass in the east, Otjinungua in the north and the Skeleton Coast Park in the west.

RIGHT Ruacana Falls • One of the mysterious Lone Men of the Kaokoland statues

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PAUL VAN SCHALKWYK

CAMPING ON THE KUNENE

Accommodation KAOKOLAND & THE KUNENE REGION

The rugged wilderness region of Namibia's northwestern hinterlands - home to nomadic people and desert-adapted mega-fauna.

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Epupa Falls Lodge The Kunene Region is a popular destination for cultural enthusiasts who want to meet the Ovahimba Tribe. We now have a new dimension to our top destination: Epupa Falls Lodge. Experience the breath-taking view of the falls from any of our 5-Twin chalets. Not only are the chalets built from mostly local materials, they are also built on stilts which ensures better views of the falls and better birding. You also have the luxury of a sitting area to enjoy the view during the heat of the day. All chalets are equipped with mosquito nets. Epupa Falls Lodge & Campsite has become famous for its deck and restaurant. Christa's Kitchen serves the best food in the area while you either enjoy the spray of the falls or a chat around the bar. Epupa Falls Lodge runs on solar power and tries to be as green as possible while we still provide our guests with wireless internet as well as the option to charge camera equipment etc. For the returning traveller, it is the isolation of the Epupa area that appeals. On closer inspection, you will not only find the very interesting nomadic Himba, but also an incredibly wide range of plant and bird life. Cell: 081 250 8225 Email: reservations@epupafallslodge.com Web: www.epupafallslodge.com

Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp The Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp is found in one of the most remote areas of Namibia, straddling the Palmwag area and Skeleton Coast National Park. The stunning camp is set within an intriguingly diverse landscape offering eight luxurious en-suite tents. Guests have the chance to explore the dramatic rugged landscapes, dry riverbeds, soft sand dunes and a series of phenomenal oases in search of remarkable desert-adapted wildlife, as well as to take a scenic flight (weather permitting and only a 3-night stay) that reveals the wonders of the harsh Skeleton Coast with its enormous seal colonies and fascinating shipwreck remains. PO Box 6850, Windhoek Tel: (+264 61) 27 4500 Fax: (+264 61) 23 9455 Email: info@wilderness.com.na Web: www.wilderness-safaris.com

Hoanib Valley Camp In a country jam-packed with vast, spectacularly beautiful landscapes, Kaokoland may just be the most incredible of them all. Deep in north-western Namibia, the area is a melee of towering mountains, sand dunes, and huge expanses of desert, scattered with unique wildlife and nomadic Himba settlements. It’s also one of Namibia’s most remote and wild environments, and one that not many will get the chance to discover in a lifetime. And that’s exactly why we’ve decided to build Hoanib Valley Camp. A joint venture between the local communities and the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, the world’s only Africa-wide giraffe conservation organisation, the camp is an elegant, intimate affair that immerses you into the wilds of the desert. The six rooms blend seamlessly with the environment, offering a simple aesthetic that matches the rugged landscape down to a tee. Days are spent tracking endangered rhino, desert-adapted elephant, and of course desert-adapted giraffe, before retiring to your private veranda to marvel at the magnitude of your surroundings (G&T in hand).

Tel: (+264) 61 225 616 Email: resnam@naturalselection.travel Web: www.naturalselection.travel

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| KAOKOLAND & THE KUNENE REGION | 4

Serra Cafema Undoubtedly one of the most remote camps in southern Africa, Serra Cafema is located in the extreme northwest of Namibia on the banks of the Kunene River in the Hartmann’s Valley. Serra Cafema is an intimate, peaceful camp inspired by the area’s Himba people, with a unique mix of rustic and luxury elements, and nestled amongst shady albida trees. Accommodation consists of eight riverside wood, canvas and thatched villas on spacious, elevated decks blended smoothly into the picturesque surroundings. Each tent has an en-suite bathroom, ceiling fan and mosquito nets. One of these rooms is an intimate, luxurious honeymoon villa with exceptional views, while another accommodates a family. PO Box 6850, Windhoek Tel: (+264 61) 27 4500 Fax: (+264 61) 23 9455 Email: info@wilderness.com.na Web: www.wilderness-safaris.com

Sesfontein Guesthouse Sesfontein Guesthouse is situated right at the heart of the village of Sesfontein, about 110 km north of Palmwag. Staying at Sesfontein Guesthouse is a very rural experience with donkey carts a common sight and being woken up by crowing chicken well before dawn. Our ten rooms are all en-suite and come complete with three beds, mosquito nets, and air-conditioning. Our restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and serves the best banana bread north of Windhoek. Activities on offer include visits to the traditionally living Himba tribes close by, drives down the Hoanib River in search of the elusive desert elephants, as well as rhino tracking. Come stay with us for a real Namibian experience! Tel: +264 61 234793 Front Desk: +264 61 23 4793 Web: www.sesfontein-guesthouse.com

Shipwreck Lodge Unravel the mystery Shipwreck Lodge is located between the Hoarusib and Hoanib Rivers in the Skeleton Coast Park, only 45 km north of Möwe Bay. The lodge is nestled between the dunes with a view of the Atlantic Ocean. There are day excursions by vehicle to the Möwe Bay seal colony. Guests will see the remnants of the Suiderkus Shipwreck, the remains of the Karimona Shipwreck and the Ventura Bomber and the abandoned Westies Diamond Mine. A sundowner drive will take you to the roaring dunes. Take a 4x4 trip to the clay castles, a natural geological formation. Guests can enjoy lunch on the beach. Other activities on offer are dune boarding and quad biking guided trails.

PO Box 91045, Windhoek Reservations Tel: 061 228 104 Email: shipwreck@journeysnamibia.com Web: www.shipwrecklodge.com.na

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LIZA DE KLERK

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KHAUDUM & SURROUNDINGS

Waterberg,

Waterberg

Rising as an island of colour some 200 metres above the WATERBERG PLATEAU PARK surrounding African bush and savannah, the Waterberg Plateau, The 405 km² Waterberg Plateau Park was proclaimed in 1972 as a reserve

with its flamboyant brick-red sandstone formations and lush for endangered and protected species. green vegetation, is without a doubt the main drawcard of The history of the park began on 15 June 1956 with the declaration of

the region. Other attractions are the Hoba Meteorite, the two portions of the plateau as natural monuments. This came to pass

Otjihaenamaparero dinosaur footprints and the Dragon’s after representations were made to Breath underground lake. Tsumkwe, the administrative centre of the then SWA Administration by the

Kameradschaft Ehemaliger Deutscher

Bushmanland is home to a large San population, and the southern Soldaten, members of the Scientific gateway to the Khaudum National Park. Society, the Monuments Commission,

LE ROUX VAN SCHALKWYK

and other interested parties. The two areas – the Omuverume Plateau and the Karakuwisa Mountain Range – were, however, divided by farms that had been allocated to farmers in the past. The Omuverume Plateau is probably the only sandveld vegetation type that developed for many centuries without being disturbed, due to the vertical cliffs and flora there having reached a unique stage of climate development. Interestingly enough, the original motivation for the proclamation of the entire Waterberg Plateau as a park was to create a reserve for eland. It was reasoned that there are about 800 eland in the Waterberg area that move from farm to farm and cause a nuisance. As soon as the farmers obtain ownership of the game on their land, the future of these eland will be in jeopardy because the farmers do not tolerate eland on their land’. How wrong this statement proved to be! It was only when farmers were granted ownership of their game, that game populations in the country began to flourish and increase.

ELZANNE MCCULLOCH

The Waterberg Plateau Park of today is home to some 25 game and over 200 bird species. Rare species such as roan and sable antelope, Cape buffalo and tsessebe occur in large numbers.

LEFT Waterberg Plateau • Damara dik-dik

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LE ROUX VAN SCHALKWYK

| WATERBERG, KHAUDUM AND SURROUNDINGS |

Species such as black and white rhino are also firmly established on the plateau. The vegetation changes dramatically from acacia savannah at the foot of the plateau to lush green sub-tropical dry woodland with tall trees and grassy plains at the top. Ten fern species have been recorded at the Waterberg, of which one is endemic to Namibia and Angola. There is also an impressive range of flowering plants, including the conspicuous flame lily, Gloriosa superba. On the site of the historic Battle of Waterberg, at the foot of the plateau, a graveyard serves as a reminder of a turbulent period in history. Schutztruppe soldiers who died in the battle fought between the Herero and German colonial forces in 1904 are buried here. At the eastern extremity of the park is the Okatjikona Environmental Education Centre, a facility run by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism that provides the opportunity for visiting groups, mainly schoolchildren, to learn about the importance of environmental conservation. The superb natural beauty of the Waterberg can be enjoyed by vehicle

LIZA DE KLERK

The Waterberg Plateau Park of today is home to some 25 game and over 200 bird species.

on a guided game-viewing tour conducted by NWR or easy walking routes along the base of the plateau.

HOBA METEORITE

The largest known meteorite of its kind in the world, Hoba Meteorite, lies in a shallow depression on the farm Hoba-West, about 20 km west of Grootfontein. The 50-tonne mass of iron and nickel is between 100 to 300 million years old. It crashed into earth some 30 000 to 80 000 years ago. Discovered by Jacobus Hermanus Brits in the 1920s, it has periodically been subjected to vandalism. Measures to protect the meteorite were taken in the 1980s in a joint venture between Rössing Uranium Ltd and the National Monuments Council. A stone amphitheatre was built around it to allow for convenient viewing, with a museum wall at the entrance displaying information about the meteorite. An interesting variety of

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ABOVE Panoramic views from atop the plateau. • The Hoba Meteorite is the largest known meteorite of its kind in the world.

birds such as Kalahari Scrub Robins and several species of waxbills inhabit the surroundings, and there are barbecue facilities at the site.

DINOSAUR FOOTPRINTS

Tracks of a two-legged, three-toed dinosaur can be viewed 29 km north of the town of Kalkveld on the farm Otjihaenamaparero. The cluster of small, shallow indentations in the rock surface – declared a national monument in 1951 – is estimated to be 150 million to 185 million years old. Visitors are required to pay a fee, and overnight and picnic facilities are provided on the farm.

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DRAGON’S BREATH

On the farm Harasib, 46 km northwest of Grootfontein off the C42 to Tsumeb, is the world’s largest known underground lake. It lies about 60 metres below ground level in a cave referred to as Dragon’s Breath, an enormous cavern of solid rock accessed from above using ropes and caving equipment. The lake has crystalclear water and a surface area of almost two hectares. It is currently accessible only to professional cavers and divers. On the same property is Harasib Lake, where a group of cave divers, reaching depths of 147 metres in July 2012, set a new record. Though an interesting feature of the area, Dragon's Breath is unfortunately not open to the public.

TOWNS IN THE REGION Grootfontein

The small town of Grootfontein serves the surrounding cattle-ranching community and is the last urban centre on the road to Rundu and the far northeast. Its history and character are personified in its coat of arms by depictions of the Hoba Meteorite, a palm tree, kudu, eland and cheetah. The Herero name of the town – Otjiwanda Tjongue – means leopard’s crest, and these secretive, nocturnal cats still occur in the surroundings. Due to the relatively high rainfall and large number of springs in the area, the San and Damara who lived here during the first half of the 19th century called the place Gei-/ous, which translates as Grootfontein (Afrikaans for large spring). A historic fort from the German era, built in 1896, houses the Grootfontein Museum with its extensive mineralogical collection, ethnical display – including an extensive exhibition on the Himbas – implements for making ox wagons, utensils used in the Kavango Region and an exhibition featuring the German colonial Schutztruppe. The museum celebrated its 30th year in 2013. It hosts an annual Christmas market on the last weekend of November, as well as movie nights throughout the year. Housed in the same building in Eriksson Street is the Tourist Information Centre. Close by is the fountain that gave rise to the town’s name, encircled by the Tree Park with its collection of exotic trees. Providing a break from fast foods, Coffee Bloom in Hidipo Hamutenya

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Street serves balanced, home-cooked meals, cakes and light refreshments, and sells small gifts and jewellery. Situated in the Grootfontein district, northeast of the homestead of the farm Keibib, is a large baobab tree that was declared a national monument because it was regarded as the largest of its kind in the commercial farming area. On the farm Rietfontein is the grave of Axel W Eriksson, well-known traveller, hunter and pioneer in South West Africa during the second half of the 19th century. Grootfontein Museum/ Tourist Information Centre Tel (+264 67) 24 2456

Otavi

The small towns of Otavi, Grootfontein and Tsumeb demarcate the socalled Maize Triangle, a relatively high-rainfall area with a flourishing agriculture sector centred mainly around the cultivation of maize and lucerne, some of which is under irrigation. While the town itself doesn’t offer much in terms of tourist attractions, the surroundings do. The Khorab Memorial – about 3 km from Otavi and dating back to the First World War – marks the spot where a ceasefire was signed at Khorab on 9 July, 1915. On the farm Ghaub, 35 km northeast of Otavi, a historical mission station built in 1895 was converted into Guest Farm Ghaub. There is much of interest in the surroundings, including the Ghaub Caves, remarkable for their stalactites, and San paintings, which have been declared a national monument. The Fourways Stopover at the intersection leading to Tsumeb and Grootfontein hosts a petrol station, car wash, biltong shop and butchery, takeaway outlet, chicken-and-chips shop, pizzeria, fresh vegetable market, and a small nursery. There are also braai facilities for truckers, and the Camel Inn Restaurant and Bar, which is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Otjiwarongo

The town of Otjiwarongo, a Herero word meaning ‘a good place’, is an important centre for cattle ranching. It is situated about 250 km north

of Windhoek, on a slope amid undulating plains. The Otjiwarongo Crocodile Farm, where you can get close-up views of crocodiles of various ages, is well worth a visit. The restaurant, which has indoor and outdoor seating, serves light meals, including crocodile delicacies. There is also a kiddies’ playground. The AfriCat Foundation, a non-profit organisation committed to the longterm conservation of Namibia’s large carnivores, is based at Okonjima, south of Otjiwarongo. Also in the area, albeit east of Otjiwarongo, are the headquarters of the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF). The Cheetah Conservation Fund is an acclaimed organisation dedicated to saving the cheetah in the wild. Founded by Dr. Laurie Marker in 1990, CCF has created a set of integrated programmes aimed at addressing the principle threats to the cheetah. Using this research as an underpinning, CCF has created a set of integrated programs that together address the threats both to the cheetah and its entire ecosystem, including human populations. CCF is open to the public every day of the year except Christmas Day. Visitors to CCF can enjoy a variety of activities and experiences, including: • Centre Tours – a walking tour of the main facility and an introduction to the cheetahs, dogs and livestock that live at the centre. • Cheetah Drive - a drive through the Elandsvreugde cheetah enclosure in search of some of the female cheetah who live there. An experienced guide will be on hand to explain how cheetah such as Samantha, Rosie and Solo came to be at CCF, • Cheetah Runs – see the resident cheetahs stretch their legs on a lure course and experience the wonder of watching the world’s fastest land animal in action.

OKAKARARA COMMUNITY CULTURAL AND TOURISM CENTRE

Located in the small settlement of Okakarara, the Okakarara Community Cultural and Tourism Centre (OCCTC) was inaugurated in August 2004 during the 100-year commemoration of the Battle of Ohamakari, fought in the

| WATERBERG, KHAUDUM AND SURROUNDINGS | early liberation struggle of Namibia’s indigenous people.

Tsumkwe

The main town in Bushmanland – home to the San people – is Tsumkwe. It is reached by turning onto the C44 ,which is signposted on the B1, 55 km north of Grootfontein. A further 220 km along the C44 will get you to Tsumkwe. Further south and east is a vast expanse of wooded savannah where animals such as roan antelope and elephant roam. A distinctive tree found in the area is the baobab, easily recognised by its grotesquely fat trunk. Exclusive tours to introduce visitors to the San and their vanishing way of life are offered by several safari companies. Groups usually leave from Tsumkwe, visit Khaudum National Park, and are introduced to San communities such as the Ju/’Hoansi. Depending on the tour company, the San act as hosts, demonstrating skills such as tracking and food gathering, and sharing their knowledge of local customs and beliefs with their guests. Several tour operators offer guided tours to traditional San villages in the area. The itineraries include bush walks with San trackers, who demonstrate hunting, snaring and tracking skills, and how bush food is collected. Ninety per cent of the proceeds generated by these tours remains with the San. The general dealer at Tsumkwe can usually supply petrol and diesel, but this may not always be the case. If travelling towards Tsumkwe, be sure to rather fill up with petrol at Grootfontein and Tsumeb and also carry extra jerry cans of fuel. It is also recommended to stock up with provisions and to carry extra water.

KHAUDUM NATIONAL PARK Khaudum National Park is a densely wooded wilderness reserve that borders Botswana in the east and can be explored only in 4x4 vehicles. It is

LE ROUX VAN SCHALKWYK

Tel (+264 67) 31 7603/7604

PAUL VAN SCHALKWYK

The centre serves as a link between present and past, as well as between visitors and residents, and works towards enhancing a common future in and around the traditional lands of the Herero people. The site hosts a café and kiosk, a small souvenir shop and a dialogue circle for meetings and team-building exercises. Camping sites are available.

the only conservation area in Namibia where the northern Kalahari sandveld biome is protected. The Khaudum Game Park was proclaimed in 1989. In February 2007, the 3 842 km² reserve was given national park status and its name was adapted accordingly. The wilderness harbours several big game species and a multitude of birds. However, as a result of the dense vegetation, game viewing in the Khaudum requires considerable patience. Large animals found throughout the park are elephant and giraffe, while predators are lion, leopard, spotted hyaena, and side-striped and black-backed jackal. African wild dogs also occur here. Game numbers vary considerably, as Khaudum is largely unfenced, enabling the animals to follow their natural migration routes. Khaudum is the stronghold of Namibia’s roan antelope. Other animals seen here are kudu, steenbok, gemsbok and blue wildebeest, while tsessebe,

www.thisisnamibia.com

ABOVE A San man showcasing traditional skills • African buffalo in Waterberg National Park

hartebeest, eland and reedbuck occur in the central areas. About 320 bird species have been recorded at Khaudum. Rare species include Coppery-tailed and Senegal Coucals, Bradfield’s Hornbills, Rufous-bellied Tits, Black-faced Babblers and Sharptailed Starlings. Please note: A minimum of two 4x4 vehicles per group are required to travel in the park. There are two campsites, Sikereti and Khaudum, the latter of which has been privatised and upgraded. You are advised to bring your own drinking water, wood, fuel and provisions. In the Kavango Region to the north of the park, petrol is sold only at Bagani, Divundu, and Rundu.

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Accommodation ANGOLA

D3405

Ondobe

Okatana

ANGOLA

C45

Ohangwena

D3604

EpembeD3407

D3404

Okongo

Oshititu

Calai

Onyati

Khaudum 0

D3403

Ovambo D3001

D29

D30

D3312

DD328 30734

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D2868

22 D3 8

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D3303

D3805

D3301

D2895

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M1 12

Summerdown Waterberg D2149 Resort D2146

Okonjima - Home of AfriCat C30

D16

Okatuwo M53

M114

0 D2 12

D3 809

D2 11 6

809

Okovimburu

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D1639 3

C22 D1641

M114

D1635

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D1830

Du Plessis 1

M13

Steinhausen D3811 64

Otjiyarwa

Okovimburu

Okavarumendu

Otjinoko

Okozondara

D2170

825

M85

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628

4 40 D2

0 18 D2

D2845

8 M73

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D2845

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D330

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DD2 82478 82

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0 78 D2

D2895

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17 D30

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Okaharui War Memorial D2170

2 D210

Otjinoko Hochveld

C31

ooiboklaagte

C29

C31

Otjinene

Okarukurume R

D3808

Ombo Okozondara Ostrich D16 Farm 38

C31Otjiyarwa

Kungve

C22

D1621

B OT S WA N A

Okazize

D2146

Gam

806 D3Eiseb

D2143

12 Otjosondu D2 Kungveld

Ovikokorero War Memorial

Dis Al

D2110

Summerdown

D3311

C30

Vogelsang

C31

Otjisemba

C29

Albrechts

D2143

D2124

135

D2149 C36

Hochveld 126

825

C30

D2166

D211

Otjimbovo

Erongo

M85

C44

Daneib

Roy’s Rest Okarukurume CampD2414

Otjozondjou

C22

D3808

C33

D2121

Etiro

Otjosondu

D1621 B1 Fund Cheetah Conservation Otjinene 135

12 D2

(Xaixai)

C22

Franke Tower mbaD246 & Roman0Catholic Omaruru Church & Rhenish Mission Norman House

328

Otjozondjupa Caecae

Okondjatu

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D21

Djokwe

D245

806

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Osire D2459

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D382

D3301

D2138

344 Okakombo

D2454

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3 Grootboom Tsumkwe(Giant Baobab Tree) D3306

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D3805

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Okamatapati

D3805

D2138

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D3804

C22

D245

Kaalkop Otuwe

Hebron

C30

D2483

0 D38

D23

Aasvoëlnes

Nhoma Kano Vlei Soncana Waterhole

338

C42

Coblenz Tweeputte

D3802

8 D3

Ozondjache

D3805

Otjozondjou

46 D24

D2511

Kameelberg

D3805 Kalkveld

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Okakarara

C22

D2476

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D382

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D3300

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Nama Pan

Otjozondjupa 3

Heuningberg

Otjiwarongo

D3802

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Waterberg Wilderness Trail Otjahevita Waterberg Walks German & Herero Military Graveyard

Otjenga

Dramatic Cliffs

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D2612

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804

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D2433

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C40

D28

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D2830

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Otjihaenena

D287

Khaudum

Maroelaboom

C44

B8 Samagaigai

D28

Grootfontein

Otavi

Schumannsthal Hermanstal Gross-Otavi

D2807

Fort Grootfontein

Khorab Memorial

Fort Grootfontein

Hoba Meteorite

Doringstraat Waterhole

Khaudum

D330

C39D2844

D2782

Hoba Meteorite

D30

D2830

Kano Vlei

D2893

C42

D30

Abenab

D28

D3016

D2893

2 D30

Tsobis

Maroelaboom

C44

Abenab

C42

Mururani

D2848 National Park Elands Drink Dussi Waterhole Maanlig Waterhole

D2858 21 D30

Ghaub B1 Cave

Tamsu

D2898

D2858

Jakkalsberg

Karakuwisa

Tsumeb

Bobos

D3031

D2779

Maanlig

D3039

Lake D3043 Guinas Lake Guinas Otjikoto

D2855

D2848

D2898

C38 Tsumeb

D3016

D2855

Andersson D30 Gate

Giant Baobab Tree

D3016

C83

D3016

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C83

D30

D3047

D3007

Okaukuejo

D300

Mururani

D3047

Giant Baobab Tree

Rietfontein D3016

Mangetti National Park

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Mangetti

Tsintsabis

D3007

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Springbokfontein

Tsintsabis

D3028

Fort Namutoni Okerfontein Namutoni

Etosha Pan

Ncaute

Oshivelo

Groot Okevi Klein Okevi

Okondeka

Nyangana

Taratara

Nehale Lya Mpingana Gate Andoni

Kavango

Dirico

Mashari

Tsitsib

Khaudum

tional Park

Utokota

Rundu

D3400

605

Sambusu

Kavango

Tsitsib

Sambusu

Mutango

C45

Oshikoto

Cuvelai and Etosha Pan

Calai C45

Rupara

D3309

Maiuvo

Tondoro

Natukanaoka Pan

Maiuvo

D3603

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Mucusso National Park

6 D340

602

Olukonda Nakambale Museum & Church

Cuangar

Nkurenkuru

Tondoro The region is characterised by lush bushland wilderness areas, for the Nepara true adventurer.

Ondangwa

D2710

D340

Mpungu

Ekoko

Cuangar

Odi

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D3404

C45

Oshigambo Nkurenkuru Ongula Village Mpungu Homestead Lodge 6 Omulunga Oniipa D340 OkankoloNepara

C46

Ghaub B1 Cave

ANGOLA

D3405

State Forest

WATERBERG, KHAUDUM & SURROUNDINGS

D3622

B1State Forest

Ongwediva C45

Omundaungilo

Elundu

Eenhana

Oshikango Ohangwena

Engela

ngo Kava

Oshikango

enga

Luena National Park

D330

Ondjiva

663

Rietfont

| WATERBERG, KHAUDUM AND SURROUNDINGS |

This year the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) is celebrating its 30th anniversary. CCF is a research, education and conservation institution dedicated to the long-term survival of the species and is based close to Otjiwarongo. Day visitors are welcome, while our overnight visitors have a choice between the family and eco-friendly Cheetah View Lodge or the luxurious Babson House. We encourage school and university groups for educational day visits or for an immersive multi-day experience at Camp Lightfoot. Daily activities include a tour of the Cheetah Centre and Cheetah Drive, while pre-booking is essential for the Cheetah Run, Behind the Scenes and Serengeti Drive. Enjoy a delicious meal at our Cheetah Cafe or visit the Dancing Goat Creamery, museum or gift shop. CCF is open 364 days a year (closed only on Christmas day) from 08:00 to 17:00. Online: www.cheetahecolodge.com | Phone: +264 (0)61 237 294 / +264 (0)67 306225 Email: visit@ccfnamibia.com | Bookings: ccf@exclusive.com.na | www.cheetah.org

Roy's Rest Camp Here it is all about good, old-fashioned hospitality and a relaxing atmosphere. All en-suite bungalows are of unique rustic design nestled in Roy's Rest Camp gardens. Each bungalow is equipped with air conditioning, mosquito nets and tea/coffee facilities. To fill the days, we offer exciting activities such as 4x4 road trips to the Ju/'Hoansi Living Museum, peaceful walking trails, spectacular close-up game viewing at the hide and waterhole, relaxation at the swimming pool or enjoying a laid-back sundowner around the campfire. For some cultural inspiration visit the 66-ton iron-nickel meteorite on the Hoba West farm just 20 km south of Grootfontein, or visit the Old Fort Museum in Grootfontein which was the military fort and administrative post built in 1896 by the Schutztruppe and the native population. Tel: (+264 67) 240 302 Fax to Email: 088627432 Email: royscamp@iway.na Web: www.roys-rest-camp.com

Waterberg Resort The Waterberg Plateau, towering some 200 metres above the surrounding landscape, is one of the most spectacular features of the region. Nestled along the base of the cliffs, amongst towering trees, Waterberg Resort offers comfortable premier bush chalets, twoand four-bed bush chalets and double rooms. Amenities include a restaurant, bar and kiosk, housed in the historic Rasthaus originally built in 1908, and a shop, swimming pool and camping site. Guided drives are offered daily to the plateau, which is managed as a breeding area for rare and endangered species such as rhino, buffalo, sable and roan antelope. The natural beauty of the area can also be explored on foot on various walking and hiking trails. P/Bag 13378, Windhoek Tel: (+264 61) 285 7200 Fax: (+264 61) 22 4900 Email: reservations@nwr.com.na Web: www.nwr.com.na

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Okonjima – Home of the AfriCat Foundation Welcome to Okonjima, home of the AfriCat Foundation - your perfect leopard safari in Namibia. West of the Waterberg Plateau, the vast plains are occasionally broken by the remnants of ancient Sandstone outcrops, which once covered large areas of northern Namibia. Nestled among the Omboroko Mountains lies Okonjima - a Herero name meaning Place of the Baboons. Okonjima Nature Reserve (22000 ha) will be the highlight of your Namibian Safari! Both Okonjima & AfriCat are dedicated to creating conservation awareness through education. Environmental education at all ages and levels, provides solutions to human-wildlife conflict issues and conducts constructive wildlife research. Okonjima activities include tracking the elusive leopard from a game-viewing vehicle, visiting the AfriCat Carnivore Care & Information Centre, and also offers the "Off The Beaten Track" family activity. Birding and Game drives are also offered. Learn about Namibia’s carnivores and their fight for survival, and the Human-Wildlife Conflict challenges that face both man and carnivore.

The grand AFRICAN VILLA, be hosted and pampered in your private The select, private BUSH SUITE, exclusively for you and your family Bush Villa. or friends.

The luxury BUSH CAMP, old style Safari PLAINS CAMP The Barn, the dining and OMBOROKO CAMPSITE, private with a under thatch. lounge area, the pool and the curio-shop “cool” pool.

ACTIVITIES, an experience and an insight.

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AfriCat’s Carnivore Research and Care

AfriCat’s Environmental education – Conservation through education

| WATERBERG, KHAUDUM AND SURROUNDINGS |

"WHY does man destroy that which he does not understand? When we destroy in ignorance, we reap the unexpectedâ&#x20AC;¦ It is only though education, that the men, women and children of Africa will come to understand that we must learn to live within our wilderness and not without."

Okonjima Lodge Tel: (+264 67) 68 7032/33/34 Emergency Cell: (+264 81) 127 6233 Fax: (+264 67) 68 7051, (+264 67) 30 4565 Email: info@okonjimalodge.com Web: www.okonjima.com

The AfriCat Foundation Tel: (+264 67) 30 4566 Email: info@africat.org Web: www.africat.org

www.thisisnamibia.com

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LE ROUX VAN SCHALKWYK

www.thisisnamibia.com

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BRANDBERG & TWYFELFONTEIN

Damaraland,

Damaraland

The highlight of this region is Twyfelfontein – Namibia’s first World Heritage Site – with its wealth of rock engravings. Other special attractions are the majestic Brandberg with its treasure trove of ancient San rock art and daunting backpacking challenges, the Petrified Forest, Burnt Mountain, Organ Pipes, the Spitzkoppe, and the Erongo Mountains.

TWYFELFONTEIN AND SURROUNDINGS

Namibia’s first World Heritage Site (status awarded in 2007), Twyfelfontein (meaning doubtful fountain), is a massive, open-air art gallery that is of great interest to international rock-art connoisseurs. The 2,000-plus rock engravings, estimated to be 6,000 years old, represent one of Africa’s largest and most noteworthy concentrations of rock art.

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LE ROUX VAN SCHALKWYK

Black rhinoceros

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Contemporary research suggests that the creators of the rock art were San medicine people or shamans who went into an altered state of consciousness and connected with the spiritual world when a trance was induced. This could be used for purposes such as rain-making and healing the sick. The engravings depicted the images they saw after returning to normal consciousness.

Twyfelfontein is the Burnt Mountain, a panorama of desolation with coloured rocks contrasting vividly against the grey-black surroundings. The Organ Pipes, a mass of vertical basalt columns in a ravine gouged out by a river, is another geological curiosity in the area. Southwest of Twyfelfontein is the Doros Crater, where fossil remains have been found among the rocks.

About 50 km away is the Petrified Forest, where a cataclysmic event millions of years ago deposited giant tree trunks that subsequently turned to stone. Today the Namib’s living fossil plant, Welwitschia mirabilis, grows among these prostrate fossilised trunks. South of

KHORIXAS AND ENVIRONS Khorixas, the unofficial capital of the former Damaraland, is a useful stopover for refuelling your vehicle and stocking up on basic supplies. Although the town itself has little to offer, the surroundings feature rare and unusual rock

The region is home to the largest free-roaming population of black rhino in the world. Finger rock

Dominating the landscape when travelling westwards en route to Khorixas, 95 km west of Outjo, is the Ugab Vingerklip (Finger Rock) situated amongst the rugged Ugab Terraces. About 35 metres high, this distinctive monolith was shaped by erosion spanning many millennia.

KAMANJAB

Although not offering much in terms of tourism, the small settlement of Kamanjab’s Pots of Hope project is well worth a visit. Here, a group of rural women and young people combine their skills to create unique, hand-made pottery items. Founded by Alexia /Naris, the project supports poor, stigmatised and abused women and girls, providing them with an alternative means of income based

PAUL VAN SCHALKWYK

formations, ancient rock engravings and strange geological wonders, tempting geologists and many other travellers to the region. Near the hot-water spring at Warmquelle is Sesfontein Fort. A desolate and rapidly disintegrating ruin for many years, it has been reconstructed and equipped to accommodate tourists. Sesfontein derives its name from the six fountains that have their source in the vicinity. The palm trees at the fort were planted by colonial German police officers who manned it to combat weapon smuggling and elephant and rhino poaching. Close by is Signal Hill, a lookout point, where a heliograph station was constructed by German troops.

LE ROUX VAN SCHALKWYK

| DAMARALAND, BRANDBERG & TWYFELFONTEIN |

on their creative skills. The girls and women create products ranging from vases, tea sets and milk jugs to garden pots, goblets and plates.

ABOVE A rock engraving of a rhino at Twyfelfontein • Brandberg - Namibia's tallest mountain

MESSUM CRATER

Fine specimens of the desert plant, Welwitschia mirabilis, can be seen at the Messum Crater southwest of the Brandberg. Between 132 and 135 million years old, Messum has a diameter of 18 km. Messum is regarded as a volcanic feature that forms part of the Goboboseb Mountains to the northeast. It dates from the Etendeka period and, according to geologists, was the source of many of the intrusive and quartz-like extrusive rocks found in the area today. The crater was named after Captain W Messum, who was an explorer of the coastal regions of Southern Africa, which he surveyed from the ocean between 1846 and 1848.

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While driving to the Messum area you should, however, not overlook the lichen fields. The western part of Messum lies in the Dorob National Park and you will need a permit, obtainable at the Henties Bay Tourism Association.

THE BRANDBERG

The imposing Brandberg massif is a challenge to hikers, especially its peak, Königstein, which at 2 573 metres is the highest point in Namibia. The Brandberg is famous for the White Lady painting which can be seen on an overhang in Maack’s Shelter, named after the surveyor who first reported

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it in 1918. Maack’s Shelter lies in the Tsisab Gorge, a wild and beautiful ravine located amongst a vast jumble of rocks that are remnants of many ancient landslides. Although the figure of the White Lady, surrounded by paintings of numerous animals, has faded over the years, a pilgrimage to see it is well worth the effort. Walks to the shelter are conducted daily by National Heritage Council guides from 08h00 until 16h30 when the last walk departs. The round-trip takes around two-and-a half hours and is best done early in the morning. This massive outdoor gallery has been nominated for proclamation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Acacia montis-usti trees, conspicuous in the Brandberg valley, are endemic to this region. To preserve the extremely rich rock painting heritage of the Brandberg, hikers planning to ascend the mountain must be accompanied by a guide provided by the National Heritage Council. The guides know the mountain intimately, including where to find water which can be a

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WILLIE OLIVIER

The White Lady of the Brandberg

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challenge for those unfamiliar with the Brandberg. The National Heritage Council (NHC) of Namibia has announced: • A letter of permission issued by the NHC is required by a person or group before hiking and camping on the mountain. In order to obtain a letter simply contact the NHC in Windhoek requesting permission. Their number is 061 244 375 and they are located at 52 Robert Mugabe Avenue in Windhoek. • You need to indicate the number of days you will stay and how many are in the group. • A permit is required for any other activities such as research or filming. For more information contact the National Heritage Council directly at www.nhc-nam.org or +264 61 244 375.

OMARURU

Omaruru in central Namibia is a splendid example of a town that continues to reinvent itself and thrive in the process. Having evolved in recent years as a haven for an active artists’ community, it is a small town with big ideas. Like many towns in Namibia, it originated as a mission station. The

missionary Hugo Hahn was the first European to set foot here. When Omaruru was besieged by Herero forces during the Herero/German war, it was freed by Captain Victor Franke and his men. The Franke Tower, built to commemorate this event, was inaugurated in 1908. The oldest building in Omaruru, the Old Rhenish Mission House, now serves as the town museum. At the Namibia Stone Processing plant, items from local marble and granite are manufactured. In 1907 Omaruru officially acquired municipality status. By this time Willi Wronsky had built his residence, today’s Wronsky House, at the north end of Wilhelm Zeraua Road; the small Roman Catholic Church on Wilhelm Zeraua Road had been built and dedicated; and the Omaruru River had run above ground for the entire winter, most unusual in this dry part of the country. Every year the artists’ community of Omaruru presents an Artists’ Trail. Over the first weekend in September, open studios and outdoor exhibits draw visitors to Namibia from around Southern Africa and beyond. During 2009 the Omuntu Garden was opened with an exhibition of over 50 sculptures by five Namibian sculptors. The creator of Omuntu, Hanne Alpers,

maintains the garden as a permanent display area for sculptural art. Omuntu means ‘human being’ in Oshiwambo. The Main Street Café is open for breakfast and lunch. It specialises in home-made fare, including cheese, cheesecake and sausages made with locally sourced ingredients.

LIZA DE KLERK

| DAMARALAND, BRANDBERG & TWYFELFONTEIN |

Since June 2004, the Kristall Kellerei in Omaruru has been manufacturing its own brandy. It also produces wines, which compare favourably to international standards. A range of Schnapps is distilled from prickly pears, prosopis roots, lemons and, naturally, grapes. Well worth a visit is the Erongo Mountain Winery situated on the fringe of town along the Omaruru River. The boutique winery is open for personal tours and tastings of their interesting and innovative wines and spirits.

Rock paintings

The area surrounding Omaruru is rich in rock paintings. The Erongo Mountains and the area surrounding Omaruru are extremely rich in rock paintings; among them Omandumba Guest Farm. At Etemba there are six main sites with rock paintings. The largest of these is the Etemba Cave, where a large number depict humans and animals.

ELZANNE MCCULLOCH

On the south-western edge of town you will find Tikoloshe Afrika, a vibrant gallery and workshop where visitors can watch award-winning woodcarvers in action. In an open-air studio they transform weather-worn roots and tree trunks into unique sculptures of animals, varying in size from 10 cm to 10 metres high. Kashana Landhaus is a group of buildings on the banks of the Omaruru River initiated by local artists to accommodate studios and creative outlets such as the jewellery design workshop of German-trained goldsmith Annette Meyer, and Heavenly Herbs, a shop devised by local artist, Hanne Alpers, who also owns the Naua Naua Art shop and gallery on the same premises.

LE ROUX VAN SCHALKWYK

Local crafts and small industries

RIGHT The Franke Tower in Omaruru • Erongo Mountain Winery • Rock paintings at Ai AIba

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SPITZKOPPE

The Spitzkoppe is a group of rounded granite mountains situated northwest of Usakos, en route to Swakopmund. A favourite with climbers, the Spitzkoppe peak – affectionately known as Namibia’s Matterhorn because of its resemblance to the famous Swiss mountain – was first climbed in 1946. The Spitzkoppe group peaks at 1 728 metres above sea level. Seventy metres above the surrounding gravel plains are Sugarloaf Mountain and the Pondok Mountains (resembling the rounded Damara huts called pondoks). Rising 600 metres above the Kaokoveld plains, the main inselberg (island mountain) of the Spitzkoppe is approximately 700 million years old. After good summer rains, tall grass sways on the plains and small pools of water collect on the granite rocks of the mountain in shallow hollows. The group also has a minor peak, Little Spitzkoppe, which extends into the Pondok Mountains. On the eastern side is Bushman’s Paradise, with a walk up the steep incline made possible by the use of a fixed steel cable. Remains of San paintings can be seen in the overhang. Unfortunately,

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ELZANNE MCCULLOCH

The Arch at the Spitzkoppe

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like most rock art in the Spitzkoppe area, they have been vandalised. Other rock paintings can be seen at the Small Bushman’s Paradise and Golden Snake sites. At the Spitzkoppe turn-off, where the D1918 meets the B2, is the popular Ûiba-Ôas Crystal Market. Here the local community sells a variety of crystals, gemstones and minerals. The market is open seven days a week.

THE ERONGO MOUNTAIN AND TSISEB CONSERVANCIES

Incorporating the Erongo Mountains and western escarpment, the Erongo Mountain Nature Conservancy extends over approximately 200 000 hectares, encompassing one of the most environmentally diverse areas in Namibia, and including cultural artefacts such as rock paintings, rock engravings and prehistoric settlements. The region harbours high densities of leopard and brown hyaena. The members of the conservancy are committed to reintroducing species that formally inhabited the area, such as black-faced impala and black rhino. In terms of endemic species, the Erongo environment is one of Namibia’s hotspots, as it hosts a vast array of endemic and near-endemic plant, reptile, bird and

mammal species. These include the Angolan dwarf python, White-tailed Shrike, Hartlaub’s Spurfowl, Ruppell’s Parrot, Rockrunner and Hartmann’s zebra. Rare species that have found refuge in the Erongo Mountains include the Peregrine Falcon and Booted Eagle. The striking Verreaux’s Eagle can also be seen breeding in the mountains. The 8 083 km² Tsiseb Conservancy in the Uis and Brandberg environs is the secondlargest conservancy in Namibia. The small town of Uis has a Multi-Purpose Information Centre, with a coffee shop and Internet facilities, enabling travellers between Swakopmund and Etosha to access information about the entire region and to book tours with the Dâureb Mountain Guides to climb the Brandberg.

KARIBIB

Known for the marble extracted at a nearby quarry, the small town of Karibib lies en route to Walvis Bay and Swakopmund. The marble and granite mined at the Karibib Marble Works is used commercially for tombstones and to enhance public buildings and private homes in Namibia. It is also exported to countries such as the USA, China, Italy and Thailand for building purposes. An interesting place to visit in Karibib is the Henckert Tourist Centre on the main street,

| DAMARALAND, BRANDBERG & TWYFELFONTEIN | LE ROUX VAN SCHALKWYK

Otjimbingwe, a name thought to mean ‘place of refreshment’ and referring to a spring in the Omusema River. Yet Otjimbingwe was proclaimed the administrative centre of the then Deutsch-Südwestafrika during German colonial occupation. A mission station was established here in 1849, and the first church was built in 1867. Historical features in the town include the Hälbich Trading Store, the Rhenish Mission Church, the Powder Magazine erected in 1872 to protect the local population against attacks by the Nama, and the old Windmill, which generated power for the wagon factory belonging to the Hälbich family.

an ideal refreshment stop for travellers between Windhoek and Swakopmund. The Navachab Gold Mine southwest of the town was established in 1987, two years after the discovery of gold on Navachab Farm. The gold is of a relatively low quality, however, as 750 000 tonnes of rock must be processed every year to make the enterprise viable. Brought to life by the construction of the railway line between Swakopmund and Windhoek, one of the oldest buildings in Karibib, the Rösemann Building, was built in 1900. It serves as an excellent example of the German architecture of the period, and is still in use today, housing a bank and some shops. The Hotel Zum Grünen Kranze, situated in Main Street and built in 1913, was one of six hotels in the town during the German colonial period. Hälbich House serves as the only reminder of the firm G Hälbich & Co (founded in 1873), the oldest trading company in the history

of Namibia, and an integral role player in the development of Karibib. Another interesting building is Haus Woll, constructed with granite and marble sourced from the area. It was built at the beginning of the 20th century as a residence for Georg Woll. Other heritage buildings of interest are the Kubas Station Building, a white marble building erected in 1900, serving as a station building for the German State Railway until 1914; and the Proviantamt (Provisions Office), built in 1911 as a quartermaster’s store. The latter is currently used by the Karibib Marble Works. Situated at the northern edge of the town is Kaiserbrunnen, a water reservoir and drinking trough built in 1906. The well has since dried up.

OTJIMBINGWE

South of Karibib is a small, dusty, almost-forgotten village called

After Curt von Francois moved his garrison to Windhoek in 1890, the town began to fall into decline, and when the railway line between Windhoek and Swakopmund was completed in the early 1900s, Otjimbingwe was bypassed and soon fell into obscurity.

USAKOS

The small sun-baked town of Usakos, nestled in the valley of the Khan River, developed around a station on the old narrow-gauge railway built in 1900. Beyond Usakos is the Trekkopje Battlefield, site of one of the most important battles fought during the short-lived 1915 campaign waged by South African against German forces. The Erongo Mountains north of the town are renowned for the rock art found at sites. A popular stopover for visitors to and from the coast, the Namib Oasis farm stall is well known for its homemade biltong and droëwors, home-cooked meals and handmade gifts.

A family run and owned lodge offering luxury in a pristine and wild location. The Erongo Wild is situated 12 km west of Omaruru in the spectacular Erongo Mountains. The lodge offers ten luxurious tented chalets, built on stilts among the towering granite boulders of the Erongo. The restaurant is set on top of a hill, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. +264-64-463434 | info@erongowild.com www.erongowild.com

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C43

JOUBERTBERGE

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| DAMARALAND, BRANDBERG & TWYFELFONTEIN |

Big Sky Lodges

Ai-Aiba - The Rock Painting Lodge Dramatically set against imposing granite boulders in the foothills of the Erongo Mountain range lies Ai Aiba Lodge. Famous for its countless rock painting sites, Ai-Aiba is a mystical exploration of nature. The lodge with its high thatched roof restaurant, lounge, pool and thatched mountain facing chalets, is an oasis surrounded by tall palms and scenic vistas of magnificent rocky outcrops and bush savannah. Highlights & Activities: Panoramic views from restaurant and rooms, comfortable and tastefully decorated rooms, swimming pool, relaxation, delicious and original meals, birding, stargazing, guided walks, guided nature drives, numerous rock art sites and sundowners. Reservations & Enquiries: Tel: +264 61 239 199 Email: info@aiaiba-namibia.com Lodge Tel: +264 64 570 330 Web: www.aiaiba-namibia.com / www.bigsky-namibia.com

Etendeka Mountain Camp & Walking Trails Etendeka Mountain Camp, dramatically set in the foothills of the Grootberg massif in Northern Damaraland (Kaokoveld), appeals to the traveller who is prepared to step outside of their comfort zone and experience this remote wilderness with its harsh beauty in an authentic way. Here one is reminded that we are all guests of Mother Nature. Highlights & Activities: Comfortable tended accommodation, Etendeka bucket shower, eco-friendly, set in the remote wilderness of Kaokoveld, magnificent scenery, “back to basic” experience, wholesome meals, true wilderness experience, guided walks, guided nature drives and great wildlife. Etendeka Walking Trail Experience, set in the foothills of the Grootberg Massif is an experience that promises to be an authentic and exhilarating engagement with nature. Trek through one of Namibia’s most remote and untouched landscapes on foot. Highlights & Activities: Challenging “back to basic” hiking experience, sleep under the open skies on raised wooden platforms, wholesome meals cooked over open fire, true wilderness experience and great wildlife. Reservation & Enquiries: Tel: +264 61 239 199 Email: info@etendeka-namibia.com Web: www.etendeka-namibia.com / www.bigsky-namibia.com

Ai Aiba

THE ROCK PAINTING LODGE

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Brandberg White Lady Lodge

You have travelled! You have seen places! Brandberg White Lady Lodge will add to your travel experience through Damaraland. This is our promise. Since its opening in 2002, Brandberg White Lady Lodge has become a destination of choice for nature-orientated tourists looking for an experienced guide to take them on a wildlife safari in the Brandberg/Ugab River area. Our clients visit us from all over the globe not only for our experience and professionalism, but also for our hospitality, the friendliness of our staff and the tranquillity. Brandberg White Lady Lodge is a place where you will feel at home and enjoy a true warm-hearted hospitality and friendship. Whether you camp or stay in a chalet - there will be nothing you'll miss. Here, at the foot of Namibia's highest mountain, nothing has changed since the earth's early days. Clocks, cellphones and watches are not part of this world. Here, you have got time. Tel: (+264 64) 684 004 Cell: (+264) 81 791 3117 Fax: (+264 64) 684 006 Email: ugab@iway.na Web: www.brandbergwllodge.com

Camp Kipwe

Camp Kipwe is revealed amongst gorgeous boulders with sweeping views across the Aba Huab valley in the stunning ancient landscape of the Damaraland desert. When entering one of our 9 dome shaped rooms you will feel like entering a cool secluded cave, whilst relaxing on the outside decks you once again become one with the breath-taking landscape. Nestled within the boulders, you are led from your room to your private open air bathroom where you can enjoy a starlit showering experience. Kipwe’s Suite provides you with all this and yet even more elegance, space and style for discerning guests. Activities at Camp Kipwe include nature drives to find the desert-adapted elephants, the Twyfelfontein rock engravings and our signature sundowner experience.

Booking Office: Chiwani Email: res@chiwani.com Tel: +264 61 232 009 Web: www.kipwe.com

Damaraland Camp Damaraland Camp is situated in the Torra Conservancy – an inspirational community partnership in one of the most pristine wilderness areas in Namibia. It is characterised by sensational views of the surrounding desert plains, ancient valleys and distant peaks of the Brandberg Mountains. New technology blends with ancient construction methods to create innovative, eco-friendly luxury in the desert, with the camp’s 10 elevated adobe-style, thatched units. The annual cycle of rainfall dictates the seasonal movement of wildlife along the Huab River, uncovered during game drives. Desert-adapted elephant, gemsbok, kudu, springbok, and occasionally lion, cheetah, and black rhino can be seen. PO Box 6850, Windhoek Tel: (+264 61) 27 4500 Fax: (+264 61) 23 9455 Email: info@wilderness.com.na Web: www.wilderness-safaris.com

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| DAMARALAND, BRANDBERG & TWYFELFONTEIN | 5

Desert Rhino Camp Lying amongst the rolling, rocky hills of the vast Palmwag Concession, the area around Desert Rhino Camp is known for its tranquil, minimalist beauty, surprising wealth of arid-adapted wildlife and the largest freeroaming black rhino population in Africa. Accommodation consists of eight raised Meru-style canvas tents with verandas taking in the sweeping views dotted with scattered euphorbia and ancient welwitschia plants, and the dramatic Etendeka Mountains. Adventurous rhino tracking activities take place daily in conjunction with Save the Rhino Trust â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Wilderness Safaris and Desert Rhino Camp guests thus support this NGO in its vital work of protecting this endangered species. PO Box 6850, Windhoek Tel: (+264 61) 27 4500 Fax: (+264 61) 23 9455 Email: info@wilderness.com.na Web: www.wilderness-safaris.com

Doro Nawas A joint venture between Wilderness Safaris and the Doro !Nawas community, Doro Nawas Camp sits atop a rocky hill commanding spectacular views of the Etendeka Mountains to the north, the red sandstone cliffs of Twyfelfontein in the south, and the plains of the dry Aba-Huab River below. Accommodation comprises 16 units that blend into a dramatic landscape of table-top outcrops, small canyons, dry riverbeds and grassland vistas. The camp provides an excellent base from which to experience phenomenal scenery, the acclaimed desertadapted elephant herds that move through the area seasonally, and the spectacular rock engravings of the Twyfelfontein World Heritage Site. PO Box 6850, Windhoek Tel: (+264 61) 27 4500 Fax: (+264 61) 23 9455 Email: info@wilderness.com.na Web: www.wilderness-safaris.com

Driefontein Safari Lodge Situated in the heart of a desolate landscape within the Torra Conservancy, Damaraland, you will find the luxurious Driefontein Safari Lodge overlooking a rocky outcrop adjacent to a riverbed and with beautiful panoramic views of the valley. Game can be viewed from the terrace of your chalet or via professional trackers who follow the desert rhino and elephant in the valley adjacent to the lodge. Relax in our lodge, with chalets offering everything that you would expect from superior hotel accommodation. The carefully positioned lounge and pool deck bar are there for the guests to enjoy the beauty the lodge surrounds. The restaurant provides a different Namibian culinary experience for guests, complimented by the very best in southern African wines. Driefontein Safari Lodge is located on the C39 road between Torra Bay and Khorixas, providing a convenient stop-over for the traveller between Walvis Bay, Swakopmund and the famous Etosha National Park, in northern Namibia. Opening early 2021, Driefontein Safari Lodge, will include 30 chalets, lounge, restaurant, bar and swimming pool. Lodge activities include the tracking of the desert lion and elephant. 30 Blohm Street, Windhoek Tel: (+264 61) 375 300 Email: info@namibia-collection.com Web: www.namibia-collection.com

Hoada Camp Between a rock and a hard place Hidden among large granite boulders and mopane trees, Hoada Campsite offers travellers a serene home in the wilderness. The area is rich in a variety of animal species, and offers spectacular views. This sensational landscape is a natural habitat of Namibiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s uniquely adapted desert elephant. We offer eight campsites and four tented units for the glampers out there. At night, uncountable stars offer a spectacular sight. The campsite was designed to be as ecofriendly as possible. The hot water system works in combination with the braai (BBQ) area to warm the water for your shower as you prepare your food. Light and sound pollution is virtually non-existent due to the absence of electric light and power points. The Hoada Campsite is situated 25 km east of Grootberg Lodge or 75 km on the C40 west from Kamanjab, in the #Khoadi //Hoas Conservancy, Damaraland. PO Box 91045, Klein Windhoek Reservations Tel: (+264 61) 22 8104 Booking Email: hoada@journeysnamibia.com Web: www.hoadacampsite.com

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Grootberg Lodge In the footsteps of giants Perched on the rim of the Etendeka Plateau, the Grootberg Lodge stands sentinel over the Klip River Valley. Fourteen rock-and-thatch chalets and two family units gaze out over the gorge, where Black Eagles hunt just below your private deck. Twelve thousand hectares have been set aside by the #Khoadi //Hoas community for conservation and tourism and it is through this pristine wilderness that you meander either on foot or by car to encounter the inhabitants of this remote biosphere. Activities on offer include tracking the elusive desert elephants and rhino, a Damara cultural tour, as well as educational guided walks to discover the myriad of smaller mammals, birds, reptiles, insects and plants that exist here. We also offer sundowner drives. PO Box 91045, Klein Windhoek Reservations Tel: (+264 61) 22 8104 Booking Email: grootberg@journeysnamibia.com Web: www.grootberg.com

Hohenstein Lodge The Hohenstein represents the impressive western edge of the Erongo mountain range. In the evening, spectacular sunsets above the desert plains bathe the mountain in a fantastic red light. Have a drink on the terrace and enjoy this exceptional view. Accommodation is offered in 14 spacious rooms, each with a safe, shaded terrace, and a Superior Chalet with a wonderful view on the mountainside. The reception area and restaurant are located in the main building, which is connected to the swimming pool and bungalows by paved walkways. Two of the rooms are wheelchair-friendly. Children of all ages are welcome. Activities: 2-day adventure package ‘ABSOLUTE ERONGO’, hiking trails, birdwatching. P.O. Box 72, Usakos Bookings Tel: +264 (0) 61 240 020 Tel: +264 (0) 64 530900 E-Mail: info@hohensteinlodge.com reservations@hohensteinlodge.com Web: www.ondili.com

Khorixas Restcamp In the heart of the arid central Namibia, between Swakopmund and the Etosha National Park, lies Khorixas Camp, a port of call that provides a relaxing environment for travellers weary after a day’s exploration. Near Khorixas is the Burnt Mountain, the Petrified Forest and the famous rock-engraving site at Twyfelfontein, Namibia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. The lodge offers 29 bush chalets, two family chalets, a house for self-caterers, 10 single rooms, a camping site and a restaurant. Khorixas can be reached from Windhoek by taking the B1 northwards, turning onto the C38 from Otjiwarongo through Outjo and then the C39 to Khorixas. P/Bag 13378, Windhoek Tel: (+264 61) 285 7200 Fax: (+264 61) 22 4900 Email: reservations@nwr.com.na Web: www.nwr.com.na

Kifaru Luxury Lodge For an exclusive safari experience, look no further than Kifaru Luxury Lodge. Immerse yourslef in utter tranquillity and embrace the beautiful panoramic views and exquisite Namibian sunsets, Kifaru offers an atmosphere of seclusion, allowing guests to relax and rejuvenate the mind, body and soul. Tel: +264 61 224 712 / +264 61 250 725 Email: reservation@resdest.com / kifaru@resdest.com Web: www.kifarulodge.com

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| DAMARALAND, BRANDBERG & TWYFELFONTEIN | 13

Twyfelfontein Adventure Camp Nestled along the edge of a granite outcrop, Twyfelfontein Adventure Camp is conveniently situated a mere ten minutes from Namibia’s famous Twyfelfontein Rock Engravings, within walking distance of the Damara Living Museum and within the Huab River Valley. Visit the neighbouring Damara Living Museum, it offers a fascinating look at the people, heritage and soul of Damaraland. The camp consists of 12 furnished en-suite tents with two beds, an open bathroom with solar heated hot water shower, basin and toilet and a shaded terrace with armchairs. A scenic nature drive down the ephemeral Huab River and surrounding valley, including a picnic lunch, is a wonderful experience for nature-lovers. It is an excursion that will introduce visitors to the unique geology of the region, with the possibility of meeting the elusive desert-adapted elephants and rhinos that call this area home. P.O. Box 90819, Windhoek Bookings Tel: +264 61 240 020 Tel: +264 (0)84 000 6009 Email: info@twyfelfonteincamp.com reservations@twyfelfonteincamp.com Web: www.ondili.com

Mowani Mountain Camp Peace and inner calm you will find when visiting Mowani Mountain Camp. Mowani offers 13 en-suite view rooms with comfortable interiors and outdoor decks to enjoy the wonderful extended views over the ancient landscape. The Mini Suite is cocooned in the rocks with granite close-up boulder views whilst the elegant and completely private Mountain Suite, with its incredible private decks and open air bathroom, will certainly stay with you long after you have left. Relax by the sparkling rock pool, enjoy a sundowner or climb into an open-air vehicle and Mowani’s local guides will share their intimate knowledge whilst tracking the elusive desert elephants. Mowani also has 7 camping sites, each with private ablution facilities and sweeping views of the valley.

Booking Office: Chiwani Email: res@chiwani.com Tel: +264 61 232 009 Web: www.mowani.com

Uis Guesthouse Uis Guesthouse offers four standard and five luxury rooms, as well as three double-storey suites for guests wanting to indulge in a comfortable stay-over close to Brandberg. All of our rooms are ensuite and equipped with twin beds, dressing table, air conditioning, and mosquito nets. Uis Guesthouse and its surroundings invite you to explore the beautiful nature. We offer full-day Brandberg excursions, sundowner and elephant drives, sleep-outs, and, for the more active traveller, e-Fatbiking and excursions all the way up to Königstein, the summit of Brandberg, the highest mountain in Namibia.

C/O 3rd street and Sports street Uis Mine 9000 Tel: +264 64 504 396 Email: reservations@uisguesthouse.com Web: www.uisguesthouse.com

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LE ROUX VAN SCHALKWYK

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& THE NAMIB-NAUKLUFT PARK

Sossusvlei

Namib-Naukluft Proclaimed in 1979, the Namib-Naukluft Park is an amalgamation of

several areas into one nature reserve. It is the largest conservation area in the country and home to one of Namibia’s top tourist attractions, the legendary Sossusvlei, a spectacular white pan surrounded by some of the highest sand dunes in the world.

n 22 March 1907, German Governor Friedrich von Lindequist proclaimed three nature reserves, one of which was Game Reserve No 3 in the central Namib Desert. Renamed as the Namib Desert Park in 1962, this tract of scenically beautiful desert was amalgamated with the Naukluft Mountain Zebra Park (proclaimed in 1968) and unoccupied state land in 1979, and proclaimed as the NamibNaukluft Park. Portions of the Diamond Area as far south as the Aus/Lüderitz road were subsequently added, which virtually doubled its size to 49 768km², making it the largest conservation area in Namibia, the fifth largest in Africa and one of the largest terrestrial parks in the world. The top attraction in the park and one of the country’s major tourist destinations, second only to Etosha National Park, is Sossusvlei, renowned for its spectacular, desiccated white pan surrounded by majestic star-shaped dunes with deep, warm hues, and close by, the eerie Dead Pan with its bleached skeletons of ancient camel-thorn trees. Other features in Namib-Naukluft Park are Sesriem, the Welwitschia Trail, Sandwich Harbour, the Naukluft Mountains and the Kuiseb Canyon.

NAMIB SECTION

LE ROUX VAN SCHALKWYK

This section lies between the Swakop and Kuiseb river valleys. Ostrich, springbok and gemsbok are conspicuous, especially on the desert plains, while giraffe, blue wildebeest and warthog also occur here. Hartmann’s mountain zebra, klipspringer and baboon frequent the canyons of the Swakop and Kuiseb

146

LEFT The dramatic petrified camel thorn trees that dot Deadvlei

ELZANNE MCCULLOCH

| SOSSUSVLEI AND THE NAMIB-NAUKLUFT PARK |

ABOVE The towering red sand dunes of Sossusvlei

rivers, and leopard and spotted hyaena move in and out of the Kuiseb Canyon. Other species include blackbacked jackal, bat-eared fox and ground squirrel. This section of the Namib also has a large Lappet-faced vulture population. An intriguing host of small creatures have adapted to survive in the Namib dunes. The fog-basking beetle, Onymacris unguicularis, drinks water by positioning itself on the crest of a dune, dropping its head and extending its hind legs. Its back serves as a condensation surface for fog, which forms droplets and slides downwards towards its mouth. An intriguing ‘thermal dance’ is performed by the shovel-snouted lizard, Meroles anchietae, to cope with the extreme heat radiating from the dune surfaces. The Gobabeb Training and Research Centre on the banks of the Kuiseb River has an international reputation for researching Namib ecology. Gobabeb is generally not open to the public, except on open days.

Sandwich Harbour

At Sandwich Harbour the light orange coloured dunes merge with the Atlantic Ocean, creating a lagoon

of infinite beauty. The lagoon is a wetland of international importance and supports over 400,000 Palearctic and intra-African waders, cormorants and significant numbers of Greater and Lesser Flamingoes. A permit must be obtained from the Ministry of Tourism and Environment offices in Swakopmund or Walvis Bay. A fourwheel drive vehicle is essential and the onward and return journey can only be undertaken during low tide.

SOSSUSVLEI

Many visitors to Namibia say that no part of the desert is visually more dramatic than Sossusvlei with its monumentally high dunes. These gigantic star-shaped mountains of sand – one of the largest was measured from the base as 325 metres high – are a sought-after topic for artists and photographers. The warm tints of the sand contrast vividly with the dazzling white surfaces of the large deflationary clay pans at their bases. One of these, referred to as Dead Pan, is a large ghostly expanse of dried white clay, punctuated by skeletons of ancient camel-thorn trees, carbondated as being between 500 and 600 years old. Sossusvlei’s mountainous dunes lie at the end of an erosional trough formed by the Tsauchab River. They are shaped by strong multidirectional winds, primarily the southwester, and have three to five sinuous crests, which meet at the

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highest point to give them their characteristic star shapes. Visitors are allowed access to Sossusvlei only between sunrise and sunset. The first 60 km of the road from Sesriem to Sossusvlei has a permanent

The NamibNaukluft is Namibia's largest conservation area. surface and is suitable for sedan cars, whereas the last five-kilometre stretch of sandy track is negotiable by 4x4 vehicles only. A shuttle service is available for people who do not want to hike the last 5 km.

Sesriem Canyon

The permit office complex for entry to Sossusvlei and other destinations in this section of the park is at Sesriem. Four kilometres south from here is Sesriem Canyon, where the erosion of many centuries has incised a narrow gorge about 1 km in length. At the foot of the gorge, which plunges down

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ABOVE The Sandhof lilies

30–40 metres, are pools that become replenished after good rains. Sesriem derives its name from the time when early pioneers tied six lengths of rawhide thongs together to draw water from these pools. To early inhabitants, the gorge was an important water source in an otherwise waterless area. Even during very dry times there is water in the upper reaches of the canyon, where the deep clefts reduce evaporation. The Tsauchab River flows through the Sesriem Canyon and continues down to Sossusvlei.

Maltahöhe

About 110 km west of Mariental on the C19 en route to Sossusvlei is the small town of Maltahöhe, named by Hauptmann Henning von Burgsdorf, who supervised a police station of the German colonial administration there in 1895. He named the settlement after his wife, Malta. About 35 km north of Maltahöhe, on the farm Sandhof, lies an enormous salt pan that is usually bone dry, except in good rainy seasons. If the pan reaches a depth of over 15 cm,

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shoots break miraculously through the surface of the shallow water, seemingly out of nowhere, and burst into bloom. For hundreds of hectares, as far as the eye can see, a shortlived vista of iridescent amaryllis lilies appears in an ephemeral blaze of pink, purple and white. But, as soon as the flowers have formed, they wither, and an almost biblical horde of elephant beetles descends and devours them within the space of a few days. The single weekend in which the lily season falls, usually in January or February, is a hectic one for Maltahöhe. When on the way to attractions such as Sossusvlei and Sesriem, many visitors elect to stay in the Maltahöhe Hotel, one of the oldest country hotels in Namibia. The cemetery at Nomtsas, some 45 km north of Maltahöhe, contains the graves of some German pioneers and is a national monument.

NAUKLUFT SECTION

The Naukluft section of the park was created to serve as a sanctuary for Hartmann’s mountain zebra competing with livestock for grazing on farms. With its massive and varied rock formations, Naukluft is a geologist’s paradise. The intermittent layers of horizontally folded igneous

rock, quartzite, dolomite and shale are impressive with their giant symmetrical patterns. Five different vegetation communities within the park ensure a wealth of tree and shrub species, and a variety of aloes. Animals found at Naukluft in addition to Hartmann’s mountain zebra are kudu, gemsbok, klipspringer, duiker, steenbok, leopard, baboon, blackbacked jackal, bat-eared fox, African wildcat, caracal and aardwolf. Naukluft’s steep cliffs are nesting grounds for various cliff-breeding bird species, including Verreaux’s Eagles.

Permits for Namib-Naukluft

Permits for the Namib-Naukluft Park are available at the permit offices of the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism in Swakopmund (064 40 4576), Walvis Bay (064 20 5971) and Windhoek (061 284 2111). Permits are also available at Sesriem.

NAMIBRAND NATURE RESERVE

What originated as a dream to extend the frontiers of the Namib Desert by consolidating a large number of former sheep farms and rehabilitating the land into a sanctuary free of fences and other farm paraphernalia became the NamibRand Nature Reserve during the second half of the 1980s.

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Many facets of the Namib Desert are represented at NamibRand, creating a living tapestry of colour and contour that makes it a visual utopia for artists and photographers. Game species found on the reserve include gemsbok, giraffe, mountain and plains zebra, springbok, red hartebeest, bat-eared fox, spotted hyaena, Cape fox and African wildcat. In the more rocky areas, kudu, klipspringer, baboon and leopard can be found, while the dunes harbour a rich and diverse microfauna of lizards, beetles and spiders, and even the elusive golden mole. The reserve is also home to a rich variety of birds – over a hundred species have been recorded on NamibRand. The NamibRand Nature Reserve today comprises 15 former farms and extends over an area of some 202 000 hectares, making it one of the largest private nature reserves in Southern Africa, and it is also an International Dark Skies Reserve. Situated on the reserve are the Namib Desert Environmental Education Trust (NaDEET) Centre, and the NamibRand Desert Research & Awareness Centre.

DUWISIB CASTLE

NINA VAN ZYL

About 72 km southwest of Maltahöhe, situated amongst rolling red hills, is Duwisib Castle, a solid rectangular structure of red sandstone with battlements and turrets on its corners. Built by the legendary Baron von Wolf for his American wife, Jayta, the castle was completed in 1909. Most of the construction materials and the furniture were shipped all the way from Germany, off-loaded at Lüderitz and transported to Duwisib by ox wagon. The interior of the castle and much of its original furniture and artworks can be viewed. Accommodation is provided in five rooms in the castle, while camp sites, a restaurant, bar, tourist shop and picnic sites are also available. As the castle is protected as a historic monument, guest bedrooms and bathrooms were seamlessly fitted into the existing large rooms of the castle's century-old interiors. LEFT Exploring the red dunes of the ancient Namib • Namib Naukluft natural spring pool • Duwisib Castle

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Desert Camp Desert Camp is situated only 5 km from the entrance gate to Sossusvlei and Sesriem Canyon in the Namib-Naukluft National Park. Nestled under century-old thorn trees, Desert Camp offers an unsurpassed view over the desert landscape and surrounding mountains. The 28 affordable, twin-bedded units are equipped with an en-suite bathroom, shaded veranda with fitted kitchenette, barbeque, power points and a fold-out sleeper couch suitable for 2 small children (under 12). Facilities include a fully stocked bar with big screen television, a sparkling swimming pool and 2 communal boma-areas. Fresh food supplies can be ordered daily. Meals and exciting desert activities can be booked at the nearby Sossusvlei Lodge. A fully stocked shop, fuel and an Internet café are available at the Sossus Oasis Service Station a mere 5 km down the road. Taleni Africa Reservations: Tel: (+27 21) 930 4564, Fax: (+27 21) 914 9930, Tel: (+264) 63 293 677 (for last minute reservations only) Email: reservations@desertcamp.com Web: www.desertcamp.com GPS Coordinates: S24°28’ 57.7” E015°50’ 02.2”

Desert Homestead Lodge The Desert Homestead lies three kilometres northwest of the C19 and D854 road junction, approximately 32 km southeast of Sesriem. The wide grassy valley is sheltered by the Nubib, Tsaris and Naukluft mountains with a view reaching the distant dunes of the Namib Desert in the west. In this exquisite position, we offer simple but stylish accommodation in thatched chalets designed with the fragile beauty of this remarkable environment in mind. The Desert Homestead will ensure you an unrivalled respite from the desert extremes. Tranquil surroundings, al fresco dining, delectably fresh farm cuisine, refreshing dips in the pool, stunning sunsets and sunrises are the basic pleasures at our lodge. P.O. Box 90819, Windhoek Bookings: +264 61 240 020 Tel: +264 (0) 84 000 6004 E-Mail: reservations@deserthomesteadlodge.com Web: www.ondili.com

Desert Homestead Outpost The Desert Homestead Outpost is situated 30 km southeast of Sesriem, the entrance to Namib-Naukluft National Park, on a private nature reserve bordering the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Namib Sand Sea”. It is the ideal starting point for trips to Sossusvlei, Dead Vlei and the Sesriem Canyon. Other exciting activities offered by the Lodge are horse safaris, scenic drives and a guided walk from Desert Homestead Lodge to Desert Homestead Outpost, called the Namib Mountain Trail. Hot air balloon rides can be arranged on request. Nestled against the west side of the Namib Mountains, guests can enjoy a magnificent panoramic view over the vast open plains. The lodge offers 11 individual thatch-roofed comfortable and cosy chalets and an exclusive suite.The unique location in the vastness of the nature reserve offers complete peace and tranquillity. P.O. Box 90819, Windhoek Tel: +264 (0) 84 000 6005 Bookings: +264 61 240 020 E-Mail: reservations@deserthomesteadoutpost.com Web: www.ondili.com

Desert Quiver Camp Desert Quiver Camp uniquely combines modern self-catering accommodation with comfort and style. Conveniently located a mere 5 km from the entrance gate to Sossusvlei, the inspiring scenery characterised by granite outcrops, spectacular views and roaming wildlife will captivate your senses. The 24 twin-bedded self-catering accommodation units feature a fold-out sleeper couch to accommodate 2 small children (under 12), an en-suite bathroom with shower, a shaded patio with fitted kitchenette, barbeque and a wooden bench for seating. Utility boxes with most utensils are available at reception and fresh food supplies can be ordered daily. Facilities include a fully stocked bar with a big screen television, a sparkling swimming pool and 2 communal bomaareas perfect for groups travelling together. Meals can be enjoyed at the nearby Sossusvlei Lodge restaurant and their Adventure Centre offers a range of exciting desert activities to explore the area. A fully stocked shop, fuel and an Internet café are available at the Sossus Oasis Service Station. Taleni Africa Reservations: Tel: (+27 21) 930 4564, Fax: +27 (0)21 914 9930 Tel: (+264 63) 29 3611 (for last minute reservations only) Email: reservations@desertquivercamp.com Web: www.desertquivercamp.com GPS Coordinates: S24°29’ 14.2” E015°50’ 25.9”

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Hammerstein Africa We Kebi Safari Lodge In the almost forgotten tongue of the San Bushmen, We Kebi means "invitation." To hold true to the tradition of the ancient San people of the desert, we invite you to come and experience the solitude, tastes, smells and tranquillity of We Kebi Safari Lodge. Free range meets, organic farm grown vegetables and fresh herbs combine in mysterious ways announcing the feast to come unlike any to be found elsewhere. This moment can never be had again. Eland and zebra mowing the lawn, sociable weavers chatting in the tree branches about the days come and days gone, the stark blue of the glistening pool reflecting their wing flutters and beckoning travellers into its cool depth. The lounge area is built around a massive hearth, the smell of burning hardwood, buffed leather, and antique books mingling with the natural desert aromas of sand and grass, scenting the air like some unobtainable incense. Built on the premise of San huts, guests are housed in twelve individually furbished en-suite bungalows.

Hammerstein Lodge

Landing Strip: 24°53’9.37”S - 16°11’27.18”E Web: we-kebi.com

Painted on nearby rock faces lingers the remnants of an ancient people, leaving us a glimpse of their connection to this wonderfully wild wilderness we call Hammerstein. Hammerstein is one of the oldest private owned lodges in Namibia. A place built by families for families, Hammerstein is filled with an atmosphere of hearty, wholesome and healthy experiences. Our guests have a choice between bungalows equipped for self-caterers, camping facilities or full board lodging. Only 60 kilometres from Sesriem, Hammerstein is situated between Swakopmund and Lüderitz, nestled between the Nubib and Tsaris mountains. It is an ideal budget stopover for travellers to the south of Namibia, especially to those wanting to admire the beautiful Sossusvlei region. Landing Strip: 24°53’9.37”S - 16°11’27.18”E Web: hammersteinlodge.com

Desert Hills Lodge A vast swathe of arid earth. A stretch of the Tsauchub River and the ever moving, land changing Hebron vault. This was the stage for the ancient San people to dance their adventures to each other within the safe glow of their evening fires, surrounded by their yellow grass huts. These resilient nomads etched out a living on the plains and mountains where Desert Hills Lodge rests today. In the more recent epoch new commercially minded people settled on these very same plains, mountains and dunes and would come to call it home; this time through the practice of animal husbandry. They named the piece of land Hebron meaning “the binding friendship place” and primarily farmed karakul sheep for their wool and skins. Desert Hills Lodge is only 30 km from the Sossusvlei gate, perfect convenience in perfect style. Guests can relax around the bar, refresh themselves at the pool or take their meals in the breath-taking restaurant, overlooking the magnificent vastness.

Tel: +264 81 146 3221 / +264 63 293 535 Email: hammerst@hammerstein.com.na

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WE KEBI

HAMMER STEIN

SAFARI LODGE

For more inspiration on these lodges go to www.hammersteinlodge.com

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Duwisib Castle Replete with history and romance Duwisib Castle is an ideal stopover for visitors en route to the south of Namibia. It is a historical site and a national monument, which is a convenient stopover when travelling from Sesriem and Sossusvlei. German Baron Von Wolf built the castle for his American bride Ms. Jayta Humphreys in the early 1900s. Apart from being a gift of love, the castle was a dream turned into reality for Baron Von Wolf. Unfortunately, his dream was short-lived as he was killed during World War I in Germany. His wife returned to America, leaving the castle with most of its contents behind. The museum houses a collection of 18th and 19th century antiques, armours and paintings. The castle has 5 rooms in which to accommodate guests and 10 campsites on the grounds. PO Box 13267, Windhoek Tel: (+264 61) 285 7200 Fax: (+264 61) 22 4900 Email: reservations@nwr.com.na Web: www.nwr.com.na

Kanaan N/a’an ku sê Desert Retreat This enchanting reserve borders the Namib-Naukluft Park with its breathtakingly photogenic dune belt to the west and the Tiras Mountains to the east. Kanaan N/a’an ku sê Desert Retreat is situated on 33 000 ha of unspoilt nature. Contrasting landscapes are never-ending, with rippled sand dunes glowing in the magical light of sunrise and sunset. Stay in one of our 8 ensuite luxury canvas tents surrounded by a most beautiful scenic setting. Enjoy a sundowner on your own private wooden deck and get spoiled in the restaurant area being served home cooked meals and refreshing drinks after a long hot day in the desert. Camping is also offered on the edge of the desert landscape. Our 8 campsites each host a shower, toilet, shading and braai facilities. Kanaan is ideal for wildlife enthusiasts, photographers, geologists and hikers, or simply for those wanting to get away from it all. Tel: +264 84 000 9190 Email: kanaan@naankuse.com Web: www.naankusecollection.com Directions: Approximately 550km south of the capital Windhoek, on the D707. GPS Coordinates: S -25°50'37.0" E 016°09'22.8"

Kulala Desert Lodge Kulala Desert Lodge boasts magnificent views of the famous sand dunes of Sossusvlei, breathtaking mountain scenery and vast open plains. Set in the 37 000 hectare Kulala Wilderness Reserve bordering the Namib-Naukluft Park, there is an abundance of space and silence. Accommodation at Kulala Desert Lodge comprises 23 thatched and canvas rooms for the accommodation units with ensuite bathrooms and verandas. Bedrolls are placed on the flat rooftop for guests to sleep under the myriad stars of Namibia’s clear skies. Activities offered include early-morning guided drives to Sossusvlei. PO Box 6850, Windhoek Tel: (+264 61) 27 4500 Fax: (+264 61) 23 9455 Email: info@wilderness.com.na Web: www.wilderness-safaris.com

Little Kulala Little Kulala is a luxurious desert retreat situated in the private 27 000 ha Kulala Wilderness Reserve – the gateway to Namibia’s Sand Sea with its towering dunes and clear starry skies. Accommodation consists of 11 climate-controlled, thatched rooms for the accommodation units which merge impeccably into the desert landscape, each with private plunge pool, both indoor and outdoor showers and a rooftop star bed for romantic stargazing. An elegant entertainment area includes a library, wine cellar, craft boutique, lounge and dining areas. PO Box 6850, Windhoek Tel: (+264 61) 27 4500 Fax: (+264 61) 23 9455 Email: info@wilderness.com.na Web: www.wilderness-safaris.com

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Kwessi Dunes Kwessi Dunes is located deep in Namibia’s striking NamibRand Nature Reserve, a vast desert wilderness of over 200,000 hectares. With its rolling desert plains and backdrop of craggy mountains and iconic red dunes, this is a place where time seems to stand still and the space is never-ending. Here, it’s not about chasing big game but rather soaking up the beauty of the colourful landscape, admiring the antelope that scatter the sand, and gazing at the stars the light up the night sky. At Kwessi Dunes, you’ll find 12 cool and comfortable (and air-conditioned) chalets all with canvas walls and thatched roofs. Each bedroom has a separate ‘star gazer’ room, completely open to the sky, and the perfect spot from which to watch the celestial theatre show above. Views from the rooms, the main area and the swimming pool are of the vast, desert vistas and when you can bear to tear your eyes away, enjoy quad biking, scenic drives and walks, hot air ballooning, helicopter flights, horse riding and day trips to Sossusvlei.

Tel: (+264) 61 225 616 Email: resnam@naturalselection.travel Web: www.naturalselection.travel

Naukluft Camp The Naukluft section of the Namib-Naukluft National Park was created to serve as a sanctuary for Hartmann’s mountain zebra, which are endemic to Namibia. Other wildlife includes kudu, gemsbok, klipspringer, duiker, steenbok, leopard, baboon, black-backed jackal, bat-eared fox, African wildcat, caracal and aardwolf. Naukluft’s steep cliffs are nesting grounds for various cliff-breeding bird species, including Black Eagles. Five different vegetation communities within the park ensure a wealth of tree and shrub species, and a variety of aloes. With its massive and varied rock formations, Naukluft is a geologist’s paradise. The camp offers 6 modern guest chalets and 21 campsites. This area is a nature lover's playground where guests can enjoy hiking trails, 4x4 trails, nature walks and bird watching. PO Box 13267, Windhoek Tel: (+264 61) 285 7200 Fax: (+264 61) 22 4900 Email: reservations@nwr.com.na Web: www.nwr.com.na

Neuras Wine and Wildlife Estate We produce an exclusive amount of bottles of red wines a year - of our delicious Shiraz, Neuras Triple Cultivar Blend, Neuras Triple Clone Shiraz, Rose wines (first harvest in 2019) and Namib Red Blend. Since 2015 Neuras has proudly broadened its product rage with a matchless first ever Namibian Brandy, Rum and a Dessert Ruby Red. Our unique winery is set on the edge of the Namib Desert in the foothills of the majestic Naukluft Mountains. Choose to stay in a rustic stone chalet or one of our luxury units accommodating 3 or 4 persons. Tented accommodation is also offered on a DBB basis. Experience a Neuras cellar and vineyard tour, taste our wines, spend a night at the Neuras Wine and Wildlife Estate perfectly situated just 1 hour away from the gate leading to Namibia’s most visited landmark – Sossusvlei. At the foot of the Naukluft Mountains, Neuras is a 14,500-hectare oasis that boasts natural fresh water fountains. It is here where Naankuse combines ecotourism with wine-making and wildlife conservation. Tel: (+264 63) 29 3417 Email: neuras@naankuse.com Web: www.naankusecollection.com Directions: Approximately 270km south west of the capital Windhoek and 60km away from the Sesriem gate, on the D850. GPS Coordinates: South: -24° 27’ 42.92” East: 16° 14’ 12.24”

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Solitaire Namibia

Solitaire Services Enjoy fresh baked goods and espresso, our famous apple pie, plus take-away sandwiches and cold drinks at McGregor's Bakery. Open daily for outdoor lunch and dinner at Cafe van der Lee, serving burgers, salads, fresh pizza, fish & chips, and specials with cold draft beer and fine South African wines. You'll find ice, snacks, water, sodas, beer, and a nice selection of wine from the western Cape in the Tsondab General Dealer. Plus sunscreen, hats & t-shirts, an ATM and phone recharge time. The Namib Desert is hard on automobiles. Solitaire sells petrol and diesel, and provides tyre repair and sales, oil and miscellaneous fixes. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the only petrol stop between Sossusvlei and Swakopmund!

Solitaire Desert Farm Just 7km from the village of Solitaire, is an award-winning lodge hidden at the base of the rugged Rand Mountains. With a maximum capacity of just 35 guests, it offers a superlative experience in nature. 14 spacious air-conditioned rooms feature en-suite bathrooms and outdoor seating areas. Lush desert gardens, filled with resident birds and many plant species endemic to Namibia, surround the thatch restaurant. Enjoy freshly prepared cuisine and select South African wines every night while gazing on the Namibâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spectacular night sky from the outdoor terrace. Whether intent on idleness or activity, swimming, hiking, hot-air balloon flights and scenic drives are always available. There is a free shuttle by prior arrangement for flyin guests landing at the Solitaire air strip. Limited camping is available by reservation.

Solitaire Lodge Our 25 spacious rooms wrap around a courtyard pool and delightful desert garden. All rooms are fully air-conditioned and feature two double beds, en-suite bathroom with shower, and an outdoor seating area. Our two family rooms each include two additional twin beds, sleeping up to 6 persons. There is free WIFI at various points across the property. Shaded thatch lapas invite lounging by the pool, while a slate of adventurous activities await the more energetic visitor. Guests enjoy breakfast and dinner at Cafe van der Lee and can watch the sunset from our open-air bar. Sit back and relax as this historic little village becomes a quiet, star-filled oasis after dark.

Solitaire Lodge Tel: (+264) 63 293 621 Solitaire Desert Farm Tel: (+264) 62 572 024 Web: www.solitairenamibia.com

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Sesriem Campsite

At the entry to Sossusvlei is Sesriem Canyon, where millennia of erosion have incised a narrow gorge about 1 km in length. At the foot of the gorge, which plunges down 30 to 40 metres, are pools that become replenished after good rains. Sesriem derives its name from the time when pioneers tied six lengths of rawhide thongs (riem) together to draw water from the pools. Explore the Sesriem Canyon from this great and scenic campsite. Sossusvlei is the reason you are staying here! The dunes are best seen early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Elim Dune – a petrified dune near the Sesriem Camp provides a popular spot to watch the sunset. PO Box 13267, Windhoek Tel: (+264 61) 285 7200 Fax: (+264 61) 22 4900 Email: reservations@nwr.com.na Web: www.nwr.com.na

Sossus Dune Lodge Sossus Dune Lodge offers guests an evocative and life-changing experience. Situated within the park, guests will benefit from being able to reach Sossusvlei before sunrise, and to stay until after sunset, and on their return after an exhilarating day, to relax in the tranquillity and splendour of the Namib Desert, under the spectacular African sky. Sossus Dune Lodge offers professional guided tours to fully unleash the beauty and biological diversity of the desert environment to visitors. PO Box 13267, Windhoek Tel: (+264 61) 285 7200 Fax: (+264 61) 22 4900 Email: reservations@nwr.com.na Web: www.nwr.com.na

Sossus Oasis Camp Site Perfectly positioned at the entrance gate to Sossusvlei and Sesriem, the Sossus Oasis Camp Site offers 12 individually shaded sites, each equipped with its own toilet and shower facilities, kitchen wash-up basin, barbeque and electricity points. Enjoy the unsurpassed views over the desert landscape, surrounding mountains and Elim Dune or relax in the sparkling pool in the centre of the campsite. Facilities within walking distance include a fully stocked shop with groceries, toiletries, beverages, ice, clothing, curios, internet café, fuel, diesel and a tyre workshop at the Sossus Oasis Service Station. At the adjacent Sossusvlei Lodge one can book meals at the restaurant and exciting activities to explore the area at their Adventure Centre. Taleni Africa Reservations: Tel: (+27 21) 930 4564, Fax: (+27 21) 914 9930 Tel: (+264 63) 29 3632 (for last minute reservations only) Email: reservations@sossus-oasis.com Web: www.sossus-oasis.com GPS Coordinates: S24°29’ 20.5” E015°48’ 04.6”

Sossusvlei Lodge Situated at the entrance gate to the Namib-Naukluft National Park, Sossusvlei Lodge offers direct access to the towering red sand dunes, the famous pan of Sossusvlei, the scorched black trees of Dead Vlei and the remarkable depths of the Sesriem Canyon. The individual accommodation units at Sossusvlei Lodge are carefully laid out to perfectly blend in with the magnificent surrounding natural environment. Each luxury unit offers a fully air-conditioned bedroom, en-suite bathroom and a patio to enjoy views of the roaming wildlife and incredible desertlandscapes. Facilities include a sparkling pool, bar, sundowner deck, beer garden and an al fresco terrace where one can enjoy exquisite food, award-winning wines and magnificent views of the floodlit waterhole. The Sossusvlei Lodge Adventure Centre offers a range of activities to explore the area’s natural beauty. Taleni Africa Reservations: Tel: (+27 21) 930 4564, Fax: (+27 21) 914 9930 Tel: (+264 63) 29 3636 (for last minute reservations only) Email: reservations@sossusvleilodge.com, Web: www.sossusvleilodge.com GPS Coordinates: S24°29’ 12.1” E015°48’ 15.0”

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MidProject”. 2020 marked our 25th Jubilee. To disconnect to reconnect. With yourself, soar. Wolwedans looks forward to Underpinned by a philosophy paradigm of the past, and rather strive honor this historic occasion, we quietly with nature, and with humankind. Going welcoming you back in March 202 of balancing people, planet and profit towards a more engaged, active and launched the Wolwedans weINFO@WOLWEDANS.COM endeavour to steer WOLWEDANS | +264 -61 – participative 230forward, 616 | MAIL: | WWW.WOLWEDANS.COM in all that weambitious do, TheCOLLECTION AridEden Project way of travel - crafted by a away Wolwedans Collection Vision 2030,thethemed “The AridEden from the consumptive provides framework and identity wide range of passively experiences and activitiestourism Tel: (+264) 61 230 616 Mail: info@wolwedans.com for our journey ahead. nurture of thethe head, hand andrather heart. strive Project”. Underpinned by a philosophy which paradigm past, and Web: www.wolwedans.com of balancing people, planet and profit towards a more engaged, active and in all that we do, The AridEden Project participative way of travel - crafted by a provides the framework and identity range of experiences and activities| WWW.WOLWEDANS.COM WOLWEDANS COLLECTION | +264 -61 –wide 230 616 | MAIL: INFO@WOLWEDANS.COM www.thisisnamibia.com 157 for our journey ahead. which nurture the head, hand and heart.

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PAUL VAN SCHALKWYK

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The Coast

The coastal strip houses the towns of Henties Bay, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, and the fishing settlement of Wlotzkasbaken. Dorob National Park – proclaimed to protect sensitive environmental areas – extends between the Swakop and Ugab rivers, while the Skeleton Coast Park covers the area north of the Ugab River up to the Kunene River, protecting the northern third of Namibia’s coastline. In 2013, the Namib Sand Sea – stretching from the Kuiseb River southwards to the northern boundary of Tsau//Khaeb National Park – achieved World Heritage Site status, making it Namibia’s second

ELZANNE MCCULLOCH

UNESCO World Heritage Site.

DOROB NATIONAL PARK

To protect the most frequented coastal area against damage caused by offroad driving, the stretch of coastline between the Kuiseb Delta and the Ugab River – eastwards from the lowwater mark of the Atlantic towards the boundary of the Swakopmund district – was proclaimed a national park in 2008, elevating the status of the West Coast Recreational Area (WCRA) to that of national park, and proclaiming it as the Dorob National Park. It includes the Walvis Bay Lagoon – a RAMSAR site – but excludes the municipal areas of Walvis Bay, Swakopmund and

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Henties Bay, as well as Wlotzkasbaken. The Namibian coastline is a haven for numerous unique plants, animals and birds. A special feature of international

The Namibian coastline is a haven for numerous unique plants, animals and birds.

ABOVE The dramatic sand dunes of the Namib, just south of Swakopmund.

interest is the occurrence of extensive lichen fields. Over a hundred lichen species have been recorded in the Namib Desert. A symbiotic composition of an algae and a fungus, lichens are dependent on coastal fog for survival. The continued existence of this intriguing form of desert life is a matter of serious concern to environmentalists,

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as lichens are extremely slow growing and are destroyed when vehicles driving offroad tread on them. The 200-km stretch of coastline between the Swakop and Ugab rivers is renowned for its excellent angling potential. Over the years popular angling spots along the coast were identified by dedicated anglers and named to indicate their distance from Swakopmund. To drive in specially demarcated off-road areas, drivers must have a permit, which is issued free of charge and can be obtained from Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) offices in Swakopmund (064 40 4576) and Walvis Bay (064 20 5971). A free information pamphlet is also available from the above-mentioned offices, as well as from coastal information offices.

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Quaint German architecture is quintessential to the streets of Swakopmund

Today this quaint town between the desert and the sea is enhanced by lush green lawns, elegant palm trees and carefully tended public gardens. It has a wide choice of hotels, guesthouses and restaurants, and several coffee shops selling traditional German cakes and pastries. The coast with its desert hinterland offers many options, both for adventure and for relaxation. Just before reaching Swakopmund from the interior, enclosed in a small glass-fronted structure, visitors can view the Martin Luther ‘steam-ox’ imported from Germany in 1896 to transport goods between the town and other settlements. When the steam tractor became irretrievably bogged down in the sand, it was dubbed Martin Luther, because of Luther’s historic statement in 1521, “Here I stand, may God help me, I can go no further.” The venue has a museum, toilet facilities and curios for sale.

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Swakopmund is much-loved by Namibians as a welcome respite from the heat in the interior. It is also popular among visitors because of its oldworld charm and relaxed atmosphere. Founded in 1892 during German colonial rule, it served as the territory’s main harbour for several years.

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SWAKOPMUND

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The iconic Swakopmund Lighthouse, completed in 1903

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Quaint architecture from a bygone era adds to the place-out-of-time atmosphere of Swakopmund. When approached from the interior, domes, turrets and towers on the skyline appear like a hazy desert mirage. Much of the distinct German colonial character has been preserved and today many of the town’s old buildings house shops, offices and other services. Namib i Tel/Fax (+264 64) 40 4827/3129 Swakop Info Tel (+264 64) 40 5488

What to see and do

Woermann House, built in 1905 to accommodate the Damara and Namaqua Trading Company and sold in 1909 to Woermann Brock, houses the Swakopmund Arts Association and Public Library. The Woermann Tower, which can be accessed at specified times, affords a panoramic view of desert and sea. It has a platform from which, in earlier times, a flag was flown whenever a ship of the Woermann Line was sighted at sea. The Living Desert Snake Park in Libertina Amadhila Street hosts a variety of interesting creatures for the whole family to enjoy. The historical Otavi-Bahn building served as the terminal for the mining railway line. The goods shed next to this building, built in 1911 and called OMEG-Haus, is a national monument. The old barracks, known as Die Alte Kaserne, were built by the German colonial government in 1905 to house the German Engineer Regiment responsible for the construction of the jetty and the railway line into the interior. It is now a youth hostel based on the concept of the International Youth Hostel Federation. The privately-owned Hohenzollern-Haus, embellished by a frieze of angels and lions and originally built in 1905 to accommodate visiting aristocracy from Germany, at one time functioned as a house of ill repute. Today this striking

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building serves as an apartment house, while the Prinzessin Rupprecht-Heim, built in 1902 to operate as a hospital, is now a guesthouse. The Kaiserliches Bezirksgericht (magistrate’s court) was built in 1901. Since independence the building has been serving as a summer residence for the President of Namibia. Next to it are the gardens of the Marine Memorial, commemorating marines who died in the 1904/5 Herero uprising. The elaborate Railway Station Building, erected in 1901, was transformed into a luxury 75room hotel and entertainment centre, complete with casino, cinema, bar and restaurant. Resembling a Bavarian villa with its ornamental exterior, the Swakopmund Jail is often mistaken by visitors for a hotel. One of the town’s most prominent landmarks, the Swakopmund Lighthouse, was completed in 1903, as was the harbour breakwater known as The Mole, today the southern boundary of Swakopmund’s main tourist beach. The Evangelical Lutheran Church, consecrated in 1912, is the secondoldest of its kind in the country. Closely associated with the history of the town, is the Kramersdorf building (1912), with its architectural value lying in the wide, flat wooden bow. It traditionally

served as a private residence, school hostel, and summer house. Today it is privately owned. Another historical landmark is the Old Iron Jetty, originally built in 1911 during the German colonial era. The jetty was frequented especially by anglers and tourists, but gradually fell into disrepair. Major repairs were done in 1983 when 17 pairs of the iron pillars were encased in concrete. In 1997 the Save-theJetty Fund was established and in 1998 the jetty was closed because it was deemed unsafe. Following a major N$ 3.7 million refurbishment in 2006, the front section was reopened to the public. In 2010 the back section was reopened and now includes an oyster bar and restaurant, with an observation deck on top. Laid out in stone in 1915, a selection of the regimental badges from the South West Africa Campaign can be viewed 27 km east of Swakopmund. The campaign was launched by the Union of South Africa on the Germans stationed in South West Africa at the outbreak of WWI. More regimental badges can be seen about 46 km east of the town. Similar badges and patterns, also laid out in stone, can be found between Swakopmund and Trekkopje, along the railway line. Other

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Quaint architecture from a bygone era adds to the place-out-oftime atmosphere of Swakopmund. interesting sites in the area are small fortifications, the trenches, and the cemetery at the Trekkopje station.

Stepping into the past

A 27-million-year-old fossil, meteorite chunks, fossilised wood, and jawbones of our human ancestors mingle with Spanish coins, restored ox wagons and turn-of-the-century drawing rooms in the Swakopmund Museum, a small but comprehensive institution with displays ranging from natural history, mineralogy and botany to historical and ethnological dioramas. A walk through the museum, founded by Dr Alfons Weber in 1951, takes you travelling through time, from ancient earth forming to a more recent colonial past. Situated on the seafront between avenues of palm trees, this treasure house holds a multitude of interesting artefacts. A large airy hall houses a People of Namibia exhibition with information on the diverse and distinct population groups of Namibia. Baskets, headdresses, amulets and ostrich eggs fill the many display shelves. The Emil Jensen Herbarium exhibits Namib flora. The entrance of the museum faces the Atlantic Ocean and the Mole which shelters a popular swimming beach. The Alte Brauereistube cafĂŠ has been added to one side of the building.

collection of the late Ferdinand Stich. The archives, housed in the same building, give visitors access to a unique collection of newspapers dating from 1898 to the present day.

Small but modern aquarium

On the beachfront next to the National Marine Information & Research Centre in Strand Street is the Swakopmund Aquarium where the ocean comes to life for visitors. Its main feature is a transparent tank with a glass walk-through viewing tunnel and a number of additional viewing panels, placed at different angles. The oval tank holds 320,000 litres of seawater. The tank contains a variety of fish, including spotted shark, sand shark, kabeljou, steenbras and galjoen, and many other organisms. The theme depicted in the tank is a typical west-coast reef with related flora. There are also 17 smaller

viewing tanks, one of them in the form of a tube. Special features are the socalled touch pools containing typical intertidal flora and fauna. A new touch tank was added during the upgrades, hosting stingrays, and the top floor has been renovated into a welcoming educational environment for children. The complex also houses an auditorium, with seating for approximately 120 people. It is used for conferences, lectures, slide shows and other presentations and is fully equipped with audio-visual, interpretation and other amenities. Feeding takes place daily at 15:00. The aquarium is closed on Mondays, Christmas Day and New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day, but is open all other days from 10:00 to 16:00.

Sport and adventure

The Mole and adjacent Palm Beach provide a popular if somewhat cold

The Public Library has amenities for visitors, while the well-known reference facility known as the Sam Cohen Library comprises some 6 000 volumes and an impressive collection of historic photographs. This includes the renowned 2 000-title Africana

RIGHT The Swakopmund Aquarium

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Libraries and archives

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swimming area, with the lee of the Mole serving as a launching place for yachts and other pleasure crafts. The contestants in the annual triathlon, which takes place in December, end their swim at The Mole. Rossmund is a grass golf course with a unique desert setting located some 10 km inland from Swakopmund. The well laid-out 18-hole golf course has been described as one of the most scenic and unusual in Southern Africa, with herds of free-roaming springbok in the surroundings adding to its charm. The annual horse show, known as the Reitturnier, brings the best horses and riders in Namibia together. Other sports are skydiving, duneboarding, sand-skiing, paragliding, surfing and

BELOW Old Iron Jetty, originally built in 1911 during the German colonial era.

windsurfing, yachting, and angling from the beach or a boat. There are motocross and 4x4 rally facilities on the outskirts of the town. The latest development in town is the multimillion Swakopmund Indoor Sport Centre, also known as The Dome Swakopmund, the only multi-sport complex of its kind in Africa. Spanning over 7 000 m² and comprising five storeys, the centre accommodates more than 40 different sport codes and their supporting facilities and services. The Dome also houses a hotel, restaurant, bar, shops and a health and wellness centre.

Where to shop

Accessible from Sam Nujoma Avenue and Hendrik Witbooi and Tobias Hainyeko streets is the Brauhaus Arcade with its many small specialist shops offering handmade leatherwork, arts and crafts, furnishings and Namibian textiles, and embroidery.

The Brauhaus itself is a popular German-style restaurant and bar with seating outside, popular for serving large beers in boot-shaped glasses. The main outlet for Art Africa is also situated here, selling quirky crafts and fine African tribal art, amongst others. Another branch is situated in Tobias Hainyeko Street, flanked by a corridor of craftsmen and the Art Africa Garden Café. The Woermann Brock Arcade, accessible from Sam Nujoma Avenue and Hendrik Witbooi Street, features regular shops and several outlets selling Namibian products. It leads into the Ankerplatz complex, also accessible from Sam Nujoma Avenue. In Tribes Trading in the adjacent Woermann Mall, ‘Made in Swakopmund’ T-shirts are painted as you watch. Featuring animals in bright, primary colours, these make colourful children’s gifts. Next to the arcade on Sam Nujoma Avenue, Small World is an outlet for unique handmade Namibian jewellery and leather goods. Semi-precious stones, ostrich eggshell beads, Owambo ekipa buttons and Himba metal beads are fashioned into stylish and original necklaces, bracelets and belts. Also in Sam Nujoma Avenue, Ikhoba offers a range of well-crafted embroidered goods in vivid colours, produced by 400 women of various ethnic groups as part of the Ikhoba Textiles Farm Project. Meme Ikhoba, situated in Hendrik Witbooi Avenue, is another outlet for these goods. In the same street is Fleissige Biene, an outlet for home crafts. Karakulia Weavers sells woollen carpets and wall hangings made from karakul wool, woven into designs depicting Namibian animals and desert scenery.

LE ROUX VAN SCHALKWYK

Namibian and African crafts are sold at two street markets. The first of these is situated opposite the old prison building on Moses Garoëb Street, and the second adjacent to The Mole, known as The Open Market.

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The Bonus Markt Plaza houses a collection of businesses, including an art and photography gallery and an ice cream parlor reminiscent of the soft serve ice cream the centre was famous for many years ago.

Hand-crafted jewellery

A special feature of the coastal town is its outstanding jewellery shops, staffed by master goldsmiths and

NINA VAN ZYL

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specialised craftsmen and women, who design individual pieces with local semiprecious stones in styles ranging from classic and contemporary to Namibian, African and European. One of Swakopmund’s top outlets for handcrafted jewellery is African Art Jewellers next to the Hansa Hotel on Hendrik Witbooi Street, with a second, duty-free shop in Sam Nujoma Avenue, Swakopmund’s main street. At the Imke Engelhard Design Studio, award-winning jewellery designer, Imke Engelhard, transforms locally produced traditional shell necklaces into one-ofa-kind works of art. An interesting museum-like shop to visit in terms of its mineral displays such as gigantic quartz crystal clusters is Kristall Galerie on the corner of Garnison and Bahnhof streets. It also offers jewellery featuring semi-precious stones for sale.

Art galleries

The Swakopmund Arts Association is situated on the first floor of the historical Woermann House. It showcases a wide range of diverse Namibian art, as well as a selection of works by European artists. There are several commercial galleries in Swakopmund where contemporary Namibian art and crafts can be viewed and purchased. These include the

Art Gallery in the Brauhaus Arcade; Die Muschel, which also sells books and prints and hosts a coffee shop; and in Sam Nujoma Avenue the Fine Art Gallery, which presents regular exhibitions. Art exhibitions and tea-and-cake afternoons are held, films are shown, a library is hosted and French classes are offered at the first Alliance Française Cultural Centre.

Where to eat

Swakopmund offers a plethora of restaurants, many testifying to the German heritage of the town, such as the Bistro Zum Kaiser, Brauhaus, Kücki’s Pub, and the Wurstbude. Coffee and German-style confectionery are served at Café Anton. Then there are Two Beards and a Saint, Café Rosso, Wild Rocket Café, Pandora’s Box & Coffee Shop, Bojo’s Café, the funky Village Café and Slow Town Coffee Roasters. Raith’s, the everpopular Namibian bakery, deli, bistro and gelateria, is situated in the centre of town, and right around the corner the Art Africa Garden Café serves light, healthy meals. The Jetty 1905 offers seafood, sushi and oysters in a spectacular setting at the tip of the revamped jetty. At the Mole, the iconic Strand Hotel, which was reopened in 2015, hosts four eateries; Brewer & Butcher, The Ocean Cellar, Farmhouse Deli and Café Mole. Great light meals are served at the

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ABOVE Leather items, include the iconic 'vellies' leather shoe sold in a store at the Brauhuas Arcade • The Bonus Marktplatz

Tiger Reef beach bar. Then there’s De Kelder, The Secret Garden Bistro, The Wreck, The Tug, Desert Tavern, Western Saloon, Napolitana, Bits ‘N Pizzas, The Fish Deli, Driftwood, Garnish, Ocean Basket, Spur, and, and, and… A market with fresh produce from the Swakop environs is held every Saturday at Shalom Farm, just outside Swakopmund at the turnoff to Nonidas.

The Swakopmund environs

The environmentally friendly Swakopmund Saltworks (not open to the public) north of the town have been registered as a private nature reserve. The shallow expanses of water created to allow evaporation in the salt-producing process are ideal feeding grounds for thousands of wetland birds, such as Greater and Lesser Flamingos. Damara Terns breed on the surrounding desert plains and bring their young to the salt works to feed. Other visitors are rare Great Crested Grebes and a large colony of Cape Cormorants. The Swakopmund River Mouth is also a good place for bird-watching.

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Camel and horse rides are offered a short distance from the town. Cars and 4x4 vehicles can be hired to embark on day trips or safaris into the desert. Beach-buggy excursions to the beach, dunes or hinterland also include sundowner tours, hunting and fishing safaris, and dune and tyre surfing. Flights over the town and the shipwrecks along the coast can be expanded to include charter flights further afield, while specialised safaris take visitors to see the dune landscapes and plants of the desert.

LIZA DE KLERK

Pink salt pans outside Walvis Bay • Flamingos in the Walvis Bay Lagoon, a Ramsar Site.

Reputable air-charter companies take visitors on short flips over the dunes.

While Walvis Bay is Namibia’s major harbour town, it is fast developing into a sought-after seaside holiday haven. Attractions are the lagoon with its prolific bird life and variety of recreational possibilities; a desert golf course; modern and comfortable hotels and a choice of restaurants; and activities such as sightseeing in a donkey cart and kayaking on the lagoon at sunrise. The town has a well-developed and efficient port, while its fishing harbour is the hub of Namibia’s lucrative fishing industry. Entry permits to visit the harbour can be obtained from the Police Office at the Harbour Entrance on 13th Road. The Civic Centre complex of the harbour town contains the Walvis Bay information office and consists of the Town Hall, Mayor’s Office, a Museum and a Library, the latter with temporary membership facilities. The oldest building in Walvis Bay, and a national monument, is the Rhenish Mission Church, a timber structure built in Hamburg in 1880, then dismantled and shipped to Walvis Bay. Other places of interest in Walvis Bay include the historic cemetery along Ben Amathila Avenue and historic monuments such as the old railway tracks on the airport road and Railway Engine No 652. A relic from the first attempts to introduce railroad transport to Namibia, the narrow-gauge engine which arrived from London in 1899 can

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LE ROUX VAN SCHALKWYK

WALVIS BAY

be seen in front of the railway station in a glass enclosure to shield it from the prevailing southwesterly winds and the corrosive effect of the salt-laden mists. Interestingly, due to complications with the railway line caused by the prevailing southwesterly winds, the locomotive was put to little use during its brief lifetime. Outside the town, in the Kuiseb Valley, stands a wooden Boundary Post, erected in 1885 to demarcate the border between the newly founded colony of German South West Africa and the British enclave of Walvis Bay.

Walvis Bay Tourism Centre

At the end of Union Street in Walvis Bay, bordering the desert and tourist area, the Walvis Bay Tourism Centre is a welcoming ‘one-stop shop’. The Centre is a novel concept, with much to offer, such as accommodation in four bungalows, a restaurant, Internet facilities, pro-golf shop and driving range, Information Desk, Levo Tours offices, and Photo Ventures – which offers photographic and other tours. Tel (+264 64) 20 0606

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Cultural Township Tours

Accompanied by a local guide, visitors can go on self-drive township tours. Various options for sightseeing can be included in the package. Lasting from three to four hours, the tour includes stops at the Kuisebmond Market Hall; the kindergarten in Daniel Maxuilili Street where children present a special show; the Multi-purpose Community Centre; and Tutaleni Village. The tour ends at the Mola Mola shebeen, where traditional foods such as mopane worms, makaka, oshifima porridge and beans can be sampled. The Tutaleni Village and Relocation Project in the township is an example of how the problem of overcrowding is solved by means of an innovative housing concept. More than 800 families have been relocated successfully and now enjoy amenities that previously seemed unattainable. The Tutaleni Village remains municipal property and will be treated as an ongoing project sustained through the joint efforts of the resettled communities, the local authority and the private sector.

Where to eat

Options in Walvis Bay include The Raft restaurant on the Walvis Bay Lagoon and Crazy Mama’s Restaurant for pizza lovers. The Fairway Restaurant & Bistro in the Walvis Bay Tourism Centre serves breakfast, lunch and homemade cakes, sundowners and pizza. Other places to eat are Anchors @ the Jetty, Buffalo’s Restaurant, Bonaroma Restaurant, Willi Probst Bakery, Restaurant & Boulevard Café, Steve’s Take Away and O’Heilie’s Steakhouse. The Lemon Tree Deli offers health sandwiches, sushi, fresh fish, and a selection of other seafood delicatessen. See the Walvis Bay Waterfront for an eclectic selection of eateries.

The Walvis Bay lagoon is regarded as the most important wetland for coastal birds in Southern Africa. Walvis Bay Lagoon

The Walvis Bay Lagoon takes pride of place as a scenic attraction in the Walvis Bay area. The tranquil body of water, its natural beauty accentuated by thousands of flamingos gathering at the rich feeding grounds, is over 3000 years old. The lagoon has been silting up for hundreds of years, a process hastened by man’s activities. Because of its value nationally and internationally as a wetland area, it was designated as a RAMSAR site in 1995, RAMSAR being a convention on wetlands held in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran. The lagoon is regarded as the most important wetland for coastal birds in Southern Africa. Wading birds including Lesser and Greater Flamingos and White Pelicans are seen here. A pleasant walk of just

over 3 km leads to Lover’s Hill, which overlooks the lagoon.

The Walvis Bay environs

Midway between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund is Langstrand. Established by the Walvis Bay Municipality, the neighbourhood's main beach features tidal pools and ideal swimming conditions. The neighbouring Dolphin Park Recreation Resort has its own chalets, swimming pool, hydroslide and barbecue facilities. Dune 7, on the outskirts of town, is the highest dune in the area. Palm-treeshaded facilities for day camping and barbecues are ideal for family entertainment. The angling potential along the coast is particularly good. An angling area favoured by locals is Paaltjies, which consists of four angling spots south of the town. The ‘paaltjies’ are navigational beacons used by commercial fishermen. The first ‘paaltjie’ can be reached by ordinary vehicle, but a 4x4 is required to reach the other three further south. The Walvis Bay Lagoon is ideal for windsurfing, boating and regattas organised by the Yacht Club, in which Hoby Cats, Fireballs and catamarans compete. A tour operator offers skiboat trips for shark, bottom and game fishing. Beach-fishing trips in 4x4 vehicles along the coast specialise in

BELOW A pelican 'shows off' on a boat cruise from Walvis Bay

The Walvis Bay Waterfront is abuzz with activity. Apart from the unique ocean atmosphere – with pelicans and other seabirds entertaining visitors with their playful antics – and operators offering ocean cruises, there is a wide selection of restaurants. Sara se Gat is a popular cocktail bar, and the Jetty Shoppe sells a wide variety of gift items. Cuppa Musselcracker has a rustic atmosphere and a great selection of light meals and drinks. Local crafters also sell their goods at the Waterfront.

GERHARD THIRION

Walvis Bay Waterfront

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RIGHT View from the top of a dune overlooking Sandwich Harbour • The holiday town of Henties Bay

If you’d like to lay your hands on some fresh fish, a good option is to catch it yourself by booking an ocean safari, or going on a fishing expedition along the beach. Set on the unspoilt beachfront 10 km north of Walvis Bay the development of a luxury neighbourhood, Afrodite Beach, is in progress. Once completed, it will comprise multiple seafront homes, villas, a luxury hotel, conference facilities, health spa, apartment blocks and commercial facilities.

ELZANNE MCCULLOCH

shark fishing. Boating day trips are enjoyable pleasure excursions.

The lagoon at Sandwich Harbour, situated 48 km south of Walvis Bay at the foot of towering ivorycoloured dunes, is a spectacular and sought-after destination. The lagoon, referred to in old texts as Sandfisch Haven, is a former bay that silted up over the years. Today especially ornithologists, photographers and nature lovers visit Sandwich. The Sandwich area has a strange mystique, enhanced by the legend that buried somewhere in the dunes above the high-water mark is a ship with a rich cargo of ivory, gold and precious stones. This treasure has been searched for by many fortune hunters, but to date has eluded all. The lagoon is fed by fresh water seeping from an inland aquifer, and it is a sanctuary for large numbers of coastal and freshwater birds. It is also an important breeding ground for a variety of fish species. Sandwich Harbour was proclaimed a RAMSAR site in 1995. It is one of five such protected wetlands in Namibia. Permits to visit Sandwich are obtainable from the MEFT offices in Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, Sossusvlei and Windhoek. Please note that Sandwich is accessible only by 4x4 vehicles; that in certain areas angling and vehicles are prohibited; that angling is not allowed from 25 January to 15 April; and that overnight camping is not allowed here.

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PAUL VAN SCHALKWYK

SANDWICH HARBOUR

HENTIES BAY

In 1929, Major Hentie van der Merwe, a motorcar dealer who operated from Kalkveld, discovered a freshwater spring in an old delta of the Omaruru River while on a rhino-hunting expedition in the desert. He fell in love with the surroundings and for years it was his private haven to which he escaped every December. Henties Bay has since become a popular proposition for holiday and retirement property investments, due to the relatively affordable property prices and the town’s popularity as a holiday resort. Its peaceful atmosphere and remote setting on the Skeleton Coast is one of its greatest assets. www.hentiesbaytourism.com

What to do in Henties Bay

A peculiar and probably one of the most photographed landmarks in

Henties Bay is the Gallows, an old tree stump with a rope and a noose, put up in 1978 as a ‘friendly but firm’ warning to keep the town and beach clean – or else! Another surprising phenomenon is a fresh-water fountain situated almost on the beach in the so-called Valley, an old tributary of the Omaruru River. Apparently this fountain served as a lifesaver to many early explorers, one being Henties Bay’s own Major Hentie van der Merwe. One of the biggest events in Henties Bay is the annual Henties Festival in August eeach year which attracts visitors from all over Namibia, South Africa and even overseas. The annual Christmas Market, Angling Bonanza, and Touchies in December are events that have a high priority on the yearly calendar. Although shore fishing is still Henties Bay’s number-one attraction, there is much to do for those who don’t

| COASTAL STRIP | fish. The Jakkalsputz walking trail leads through the beautiful Solitude Bay with its rocky shores and hummock dunes stabilised by coastal desert plants adapted to grow in harsh conditions. The Omaruru River Walking Trail, a long hike along the riverbed and across the Namib Desert plains, gives hikers an experience of the harsh but beautiful desert environment. Remember to take drinking water along.

Where to eat

The Henties Bay Golf Course is laid out in the Valley. It is a nine-hole course, extending over 2.7 km, and has well-tended grass greens and tees, while the fairways are being planted with grass, which will turn it into a lush green spot in the riverbed. Golf competitions are organised regularly, especially during the December holiday season.

Henties Bay environs

Situated in the Dorob National Park (the former National West Coast Recreation Area), Henties Bay offers the nature lover an attractive albeit sensitive natural environment with diversified fauna and flora and many sites of interest. Some of the biggest and best specimens of the renowned Welwitschia mirabilis grow among the hills of the Messum Crater. This curious plant – some specimens are estimated to be at least 1 500 years old – is endemic to the Namib Desert, from Swakopmund northwards to Mossamedes in Angola. Desert-adapted game species seen on the desert plains and in the dry watercourses include steenbok, springbok, gemsbok and Hartmann’s mountain zebra. Ostrich are commonly seen in southern Damaraland. This wonderland can be explored along 4x4 routes to destinations such as the Messum Crater, Brandberg West, the Ugab Menhir, Spitzkoppe, Omaruru

River and various mineral mines. All roads are signposted and graded. An A2 satellite map with all the routes can be bought from the Henties Bay Tourist Office. Please note that permits are required for trails in and traversing the Dorob National Park. Lichen fields can be viewed at Mile 30 south of Henties Bay, just north of the turnoff to the Cape Cross Seal Reserve and on the way to the Messum Crater. Visitors are asked not to leave the existing roads, but to park their vehicles next to the road and inspect these interesting organisms on foot. If a little water is sprinkled on them, they magically come to life. The Damara Tern, a bird endemic to Namibia that makes its nest in shallow scrapes among the saltbushes (ganna) on the gravel plains, is especially threatened by off-road driving. The nesting grounds of these diminutive birds are between the coastal road and the sea, and there is an important breeding colony just north of the Omaruru River. If you leave the road to reach the beach, stay on the existing tracks. The Omaruru River offers opportunities for walking, quad-biking and 4x4 driving, and has excellent picnic sites.

BELOW Tourist pose in front of the Zeila shipwreck just south of Henties Bay.

LE ROUX VAN SCHALKWYK

While quad-bikes provide fun on the beach, they should be used responsibly and with due consideration to residents and other holidaymakers. Areas specifically designated for their use are 10 km upstream in the Omaruru River environs and the beach either side of the residential areas. When riding on the beach, please take other people into consideration and be on the lookout for children and pets, especially during the holiday season. Quad-bikes are not allowed north of the Omaruru River and east of the C34 or in front of residential areas and campsites.

Henties Bay offers the Fishy Corner Seafood Restaurant & Take-away, Legends Pub & Grill, Desert Sands lapa bar & braai, De Duine Hotel, Pirate’s Cove sports bar and pizzeria, the Skubbe Bar and Solitude, a beach bar and restaurant on the southern edge of town. Good options for coffee and cake are the Coffee House, Misty Bay Café & Coffee Shop, and NamPie coffee shop.

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LE ROUX VAN SCHALKWYK

The Old Fig Tree is a well-known and popular picnic site not far from Henties Bay. You can also drive up the sandy riverbed past the Omdel Dam to Skoenklip and exit the river at Lêwater to follow the route to the Spitzkoppe. The Omdel Dam – mostly dry – offers picnic sites, a variety of bird species, especially when there is water in the dam, and interesting desert-adapted plants. To reach Omdel Dam, take the C35 to Uis for ±27 km, then turn right BELOW

LE ROUX VAN SCHALKWYK

Cape Cross Seal Reserve, where as many as 210 000 Cape fur seals gather during the summer breeding season.

170

and follow the narrow track for 14 km to the Omdel Dam wall. Alternatively, the course of the Omaruru River can be followed in a 4x4 to reach the dam.

CAPE CROSS SEAL RESERVE

The Cape Cross Seal Reserve, with a surrounding area of 60 km² consisting of flat gravel plains and the rocky outcrop where the seals gather, was proclaimed in 1968 to protect the biggest and best known of the 23 colonies of Cape fur seals that breed along the Namibian and western South African coast. The reserve is situated approximately 130 km north of Swakopmund. From January until the end of June the reserve is open on weekdays from 08:00–17:00; from the beginning of July until the end

of November from 10:00–17:00; and in December again from 08:00–17:00. On weekends the reserve is open from 08:00–17:00. For further information contact the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism at Cape Cross, Tel: 064 69 4037. It was here that the Portuguese navigator, Diogo Cão, on his second expedition to Africa south of the equator, erected a stone cross in 1486. Two replicas of this cross can be viewed at the site where the original one was erected. Germany has undertaken to return the original padrão to Namibia. A small lichen reserve containing a relatively large variety of species can be viewed from close by. Bird islands off the coast are also protected.

| COASTAL STRIP |

The Skeleton Coast Park, proclaimed in its present form in 1971, extends from the Ugab River for 500 km up to the Kunene River in the north, covering an area of 16 845 km². It protects about one third of Namibia’s coastline. The landscape in the park ranges from sweeping vistas of windswept dunes, to rugged canyons with walls of richly coloured volcanic rock and extensive mountain ranges. Over a hundred species of lichen grow on the plains and west-facing mountain slopes, changing colour and becoming soft and leathery to the touch when the coastal fog generated by the cold Benguela Current pushes inland. Animals occurring on the plains are gemsbok, springbok, jackal, ostrich and brown hyaena, while desert-adapted elephant and even black rhino, lion and giraffe roam up and down the dry river courses. The northern section of the Skeleton Coast Park is a tourism concession area that is restricted to fly-in safaris and guests to Shipwreck Lodge north of Möwe Bay. Of special interest are the clay castles of the Hoarusib, the saltpans near the Agate Mountain and the seal colony at Cape Frio. The southern section – between the Ugab River and just north of Terrace Bay – is accessible to the general public staying at Terrace Bay and

A day permit to drive directly through the southern section of the park is obtainable from the MEFT Tourist Office in Swakopmund, as well as at the Ugab and Springbokwasser gates. Visitors driving through need to enter before 15:00 and leave by 17:00 and may not visit Terrace Bay or Torra Bay along the way. Overnight visitors must

ABOVE AND BELOW The Messum Crater • Desert-adapted elephant in the Skeleton Coast National Park • One of many shipwrecks dotted along the northern part of Namibia's Atlantic coastline

be in possession of a valid reservation advice for Terrace Bay or Torra Bay and arrive at the checkpoints at the Ugab Mouth and Springbokwasser gates no later than 15:00 and leave from these points no later than 17:00.

ELZANNE MCCULLOCH

SKELETON COAST PARK

Torra Bay. Because of the ecological sensitivity of the coastal desert, the entire park is managed by the MEFT as a wilderness area.

ELZANNE MCCULLOCH

The South African (Cape) fur seal, Arctocephalus pusillus, is the largest of the world’s nine fur-seal species. As many as 210 000 of these animals gather at Cape Cross at any one time during the November/December breeding season.

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705

C43

Accommodation N

Dorslandtrekkers Monument

Okatjiura

7 D3

Tomakas

Ganamub Fort Sesfontein

Duineveld

C43

Sesfontein

Kowares

Blinkwater Falls Warmquelle

COASTAL STRIP 06 D37

Khowarib

Dubis

Dolomietpunt

C35

Baadjie

Otjovasandu

D2 76

695

Otjikondo

D2650

D32

C43 D2633

Wêreldsend

Bergsig

Fransfontein 25

Petrified Forest

Springbokwasser Gate

D2743

8 62 D2

Orusewa

Omahoro D23

Otjihorongo

5 71 D3

Lady Painting

C36 D19 30

Bocock’s Bay C34

Dorob National Park

Neineis

Hotel Zum Kaiser

7 8

Hotel Schweizerhaus NWR Coast

8a Mile 72 8b Mile 208

Organic Square Guesthouse

Regimental Badges

n ha

Arandis

Tsaob Na

Rössing

Rock Bay

Namib

Goanikontes

Moon Landscape

Swakopmund

Terrace Bay Resort

The Stiltz

Torra Bay

Walvis Bay 11

Villa Margherita

Old Rhenish Mission Church & Hope Locomotive

Waterbank

WITSCHIA EL W DRIVE

Boundary Post,

Tin Na

PERMIT

PE RM

Ganab C14

Namib-Naukluft Park Gobabeb Desert Research Centre

Black Cliff

Rock Sculpture Trail

Namib Desert Park

C14

Walvis Bay Kuiseb River Rooibank Nature Reserve

172

ko p

C28

10 Dune 7

Sandwich Harbour

Welwitschia Plains

Swa

PERMIT

8c Jakkalsputz

Swakopmund Plaza Hotel

Wlotzkasbaken

MIT

C34

PE R

Desert Breeze Lodge

Strand Hotel Swakopmund

Trekkopje

10 D19

Erongo

Aukas

Ebony

Cornerstone Guesthouse

Swakopmund Guesthouse

Henties Bay

D19

Philips A Cave

D19

Brigadoon Guesthouse

1728m Gross Spitzkoppe

Protea Hotel by Marriott Walvis Bay Pelican Bay

Rock Paintings

u rur 18

Beach Hotel Swakopmund

Protea Hotel by Marriott Walvis Bay

Atlantic Villa Boutique Guest House

2350m

Rock Arch

This is just an approximate indication of where these establishments are situated

ERONG

OPPE SPITZK

C35

Cape Cross Diego Cão Cross Cape Cross Seal Reserve

Tubusis D193

Horing Bay

Ora

Okombahe 31

3 D2

Otjum

D2306

sum Mes Messum Crater

Bandom Bay

Omatj

D37

Uis

342

Salt Flats

2573m White

Durissa Bay

Brandberg

Ugab Guided Trail

D23

D2359

D19

Ugab River Gate Ogden Rocks

Ozondati

Ugab

Brandberg West

Ambrose Bay

Epupa

D26

Doros

Salt Flats

1553m

C35

Burnt Mountain

Sorris Sorris C34

Gainatseb Vingerklip (Rock Finger)

C39

Twyfelfontein Rock Engravings Salt Flats

M NTEIN NSFO C39 FRA

Khorixas

Koic ha

Palgrave Point

D3236

Tutara

D235

Salt Flats

D274

D26

C39

D2670

C34

Torra Bay

Otjitambi C35

I B

Unia

46 D26

k ar

Dune Point

lic Pub

6 D2

st o a c c ess

Terrace Bay

Palmwag

Grootberg Pass

Biermanskool

C40

Kamanjab

D265

Mon Desir

Rock Engravings

Grootberg

Gagarus

C43

C40

Mo F

D269

Namibia is one of the only Amspoort countries inKunene the world that protects ints entire coastline. Over Möwe a thousand five hundred kilometers of pristine and beautiful shores. Bay Weissbrünn

Ozon m’Ba

Charl Marais Pan

Jakkalswater

Aasvoëlbad

Etosha N

Sonderkop

Teespoed Duiwelsvuur

Okawao

Rateldraf

bo Om

n to le ke

Western area of park open to registered tour operators only Nomab Tobieroen

Otjomatemba

0 71 D3

Ganamub

t tric

Otjita im

D370

sib aru Ho

Ombombo

State Forest

Otjondeka

Otjikondavirongo

Purros

Rocky Point

8 Otjitunduwa

D370

Re s

Okatumba

Robbie's Pass

D1 91 4

bli Pu

Ac ces s

C35

Otjitoko

D2671

JOUBERTBERGE

D2 69 7

Kaokoland

D3712

Kaoko Otavi

Oruwanje

D3710

Spring

Okandjombo

D3709

Sanitatas

PER PER

Homeb

MIT

Zebra P Kuiseb

Atlantic Villa Boutique Guest House

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Atlantic Villa Boutique Guest House is situated within sight and sound of the mesmerising Atlantic Ocean and a few minutes from the Swakopmund town centre. The Guest House offers 47 elegantly appointed, luxury accommodation in a quiet and relaxed atmosphere. There is also a cosy lounge and bar area as well as a small restaurant that serves light meals throughout the day. Modern conference facilities and spacious event venues with the latest technology is also available on site. 24 Plover Street, Swakopmund Tel: 064 463 511 Email: info@namibia-collection.com Web: www.namibia-collection.com

Beach Hotel Swakopmund Beach Hotel Swakopmund is the perfect place to stay whether on business, a romantic trip or family holiday. The hotel is located merely 50m from the Atlantic Ocean and within walking distance from the town centre of Swakopmund. The accommodation varies from 34 comfort rooms to family and luxury apartments. There is a restaurant and bar “Anchor Point” located on the ground floor and open 365 days a year for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Other facilities includes a roof terrace and pool, fitness room, massage treatment room and 24 hour reception. 1 Suedstrand Street, Swakopmund Tel: 064 417700 Email: info@namibia-collection.com Web: www.namibia-collection.com

Brigadoon Guesthouse Brigadoon Guesthouse offers spacious, well-equipped rooms to accommodate two people, or families, in style and comfort, allowing an opportunity for total relaxation, away from the hustle, bustle and buzz of Namibia’s most vibrant town. Each room overlooks the lush garden from its own private patio deck where Guests always appreciate their individually served breakfast.

Tel: +264 61 224 712 / +264 61 250 725 Email: brigadoon@resdest.com Web: www.brigadoonswakopmund.com

Cornerstone Guesthouse Cornerstone Guesthouse is a small, private and peaceful bed and breakfast an easy walk to the sea and the town centre of Swakopmund on Namibia’s fascinating Skeleton Coast. Occupying a quiet corner of Swakopmund’s old town near the marine museum and the old brewery, Cornerstone Guesthouse offers the charm and intimacy of a family-run B&B combined with the modern amenities of a luxury hotel. Within a few minutes from the guest house you can walk to beaches, cafés, restaurants, lively pubs, Swakopmund tourist attractions and a variety of interesting shops and markets in the town. Cornerstone Guesthouse offers bed and breakfast accommodation in seven double or twin rooms two of which are family rooms, sleeping a family of four. The rooms each have a private entrance and patio with table and chairs; inside, the rooms are light, spacious and neat with tile and wood floors, beach house colours and your choice of double or twin beds. Corner of Rhode Allee and Hendrik Witbooi, Swakopmund Tel: +264 64 462468 Email: info@cornerstoneguesthouse.com Web: www.cornerstoneguesthouse.com

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Desert Breeze Lodge

In it’s prime position above the ephemeral Swakop River overlooking a vast and sensuous apricot dune sea, Desert Breeze offers the ultimate desert experience. A short drive from central Swakopmund, its spectacular location provides peace and tranquillity away from the bustling town, and the privilege of savouring the ancient Namib Desert. Surrounded by the colourful and unique architecture contrasting but yet fitting in with the desert landscape, it will sooth any soul. Big basalt sculptures stand guard over the desert landscape. The luxury bungalows with their creative atmosphere and the friendly staff will make your stay one to remember. Tel: +264 (0) 64 406 236, +264 (0) 81 149 4979 Email: info@desertbreezeswakopmund.com Email (Reservations): reservations@desertbreezeswakopmund.com Web: www.desertbreezeswakopmund.com

Hotel Zum Kaiser

Perfectly positioned on Sam Nujoma Avenue in the picturesque Swakopmund, the luxurious Hotel Zum Kaiser offers direct access to the beach and the town’s vibrant street life, quaint architecture, shopping and fine dining. This exclusive hotel houses 21 fully air-conditioned bedrooms, each featuring a full en-suite bathroom, television, coffee-and tea-making facilities, bar fridge, electronic safe and wireless internet. Uniquely combining modern furnishings with a touch of classic elegance dating from imperial times, the Hotel Zum Kaiser creates a truly authentic and intimate ambiance. Enjoy delectable cuisine at the on-site Bistro Zum Kaiser and sip sundowners whilst experiencing the spectacular sunsets over the Atlantic from the hotel’s idyllic Roof Terrace. The Hotel Zum Kaiser is fully equipped and offers the ideal setting for conferences, banqueting and celebrations. Exciting activities in the area can be booked directly at reception. Taleni Africa Reservations: Tel: (+27 21) 930 4564, Fax: (+27 21) 914 9930 Tel: (+264 64) 41 7100 (for last minute reservations only) Email: reservations@hotelzumkaiser.com Web: www.hotelzumkaiser.com Location: 4 Sam Nujoma Avenue, Swakopmund GPS Coordinates: S22°40’ 43.56” E014°31’ 22.75”

Hotel Schweizerhaus

Hotel Schweizerhaus, situated in Swakopmund on the Namib Desert coast, is a mere two to three minutes’ walking distance from the beach and the centre of town. Most of Schweizerhaus’s rooms have their own balcony, affording a view of the sea. Swakopmund’s famous coffee shop, Cafè Anton, serves traditional German confectionery, including Black Forest cream cake, Florentiners and the ever-popular Bee Sting, all of which are baked on the premises. The establishment has been in the hands of the Anton family since 1965. A variety of functions, desert excursions, angling trips and sporting opportunities can be arranged for visitors on request. PO Box 445, Swakopmund Tel: (+264 64) 40 0331/2/3 Fax: (+264 64) 40 5850 Email: reservations@schweizerhaus.net

Mile 72, Mile 108, Jakkalsputz The coastline along the Dorob National Park is a very popular attraction for fishing and holiday-makers in general. NWR’s Mile 72, 108 and Jakkalsputz offers accommodation within the park that is in close proximity to the ocean and perfectly situated from where to explore the park. Mile 72 and 108 provide a choice of either fishing chalets or sizable campsites whereas Jakkalsputz is for camping enthusiasts only. Whether fishing, sun-bathing, swimming or exploring the nearby tourist attractions in the area such as seal watching at Cape Cross, swimming in the Dead Sea or visiting the dunes it is perfect for family holidays. P/Bag 13378, Windhoek Tel: (+264 61) 285 7200 Fax: (+264 61) 22 4900 Email: reservations@nwr.com.na Web: www.nwr.com.na

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Organic Square Guesthouse Organic Square Guesthouse is a modern guesthouse with spacious private rooms with luxury fittings, designed for your immediate comfort. Each of the rooms comes with their own little garden for you to enjoy the beautiful African coastal weather. After a peaceful night in your luxurious bed you will be treated to a healthy continental breakfast in one of our sunny breakfast rooms before venturing out to discover the unique surrounding landscapes and exciting adventure activities available in Swakopmund. Look forward to staying in the serene hub of Swakopmund in the luxurious comfort of our establishment, we look forward to welcoming you with our world class hospitality. Tel: +264 (0)64 463 979 Email: info@guesthouse-swakopmund.com Web: www.guesthouse-swakopmund.com

Protea Hotel by Marriott Walvis Bay Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the Walvis Bay Lagoon and the world’s oldest desert, the Protea Hotel by Marriott Walvis Bay is located in the heart of the town. All 58 en-suite rooms are comfortably furnished and offer free wireless internet. The hotel is close to Walvis Bay International Airport and Walvis Bay Harbour. Local restaurants and shops are all within walking distance of the hotel. Adventure activities like camel rides, quad biking, sand-boarding and desert excursions can easily be arranged. The hotel offers a spacious restaurant, bar, plenty of secure parking and conference facilities for up to 200 people. Corner of Sam Nujoma Avenue & 10th Road, Walvis Bay Tel: +264 64 213700 Email: res.walvisbay@proteahotels.com.na Web: www.protea.marriott.com

Protea Hotel by Marriott Walvis Bay Pelican Bay Protea Hotel by Marriott Pelican Bay overlooks one of the most important wetland areas on the African coastline, the Walvis Bay Lagoon. With its temperate climate, Walvis Bay offers a safe refuge from the Atlantic Ocean to the abundance of majestic flamingos, pelicans, dolphins and gigantic whales that flock to these waters. Protea Hotel by Marriott Pelican Bay offers 50 comfortable en-suite rooms with balconies that lead guests to a magnificent view of the lagoon, where some of Africa’s rarest bird species can be heard and seen. All rooms and public areas are equipped with complimentary WiFi. The conference facilities can accomodate 150 people comfortably. The Esplande, Walvis Bay Tel: +264 64 214 000 Email: cro@proteahotels.com.na / res.pelicanbay@proteahotels.com.na Web: www.protea.marriott.com

Swakopmund Guesthouse Swakopmund Guesthouse is situated in the town centre, a mere five-minute walk from the beach and main shopping area. We offer eight standard rooms, eight luxury rooms and one family suite. Our spacious rooms are fitted with crisp, white linen sheets and wallpapers portraying a peaceful view of the ocean. All rooms come complete with minibar, television and an en-suite bathroom. Our guesthouse is run with an eco-friendly approach, making use of solar energy. It is not your conventional type of guesthouse, that’s for sure. Hendrik Witbooi 35, Swakopmund Tel: +264 (0)6446 2008 Email: reservations@swakopmundguesthouse.com Web: www.swakopmundguesthouse.com

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Strand Hotel Swakopmund With its extensive and entertaining Restaurants, Bars, Lounges, Deli, sea facing Terraces and Conference & Banqueting Centre the Strand Hotel is the social epicenter of Swakopmund, Namibia. Uniquely located on the iconic and historic Swakopmund Mole and surrounded on three sides by the Southern Atlantic Ocean its 125 rooms and suites offer the finest uninterrupted sea views available anywhere in this quaint historic town. The Strand Hotel Swakopmund has been “sculptured” to be more than just a hotel. It is an integral part of the town’s historical centre and a beachfront entertainment destination in itself hosting both visitors and locals.

Tel Reservations: (+264 64) 411 4308 Email: strand.res@ol.na Web: www.ol-leisure.com

Swakopmund Plaza Hotel Swakopmund Plaza Hotel is ideally located in the heart of Swakopmund and surrounded by a number of historic buildings and restaurants. This 3 star hotel offers a total of 67 rooms in a variety of room types from stylish standard comfort rooms and family rooms to a luxury suite. The Bistro and Coffee Shop is open daily for breakfast as well as coffee, wine and soft drinks throughout the day. A fully equipped multi conference and event centre is available and can seat up to 240 guests.

Images by Xenia Ivanoff-Erb

42 Liberthina Amadhila Ave, Swakopmund Tel: 064 426 500 Email: info@namibia-collection.com Web: www.namibia-collection.com

S wa ko p mu n d M u n i c i p a l i t y P O Box 53, Swakopmund, Namibia, 13001 Tel: +264 64 410 4111 | Fax: +264 64 088 614 514 marketing@swkmun.com.na | www.swkmun.com.na

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Terrace Bay Resort Terrace Bay is an angler’s paradise offering an exceptional experience inside the famous Skeleton Coast National Park along Namibia’s northwestern coastline. The resort is located on the coast, set in an undisturbed and peaceful spot, surrounded by the majestic dunes of the northern Namib Desert. You can easily venture into the nearby Uniab River Delta, for a glimpse into Terrace Bay’s wildlife diaspora. Here, you can hike, bird watch, spot game or witness breath-taking sunsets from atop the dunes. Choose from two Beach Chalets or our 20 double rooms and enjoy our restaurant, bar and kiosk during your adventurous stay. P/Bag 13378, Windhoek Tel: (+264 61) 285 7200 Fax: (+264 61) 22 4900 Email: reservations@nwr.com.na Web: www.nwr.com.na

The Stiltz Unique in every aspect, staying at The Stiltz offers the most spectacular views in Swakopmund. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the Namib sand dunes and the bird-rich lagoon at the river mouth, the Stiltz offers breathtaking views and unforgettable sunsets. If that does not take your breath away, the architecture of these wooden bungalows built on stilts will. Each private bungalow has been attended to in the finest detail, interlinked by wooden walkways to each other and to the main dining bungalow. You will feel like you are staying in a remote location, yet you are only minutes away from the charming town centre with plentiful restaurants, loads of activities and all the amenities you could wish for... that is if you really feel like leaving your bungalow! Tel: +264 (0) 64 400 771, +264 (0) 64 400 711 Email: info@thestiltz.com, reservations@thestiltz.com Web: thestiltz.com

Torra Bay Torra Bay is a seasonal fishing retreat, situated inside the Skeleton Coast National Park on the Atlantic coast. Open only in December and January, Torra Bay is famous in the angling circle due to the variety and quantity of fish that come down the Atlantic current. Other activities include bird watching, walking along the beach, and more fishing. The resort offers minimal facilities for a lesser impact on its natural surroundings: 60 campsites (that need to be booked in advance, and visitors are advised to bring all of their equipment with them), a shop, petrol station, and communal shower facilities. P/Bag 13378, Windhoek Tel: (+264 61) 285 7200 Fax: (+264 61) 22 4900 Email: reservations@nwr.com.na Web: www.nwr.com.na

Villa Margherita Villa Margherita – The Charming House – is a very unique establishment in the heart of Swakopmund under Swiss management. A fusion of contemporary charm and a historic colonial building, Villa Margherita offers seclusion and personalised service. Our ten double rooms, most with a private lounge area, are for connoisseurs looking for a truly remarkable retreat. All our rooms have a flat-screen TV, safe, coffee/tea station, hairdryer and high-speed wireless Internet connection. Subject to availability, personal laptops are available on request. Our beautifully tended garden is ideal for relaxation; an organic bistro is open throughout the day; we offer professional massages, a laundry service and sumptuous breakfasts served from 7:00; as well as mouth-watering a la carte dinners with a selection of the best South African and international brands of wines and liquors. Room service is available at no extra charge till 21.00. 34 Daniel Tjongarero Street, corner Otavi Street PO Box 4392, Swakopmund Tel: (+264 64) 40 2991 Cell: (+264 81) 332 4293 Fax: (+264 64) 40 0131 Email: info@villamargherita.com.na

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COASTAL & THE FISH RIVER CANYON

Deep south,

Deep south

The country’s most spectacular geological phenomenon

and the highlight of Namibia’s ‘Deep South’ is the Fish River Canyon. The famous ravine lies in the lower reaches of Namibia’s longest river, the Fish River. It took millions of years to evolve to its present shape – a massive 161 km long, up to

LE ROUX VAN SCHALKWYK

ERIC VAN ZYL

27 km wide and up to 550 metres deep.

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TOP ATTRACTIONS IN THE SOUTH

Top tourist attractions in the region include the quaint coastal town of Lüderitz; Namibia’s most famous ghost town, Kolmanskop, a former diamond settlement that was deserted in the 1950s; the Northern Sperrgebiet, which can be explored with concession-holding tour operators. Further east are the Quiver Tree Forest, Giant’s Playground and Brukkaros Mountain, the latter not an extinct volcano as is popularly thought but the remnants of a gaseous explosion that took place many millions of years ago. Lying at the centre of this region is the unofficial capital of the south, Keetmanshoop – the gateway to many of these attractions. Further south lies the Fish River Canyon, the second largest canyon in the world.

FISH RIVER CANYON AND /AI-/AIS RICHTERSVELD TRANSFRONTIER PARK

The /Ai-/Ais Hot Springs and Fish River Canyon were first proclaimed in 1968, and in 1989 the Huns Mountains complex west of the canyon was added to these features to form a single conservation entity. The Namibian Government acquired several farms in the surroundings, which were also incorporated into the unit, and in 2003 the long-term conservation objective to manage the Huns Mountains and /Ai-/Ais Game Park jointly with the Richtersveld National Park in South Africa as one integrated Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA) became a reality when the /Ai-/ Ais-Richtersveld Transfrontier Park became Namibia’s first transfrontier conservation area. The attraction of

LEFT Overlooking the Fish River Canyon • The Quiver Tree Forest

LE ROUX VAN SCHALKWYK

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ABOVE Inside the Fish River Canyon

this rugged wilderness is its isolated and otherworldly landscape, and wealth of interesting xerophytic plants, such as the halfmens or elephant’s trunk, Pachypodium namaquanum. Geologically and botanically the area is similar to South Africa’s Richtersveld south of the Orange River. Eroded over many millennia, the Fish River Canyon is the second-largest natural canyon in the world. Set in a harsh, stony plain, dotted with drought-resistant succulents such as the distinctive quiver tree or kokerboom, Aloidendron dichotomum, and Euphorbia gregaria, the canyon is a spectacular natural phenomenon that took hundreds of millions of years to evolve. While its full length is 160 km – the width is up to 27 km and depth up to 550 metres – its most spectacular section is the 56-km stretch downstream of the northernmost viewpoint. Because the river flows intermittently, there is always water in some of the pools, except in very dry years. Containing small- and largemouth yellowfish, sharptooth catfish, tilapia and common carp, the pools are also frequented by the water monitor or leguan. Baboon, rock hyrax, ground squirrel and klipspringer are often seen in the canyon, while the presence of leopard and mountain zebra is indicated by tracks left at waterholes. Kudu inhabit the densely vegetated lower reaches

north of /Ai-/Ais. An interesting variety of birds, such as the Olive Thrush, Cape Robin-chat and African Black Duck, are found in the canyon.

Fish River viewpoint

The enviro-friendly viewpoint overlooking the spectacular Fish River Canyon was completed in 2010. Designed by Windhoek-based architect Nina Maritz – who is internationally recognised for her expertise in energy efficiency and sustainable building in developing countries – the new facility greatly enhances this popular southern destination. Displayed at the viewpoint are a series of interpretive information posters for tourists, providing details on the flora, fauna and geology of the canyon, the history of the area, the human footprint, the transfrontier process and the Fish River Canyon hiking trail.

LÜDERITZ

One of Namibia’s truly unique destinations is the coastal town of Lüderitz in the so-called Deep South.

The Fish River Canyon is estimated to be the second largest canyon in the world. www.thisisnamibia.com

Originally named Angra Pequena (small bay) by the famous Portuguese explorer Bartholomeu Dias in 1487, the settlement was renamed Lüderitz in honour of its founder Adolf Lüderitz in 1884. Located directly on the shores of Lüderitz Bay facing the Atlantic Ocean, Lüderitz forms a barrier between the towering coastal dunes of the Namib-Naukluft Park directly to the north, and the unforgiving rocky coastline to the south. The town has a colourful fishing harbour surrounded by early 20th century German colonial buildings. Ten kilometres to the east the worldrenowned ghost town, Kolmanskop, affords you the opportunity to gain a spellbinding insight into what life was once like in this former diamond settlement. Other activities include bird-watching such as at Halifax Island to view Namibia’s largest colony of African Penguins via a boat, exploring the Lüderitz Peninsula and its many bays and beaches, whale watching, windsurfing and speed-sailing. Lüderitz is especially famous for its delicious fresh seafood: west coast rock lobster (called crayfish locally), oysters and the much sought-after delicacy abalone (perlemoen variety). The town celebrates its rich seafood culture with an annual Lüderitz Crayfish Festival. Current developments in the town include the construction of a wind farm, known as Ombepo Wind Farm.

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RIGHT A view of Lüderitz Harbour • Heaviside's Dolphins

A major project for the future is the establishment of the largest maritime museum complex in Africa. This multi-million-Namibia-dollar tourist attraction will display Namibia’s rich maritime history, geology and marine fauna and flora. Cafés, restaurants, an outdoor arena, a yacht jetty and large promenades will provide additional relaxation opportunities for the visitor. The maritime museum is still in its planning stages.

NINA VAN ZYL

Namibia’s first wind farm, the 5 MW Ombepo farm, east of Lüderitz, became operational in April 2018. With strong and reliable southwesterly winds, Lüderitz has been earmarked for two more wind farms.

To fully appreciate Lüderitz, a minimum of two nights’ stay in the town is recommended.

NINA VAN ZYL

Lüderitz is easily accessible by good roads from Windhoek, Keetmanshoop and the Fish River Canyon, as well as with direct Air Namibia flights from Windhoek International Airport several times a week.

Distinctive architecture

Among the most striking architectural attractions are the Goerkehaus and Felsenkirche. Both adorn the slopes of Diamond Mountain. The church with its beautiful stained-glass windows is truly unique, as all building materials – even the sand - were shipped from Germany. In the ‘old town’ are the houses of former mining magnates and prominent businessmen, including Kreplin House and Troost House. The Krabbenhöft & Lampe Building was erected for a trading business during the period of economic prosperity that followed the discovery of diamonds. The Deutsche Afrika Bank is part of the historic street view of Bismarck Street, one of the oldest roads in town. In Berg Street, in the historic core of the town, is a complex of residences built during the diamond boom. Other noteworthy structures are the old post

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office, the former German school, the Lesehalle and the Turnhalle. The small Lüderitz Museum on Diaz Street is another fascinating stop to learn about the town’s history and heritage.

Beaches, bays and birds

The Lüderitz Peninsula is characterised by numerous bays, lagoons and unspoilt stretches of beach. At Diaz Point a replica of Bartolomeu Dias’ padrão can be seen, while a memorial on Shark Island commemorates Captain Cornelius Fredericks. Another one, which was unveiled in 1903 to mark 20 years of German colonisation, originally stood in the old Nautilus cemetery on the site of the first surveyor’s beacon but was moved in 1976, as were the graves of German soldiers. The popular local beaches

are Grosse Bucht, Sturmvogelbucht and Agate Beach, the latter with its excellent barbecue facilities, long sandy beach and good bathing opportunities. The remains of an old Norwegian whaling station can be viewed at Sturmvogelbucht. The Lüderitz area is home to a wide variety of aquatic birds. Large numbers of flamingos, cormorants and seagulls inhabit the shallow lagoons. When sailing in the bay, seals and dolphins can be seen playing in the water. For anglers, favoured species are galjoen, steenbras, dassie and rock lobster. It is not unusual to see an occasional jackal or brown hyaena trotting along the beach, or a group of springbok close to the sea. An attractive plant in the surroundings is Bushman’s candle, its pink flowers contrasting vividly against the black rock. Unusual species of dwarf succulents

| DEEP SOUTH, COASTAL AND THE FISH RIVER |

The Lüderitz Peninsula is characterised by numerous bays, lagoons and unspoilt stretches of beach. grow in the area, such as small but intriguing lithops, colloquially referred to as Hottentot’s buttocks.

Activities in and around Lüderitz

Festivals

The annual Crayfish Festival is celebrated in April/May, a Snoek Derby usually takes place in May and in August/September the bi-annual Küska (Lüderitz Karneval) is held according to German traditions. Windsurfing and speed sailing are two activities that draw crowds to the small town during October/ November for the annual Lüderitz Speed Challenge. Excellent wind conditions and a specially made 1 km long canal attract the world’s best kitesurfers and windsurfers to compete for the top world-ranking in speed sailing. More than 100 national and 17 world records have been achieved since the first event in 2007 and Lüderitz has become synonymous with speed sailing records. Lüderitz offers the perfect conditions for speed sailing records: warm winds gain momentum on their way through the coastal hills of the Namib Desert and are accelerated

to incredibly high speeds by thermal atmospheric pressure when they reach the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Statistically the wind blows at 35 knots and more at least 3 times a week during the event, often reaching 40-45 knots and sometimes even 50 to 65 knots (119 km/h). If you are in Lüderitz during the annual speed challenge it is definitely worth your while to see these worldclass speed sailors in action. www.luderitz-speed.com

Abalone and oysters

Oyster and abalone production in Lüderitz is on the rise, with marine aquaculture enterprises currently producing abalone, oysters, mussels and seaweed in the Lüderitz sea lagoons and the salt-ponds of Walvis Bay and Swakopmund. There is a wide choice of eateries serving seafood. The Lüderitz Nest Hotel has two restaurants: the Penguin Restaurant and Crayfish Bar & Lounge. Another place to enjoy is Essenzeit at the Waterfront.

BELOW African Penguin on Halifax Island

NINA VAN ZYL

Excursions from Lüderitz range from guided overnight self-drive 4x4 trips into the Namib sand sea and guided day trips to Elizabeth Bay and the Bogenfels to exploring the Lüderitz Peninsula which is accessible by sedan vehicle. Attractions on the peninsula include the abandoned whaling station, WWI entrenchments, Dias Point, secluded bays and beaches and the old lighthouse. Sightings of Cape fur seals, Heaviside’s dolphins and, in season, Humpback and Southern Right whales, as well as a variety of seabirds are possible on a catamaran cruise. Deep-sea angling, private charter and bird watching are other possibilities. The large Lüderitz second

lagoon, with strong winds coming from the surrounding Namib Desert, offers windsurfers and kitesurfers exciting sailing opportunities throughout the year – this is a real sailing paradise with no crowds and plenty of opportunity to test your skills.

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Lüderitz Waterfront

A number of exciting modern developments have taken place in the centre of Lüderitz. One of them is the Lüderitz Waterfront Development which currently includes the harbour square that hosts the annual Crayfish Festival. The harbour square consists of shops, restaurants and coffee shops, offices and apartments. The Yacht Club is also at the Waterfront. The second phase of the development, currently underway, is the upgrading and renovation of the historical power station located directly on Lüderitz Bay. Future developments that will put the bay on the map

BELOW

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The mysterious and intriguing ghost town of Kolmanskop.

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include a shopping centre with sea views, luxury apartments, a fourstar hotel, indoor and outdoor sports facilities, a modern satellite campus for the Namibia University of Science and Technology, and Africa’s largest Maritime Museum.

Kolmanskop

Namibia’s most famous ghost town, Kolmanskop, is situated in the Tsau //Khaeb National Park about 10 km inland from Lüderitz. It was named after transport driver Johnny Coleman, who lived in the tiny settlement of Aus at the turn of the century. During a fierce sandstorm he was forced to abandon his ox wagon on the small incline from where Kolmanskop can be seen. It stood there for a while, giving rise to the name Colemanshügel, which eventually became Kolmanskop. In 1908, the railway worker Zacharias Lewala found a sparkling stone

in the sand he was shovelling at Grasplatz railway station nearby Kolmanskop. His supervisor, August Stauch, was convinced he had found a diamond. When this was confirmed, the news spread like wildfire, sparking a frantic diamond rush and causing fortune hunters to converge on Kolmanskop in droves. It soon became a bustling little centre, featuring a butchery, bakery, furniture factory, soda-water and lemonade plant. By 1915, Kolmanskuppe was one of the richest towns in the world with its own millionaire’s row, large outdoor salt-water swimming pool, bowling alley, hospital, entertainment hall and ice-making factory. The first X-ray machine in the southern hemisphere was introduced here, as well as the first tram in Africa. Today, Namibia’s diamond-mining operations take place offshore in the Oranjemund area (on the border with South Africa). The development of the town reached its pinnacle in the 1920s, with approximately 300 German adults, 40 of their children and 800 Owambo contract workers living there. In spite of, or probably because of, the isolation and bleakness of the surrounding desert, Kolmanskop developed into a lively little haven of German culture, providing entertainment and recreation to suit the requirements of the affluent, for whom large, elegant houses were built. However, when richer diamond deposits were discovered further south, operations were moved to Oranjemund. Today, the crumbling ruins of the ghost town bear little resemblance to its former glory. The stately homes, their grandeur now scoured and demolished by desert winds, are gradually enveloped by sand. In 1980 the mining company CDM (now Namdeb) restored a number of the buildings and established a museum for tourist viewing. Permits are needed to enter Kolmanskop. These can be obtained at the entrance gate, which is open daily from 08:00 to 13:00 (longer for visitors who have a photo permit). Interesting guided tours are conducted free of charge, in English and German, from Mondays to Saturdays at 09:30 and 11:00, and on Sundays and public holidays at 10:00.

| DEEP SOUTH, COASTAL AND THE FISH RIVER | gravel plains, and rivers, contribute to this extraordinary natural diversity. As an outpost of the Succulent Karoo biome, the area yields flower displays that rival those of Namaqualand a few weeks after significant rains. These could occur almost any time of the year due to the transitional nature of the Aus environs between the two major climatic regimes in Southern Africa. Good times to view the plant life are from May to June and from August to September. NINA VAN ZYL

Aus is also a rewarding spot for birding. Namib endemics such as the Namib Dune Lark can be seen here, as well as a variety of other larks, raptors and shrikes, in addition to the regular inhabitants of the marginal desert areas, such as Ludwig’s Bustard, Rüppel’s Korhaan and Namaqua Sandgrouse.

The Desert Horses

GERHARD THIRION

A captivating feature of the Sperrgebiet are the legendary desert horses seen from the road when travelling between Lüderitz and Aus. About 100 km east of Lüderitz, a signpost indicates the turn-off to Garub, a maintained water point where the wild horses can be observed and photographed as they come to drink.

ABOVE The historic church in Aus • A Dune Lark - Namibia's only truly endemic bird.

AUS

An almost-forgotten hamlet on the north-south and east-west crossroads between the Maltahöhe–Rosh Pinah and Keetmanshoop–Lüderitz routes has reinvented itself. Most people usually pass Aus or just drive in briefly to fill up with fuel. However, apart from refuelling, having refreshments and perhaps staying at one of the accommodation establishments, there are more reasons to stop at Aus, as it offers much of interest. The settlement has several historical buildings and traces of crucial historical events, including the remains of the prisoner-

of-war camp where over 1 500 German prisoners were kept after the surrender of the German forces in 1915. Aus is also a starting point for viewing the well-known wild horses of Garub and a trading centre for the karakul farmers of the surroundings. Aus is not only at the crossroads of major transport routes, but also at the meeting point of three main ecological biomes – the Succulent Karoo, Nama Karoo and Dune Namib. In terms of natural assets this makes Aus one of the most diverse places in Namibia. Over 500 plant species have been recorded in the environs, representing nearly one fifth of Namibia’s entire flora. Some species are restricted to the granite koppies around Aus, and grow nowhere else but there. The sporadic occurrence of winter and summer rains, and diverse landforms including granite koppies, sand-and-

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There are several theories regarding their origin. One is that they are descendants of the horse stud belonging to Baron von Wolf, who built Duwisib Castle 160 km northeast of Garub. Another is that they are descendants of horses left behind when the German Schutztruppe abandoned Aus during the South West Africa Campaign in 1915, and yet another that they are descended from some 6 000 horses belonging to South African soldiers who camped at the borehole at Garub in 1915. There was also the so-called Kubub stud at the Kubub Station under management of Emil Kreplin (mayor of Lüderitz from

Namibia’s most famous ghost town, Kolmanskop, is situated in the Tsau /Khaeb National Park. 185

1909–1914), who bred workhorses for mining purposes and racehorses. It is thought that the Kubub horses also added to the evolvement of the famous desert horses of Aus.

ROSH PINAH

Rosh Pinah, a mining village south of Aus, is yet to gain town status. Mining operations in Rosh Pinah started in 1969 when the Rosh Pinah Lead-Zinc Mine commenced operations. In 2001, the village received another economic boost when the Anglo Skorpion Zinc Mine started operations. Rosh Pinah doesn’t offer much in terms of activities and leisure, but serves as a convenient stopover between Aus and Oranjemund. The Geo Centre is worth a mention though, displaying rocks and minerals from the Rosh Pinah and Skorpion mines, as well as from other areas in Namibia. Open Mondays to Fridays from 8:00 to 17:00, the Geo Centre also offers geology and history trips to interesting locations in the vicinity, ranging from day trips, to five-day, all-inclusive tours.

ORANJEMUND

Known as the ‘town built on diamonds’ where jackal, ostrich and gemsbok BELOW

ELZANNE MCCULLOCH

The Orange River forms Namibia's border with South Africa.

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wander the streets amongst the local inhabitants, Oranjemund was officially granted local-authority status in August 2011. The long-standing plan to proclaim Oranjemund as an open town came to fruition following the proclamation of a 90-km access road linking Rosh Pinah to Oranjemund as a national road. The town was previously owned privately by Namdeb.

The Sperrgebiet (forbidden territory) covers 26 000 km2 of globally important semi-desert. It forms part of the Succulent Karoo biome. Oranjemund can lay claim to being the only town surrounded completely by the Tsau//Khaeb National Park. In its heyday, when Oranjemund boasted 15 000 inhabitants, the mining giant DeBeers provided luxuries for its employees, such as one of the best 18-hole golf courses in Namibia. Fishing and birding are further popular pastimes in Oranjemund, as the town is located at the Orange River mouth, a RAMSAR wetland.

Air Namibia and Westair offer regular flights to Oranjemund. As of October 2017, visitors to the town no longer require to apply for an entry permit prior to their visit.

Oranjemund Border Control

Oranjemund Border control is situated between Namibia and South Africa. On the Namibian side you have the town of Oranjemund, and on South Africa’s side, Alexander Bay. A single paved carriageway leads towards the border post crossing at the bridge at Alexander Bay to Oranjemund.

TSAU //KHAEB NATIONAL PARK

Sperrgebiet National Park, now renamed to Tsau //Khaeb National Park (Tsau meaning Soft and //Khaeb meaning Sand), was proclaimed in 2008. While it is still largely undeveloped and much of it remains inaccessible to visitors, a small section of this wild landscape can be explored with a tour group, accompanied by an official of the MEFT. The Sperrgebiet (forbidden territory) covers 26 000 km² of globally important semi-desert. It forms part of the Succulent Karoo biome that extends into South Africa. With its profusion of succulent species, unrivalled anywhere else on the planet in terms of endemism and quantity, conservation scientists have classified this area as one of the world’s top 35 Biodiversity Hotspots. To qualify for hot-spot status, an area must contain at least 1 500 endemic vascular

ELZANNE MCCULLOCH

| DEEP SOUTH, COASTAL AND THE FISH RIVER |

ABOVE The forelorn landscapes of the Tsau //Khaeb National Park.

plants (0.5% of the planet’s total) and must have lost at least 70% of its original habitat. Prior to the establishment of the Tsau//Khaeb National Park, a mere 11% of the surviving Succulent Karoo, which is home to 2 439 endemic plants, was in protected areas. Now, following the proclamation of the park, 90% of this zone is protected. Concessionaires with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) take visitors from Lüderitz to the colossal 55-metre-high Bogenfels rock arch; the modern diamond mine and the mysterious ghost town at Elizabeth Bay; the ghost town of Pomona (noteworthy for enduring the highest average wind speeds in Southern Africa); and Märchental – the famous ‘Fairy Tale Valley’ – where diamonds were once so common they could be picked up in handfuls from the surface as they lay gleaming in the light of the moon. Activities further south include kayaking down the Orange River to observe the birds and animals that frequent this internationally renowned Ramsar Wetland Site and viewing the wealth of succulents, some growing as tall as trees and many putting on a spectacular floral display after winter rains. Because the Sperrgebiet, due to its diamond wealth, has been off limits to the public for close to a century, the habitat is largely untouched and pristine, making a visit to the park a truly unique wilderness experience.

Northern Tsau//Khaeb Concession

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) has given tour operators concessions to conduct guided 4x4 trips along the coast from Lüderitz to Saddle Hill and safaris from Lüderitz to Walvis Bay in the wilderness section of Namib-Naukluft Park. Participants drive in their own vehicles and are accompanied throughout the trip by a tour guide in the leading vehicle and an assistant driving at the rear of the convoy with the kitchen equipment and food for the tour on board. A MEFT representative assists the tour when deemed necessary. Points of interest include Saddle Hill, Koichab Pan, Sylvia Hill, Conception Bay, Langewand, the wreck of the Eduard Bohlen, Fischersbrunn and Sandwich Harbour.

Ancient shipwreck discovered

In April 2008, a shipwreck was discovered along the southern Sperrgebiet coast with priceless treasure in the form of glittering gold coins and hundreds of almost mint-condition silver pieces. Other artefacts retrieved were fifty ivory tusks, thousands of Portuguese and Spanish gold and silver coins minted in late 1400 and early 1500, and pewterware. Astrolabes were the only navigational tools found on the wreck. Astrolabes were used to determine how far north or south you had sailed, although what doomed this ship still remains a mystery. In all likelihood it ran aground due to bad weather, as this stretch of coast is notorious for fierce, disorienting storms. Unofficial estimates are that the gold coins alone are worth N$ 16 million.

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The origin of this find remains a mystery, although informed sources speculate the ship could have been one of a fleet of four small, fast Portuguese ships – led by Bartholomeu Dias in the 15th century - that came to grief during a storm off the Cape of Good Hope in May 1500. Dias’s caravel was part of a fleet of a dozen ships that set sail from Portugal in early 1500 under the stewardship of the legendary sailor Pedro Alvarez Cabral, who stumbled on Brazil after becoming lost at sea. The discovery was made inside Namdeb’s Mining Area 1, which is accessible only with permits issued jointly by the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Government’s Protective Resources Unit. Namibian heritage laws on such discoveries automatically give ownership of the treasure to Government. A maritime and mining museum for Oranjemund is in the pipeline to display, among others, the artefacts found on the wreck.

BETHANIE

The historical town of Bethanie, one of the oldest settlements in the country, lies west of Keetmanshoop. It can be visited from the road leading to Lüderitz. A significant historical event took place in Bethanie in 1883 when the first recorded deed of sale was signed at the house of the 19th century Nama Chief, Joseph Fredericks, for the land that was to become known as Lüderitz. The house, built in the same year, is a national monument. Buildings of historical interest in Bethanie are the Evangelical Lutheran Church Complex, comprising

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Schmelenhaus, built in 1814 and believed to be the oldest existing building in the country, the original mission church, and the adjacent graveyard. Situated next to the road between Bethanie and Goageb is a Site of Veneration, a stone heap known as a prayer mound or Heitsi Ghub in the local Khoekhoe language. This feature is protected as a cultural historical relic.

KEETMANSHOOP

The main centre and focal point of the scenic and historic attractions in the south is its ‘capital’ Keetmanshoop. Founded in 1860 by the Rhenish Mission Society, the town still retains vestiges of its original German buildings, and some dating back to the arrival of the first Europeans, who trekked across the Orange River to trade, hunt and explore the land. The first of these expeditions was in 1791. It was led by Hendrik Hop, who trekked as far as Hainabis on the Löwen River, about 12 km from Keetmanshoop. In 1866 preacher John Schröder of the German Missionary Society built a shelter at Keetmanshoop from which to operate. It is said the two acacias he used to support the shelter are still alive and well. Schröder approached the rich industrialist, Johan Keetman, chairman of the society, for funds to build a church and dwelling for himself and his family. Keetman donated 2,000 German marks for the church, and was rewarded for his generosity by having the settlement named after him, although he never saw the town himself. The first version of the Rhenish Mission Church built by Johan Schröder was

swept away in 1890 by floodwaters of the Swartmodder River. It was then rebuilt on higher ground, completed in 1895, and used as a church until 1930. It is now a museum with displays depicting the colourful past of the region. Eagle’s Monument, built between 1897–1907 in remembrance of the casualties in the battles fought with the Bondelswarts and the Namas and declared a National Monument in 1966, can be viewed in the Garden of Remembrance. Former officers' barracks built in German colonial times, the Turnverein Gut Heil, has been converted into tourist accommodation. Much of the German architectural style was retained, as well as unexpected Jewish motifs in the shape of the Star of David, lending an interesting detail to the tall windows of Schützenhaus. The previous owner transferred the windows to the house when the old Jewish Synagogue in Keetmanshoop was demolished. The Southern Tourism Forum (STF) operates from an information office in the centre of Keetmanshoop. The building in which it is housed was inaugurated in 1910 as Kaiserliches Postamt (Imperial Post Office) and is a national monument. The STF is actively engaged in the annual Dorsland Trek/Fish River Canyon awareness project, which entails collecting refuse left by hikers on the hiking trail. Also in the Keetmanshoop vicinity is the site of the former monolith Mukurob, a relic of erosion also referred to as the Finger of God, which collapsed in December 1988. Today, only the the base and part of the neck are still in evidence.

Quivertree Dolerite Park BELOW Quivertree Dolerite Park

Forty-two kilometres northeast of Keetmanshoop on the road to Koës is the Mesosaurus Fossil Site &

Quivertree Dolerite Park. Father and son, Giel and Hendrik Steenkamp, happened on a rock with an imprint of a reptile’s skeleton on their farm, which geologists informed them was a fossil of the early saurian Mesosaurus tenuidens, a predecessor of the dinosaurs. They unearthed further fossils in the layers of mudstone, and, having gained permission from the National Heritage Board, started taking tourists to the site in 2000. Tourist facilities are provided on site. Close by is a quiver tree ‘forest’ and a ‘singing rock’. A guided tour takes 90–120 minutes. For those who prefer to explore on their own, there are two marked trails.

QUIVER TREE FOREST AND GIANT’S PLAYGROUND

A much-favoured subject for photographers, the Quiver Tree Forest can be viewed on Farm Gariganus, some 14 km northeast of Keetmanshoop. About 300 specimens of this Aloidendron dichotomum, also referred to by its Afrikaans name, kokerboom, reach skywards with graphically forked branches. On average about 3–5 metres tall, the trees are rewarding subjects to photograph, especially at sunset or sunrise. They produce bright yellow flowers during the winter months, and their trunks are smooth and shiny with light silvery-grey bark, which peels and forms intricate rectangular and diamond-shaped patterns as the tree matures. Across the road from the Quiver Tree Forest is Giant’s Playground, an impressive jumble of massive dolerite boulders between 160 million and 180 million years old. Wandering through the maze of boulders is an interesting excursion, but care must be taken not to become lost in the extensive rocky labyrinth.

LE ROUX VAN SCHALKWYK

SEEHEIM

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Founded in 1896 as a base for the German Schutztruppe, and serving as an overnight stop for visitors travelling by rail to present-day Lüderitz, the settlement doesn’t offer much, although the historical hotel was recently renovated. Seeheim was a booming settlement during the 40s and 50s, of even greater prominence than Keetmanshoop. In the late 50s it started falling into decline and in 1974, the last remaining business – the Seeheim Hotel – was forced to close down. After standing empty for 30 years, the hotel is once again open for business.

NAUTE DAM

Some 50 km southwest of Keetmanshoop en route to Seeheim, is Namibia’s third-largest water reservoir, the Naute Dam, fed by the Löwen River, a tributary of the Fish. Surrounded by flat-topped ridges and large rust-coloured boulders, the area is scenically attractive, and harbours a surprising variety of birds, including some aquatic species. The Naute Recreation Resort was proclaimed in 1989, offering picnic sites, toilets and a small shop. The Naute Project is an irrigation scheme fed by the dam for the production of domestic white maize, dates, grapes, prickly pears and pomegranates. Only about 20–25 tonnes of the dates produced at Naute are distributed locally, as Namibians are not great consumers of this highly nutritious fruit. The other 70–75 percent is exported primarily to Britain, Canada, Spain and France.

BRUKKAROS MOUNTAIN

About 130 km northwest of Keetmanshoop en route to the small settlement of Berseba, where a mission station was established in 1850, is the conspicuous Brukkaros Mountain. In a landscape almost devoid of vegetation, this mass of dark-coloured rock rises abruptly from a vast, sun-scorched plain. The turnoff to the base of the mountain, accessible only with 4x4 vehicles, is south of Tses. A well-maintained footpath leads from the end of the road via the eroded southern rim to the mountain. The footpath was built when the Smithsonian Institute installed a solar telescope in a tunnel on the crater’s southwestern rim in 1929 to determine the amount of energy the earth received from the sun. It closed down two years later. At the turn of the century the German authorities maintained a heliograph station on the eastern rim of Brukkaros. Relatively recently, a VHF radio mast was placed on the northern rim. Brukkaros is not an extinct volcano, as its shape would suggest, but the eroded remnants of a pile of fragmented rock produced by a gigantic gaseous explosion some 84 million years ago. At its highest point it is about 1 580 metres, the mountainous ridge surrounding a deep crater of almost 2 000 metres in diameter, with a flat, rock-littered floor. The mountain’s vernacular name, the Nama word Geitsigubeb,

LE ROUX VAN SCHALKWYK

| DEEP SOUTH, COASTAL AND THE FISH RIVER |

refers to its resemblance to a large leather ‘trouser apron’ worn traditionally by Khoekhoe women.

HELMERINGHAUSEN

Although the small settlement of Helmeringhausen doesn’t offer much in terms of tourism it is a nice stopover seemingly in the middle of nowhere. Founded during the German colonial era as a farm by a member of the Schutztruppe, the Helmeringhausen area later became famous for the breeding of karakul sheep. On the farm Mooifontein is a cemetery containing graves of German soldiers who were killed during the Nama uprisings against German Colonial rule (1903–1907), as well as some civilian graves. The farm was formerly a German military post known as Chamis.

WARMBAD

For most Namibians the small settlement of Warmbad in southern Namibia is a mere dot on the map. However, in historical times Warmbad occupied a prominent place in the country. Two hundred years ago the Albrecht brothers, Abraham and Christian, as representatives of the London Missionary Association, settled in Warmbad to introduce Christianity to local inhabitants. By then, in addition to its Nama residents, including Bondelswarts people who were farming in the surroundings, the settlement was an important stopover for big-game hunters, traders and adventurers en route to and from South Africa. Thus, although these activities started as early as 1760, the Albrecht brothers are regarded as the founders of Warmbad. Today the town is inhabited primarily by Nama people, a friendly race with a rich history of folklore and tales of heroism in battle. Of great historical interest in Warmbad is the

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ABOVE The quaint settlement of Helmeringhausen.

site where the Bondelswarts leader, Jan Christiaan Abraham, was shot and killed by German district officer Lieutenant Jobst when resisting arrest in 1903. The Bondelswarts retaliated by shooting Lieutenant Jobst and a noncommissioned officer, an incident that gave rise to the Bondelswarts taking up arms against the Germans. This historic event is re-enacted every year on the weekend preceding or following 25 October. Also of interest in Warmbad is the stone entrance built between 1907 and 1913 as a gateway to the German fort. Completed around 1895, the fort with its single tower was enclosed by a stone wall. Although the fort no longer exists, the remains of the Schutztruppe stables with their beautiful stone cribs can still be seen. Nearby is the old prison building with its two cells, still in a relatively good condition. To appreciate the historic attractions offered by Warmbad, it is best to engage the services of a guide. The hot-water springs at Warmbad were discovered by the Bondelswarts people more than 200 years ago when searching for water and grazing for their livestock. Another site of interest is that of a commemorative stone erected in 1929 for Reverend Edward Cook, the second Wesleyan missionary to arrive in the area. The community-based Warmbad Museum is the result of an alliance between the Warmbad Community Based Tourism Enterprise (WCBTE) and the History Department of the University of Namibia. It houses pictures and items that are unique to Namibia. Other sites of historical interest are old German and South African graves, the 1805 Lutheran Church and and the Roman Catholic mission building.

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C24

C23 Heide

D1264

D86 0

Vogelweide

C41

D1010

Aranos

C20

D10

Stampriet

Salzbrunn

C20

D855

D861

Har dap

053

1 D83

Maltahöhe

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D72

D1065

D1072

15 D6

D61 1

M26

T IC

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Kalahari Game Lodge

Hobas Lodge

Sea-View Zum Sperrgebiet

Goodhouse

Dabenoris

D25

Onseepka

Shark Island

Velloorsdrif Orange (Garie p) Velloorsdrif

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Bahnhof Hotel Aus

EA RWACHT PLAT

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Noordoewer

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Holgat

Aussenkehr

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Fish River Lodge

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Lekkersing

Hamab

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16 D3

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Karasburg Wolplaas

Eksteenfontein

Satco

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Wreck Point

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Nanzes

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Hot Springs Ai-Ais

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Rosh Pinah

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Fish River Canyon Hiking Trail

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Restricted Area (Former Sperrgebiet)

Fish River Canyon Conservation 3 Area

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Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park

Klein-Karas

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Salt Flats

Roastbeef Island

Fish River Canyon

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Konkiep

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Cape Dernburg

Holoog

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D203

Plumpudding Island Bakers Bay Sinclair's Island

1559m

Huns

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Warmfontein

Karas

Narubis M26

C12

D46

ESS CC DA

Bogenfels (Rock Arch)

190

D578

2202m

ICTE RESTR

Black Point

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Pomona Island Pomona

Naute

Inachab

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Albatross Island

Naute Recreation Area

Gawagab

Possession Island

D578

1700m

Seeheim

Feldschuhhorn

Musical Stone

C13

Coenbult

Jurgen

ED CT

Sandverhaar

Aukam

C16

Eagle Monument & Historic Buildings Löwen

Goageb

Site of Veneration

Guibes

Spitzkoppe Fossil Trail

Ausnek

Old German Fort

Quiver Tree Forest Giant’s Playground

D608

TRI RES

S A C CE S

Keetmanshoop

D463

Aus

Ausweiche

Gariganus

Gobas

Asbospan

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Garinais

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Bethanie

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Lüderitz

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Tsawisis

Schmelen House

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Wild Horses of the Namib Prisoner of War Camp Memorial

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Wasser

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Koichab Pan

Gunab

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Salt Flats

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Hottentot’s Bay

D531

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Mooifontein Mooifontein Military Cemetery

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Simaedjo Point

Icaboe Island Marshall Rocks

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Brukkaros

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Duwisib Castle

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Gochas

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Namib Rand Nature Reserve

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Grootfontein C14

830

Easter Cliffs

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Zarishoogte Pass

SCHWARZRAND

Namib-Naukluft Park

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wandering hearts and intrigue any Hud traveller. Zaris u

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Easter Point

Ebeneerde

D1066

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1895m

TSARISBERGE

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Mariental

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Fish

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Namibia's southern reaches with its dramatic vistas and endless horizons will warm

Hollandsbird Island

Hardap

Sesriem Canyon Hot-air Balloon Flights

Sossusvlei

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DEEP SOUTH, COASTAL AND THE FISH RIVER Cemetery Nomtsas at Nomtsas

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Leonardville

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Tsumis Park

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Spreetshoogte Pass

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Accommodation PER

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Conception Bay

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Park

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/Ai-/Ais Hot Springs Spa /Ai-/Ais Hot Springs Spa offers comfortable accommodation in 36 exquisitely appointed double rooms facing either the Fish River or the mountains, all with direct access to the indoor spa pools, and seven self-catering chalets. Visitors can enjoy the therapeutic powers of the thermal springs in the central indoor spa or choose to luxuriate in the large outdoor thermal pool, and experience an invigorating and relaxing foot massage with a magnificent view of the surrounding mountains. For a true Namibian touch, true relaxation and true tranquillity that heals body, mind and soul, a wide range of wellness treatment options are on offer. Hikers and visitors alike can experience exotic massages on the banks of the Fish River. P/Bag 13378, Windhoek Tel: (+264 61) 285 7200 Fax: (+264 61) 22 4900 Email: reservations@nwr.com.na Web: www.nwr.com.na

Bahnhof Hotel Aus The historic Bahnhof Hotel presents itself in a modern, elegant format, combining rich history and traditional comfort with excellent service and à la carte cuisine. Light lunches, daily fresh bread and cakes from the kitchen are best enjoyed on the sundeck. 26 stylishly refurbished double rooms with en-suite facilities, including a 4-bed family unit and a room accessible by wheelchair, as well as one selfcatering unit, are inviting the weary traveller to stop over for a good night’s rest. Address: 20 Lüderitz Street, Aus, Namibia Reservations: reservations.bahnhof@travel-weaver.com Reservations Tel: (+264 67) 240901/3 Direct Hotel Tel: (+264 63) 258091 Website: www.hotel-aus.com

Hobas Lodge Hobas Lodge is located in the /Ai-/Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, near the Fish River Canyon, one of the largest canyons in the world and the main attraction in southern Namibia. Hobas Lodge sits at the start of the 90 km long Fish River Canyon Hiking Trail, ranked one of the best hiking trails in southern Africa. The lodge offers six en-suite rooms and 14 campsites nestled among shady trees. Hobas is closely located to the Fish River viewpoint.

P/Bag 13378, Windhoek Tel: (+264 61) 285 7200 Fax: (+264 61) 22 4900 Email: reservations@nwr.com.na Web: www.nwr.com.na

Fish River Lodge On the Edge of Eternity The only lodge situated directly on the rim of Namibia’s Fish River Canyon, the world’s second largest canyon. Set amongst ancient “kokerbome" (quiver trees) the uniquely designed lodge with dry-packed stone walls and large windows has breathtaking views of the canyon from sunrise to sunset. The 45 000 hectare Canyon Nature Park includes 75 km of river frontage and offers incredible hiking from the lodge. Take a stroll along the rim, a guided hike or 4 x 4 drive down into the heart of the canyon. Enjoy the scenery on our fat bike cycling routes. The Canyon Hiking Trail (that lasts 2-3 nights) along the river in the heart of the canyon is a unique experience reserved exclusively for guests at Fish River Lodge from April to September. This is a journey of amazing discoveries, solitude and a true feeling of wilderness as you camp under the stars in this pristine and dramatic landscape. PO Box 91045, Klein Windhoek Reservations Tel: (+264 61) 22 8104 Booking Email: fishriver@journeysnamibia.com Web: www.fishriverlodge-namibia.com

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Kalahari Game Lodge Kalahari Game Lodge is a luxury private game farm situated next to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park on the southeastern border of Namibia. It is an oasis surrounded by red dunes and home to the free-roaming Kalahari lion. The lodge comprises of eight luxury chalets and for the more adventurous six spaciously set apart campsites along the dry Auob riverbed. Accommodation provide idyllic views of the tranquil surroundings. At the lodge, guests can enjoy the restaurant, swimming pool, bonfire pit, and bar facilities. The lodge offers open vehicle game drives all year round of which the lion tracking is the main attraction. Guaranteeing an unforgettable encounter with these magnificent animals.

Lodge Tel: +264 63 252 052 Head office Tel: +27 21 880 9870 Email: reservations@kalaharigamelodge.com.na Web: www.kalaharigamelodge.com.na

Sea-View Zum Sperrgebiet Sea-View Zum Sperrgebiet is truly a gem in the desert, located in the diamond coastal town of Lüderitz with a rich and colourful history. The heritage of the town is encapsulated in the buildings and surroundings. Against the stark backdrop of an unforgiving and everchanging desert, Sea-View offers 22 comfortably furnished en-suite rooms. Indulge your taste buds with a variety of seafood or local meat dishes in the restaurant, or relax at the indoor heated swimming pool. Take a gentle stroll down the main road to the Lüderitz Waterfront Development where you can shop for local crafts, or take the short drive out to the famous Kolmanskop Ghost Town. Tel: +264 63 203411 Email: cro@united.com.na Web: www.unitedafricagroup.com.na

Shark Island Shark Island is located on the Shark Peninsula in Lüderitz Bay in southwest Namibia. The resort overlooks the bay, town and harbour. Onlookers can spot the seals and pelicans that frequent the rocky areas around the site. The resort is an excellent central point for exploring the town of Lüderitz, the famous Kolmanskop Ghost Town, and Diaz Point, the historic landing spot of 17th century explorer Bartolomeu Dias. The resort also runs its own signature trip, Sand Roses, into the Diamond Area at Agate Beach. Visitors get to see the sand roses formed from crystallised gypsum, which are a stunning natural marvel, unlike anything you’ve ever seen. Visitors can also swim at the Agate Beach. P/Bag 13378, Windhoek Tel: (+264 61) 285 7200 Fax: (+264 61) 22 4900 Email: reservations@nwr.com.na Web: www.nwr.com.na

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Hollard Inbound Travel Insurance For Namibia Medical, Cancellation & Curtailment, Travel Delay, Personal Baggage, Legal and Personal Accident Persons who reside outside of Namibia (i.e. have their main home outside of Namibia) and are not citizens of Namibia. Meet the COVID-19 travel requirements Maximum age 70 years. T&Câ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s apply

For more information contact your broker or call us on 061-4355500 or email us at Insurance@hollardnam.com

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General Information The bedrock of Namibia’s tourism is a versatile range of natural assets – from the hauntingly beautiful landscapes of the Skeleton Coast, Sperrgebiet and Namib-Naukluft Park, featuring the celebrated Sossusvlei with its monumental dunes of red-orange sand – to the famous Etosha National Park where rare and endangered species such as black rhino, cheetah and black-faced impala can be viewed against the unique backdrop of the Etosha Pan. In the far northeast there are the river paradises of Zambezi and Kavango, and in the deep south, expansive grassy plains sandwiched between the colourful sand seas of the Kalahari and Namib deserts. Additional drawcards are the friendliness and cultural diversity of the Namibian people, a well-developed infrastructure and an extensive choice of parks, resorts and accommodation establishments ranging from luxury hotels and upmarket guest lodges to simple and rustic facilities in the quiet seclusion of the bush. Namibia has it all, whether you opt for travelling in luxury or economically, with a guide or by yourself, and whether your interest is in wildlife, landscape, people, adventure, geology, photography, culture or cuisine. Namibia’s bountiful sunshine, abundance of wildlife, scenic beauty, and rich diversity of geological phenomena make it a tourist destination to which visitors return again and again.

FAST FACTS

• Namibia has 13 cultural groups. • Between 2001 and 2011 the

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annual population growth was 1.4%, down from 2.6% in the previous ten-year period. www.npc.gov.na English is the official language. Other languages spoken are the Bantu languages of the Owambo, Herero, Kavango, Zambezian and Tswana people; the Indo-Germanic languages – Afrikaans, German and English; and the Khoesan languages spoken by the San, Nama and Damara. Namibia has a surface area of 824 269 km². Situated on the south-western Atlantic seaboard of the African subcontinent, Namibia is bordered by Angola and Zambia in the north, South Africa in the south and Botswana in the east.

HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT

Namibia’s varied geographical features have played a significant role in the history of the Namibian people. In pre-colonial times a relatively stable water supply and the well-wooded terrain in the north-eastern regions of the country encouraged cattle farming and agricultural practices by people along the Okavango River. Among the earliest inhabitants of the central and southern areas were the San, who were hunter-gatherers; the Damara, about whom little is known other than that they were hunters and to a lesser extent pastoralists; and the Nama, who were nomadic stock farmers.

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GOVERNMENT AND THE RULE OF LAW

Namibia has a democratic constitution that is highly regarded by the international community. • The country is ruled by a multi-party parliament. • Nine political parties are represented in the National Assembly, the lower chamber of parliament. They are SWAPO, Rally for Democracy and Progress, Congress of Democrats, Popular Democratic Movement (formerly DTA), United Democratic Front, National Unity Democratic Organisation, Republican Party, All People’s Party, and the South West Africa National Union. • Following independence the territory was divided into 14 regions: Omusati, Oshana, Ohangwena and Oshikoto in the north; Kunene in the northwest; Kavango East, Kavango West and Zambezi in

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the northeast; Erongo in the west; Otjozondjupa, Omaheke, Khomas and Hardap in the central region; and Karas in the south. Namibia hosts the following diplomatic missions: Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Brazil, China, Congo, DRC, Cuba, Egypt, the European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Libya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Portugal, the Russian Federation, South Africa, Spain, United Kingdom, the United States of America, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The country is represented by diplomatic missions in Angola, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, China, DRC, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Germany, India, Japan, Malaysia, Nigeria, the Russian Federation, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, United Kingdom, United Nations, the USA, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The Namibian Police Force, based on the British model of policing, has its headquarters in Windhoek. It has 22 A-class, 26 B-class and 70 C-class police stations, 36 sub-police stations, 18 immigration border posts, 14 satellite police stations and three checkpoints across the country. The judiciary, headed by the Chief Justice, is independent and accountable only to the Constitution and the Law. The judicial power is shared by the Supreme Court, a High Court and lower courts, consisting of regional and magistrate’s courts.

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Distinctive mountains

THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF NAMIBIA

The Electoral Commission of Namibia was established by an Act of Parliament, the Electoral Act, Act 24 of 1992. The Electoral Commission of Namibia is mandated to specifically: a. Supervise and control the registration of voters for the purposes of any election under this Act; b. Supervise the preparation, publication and maintenance of a national voters’ register and local authority voters’ register; c. Supervise and control the registration of political parties under this Act; d. Supervise, direct and control the conduct of elections under this Act; e. Supervise, direct, control and promote voter education in respect of elections; Vision To be an excellent and independent election management institution committed to credible elections. Mission To promote and deliver free, fair and credible elections, managed in a transparent, innovative and participatory manner to the Namibians. Did you know? In the 2014 general elections, Namibia was the first SADC nation to implement the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). The EVMs replaced the cumbersome process of manual voting and thereby minimised challenges associated with the normal voting process. Electoral Commission of Namibia Private Bag 13352, Windhoek Namibia Tel +264-61-376-202 Email: vhango@ecn.na Visit us at: www.ecn.na

THE NAMIBIAN ENVIRONMENT

Namibia’s main topographical regions are the: • Central plateau • Namib Desert in the west • Kalahari in the east • Kavango and Zambezi high rainfall areas in the northeast.

• Brandberg – highest, western • • • • • • • • • • •

Erongo Moltkeblick – second highest, Auas range, south of Windhoek Bismarckfelsen – third highest, south of Windhoek Gamsberg – fourth highest, table-topped, Khomas Hochland, southwest of Windhoek Mount Etjo – south of Otjiwarongo Spitzkoppe – most imposing peaks, Erongo Region Omatakos – twin-peaked, between Okahandja and Otjiwarongo Erongo Mountains – between Usakos and Omaruru Naukluft Mountains – massif, Namib-Naukluft Park Waterberg Plateau – east of Otjiwarongo Brukkaros Mountain – crater-like, halfway between Mariental and Keetmanshoop Dicker Willem – conspicuous inselberg, towards the west near Aus

Rivers

Namibia is the most arid country in southern Africa, with water being a key resource. Perennial rivers: • Orange River, forming the southern border • Kunene, in the northwest • Okavango, Zambezi & Kwando/ Linyanti/Chobe, in the northeast Ephemeral/seasonal rivers: • Fish and Nossob, tributaries of the Orange • Kuiseb, Swakop, Omaruru, Hoarusib, Hoanib, Ugab and Khumib, all west-flowing and draining into the Atlantic • Tsauchab, landlocked, with floodwaters occasionally feeding Sossusvlei • Marienfluss and Omatako, northflowing • Cuvelai, a drainage system of rivers originating in southern Angola, with floodwaters flowing into the Etosha Pan.

Climate

• Typical of a semi-desert country, with droughts a regular occurrence.

• Namibia is the most arid country

in southern Africa, with a humidity of less than 10% during the winter months and varying from 50% to 80% during the summer.

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• Except for the south-western areas where winter rainfall occurs, rain usually falls during the southernhemisphere summer.

Rainy season • Short – October/November to March/April • Main – January to March. Average annual rainfall • 50 mm and less, along the coast in the west • 350 mm, central highlands • 700 mm, far north-eastern areas Temperatures • Days – mostly warm to very hot, summer from 20–34°C, in winter average day temperatures vary from 18–22°C. • Nights – generally cool, dropping to ± 18°C, average from 0–10°C, as low as 8°C. • Interior – lower than in pre-Namib due to altitude. • Coast and hinterland – moderate due to influence of cold Benguela Current, causing the fog typical of the coast, reduces rainfall in the rest of the country.

Fauna

Namibia’s abundant wildlife is arguably its greatest tourist asset. Fast facts on fauna • The country hosts eight endemic mammal species. • Over 20 antelope species, • A wealth of small mammals, including mongoose and jackal; the less common, solitary and nocturnal aardvark; and the honey badger. • The Namib Desert is world-renowned for its large number of endemic dune-dwellers, especially lizards, including 30 endemic species. • Large game species are elephant, rhino, giraffe, buffalo, lion, leopard and cheetah. • Endangered mammals are wild dog, cheetah, black rhino, lion, puku, oribi and waterbuck.

Flora

Namibia’s plant-life is categorised into 14 vegetation zones: • Desert • Semi-desert • Mopane • Mountain • Thorn bush • Highland • Dwarf shrub • Camel-thorn

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• Mixed tree and shrub savannahs • Forest savannahs and woodlands • Golden expanses of African grasslands, dotted by solitary acacias, typified by stretches of silvery grass after rains

Fast facts on flora • Over 120 species of trees grow in Namibia. • There are approximately 200 endemic plant species. • A large variety of dwarf succulents grow in the Lüderitz environs. • The Namib hosts over 100 species of lichen, several endemic. • Namibia’s most noteworthy plant, the Welwitschia mirabilis, is endemic to the Namib Desert and one of the oldest plants known to man.

Birds

Of 887 bird species recorded for southern Africa, 676 occur in Namibia. About 500 breed locally, the rest migrate; 11 species are endemic, with over 75% of world populations found in Namibia. Special endemics • Herero Chat • Rockrunner • Monteiro’s Hornbill • Damara Tern For detailed information, refer to Atlas of Namibia – A Portrait of the Land and its People by John Mendelsohn, Alice Jarvis, Carole Roberts & Tony Robertson.

CONSERVATION AND ECOTOURISM

Namibia was the first country in the world to include the protection of the environment in its constitution. Today approximately 19% of its surface area is protected, either as a national park, game reserve, conservancy, or other form of state protected area, exceeding the 10% prescribed by the IUCN. The broader conservation network, including private and communal conservation areas, covers over 46% of the country.

• The protection of rare and

endangered species was boosted in 1972, when the Waterberg Plateau Park was proclaimed a sanctuary and breeding ground for animals such as white rhino, eland, buffalo, roan and sable antelope and tsessebe. • Protection of the black rhino in the western arid regions gained

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momentum in the early eighties. Today Namibia is one of the few countries in Africa with growing populations of the highly endangered black rhino, within as well as outside national parks. • The first Marine Protected Area – stretching 400 km along the coast and 30 km offshore, incorporating 10 islands – was established in 2009. This will be expanded to encompass the entire coastline (excluding towns), as the Namib-Skeleton Coast National Park, set to be the eighth largest park in the world and the largest in Africa. • In the private sector several NGOs assist Government with conservation and development. These include the Namibia Nature Foundation, Save the Rhino Trust, Cheetah Conservation Fund, AfriCat Foundation, and the Namibian Association of Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) Support Organisations, an association comprising 15 nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) and the University of Namibia (UNAM). • Certain game ranches and lodges focus especially on the conservation of certain species of wildlife on their farms. The largest private conservation area in Namibia is the NamibRand Nature Reserve, an area of 180 000 ha situated south of Sesriem. Others are the Gondwana Canyon Park in the south, Erindi Private Game Reserve in the central plateau area, the Huab Private Nature Reserve in the northwest, and AfriCat North in the north. A total of 161 private game reserves are registered with the MEFT. Venture Media, the publisher of Namibia Holiday & Travel, also publishes Conservation and the Environment in Namibia annually, detailing the latest information on conservation efforts by the MEFT and NGOs in Namibia. www.travelnewsnamibia.com

THE ECONOMY

Namibia’s economy is based on agriculture, fishing, mining, food processing and tourism. • Mining is the biggest contributor to the GDP. • The country’s economy provides many employment opportunities. • Green Economy promotes

sustainable development.

• Agricultural production is small but sustains ±70% of the population.

Agriculture – Facts & Figures

• Only 2% of Namibia’s surface area is arable.

• ±46% is suitable for natural grazing and livestock rearing.

• 22% is forested. • The rest is semi-arid to arid. • Irrigation schemes are possible only

along two perennial rivers on the northern and southern borders. • Irrigation schemes produce mainly white maize and mahangu. • Beef, mutton and exports are the largest single contributor to GDP. • Dairy industry mainly in Gobabis, Mariental and Windhoek areas. • Poultry farming became productive early in 2012. • Local fruit production consists mainly of table grapes, olives, dates. • Namibia Organic Association promotes organic agriculture. Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform: www.mawf.gov.na Agricultural Union: www.agrinamibia.com.na Namibia Organic Association: www.noa.org.na

Mining – Facts & Figures

• The Chamber of Mines of Namibia, with 105 members, represents interests of the industry. • In 2012 the sector grew by 11.2% • Exports rough diamonds, uranium oxide, high-grade zinc and acidgrade fluorspar. • Produces gold bullion, blister copper, lead concentrate, salt and dimension stone. • Mines and exploration companies collectively employ some 15 000 people. www.chamberofmines.org.na

Uranium exploration and mining in Namibia The presence of the radioactive metal uranium, used to fuel commercial nuclear power plants, determines Namibia’s mining future. • While uranium was discovered in the Namib Desert as far back as 1928, intensive exploration was carried out only in the late 1950s. • In 1966, Rio Tinto took the rights to the low-grade Rössing deposit, 65 km inland from Swakopmund. • Namibia’s two major uranium mines

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are at Trekkopje, a calcrete deposit 80 km northeast of Swakopmund, and Langer Heinrich, a calcrete deposit 80 km inland from Walvis Bay within the Namib-Naukluft Park. Further drilling for uranium has taken place in the Namibplaas area, 7 km northeast, and at the Etango project 30 km southwest of Rössing and 35 km east of Swakopmund. Namibia is party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, has a comprehensive safeguards agreement in force since 1998, and in 2000 signed the Additional Protocol. Due to the boom in uranium exploration worldwide, Bureau Veritas, a global provider of conformity assessment, certification services and mineral analysis, opened its first geochemical laboratory in Swakopmund in 2010. Extract Resources completed its definitive feasibility study for the Husab Uranium Project in March 2011. Husab is likely to be the world’s second-largest uranium mine and the largest open-pit mine on the African continent. The mine was expected to commence production in December 2015. In April 2011, the Namibian Government announced that its state-owned mineral exploration company, Epangelo Mining Ltd, would have exclusive control over new strategic minerals developments, including uranium. Canada’s Xemplar Energy Corp is exploring its Cape Cross Uranium Project in the Namibian ‘uranium corridor’, near the coast. The Namibian Government has articulated a policy position of supplying its own electricity from nuclear power. While Namibia’s identified uranium resources are about 5% of the world’s known total, the country is capable of providing 10% of world mining output.

Namibia’s gemstones

of approximately 1.8 million tonnes of magnetite and haematite, two of the most prominent iron ores used in steel and sponge-iron industries. The Lodestone Magnetite Mine Prospect of Dordabis is expected to produce an estimated 600 000 tonnes of produce per year once it starts mining in 2016.

THE FISHING INDUSTRY Marine fisheries

The marine fishing industry is currently Namibia’s second-largest earner of foreign currency. • Due to the inshore upwelling of the nutrient-rich Benguela Current, Namibia’s fishing grounds of 200 nautical miles are highly productive. • With over 90% of the output already being exported, the Namibian coastline is potentially one of the world’s richest fishing grounds. • Namibia currently lands nearly 600 000 metric tonnes of fish and shellfish per annum for processing onshore. • Over 20 commercially important species are currently harvested, including hake, monkfish, horse mackerel, pilchard, deep-sea red crab and rock lobster. • Mariculture production comprises predominantly oysters, abalone and seaweed, farmed in Lüderitz, Walvis Bay and Swakopmund. • Walvis Bay is one of the largest seafood processing centres in the southern hemisphere.

Freshwater fisheries

Inland fisheries are crucial in the north-eastern Zambezi and Kavango regions. • The Okavango and Upper Zambezi rivers provide food for more than 100 000 people. • Fish is a source of subsistence and livelihood for over 90% of these households. • Selling fish provides income for approximately 45% of households.

Namibia is also internationally known as a producer of a large selection of fine gemstones. These include tourmaline, beryl, garnet, pietersite, jeremejevite, iolite, dioptase, topaz, sodalite, agate, jasper, amethyst, rose quartz, carnelian and a host of others.

Aquaculture

Iron ore

Freshwater aquaculture

The latest mining development in Namibia involves the proposed mining

The development of aquaculture is aimed at: • enhancing food security • reducing poverty • generating employment • improving rural livelihoods

• Tilapia, catfish, and carp are

currently being cultured by centres in

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the northwest and northeast

• The viability of culturing a second species of tilapia is underway.

• The Onavivi Inland Aquaculture

Centre (IAC) at Onavivi is focussed on training, fingerling production, and breeding. • Fingerlings not distributed are taken to the Epalela Fish Farm in Omusati to mature, where marketsize tilapia and catfish is available to the community all year round. • The Kamutjonga Inland Fisheries Institute (KIFI) in the Kavango Region does research and training, and produces fingerlings and mature fish. • The Uis Fish Farm Ecotourism Enterprise is focussed on farming tilapia in cages • The potential culturing of rock lobster, freshwater prawns, marine shrimps, dusky kob, rainbow trout, scallops and clams is being researched by commercial companies. Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources: www.mfmr.gov.na

INVESTING IN NAMIBIA

Namibia enjoys one of the most peaceful and politically stable environments in Sub-Saharan Africa and has an infrastructure to rival those of many developed countries. • Most of the country’s primary resources are exported. • Almost all consumer goods are imported. • There is scope for investment in manufacturing for both local and international markets. • Namibia is complemented by an advantageous legislative and fiscal environment and a government keen to boost the engines of economic growth and prosperity. www.gov.na See also the 2020 Namibia Trade Network, the official foreign investment directory for the Ministry of Industialisation & Trade. www.namibiatradedirectory.com

Investment incentives

Namibia has a highly competitive incentive and fiscal regime, which adds to its attractions for foreign investors. Cornerstones of this regime are: • The Foreign Investment Act and its provision for a Certificate of

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Status Investment

• The Special Incentives for

Manufacturers and Exporters, and

• The Export Processing Zone Incentives.

• The Foreign Investment Act provides for:

• Liberal Foreign Investment conditions;

• Equal treatment of foreign and local investors; • Openness of all sectors of the economy to foreign investment; • Full protection of investments; and • The granting of a Certificate of Status of Investment (CSI).

Tourism structures

Rigid standards of protection, conservation and control are practised to ensure sustainable utilisation of Namibia’s natural assets by the tourism industry. • Tourism developments are closely monitored, with the emphasis on high-quality tourism, carrying capacity and minimum impact on the environment • Environmental impact assessment studies are required. • New resorts or expansion of existing resorts require registration and endorsement by the MEFT and the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB). NTB ensures that services rendered and facilities provided to tourists comply with prescribed regulations. www.namibiatourism.com.na

• Before any development takes

place, The Federation of Namibian Tourism Associations (FENATA) acts as an umbrella organisation for tourism associations in the private sector. • The Namibia Professional Hunting Association (NAPHA), Tour and Safari Association (TASA), and the Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN) are amongst the three oldest and largest tourism associations in Namibia. • The Regional Tourism Organisation of Southern Africa (RETOSA) is a specialised agency of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), mandated to facilitate the development of regional tourism and market the region as a single destination. www.retosa.co.za

Top-notch diamonds

Namibia is one of the world’s foremost

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producers of gem-quality diamonds and the world’s sixth-largest diamond supplier by value. The first ‘pretty stone’ to be identified as a diamond was picked up by railway worker Zacharias Lewala in 1908. Today the leading diamond-mining company, Namdeb Diamond Corporation (Pty) Ltd, produces 90% of all Namibia’s diamonds and employs over 1 600 people, primarily Namibians. De Beers and the Government of Namibia are now equal shareholders in Debmarine Namibia. Namdeb does land-based prospecting, mining and rehabilitation operations and services for Namdeb Holdings, primarily along Namibia's south-western coast and inland areas around and between the coastal towns of Oranjemund and Lüderitz. The Namibia Diamond Trading Company (NDTC) is a diamond sorting facility established in 1988 under the name Central Selling Organisation (CSO) Valuations. NDTC, headquartered in Windhoek, sells diamonds in Namibia for local manufacturing, and handles all diamonds produced by Namdeb and Debmarine Namibia. www.debeersgroup.com

PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE Namibia has well-developed and efficient infrastructures to supply its citizens consistently with electricity and water. A total of 126 bulk national schemes supply water for domestic, stock-watering, mining, irrigation and industrial purposes.

Electricity

Namibia depends to a large extent on imports of electricity to meet national demand. Opportunities for hydrocarbon exploration exist on and offshore. The local power utility company, NamPower, has three power stations: the Ruacana Hydro Power Station on the Kunene River (249 MW), the coal-fired Van Eck Power Station in Windhoek’s north (120 MW), and the diesel-powered Paratus Power Station in Walvis Bay (24 MW). The latter is used mainly to match short-term demand peaks. The latest development in terms of energy is the construction of the Ombepo Wind Farm near Lüderitz. www.nampower.com.na

Oil and gas

Namibia is attracting significant international interest as an emerging

offshore producer of oil and gas. In 1973, gas was discovered in the southern offshore area, about 170 km off Namibia’s coast from Oranjemund northwards. The proven gas reserves of 1.3 trillion cubic feet will be sufficient to supply an 800 MW station for over 20 years.

Fuel

Namibia has no refining capacity, and imports the petroleum products consumed in the country mainly from South Africa.

TRANSPORT SERVICES Roads

Namibia has a well-established road network of over 45 645 km, of which 6 664 km is bitumen surfaced and the responsibility of the Roads Authority of Namibia. • Arterial roads link Namibia with Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa. • The Trans-Caprivi and TransKalahari highways provide a road link between Walvis Bay and landlocked neighbouring countries in the Southern SADC Region, reducing the time required to transport imports and exports by at least five days. • There are also 37 170 km of wellmaintained gravel roads, and 287 km of salt roads, providing access to most towns, parks, nature reserves and tourist attractions in the country. www.ra.org.na

Ports and harbours

Namibia’s two harbours, Walvis Bay and Lüderitz, are administered by the Namibian Ports Authority (NamPort), a state-owned organisation. NamPort: • Manages a Syncrolift (dry-dock facility) that can lift vessels of up to 2 000 tonnes for repairs. • Operates two floating docks with a lifting capacity of 8 000 tonnes each through its subsidiary – the ship repair company, Elgin Brown & Hamer. The Port of Walvis Bay: • Is Namibia’s largest commercial port. • Is a sheltered deepwater harbour benefiting from a temperate climate. • Has direct access to principal shipping routes. • Is strategically located halfway down

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• Provides a fast transit route

between southern Africa, Europe and the Americas. The Port of Lüderitz: • Provides access to markets in South Africa’s Northern Cape. • Caters for southern Namibia. • Serves the needs of the Namibian fishing industry. • Also caters for the needs of the offshore diamond industry. www.namport.com

linked with a new fibre-optic cable of approximately 14 400 km along the southern Atlantic coast in 2012, improving Internet and other telecommunications capabilities to and from the African continent. • Is involved in business operations in Angola and South Africa through joint ventures with Startel and Neotel. www.telecom.na

Other

• Mobile Telecommunications

network is managed by TransNamib Holdings Ltd. www.transnamib.com.na

Limited (MTC) is the country's largest mobile operator with over two million active subscribers. MTC is a joint-venture between the Namibian government and private partners. • Paratus is the first privately and wholly owned Namibian telecommunications operator.

Walvis Bay Corridors

Postal service

Railways

Namibia’s railway network comprises 2 615 km.

• The Cape gauge (1 067 km) railway

This network of transport corridors consists of well-maintained tarred roads and rail networks for transport, accommodating transport from Walvis Bay via the TransKalahari, Walvis Bay-Ndola-Lubumbashi Development Corridor (Trans-Caprivi Corridor), the Trans-Cunene Corridor, and the TransOranje Corridor, providing landlocked SADC countries with access to the global market. www.wbcg.com.na

COMMUNICATION SERVICES

Telephone services

Namibia’s leading communications company, Telecom Namibia: • Has a transmission network that is 100% digital. • Provides a comprehensive portfolio of communication services and solutions in broadband, data and voice-over fixed, fixed-wireless and mobile platforms. • Enables Namibians to enjoy full Internet connectivity through various independent Internet Service Providers. • Offers a mobile service called TN Mobile (formerly trading as Leo) that covers much of the country. • Has a highly developed international network that provides direct connections from Namibia to more than 240 destinations worldwide. • Is an investor in some of the world’s most sophisticated submarine cable systems, such as SAT3, Seacom and WACS (West Africa Cable System), to which it was

Namibia has one of the most modern postal infrastructures in Africa. NamPost (Namibia Post Ltd) was established in 1991 following the commercialisation of post and telecommunications. It is affiliated to the Universal Postal Union, provides postal, logistics and financial services to customers through more than 128 post offices countrywide. NamPost Philately, which is well-known for its outstanding stamp designs and firstday covers, has won two international awards for its beautiful stamps. Financial services such as SmartCard savings accounts with fingerprint identification, Save-As-You- Earn, and tax-free investments for individuals are also available. The Tourist SmartCard provides tourists with a safe option to transact at all post offices and selected merchants nationwide. www.nampost.com.na

SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE Health and welfare

Namibia currently has: • About 700 registered medical practitioners • Approximately 250 medical specialists in various specialities • An average of one doctor per 4 000 people Qualifications of medical practitioners measure up to international standards. All specialist fields are available in Windhoek, where 90% of emergency cases can be treated. All medication is obtainable in the capital. There is strict

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adherence to the American Food and Drug Organisation standards, and the local Drug Control Board controls all imported medication. www.hpcna.com.na

Emergency medical services

Emergency evacuation services extend to the furthest corners of Namibia. • E-MED Rescue 24 is a Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) company. • Crisis Response Rescue Union offers an emergency medical service that includes a medical service, transfer and standby. • Air evacuation is a highly reliable service, since weather conditions are suitable for safe flying most of the time.

Hospitals

All major centres have state-run hospitals. In Windhoek there are four world-standard, privately run hospitals and two state hospitals, all with fully equipped and maintained intensive care units. There are state hospitals in virtually all major towns. In smaller towns, villages and rural settlements, the Ministry of Health and Social Services operates well-equipped clinics and health-care centres with professionally trained medical staff. Windhoek has four private hospitals: • Medi-Clinic in the Eros suburb. • The Paramount Health Care Centre, also in Eros. • The Roman Catholic Hospital in the centre of town. • The Rhino Park Private Hospital, accessible from the northern highway. • The Lady Pohamba Private Hospital, in Kleine Kuppe. Major private hospitals outside Windhoek include Cottage MediClinic in Swakopmund, the MediClinic Private Hospital in Otjiwarongo, the Tsumeb Private Hospital in Tsumeb, the Welwitschia Hospital in Walvis Bay, and Ongwediva Medipark in Ongwediva.

HIV/Aids in Namibia

• Namibia is one of the countries in Africa most affected by the pandemic. • The overall HIV prevalence in Namibia stands at under 20%, peaking in the age group of 30–34 years. • The Namibian Government has

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called on stakeholders in the public and the private sector to establish comprehensive HIV/Aids programmes. • Non-governmental organisations, churches, and youth and women’s groups are assisting by raising awareness and provide care and support. www.mhss.gov.na

Religion

Freedom of religion is enshrined in Namibia's Bill of Fundamental Rights. • About 90% of the population is Christian. • There are three Lutheran denominations. • Major denominations represented are Roman Catholic, Dutch Reformed, Rhenish, Anglican, Methodist and Protestant. • There are several reformed groupings and independent African churches. • Many traditional African celebrations have permeated the Christian denominations, such as Ancestors’ Memorial Day observed by the Herero people in Okahandja, and similar festivals in Gobabis and Omaruru. • In 1995 Namibia’s first mosque opened in Windhoek. • The Council of Churches in Namibia (CCN) is the governing body for most Christian churches.

Media

Despite its small population, Namibia has a varied and lively press, with 13 newspapers. • Five are dailies – The Namibian, New Era (issued by Government), The Namibian Sun, Allgemeine Zeitung and Die Republikein. • The Namib Times appears twice a week • The Economist, Informanté and Confidénte once a week • A weekend tabloid, the Windhoek Observer, appears on Fridays, as does Namibia Today, mouthpiece of the SWAPO party. Caprivi Vision and The Northern Bulletin are published twice monthly. Likewise, there is an eclectic variety of broadcasting media: • The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) has nine radio services and one television channel. It broadcasts in English, German and eight indigenous languages. • There is one privately owned television channel, One Africa TV.

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• Privately owned radio stations

operating from Windhoek are Radiowave, Radio Kudu, Radio Omulunga, Fresh FM, Radio Energy, Kosmos, 99FM and Channel 7. Base FM is owned by the Katutura Community Trust, while UNAM Radio, also community-owned, operates from the UNAM campus. • In July 2012, Hitradio Namibia, a commercial radio station targeting the German market, was launched. • Private commercial enterprises, such as Multichoice Namibia, account for several additional television channels. • The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) is an NGO with members in 11 SADC countries. The MISA Namibia Chapter was launched in November 1998, aimed at maintaining a genuinely free and pluralistic media in southern Africa. www.misa.org

Literacy and education

The current literacy rate in Namibia is about 83%, one of the highest in Africa. • An estimated 94% of children between the ages of seven and 18 now attend school. • There are over 1 600 schools in the country, with an average learner/ teacher ratio of 29:1. • The University of Namibia (UNAM), Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), Polytechnic School of Health and Applied Sciences, two agricultural colleges, four colleges of education (that fall under UNAM) and seven vocational training centres provide tertiary education. • The privately owned International University of Management (IUM) – which has its roots in the Institute of Higher Education (IHE) – was founded in 1993. • The Microsoft IT Academy was launched as a partnership between the Polytechnic of Namibia Centre of Entrepreneurial Development and Microsoft Tate Group. www.nust.na www.unam.edu.na www.ium.edu.na

ART AND CULTURE Architecture

The German-colonial architecture found in many of Namibia’s towns contrasts with the open expanses of African bush and savannah. Residences with

wide, shady verandas reflect European architectural styles of the time, adapted to the local climate. In Windhoek, Swakopmund and Lüderitz many of these earlier buildings have been renovated as government offices, libraries and research facilities. New developments follow the post-modern movement, echoing the German-colonial style, with the emphasis on shape and colour. www.nia.org.na

Art and crafts

The first artists of Namibia were the San, whose rock art can be viewed in shelters on mountains and hills throughout the country. Today, relative to its small population, Namibia has a surprisingly large and active community of artists and craftspeople. • The National Art Gallery of Namibia (NAGN) and Arts Association Heritage Trust (AAHT) have comprehensive Permanent Collections of Namibian art that can be viewed by the public. • The Katutura Community Art Centre (KCAC) offers a wide range of training programmes for young artists and houses the John Muafangejo Art Centre, an NGO that also offers training programmes and exhibition space for young artists. • Work by contemporary artists and craftspeople can be viewed and purchased in galleries, craft centres, at urban and rural street markets, and along roadsides. The biggest of these is the Namibia Craft Centre (NCC) in Tal Street, Windhoek. Traditional crafts include woodcraft from Kavango and Zambezi; Owambo, Kavango, Zambezian and Himba baskets; and San eggshell jewellery. Embroidery and appliqué work, wall hangings and carpets woven from karakul wool feature native designs of trees, animals and birds. www.nagn.org.na www.namibiacraftcentre.com

Cultural activities

Cultural development is promoted by institutions such as the National & Mobile Museum, Museum Association of Namibia, National Art Gallery of Namibia, National Theatre of Namibia, College of the Arts, the Art Department at UNAM and the Bank Windhoek Namibia Theatre School.

| GENERAL INFORMATION | Reflecting the traditions of the many different groups that coexist in the country are: Namibian cultural groups performing customary African dances to rhythmic drumbeats. The COTA Youth Choir and Voices of Namibia choir, with singers drawn from different cultural groups singing songs that originate from all over of the country. Multicultural events that include exhibitions, dance and music concerts featuring Namibian and foreign artists. The cultural activities of diplomatic missions have expanded the cultural dimensions of Namibians considerably, and helped promote rural art abroad. The Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre (FNCC) has been particularly active by organising different cultural activities and supporting all art disciplines. It regularly presents film screenings and courses in French, English, art, photography and cooking. Annual events on the arts calendar are: The Windhoek Jazz Festival stages an array of local and international artists. The /Ae//Gams Arts and Cultural Festival usually takes place during the first week of September at various venues throughout the city. The event showcases Namibia’s artistic and cultural diversity through music, cuisine, traditional attire, dance and song, contemporary visual arts, crafts, theatre and poetry. www.cityofwindhoek.org.na

Performing arts

The National Theatre of Namibia (NTN) is situated in the heart of the city, providing art lovers with activities ranging from theatre, contemporary dance and music to ballet and opera. Higher up in Robert Mugabe Avenue is the Bank Windhoek Theatre School. The College of the Arts and UNAM Performing Arts Department presents music recitals, art, drama, ballet and experimental theatre. The Warehouse Theatre in the Old Breweries Building provides a platform for theatrical and social needs. African music groups perform at the Windhoek Showgrounds and the Independence Arena in Katutura. www.ntn.org.na

The museum circuit

A wealth of historical collections are presented as concise and viewerfriendly overviews of local history, natural history and cultural life to educate and

interest children, members of the public and visitors to the country. • The National Museum of Namibia houses collections with more than two million cultural and natural history items. It has a reference library for public use and facilitates research on the different collections. There are two National Museum display facilities in Windhoek – the Alte Feste Museum and the Owela Museum – both in Robert Mugabe Avenue. • The new Independence Memorial Museum is next to the Alte Feste Museum. • The TransNamib Railway Museum in the historical Windhoek Railway Station at the bottom of Bahnhof Street depicts the history of railways and transport in Namibia. • The National Earth Science Museum, on the ground floor of the Ministry of Mines and Energy at 1 Aviation Street near Eros Airport, houses displays of minerals, fossils and meteorites in their geological context. Namibia’s mining activities and geology are depicted with collections of maps, ore samples and photographs. • The Museum Association of Namibia (MAN) – accessible from Love Street – works on new museum projects in regions and communities where museums and heritage sites were previously underdeveloped. MAN joined up with the National Museum of Namibia in 2008 to launch the annual Museum Week. In 2010 the National Heritage Council was also included and it became known as Namibian Heritage Week, held each year under a different theme.

Museums in the north

• Nakambale Museum and Rest

Camp is part of the Olukonda National Monument in the Oshikoto Region in northern Namibia. • Guided excursions are offered in the Omusati Region, among others to the Uukwaluudhi Royal Homestead near the town of Tsandi, the former traditional house of King Taapopi of Uukwaluudhi. • Also of historical interest is the Ombalantu Baobab Tree Heritage Centre in the centre of Outapi, a town 80 km west of Oshakati. • The Tsumeb Museum in the town’s main street depicts the history of copper mining in the Tsumeb region.

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It includes a large display of items raised from Lake Otjikoto (World War 1 cannons and ammunition). The Okakarara Community, Cultural and Tourism Centre (OCCTC), a short drive from the Waterberg Plateau, contains displays focussed on the culture of the Ovaherero community and their war against German colonial forces in the early twentieth century. The Omaruru Museum is housed in the Rhenish Mission House, a national monument in the main street in Omaruru (arrange with the municipality to view). The Grootfontein Museum in Das Alte Fort is a private museum with displays of domestic life, mining and minerals, wagon construction, blacksmithing and traditional crafts. Franke Haus Museum in Outjo makes for another interesting visit. In Katima Mulilo the small Sangwali Museum tells the interesting story of the journey of early missionaries in the region and the pre-colonial Kololo invasion. The Sambyu Museum, 30 km from Rundu, is an art and crafts facility containing mainly woodcarvings and traditional crafts from the Kavango Region and southern Angola.

Museums at the coast

• The Swakopmund Museum in

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the Old Customs House displays archaeological and historical artefacts, the natural history of the Namib Desert and the Atlantic Ocean, and the cultural anthropology of Namibia’s ethnic groups. The Walvis Bay Museum in the Civic Centre of the harbour town focusses on domestic and commercial developments in the town and its links with the sea. The Lüderitz Museum in Diaz Street in the harbour town is a private local history museum, offering special displays on the Dias expeditions of discovery, diamond mining and the history of Lüderitz. The Kolmanskop Ghost Town, 10 km east of Lüderitz, is an open air museum portraying the history of this legendary diamond mining community. Some of the houses are kept clear of sand. Another private enterprise is the Sperrgebiet Museum in Oranjemund, featuring local history, minerals and mining, fossils and regional history.

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Museums in central and southern Namibia • Colonial household items and •

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farming implements are displayed at the Gobabis Museum. A unique display of Baster history can be viewed in the Rehoboth Museum housed in the old Postmaster’s House. Situated at the edge of the Namib Desert is Duwisib Castle, built in 1908/9 by the legendary Baron von Wolf. Housed in one of the oldest mission houses in Namibia is the small Schmelenhaus Museum in Bethanie, containing natural history and Rhenish missionary displays. Keetmanshoop Museum depicts the history of Keetmanshoop and the traditional culture of the Nama people.

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CUISINE

Traditional cuisine in Namibia is unusually interesting and varied. • Mahangu (pearl millet) is the staple food of countless families in the north. • Ekaka is a wild spicy spinach that grows in the mahangu fields. • Oxuxwa is a dish made from fresh chicken fried in nutty-tasting marula oil, also produced in Namibia. • A seasonal delicacy is omaungu, or mopane caterpillars, named after the mopane leaves on which they feed. • Another Namibian delicacy is goat’s head cooked on an open fire until it is tender and tasty and the flesh around the teeth becomes soft. • For centuries San people have been harvesting nuts from manketti trees and edible tubers from nearby bushes as their main staple. • A highly sought-after form of edible mushroom found in Namibia is omajowa, the Herero name for the large fleshy mushrooms that appear at the foot of termite hills shortly after the February rains. • The elusive Kalahari truffle is found in the sandy eastern regions of the country. The truffles are also known by their Nama name nabba, and appear only when the rains have been late. • Popular across all cultures in Namibia is the traditional braai, an institution that bridges social and economic divides. It typically includes lamb and pork chops, chicken portions, beef or game steaks, and boerewors, a

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savoury spicy Namibian and South African sausage speciality. A top favourite on festive occasions is sosaties (kebabs), cubes of succulent lamb on skewers marinated beforehand in a spicy sauce containing soaked, dried apricots. A popular variant on the braai is potjiekos (pot food), prepared over an open fire in a three-legged castiron cauldron, the potjie. Other local specialities worth sampling are Swakopmund green asparagus (September to April), Lüderitz oysters (all year round), homemade cheese (including goat’s), Namibian olives, and, of course, the famous and much enjoyed brötchen (a German bread roll). Because Namibia’s cattle live entirely off savannah grass and shrubs, Namibian beef is free from harmful residues, hormones and antibiotics, as is Namibian mutton. Venison is becoming increasingly popular; especially ostrich, springbok and gemsbok, while game birds, crocodile and seafood are also highly regarded. Namibia is well known for its local beer, brewed by Namibia Breweries Limited according to the traditional purity law, the Reinheitsgebot, issued in 1516 in Bavaria. Wine is produced in Namibia at the Kristall Kellerei and Erongo Mountain Winery in Omaruru, and at Neuras, part of the N/an ku sê Foundation, on the edge of the Namib Desert in southern Namibia.

CONSERVANCIES

The objective of a conservancy is to reinstate the original biodiversity of the area and to share resources amongst all conservancy members. • The first conservancies in Namibia were commercial conservancies, now called freehold conservancies, as they are on privately-owned land. Today there are 25 freehold conservancies in Namibia, all voluntary associations that came into being through the concern and dedication of communities in the commercial farming areas. • To streamline the conservancy movement in Namibia, an umbrella organisation, CANAM, was established in 1996 to co-ordinate and liaise conservancy efforts and to act as a lobby group in the interest of

conservancies and conservation with the relevant ministries. • Communal conservancies are managed by local inhabitants. They provide employment, and give locals the opportunity to benefit directly from their wildlife and other natural resources. There are currently a total of 82 registered communal conservancies in Namibia, adding another 19% to Namibia’s protected area network. Areas under conservation management cover 46% of Namibia’s total land area. www.canam.iway.na www.nacso.org.na

Environmental management

After independence in 1990, a Directorate of Environmental Affairs (DEA) was established in the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, to actively promote and maintain the welfare of the people. • Namibia, as a signatory to several international environmental treaties, has introduced a number of groundbreaking programmes and policies aimed at tackling environmental challenges while implementing national development goals. • Desertification is Namibia’s most pressing environmental concern. • Other issues are deforestation, overgrazing, soil erosion, bush encroachment, climate change, loss of groundwater resources and decreasing crops. • Threats related to mining and habitat and biodiversity loss have also been highlighted as areas of concern.

Environmental Investment Fund

The Environmental Investment Fund (EIF) of Namibia provides economic opportunities and a stake in the use of natural resources to the impoverished sectors of Namibian society. www.eifnamibia.com

Eco Awards

The Eco Awards Namibia programme was launched in 2004 to promote sustainable tourism practices. Any accommodation establishment in Namibia can apply for the Desert Flower emblem, which is awarded to establishments that work successfully according to sustainability principles. The programme is the only certification scheme that rates the sustainability of tourism establishments. www.ecoawards-namibia.org

| GENERAL INFORMATION |

Recycle Namibia Forum

As a private-public sector partnership, the Recycle Namibia Forum (RNF) is aimed at promoting the 3 Rs (Recycle, Reuse and Reduce) of products through projects and networking. www.rnf.com.na

Namibian Chamber of Environment

The Namibian Chamber of Environment (NCE) is an umbrella Association that provides a forum and mouthpiece for the broader environment sector, that can lobby with government and other parties, that can raise funds for its members and represent the sector. The Chamber aims to become a financial (and other) resource centre, sponsored by industry, but at the same time keeping industry at arm’s length and ensuring complete independence. Many environmental specialists work in remote areas, often alone or in small groups with little in the way of support structures. The Chamber aims to provide support to such individuals and organisations. www.n-c-e.org

Non-governmental organisations

The Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF) is Namibia’s leading nongovernmental environmental organisation. Other NGOs that aim to support the environment are the Desert Research Foundation of Namibia (DRFN), which incorporates the Desert Ecological Research Unit (DERU); the Namibia Institute for Sustainable Development (NISD); the Namib Desert Environmental Education Trust (NaDEET); Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation (IRDNC); and the Namibia Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO). One of Namibia’s longest-standing NGOs is Save the Rhino Trust (SRT), founded in 1982. Others worth mentioning are the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF); the AfriCat Foundation; N/a’an ku sê; Harnas; the Namibia Animal Rehabilitation, Research and Education Centre (NARREC); the Namibia Environmental and Wildlife Society (NEWS); the Large Carnivore Management Association of Namibia (LCMAN); the Elephant Human Relations Aid (EHRA); the World Wildlife Fund (WWF); Rare and Endangered Species Trust (REST); the Namibia Development Trust (NDT); and the Southern

African Institute for Environmental Assessment (SAIEA). www.nnf.org.na www.savetherhinotrust.org

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)

In Namibia SEAs offer a well-developed methodology for improving strategic decision-making and integrating of environmental issues into policies, plans and programmes. The country’s Environmental Management Act (EMA) of 2007 stipulates mandatory environmental assessments for a number of policies, plans and programmes. An Environmental Commissioner’s office was established within the MEFT.

Private game reserves

Private landholders in Namibia have played a significant role in the conservation of wildlife by establishing conservation initiatives on their land. • The NamibRand Nature Reserve, a vast area of about 202 000 ha situated south of Sesriem – is a scenically beautiful conservation area created by Windhoek businessman, Albi Brückner. • The Erongo Mountain Nature Sanctuary encompasses an area of more than 200 000 ha, protecting a unique wilderness reserve with the Erongo Mountains at its centre. • In southern Namibia the Gondwana Collection consists of four private nature reserves (about 197 000 ha combined). • Also in the south is the Sandfontein Nature Game Reserve, which extends over 76 000 ha. • The Erindi Private Game Reserve (79 000 ha) in central Namibia is home to over 20 000 animals. • Situated in the upper reaches of the Huab River, the Huab Private Nature Reserve (8 060 ha) provides a sanctuary for the desert-dwelling elephants of the area. • Fischer’s Pan Private Game Reserve (7 000 ha) lies east of Etosha National Park. • The 36 000 ha Onguma Private Game Reserve adjoining Fischer’s Pan, harbours many of the mammals and birds found in Etosha. At present there are about 200 private game reserves registered in Namibia.

Professional Hunting Association (NAPHA), hunting is intrinsically part of the Namibian culture. The country’s hunting activities have evolved into a highly specialised wildlife industry, with trophy hunting playing a crucial role in managing wildlife populations and contributing significantly to the GDP. www.napha.com.na

Transfrontier Conservation Areas

The concept of TFCAs (Transfrontier Conservation Areas) has rapidly gained momentum in SADC countries such as Namibia, Angola, Mozambique, Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia. TFCAs are transfrontier wildlife sanctuaries that embrace crossborder conservation areas and game parks. The first TFCA established in the region was the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, which incorporates parks in Botswana and South Africa. www.peaceparks.org The Namibian Government is firmly committed to the transfrontier process and has achieved several agreements with cross-border countries. Namibia established its first TFCA, the /Ai-/Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, in 2003, with South Africa as co-signee. About 70% of the 6 046 km² is situated in Namibia, comprising the /Ai-/ Ais Hot Springs Game Park, the Hunsberg conservation area, the Huns Mountains, Fish River Canyon and /Ai/Ais Hot Springs. A Memorandum of Understanding between Namibia and Angola was signed in 2003 to establish the Iona Skeleton Coast Transfrontier Conservation Area, encompassing 31 540 km² of the northern Namib coastal desert. Officially launched in 2012 and spanning over 444 000 km² (similar in size to Sweden), the KavangoZambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA) is the world’s biggest conservation area, comprising national parks, game reserves, forest reserves, conservancies, game/wildlife management areas and communal lands in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. www.kavangozambezi.org

Hunting and hunting safaris

Guided by strict ethical standards set and encouraged by the Namibia

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GENERAL INDEX Symbols 5 MW Ombepo farm 182 /Ae//Gams Arts and Cultural Festival 201 /Ai-/Ais Hot Springs Spa 180, 190, 191 /Ai-/Ais Richtersveld 191, 203 !Anes 65 !Kung 62 !Nara 49 A Aakonlonkadhi 59 Aakwaluudhi 59 Aakwambi 59 Aakwanyama 59 Aambadja 59 Aambalantu 59 Aandonga 59 Aangandjera 59 Aawambo 6, 59, 60, 98 Aba-Huab Campsite 33 About Africa 27 Acacia Forest 76 Adventure 6, 39, 56, 138, 143, 151, 156, 175 African Art Jewellers 165 African Bush Bird Tours 27 African moringa tree 98 African Profile Safaris 28, 28 Africa on Wheels 21 AfriCat Foundation 124, 128, 129, 196, 203 Afrikaans 12, 65, 124, 188, 194 Afrodite Beach 168 Agate Beach 182, 192 Agriculture 196 Ai Aiba Lodge 43, 138, 139 Ai-Ais Resort 54 Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park 56 Aimeb Superfarm 76 Air Namibia 22, 88, 90, 101, 182, 186 Albrecht brothers 189 Alliance Française Cultural Centre 165 Alte Feste Museum 71, 201 Andersson Gate 98, 103 Andoni plains 98 Andoni waterhole 98 Angling 168 Ankerplatz 164 Apfelstrudel 47 Aquaculture 197 Aquarium 163 Architecture 200 Art Africa Garden Café 164, 165 Art and crafts 200 ARU game lodges 45 Asparagus Farm 48 Atlantic Ocean 27, 52, 119, 147, 163, 173, 175, 176, 177, 181, 183, 201 Atlantic Villa Boutique Guesthouse 40 Auas Safari Lodge 40, 78, 79 August Stauch 76, 184 Aus 7, 54, 56, 146, 184, 185, 186, 190, 191, 195 Aussenkehr 51 Autovermietung Savanna 21 B Bahnhof Hotel Aus 190, 191 Bantu 62, 67, 194 Bantu-speaking people 62 Baobab Bistro 90 Basket traditions 6 Baster Community 6, 65, 76

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Basubia 61 Batotela 61 Bauernbrot 47 Beach Hotel Swakopmund 40, 172, 173 Beadwork 62 Bechuanaland 63, 89 Belegte brötchens 47 Belvedere Boutique Hotel 78, 79 Best-culture practice 13 Bethanie 7, 187, 188, 202 Bezi Bar 90 Bierwurst 47 Birds 2, 196 Birds of Nambwa 2 Bitterwasser 53 Black Forest cake 47 Black mussels 46 Bloedkoppie 54 Bogenfels rock arch 187 Boiteko Campsite 32 Bondelswarts 66, 188, 189 Bondelswarts people 189 Boscian Safaris Namibia 28 Botanical Garden 6, 73 Boulevard Café 47, 167 Brandberg 5, 7, 27, 57, 62, 67, 132, 133, 134, 136, 138, 140, 143, 169, 195 Brandberg White Lady Lodge 138, 140 Bratkartoffeln 46 Breweries 48, 71, 201, 202 Brigadoon Guesthouse 173 Brot 47 Brötchens 47 Brukkaros Mountain 7, 180, 189, 195 Bukalo 61 Burnt Mountain 27, 132, 142 Bushman 62, 136, 182 Bushmanland 32, 57, 62, 122, 125 Bushman’s Paradise 136 Bwabwata National Park 33, 62, 88, 90, 91, 94 C Camel Inn Restaurant and Bar 124 Camelthorn Brewing Company 48 Camping 6, 7, 9, 90, 125, 153 Camping on the Kunene 7 Camp Kipwe 42, 44, 138, 140 CANAM 202 Cape Cross Seal Reserve 7, 51, 169, 170 Caprivi Game Park 90 Caprivi Mutoya Lodge 92, 93 Carpaccio 46 Car Rental Association of Namibia (CARAN) 15 Casa Blanca 78, 79 Catholic mission station 49 CBNRM 196, 203 Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) 124, 126, 127, 196, 203 Cheetah Tours & Safaris 29 Chief Samuel Maharero 63, 74 Chobe Community Campsite 33 Chobe National Park 14, 89, 93, 95 Chobe River 61, 93, 95 Chobe Water Villas 39, 92, 93 Christuskirche 72 Classic Namibia Collection 42 Climate 195 Coastal Strip 5, 159, 160, 172 Coastal Strip, map 172 College of the Arts 200, 201

Communal conservancies 202 Community Based Natural Resource Management 196 Conference 89, 176 Conservancies 7, 9, 30, 31, 91, 202, 203 Copper & Coal Distillery 49 Cornerstone Guesthouse 173 COTA Youth Choir 201 COVID 1 Crayfish Festival 181, 183, 184 Cuisine 6 Cultural activities 200 Cultural Township Tours 167 Cultures 22, 32, 37, 58, 202 Currency 10 Customs 10, 201 Cuvelai River 100 D Daan Viljoen Game Park 54, 73, 77 Daan Viljoen Game Reserve 67 Damara 6, 12, 67, 98, 122, 124, 136, 142, 143, 162, 165, 169, 194, 196 Damara Festival 67 Damaraland 5, 33, 37, 39, 53, 55, 57, 67, 131, 132, 138, 139, 140, 141, 143, 169 Damaraland, Brandberg & Twyfelfontein 133, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141, 143 Damaraland, Brandberg & Twyfelfontein, map 138 Damaraland Camp 37, 138, 140 Damara Living Museum 67, 143 Damara people 67 Dassie Trails 54 Dâureb Mountain Guides 136 Day trips 6 Day trips from Windhoek 6 Dead Pan 146, 147 Dead Sea 57 Deep South, Coastal & The Fish River 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 190, 191 Deep South, Coastal & The Fish River, map 190 Desert Air 24 Desert Breeze Lodge 172, 174 Desert Camp 44, 150, 150, 151, 151, 151, 151 Desert Explorers 55 Desert Flower emblem 202 Desert Hills Lodge 150, 152 Desert Homestead Lodge 39, 55, 150, 151 Desert Homestead Outpost 39, 150, 151 Desert Knights Mountain Bike 56 Desert Quiver Camp 44, 150, 150, 151, 151, 151 Desert Rhino Camp 37, 138, 141 Diamond Area No 2 57 Diaz Point 182, 192 Die Alte Kaserne 162 Die Muschel 165 Dinosaur footprints 7 Dolomite Resort 41, 102, 104 Dolphin Park Recreation Resort 167 Dolphin Tours 57 Donkey Bay 51 Dordabis 48, 76, 197 Dorka carpets 76 Dorob National Park 7, 57, 133, 160, 169 Doro Nawas Camp 141 Doro !Nawas Granietkop Campsite 33 Doros and Messum craters 57 Doros Crater 132 Dragon’s Breath 7, 122, 124

| GENERAL INDEX | Dreikorn 47 Driefontein Safari Lodge 40, 138, 141 Droombos 80 Duineveld 66 Dune 27, 41, 150, 156, 167, 185 Dunes Lodge 39, 78, 81 Duty-free allowances 10 Duwisib Castle 7, 41, 149, 150, 153, 185, 202 E Eagle’s Monument 188 Eagle Tented Lodge 40, 102, 103 Earth Science Museum 71, 201 Eco Awards 202 Economy 89, 196 Ecotourism 197 Eenhana Heroes’ Memorial Shrine 101 Eisbein 46 Ekaka 47, 202 Ekori 63, 64 Electoral Commission of Namibia 195 Electricity 198 Elizabeth Bay 183, 187 Emergency medical services 199 Endangered mammals 195 Eningu Clayhouse Lodge 78, 80 Environmental Investment Fund 202 Epacha Lodge 102, 103 Epupa Falls 7, 34, 64, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118 Epupa Falls Campsite 34 Epupa Falls Lodge 116, 117, 118 Equitrails Namibia 55 Erindi Private Game Reserve 196, 203 Erongo Mountain Nature Conservancy 136 Erongo Mountains 39, 62, 132, 135, 136, 137, 195, 203 Erongo Mountain Winery 49, 135, 202 Erongo Region 67, 195 Erongo Wild 137 Eros Mountains 55, 70 Essence of Namibia 49 Etendeka Lodge Company 138 Etendeka Mountain Camp 43, 139 Etoscha i Büro 99 Etosha Aoba Lodge 110 Etosha Heights Private Reserve 106 Etosha Mountain Lodge 38, 106 Etosha National Park 5, 6, 26, 36, 89, 98, 100, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 141, 142, 146, 194, 203 Etosha National Park & Owambo, map 102 Etosha Oberland Lodge 39, 102, 103 Etosha Pan 36, 98, 104, 110, 194, 195 Etosha Trading Post 44 Etosha Village 44, 102, 102, 103, 103, 103 Etosha Village Campsite 44 F Farm Ghaub 124 Farm Ibenstein 76 Farm Windhoek 54, 56 Fauna 195 Federation of Namibian Tourism Associations (FENATA) 15, 198 Figtree Campsite 33 Fine Art Gallery 165 Finger Rock 133 Finnish Mission Society 59 Firearms 10 First-timer Route 6 Fish River Canyon 7, 53, 54, 56, 77, 180, 181, 182, 188, 190, 191, 203 Fish River Lodge 40, 190, 191 Flora 195 FlyWestair 2 FNB 2, 15, 56

FNB Otjihavera Experience 56 FNCC 72, 201 Fonteine Community Restcamp 33 Fourways Stopover 124 Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre 72, 201 Franke Tower 134, 135 Fuel 198 G Gallows 168 Galton Gate 26, 98, 104 Game Reserve 67, 74, 81, 98, 103, 108, 146, 196, 203 Gamsberg 77, 195 Ganigobes Campsite 33 Garub 185 Gateways to Etosha 6 General information 7 German 26, 27, 46, 47, 48, 63, 65, 66, 67, 70, 72, 75, 82, 85, 89, 98, 99, 100, 104, 123, 124, 133, 134, 135, 137, 146, 148, 153, 161, 162, 164, 165, 166, 174, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 188, 189, 194, 200, 201, 202 German colonial era 65, 162, 164, 189 German Reinheitsgebot 48 Ghaub Caves 124 G!hunku Crafts 62 Giant’s Playground 7, 180, 188 Gibeon 33, 66, 72 Goamus Campsite 33 Gobabeb Training and Research Centre 147 Gobabis 32, 63, 74, 75, 196, 200, 202 Gobabis Museum 75, 202 Gondwana Collection 203 Grappa 49 Grashoek 62 Green Flag 63 Grootberg Lodge 40, 138, 141, 142 Grootfontein 67, 123, 124, 125, 127, 201 Grootfontein Museum 124, 201 Gross-Barmen Resort 41, 73, 74, 78, 79 Grosse Bucht 182 Ground Rush Adventures 53 H Hafeni Traditional Restaurant 47 HaiIIom people 67 Hai//om San 62 Hakos 77 Hakos Guest Farm 77 Halali Resort 41, 102 Halifax Island 181, 183 Hamakari 63 Hambukushu 60 Hammerstein Africa 150, 152 Hammerstein Lodge 150, 152 HAN 15, 198 Haoti 67 Hardap Dam 51, 74, 76, 81 Hardap Game Reserve 74, 81 Hardap Resort 41, 74, 78, 81 Hartlaub's Spurfowl 136 Hartlief 47 Haus Woll 137 Headdress 63, 64 Health and welfare 199 Heavenly Herbs 135 Heaviside's dolphins 51, 183 Helmeringhausen 7, 189 Helvi Mpingana Kondombola Cultural 100 Henckert Tourist Centre 136 Hendrik Witbooi 66, 71, 73, 164, 165, 175 Henties Bay 7, 9, 22, 46, 48, 57, 133, 160, 168, 169, 170 Henties Bay environs 169 Henties Bay Golf Course 169

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Henties Bay Tourism Office 57 Hentie van der Merwe 168 Herero 11, 12, 13, 63, 70, 74, 75, 107, 110, 123, 124, 125, 128, 134, 162, 194, 196, 200, 202 Herero people 11, 74, 75, 125, 200 Herero Uprising 63 Hermanus van Wyk 65, 76 Hiking Trail 54, 191 Hillside Suites 78, 78, 81, 81 Himba people 101, 115, 119 Hippo Pools 32, 116 Hippo Pools Campsite 32 HIV/Aids in Namibia 199 Hoachanas Campsite 33 Hoada Camp 40, 138, 141 Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp 37, 117, 118 Hoanib Valley Camp 38, 117, 118 Hoba Meteorite 7, 122, 123, 124 Hobas 56, 190, 191 Hobatere Lodge 40, 102, 105 Hohenstein Lodge 39, 138, 142 Hohenzollern-Haus 162 Hollard 193 Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN) 15, 198 Hospitals 199 Hotel Schweizerhaus 172, 174 Hotel Zum Grünen Kranze 137 Hotel Zum Kaiser 44, 172, 172, 174, 174, 174, 174, 174 House on the Hill 34 Hunting and hunting safaris 203 I Ibenstein Teppiche 76 Iishana 59, 100 Ikhoba 164 Imke Engelhard Design Studio 165 Impalila Island 89 Independence Museum 70, 71, 72 Indian Pale Ale 48 Insurance 193 Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity 59 Investment incentives 197 J Jackalberry Tented Lodge 92, 93 Jagdwurst 47 Jakkalsputz 41, 169, 174 Jakkalsputz walking trail 169 Jan Jonker Afrikaner 70 Jetty 51, 162, 164, 165, 167 Joe's Beerhouse 26, 49 Johan Keetman 188 John Schröder 188 Joint venture tourism 30, 31 Journeys Namibia 40 Ju/’Hoansi-San 33, 62, 125 K Kabeljou 46, 51, 163 Kaffee Bar 47 Kahimemua Nguvauva 63 Kaiserbrunnen 137 Kaiserkrone Shopping Centre 72 Kaiserliches Bezirksgericht 162 Kalahari Desert 39, 80, 85 Kalahari Game Lodge 190, 192 Kalahari Red Dunes Lodge 39, 78, 81 Kalahari Scrub Robins 123 Kamanjab 7, 26, 33, 105, 115, 133, 141 Kambahoka Restcamp 32 Kambazembi 63 Kanaan N/a’an ku sê Desert Retreat 150, 153 Kaokoland 5, 7, 9, 22, 57, 63, 64, 113, 114, 116, 118 Kaokoland & the Kunene Region 117

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Kaokoland & the Kunene Region, map 117 Kaptein’s Tree 76 Karibib 7, 136, 137 Karibib Marble Works 136, 137 Kartoffelsalat 46 Käsekuche 47 Kashana Landhaus 135 Kassler 46 Katenbrot 47 Katholischer 49 Katima Craft Centre 90 Katima Mulilo 14, 17, 22, 61, 89, 90, 93, 95, 201 Katima Mulilo Airport 90 Katutura 47, 70, 200, 201 Katutura Community Art Centre 200 Kaumbangere Restcamp 32 Kavango 5, 6, 9, 12, 14, 60, 62, 88, 89, 91, 95, 98, 124, 125, 194, 195, 197, 200, 201, 203 Kavango East 6, 60, 88, 194 Kavango people 60, 88 Kavango Region 88, 89, 98, 124, 125, 197, 201 Kavango West 88, 194 KaZa 14, 89, 91 KaZa TFCA 91 Kazile Island Lodge 42, 92, 94 KCAC 200 Keetmanshoop 7, 22, 51, 74, 180, 182, 185, 187, 188, 189, 195, 202 Khaudum National Park 7, 57, 91, 122, 125 Khoekhoegowab 67 Khoesan 62, 194 Khoesan people 62 Khoikhoi 65, 66 Khomas Challenge 56 Khomas Hochland 6, 27, 54, 56, 67, 70, 77, 195 Khomas Hochland Hiking Trail 54 Khorab Room 99 Khorixas 7, 32, 41, 67, 132, 133, 138, 141, 142 Khorixas and environs 7 Khorixas Camp 41, 138, 142 Khowarib Campsite 33 Kifaru Luxury Lodge 142 King Nehale Gate 98 Klein Aus Vista 54 Klein-Aus Vista MTB Challenge 56 Kolmanskop 76, 180, 181, 184, 185, 192, 201 Koloko 61 Königstein 133, 143 Koranna 65 Kramersdorf building 162 Kristall Kellerei 49, 135, 202 Kubas Station Building 137 Kuiseb Valley 166 Kulala Desert Lodge 37, 150, 153 Kunene Region 5, 64, 115, 118 Kunene River 22, 32, 34, 53, 57, 63, 64, 98, 114, 115, 116, 119, 160, 171, 198 Kunene River Lodge 116 Küska 183 Kwando River 33, 61, 89, 90, 94 Kwessi Dunes 38, 150, 154 L Lake Guinas 100 Lake Oanob Resort 78, 82 Lake Otjikoto 26, 99, 100, 201 Leberwurst 47 Lebkuchen 47 Lichen fields 169 Linyanti River 93 Literacy and education 200 Little Forest Garden Retreat 40, 78, 82 Little Hunters 62 Little Kulala 37, 150, 153 Little Moon Landscape 55 Little Ongava 108

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Little Spitzkoppe 136 Living Culture Foundation of Namibia 64 Living Desert 52, 162 Living Museum of the Ju/’Hoansi San 33 Living Museum of the Mafwe 61 Lizauli Traditional Village 90 Lodge Groups 6 Lozi 61, 89, 91 Lüderitz 7, 9, 22, 46, 51, 57, 72, 146, 149, 152, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 187, 188, 191, 192, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202 Lüderitz Karneval 183 Lüderitz Nest Hotel 183 Lüderitz oysters 202 Lüderitz Peninsula 181, 182, 183 Lüderitz Speed Challenge 183 Lüderitz Waterfront 184, 192 M Maack’s Shelter 133, 134 Mafwe 33, 61 Mafwe Campsite 33 Mahangu 101, 202 Mahangu fields 47, 91, 202 Maize Triangle 124 Malaria 10 Maltahöhe 33, 148, 149, 185 Mangetti National Park 88, 91 Map of Namibia 6 Marble Campsite 34 Märchental 187 Mariental 51, 53, 74, 76, 148, 195, 196 Marine Memorial 162 Market 48, 75, 88, 136, 164, 167, 168 Martin Luther ‘steam-ox’ 161 Marula 49, 59 Marula fruit 49 Marula Fruit Festival 59 Mashi 61, 90 Mashi Crafts 90 Mashi Tourism Hub 61 Mayeyi 61 Mbamba Campsite 33 Mbangura Woodcarvers' Cooperative 60 Mbangura Woodcarvers Market 75 Mbono 61 Media 2, 5, 6, 196, 200 MEFT 89, 161, 168, 171, 186, 187, 196, 198, 203 Meme Ikhoba 164 Mesosaurus Fossil Site 188 Messum Crater 7, 57, 133, 169, 171 Midgard Country Estate 39, 78, 82 Midgard Lodge 56 Mile 72 41, 174 Mile 108 41, 174 Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism 57, 77, 123, 148, 161, 170, 187, 202 Mokuti Etosha Lodge 39, 102, 105 Mondesa 47 Mondesa township 47 Mountain biking 56 Mowani Mountain Camp 42, 44, 138, 143 Mudumu National Park 90, 91 Muramba Bushman Trails 62 Musemes 91 Museum Association of Namibia 75, 200, 201 Museums 201, 202 Museums at the coast 201 Museums in the north 201 Mushara Collection 43, 102, 107

N/a’an ku sê @ Utopia 37, 78, 82 Nabba 46, 202 NaDEET 149, 203 NAGN 200 Nakambale 32, 59, 101, 201 Nakambale Mission House 101 Nakambale Museum 32, 59, 201 Nama 6, 12, 33, 46, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 70, 71, 76, 137, 185, 187, 189, 194, 202 Nama people 33, 46, 66, 189, 202 Nambwa Campsite 33 Nambwa Tented Lodge 42, 92, 94 Namib Dunes Craft Brewery 48 Namibgrens Guest Farm 54 Namibia Breweries 48, 202 Namibia Car Rental 20 Namibia Collection 42 Namibia Craft Centre 13, 62, 71, 200 Namibia Horse Safari Company 55 Namibia Nature Foundation 196, 203 Namibian Broadcasting Corporation 200 Namibian meat 46 Namibia Scientific Society 72, 73 Namibia Tourism Board 1, 6, 12, 198 Namibia University of Science and Technology 184, 200 Namibia Wildlife Resorts 9, 15, 41, 74, 104 Namib-Naukluft Park 5, 54, 57, 146, 148, 153, 181, 187, 194, 195, 197 Namib Oasis farm stall 137 NamibRand Nature Reserve 7, 148, 149, 154, 196, 203 Namib Sky Balloon Safaris 13, 43, 53 NamPort 198 Namushasha Heritage Centre 61 Namushasha River Lodge 61 Namutoni Resort 41, 102 National Archives of Namibia 72 National Art Gallery of Namibia 72, 200 National Earth Science Museum 201 National Heritage Council 134, 201 National Library of Namibia 72, 73 National Marine Information & Research Centre 163 National Museum of Namibia 71, 201 Natural grazing 46, 196 Naturally Namibia 43 Natural Selection 38, 102, 106 Naukluft Camp 41, 150, 154 Naukluft Hiking Trail 54 Naulila Monument 99 Naute Dam 49, 51, 189 Naute Kristall 49 Navachab Gold Mine 137 Ncumcara Craft Shop 60 Nedbank 47, 56 Nedbank Cycle Challenge 56 Nedbank Desert Dash 56 Neuras Wine and Wildlife Estate 150, 154 N//goabaca Campsite 33 Ngoma Crafts Centre 90 Nkasa Lupala Tented Lodge 92, 94 Nkasa Rupara National Park 33, 90, 91, 93 NNF 203 Noab Olive farm 48 Noordoewer 10, 14, 51 Northeast, Kavango & Zambezi 89, 91, 93, 95 Northeast, Kavango & Zambezi, map 92 NUST Hotel School 78, 83 Nyae Nyae Conservancy 62

N N/a’an ku sê Foundation 37 N/a’an ku sê Lodge and Wildlife Sanctuary 37, 78, 83 N/a’an ku sê Travellers Inn 37, 78, 83

O Oanob Dam 76 Office of the Ombudsman 71 Ohorokova 63 Ohumba 64

| GENERAL INDEX | Oil and gas 198 Okahandja 48, 51, 60, 63, 74, 75, 79, 83, 195, 200 Okakambe Riding Centre 55 Okakarara 7, 63, 124, 201 Okakarara Community Cultural and Tourism Centre 63, 124 Okarohombo Community Campsite 34 Okatjikona Environmental Education Centre 123 Okaukuejo Resort 41, 102 Okavango 14, 33, 51, 59, 60, 88, 90, 91, 93, 95, 194, 195, 197 Okavango River 33, 60, 88, 91, 95, 194 Okombahe 67 Okonjima 124, 126, 128, 129 Okuruwo 64 Old Iron Jetty 162, 164 Old Rhenish Mission House 134 Olifantsrus 41, 102, 104 Olive farm 48 O&L Leisure 39 Olukonda 32, 59, 101, 201 Olupale Safari Lodge 40, 102, 105 Omaanda 78 Omahangu 59 Omaheke Region 75 Omajova 46 Omandumba 62, 135 Omandumba Guest Farm 62, 135 Omaruru 7, 48, 49, 63, 67, 134, 135, 168, 169, 170, 195, 200, 201, 202 Omaruru River 49, 134, 135, 168, 169, 170 Omauni Community Campsite 32 Ombalantu Baobab Heritage Centre 101 Ombalantu Baobab Tree Campsite 32 Ombo Rest Camp 78, 83 Omdel Dam 170 OMEG 100, 162 Omuntu Garden 134 Omusati Region 59, 101, 201 Onandjokwe Lutheran Hospital 101 Ondangwa 22, 32, 38, 101, 102, 105 Ondangwa SME Start-Up 101 Ondato 64 One Africa TV 200 Ongava 43, 108, 109 Onguma Nature Reserve 42, 102, 110, 111 Ongwediva Trade Fair 101 Onjala 78, 84 Onkoshi Resort 41, 102, 104 Oorlams 66 Opening times at border posts 14 Opuwo 7, 64, 101, 115 Orange River 51, 56, 65, 66, 76, 181, 186, 187, 188, 195 Oranjemund 7, 14, 22, 184, 186, 187, 198, 201 Organic market 48 Organic Square Guesthouse 175 Organ Pipes 27, 132 Oshakati 17, 101, 201 Oshakati Omatala 101 Oshakati-Ongwediva-Ondangwa 101 Oshana Region 101 Oshikoto Region 100, 201 Oshithima 59 Oshituthi Shomagongo (Marula Fruit Festival) 59 Oshiwambo 26, 59, 101, 135 Otavi 26, 49, 67, 73, 99, 100, 124, 162, 177 Otavi-Bahn 162 Otavi valley 49 Otjihavera Experience 56 Otjiherero 46, 63 Otjikaeva 63 Otjimbingwe 7, 137 Otjimbondona 78, 78, 84, 84, 84 Otjiserandu 63

Otjiwarongo 124, 142, 195, 199 Otjize 64 Outjo 98, 99, 103, 133, 142, 201 Outjo Museum 99 Ovaherero 6, 63, 64, 67, 201 Ovahimba 6, 12, 63, 64, 115, 118 Ovahimba Living Museum 64, 115 Ovambanderu 63 Ovatjimba 63 Ovazemba 63 Owambo 5, 6, 12, 59, 98, 101, 105, 164, 184, 194, 200 Owambo people 6 Owambo regions 12, 98 Owela Museum 201 Oxuxwa 47 Oysters 46 Ozondato 64 Ozondjuwo 64 P Palm Beach 163 Pearl millet 47, 59, 60, 101, 202 Pelican Point 51 People of Namibia exhibition 163 Peperkorrel 76, 80 Performing arts 201 Petrified Forest 27, 132, 142 Pfeffernusse 47 Pofadder 47 Pondok Mountains 136 Popa Falls Resort 41, 91, 92, 94 Popa Game Park 91 Port of Lüderitz 199 Port of Walvis Bay 198 Ports and harbours 198 Postal service 199 Potjiekos 47 Prinzessin Rupprecht-Heim 162 Private game reserves 203 Protea Hotels by Marriott 38 Proviantamt 137 Public Holidays 8 Public Library 72, 162, 163 Public transport 70 Pumpernickel 47 Puros Campsite 33 Q Quad biking 52 Quivertree Dolerite Park 188 Quiver Tree Forest 7, 180, 188 R Railway Engine No 652 166 Railways 199 Railway Station Building 162 Raith Gourmet 47 Rare and Endangered Species Trust (REST) 99, 203 Recycle Namibia Forum 203 Red Flag Day 63 Red Flag organisation 63 Rehoboth 65, 66, 67, 76, 82, 202 Rehoboth Baster Community 65 Rehoboth Basters 76 Rehoboth Gebiet 65 Rehoboth Museum 76, 202 Reitturnier 164 Religion 200 Remhoogte Pass 48 Rhenish Mission Church 137, 166, 188 Richtersveld 7, 14, 56, 180, 181, 191, 203 River Crossing Lodge 78, 85 Rivers 119, 195 Roads 198

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Rock lobster 46, 181, 182, 197 Rock Sculpture Trail 54 Roof of Africa Hotel 48 Rooibos Trail 54 Rösemann Building 137 Rosh Pinah 7, 185, 186 Rotkohl 46 Rouladen 46 Roy's Rest Camp 126, 127 Ruacana Falls 115, 116 Ruacana Hydropower Plant 116 Ruheleben Estate 48 Rukwangali 60 Rundu 22, 60, 88, 89, 95, 98, 124, 125, 201 Rundu Airport 88 Rundu Open Market 88 S Sãa Ta Ko 32 Sachertorte 47 Saddle Hill 57, 187 Safarihoek Lodge 38, 106 Safari House 38, 106 Samawati 53 Sambyu Museum 88, 201 Sam Cohen Library 73, 163 Sam Khubis 65 San 6, 12, 32, 33, 62, 65, 67, 122, 124, 125, 132, 136, 152, 194, 200, 202 Sandwich Harbour 7, 27, 52, 57, 146, 147, 168, 187 Sandwich Harbour 4x4 57 San people 62, 125, 152, 202 Sauerkraut 46 Scenic Air 22 Sea-View Zum Sperrgebiet 190, 192 Seeheim 7, 188, 189 Sendelingsdrift 14, 56 Serondela Lodge 92, 95 Serra Cafema 37, 117, 119 Sesfontein 33, 66, 67, 117, 119, 133 Sesfontein Guesthouse 117, 119 Sesriem 27, 41, 53, 55, 77, 146, 147, 148, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 156, 196, 203 Sesriem Campsite 41, 150, 156 Sesriem Canyon 27, 147, 148, 151, 156 Shalom Farm 48, 165 Shark Island 41, 182, 190, 192 Shipwreck Lodge 38, 40, 117, 119, 171 Shishambyu 60 Site of Veneration 188 Skeleton Coast Brewery 48 Skeleton Coast Park 7, 116, 119, 160, 171 Skeleton Coast Safaris 43 Skilpadjies 47 Small Bushman’s Paradise 136 Smiley 47 Snoek Derby 183 Snyfontein Camp 33 Solitaire 27, 53, 150 Solitaire Desert Farm 155 Solitaire Lodge 155 Solitaire Namibia 150, 150, 155 Sosaties 47, 202 Sossus Dune Lodge 150, 156 Sossus Oasis 44, 150, 151, 156 Sossus Oasis Camp Site 150, 156 Sossusvlei 5, 7, 9, 27, 39, 53, 77, 145, 146, 147, 148, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 156, 168, 194, 195 Sossusvlei & the Namib-Naukluft Park 147, 149, 150, 151, 153, 155, 157 Sossusvlei & the Namib-Naukluft Park, map 150 Sossusvlei Lodge 44, 150, 150, 151, 151, 151, 156, 156, 156, 156, 156, 156 South African Defence Force 62 Spätzle 46

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Special endemics 196 Sperrgebiet 180, 185, 186, 187, 190, 192, 194, 201 Spitzkoppe 7, 27, 32, 67, 132, 136, 169, 170, 195 Spitzkoppe Rest Camp 32 Sprokieswoud 98 Stargazing 84 STF 188 Stillhouse Atlantic craft distillery 49 Stollen 47 Strand Hotel's Brewer and Butcher 48 Strand Hotel Swakopmund 39, 172, 176 Strategic Environmental Assessment 203 Strathmore Mine 57 Sturmvogelbucht 182 Sugarloaf Mountain 136 Supreme Court 71, 194 Swakopmund 7, 9, 17, 22, 27, 39, 40, 42, 46, 47, 48, 49, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 73, 136, 137, 141, 142, 147, 148, 152, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 183, 196, 197, 199, 200, 201, 202 Swakopmund Aquarium 163 Swakopmund Arts Association 162, 165 Swakopmund Asparagus Farm 48 Swakopmund Brewing Company 48 Swakopmund Camel Farm 55 Swakopmund environs 165 Swakopmund green asparagus 202 Swakopmund Guesthouse 42, 172, 175 Swakopmund Indoor Sport Centre 164 Swakopmund Municipality 176 Swakopmund Museum 73, 163, 201 Swakopmund River Mouth 165 Swakopmund Saltworks 165 Swakop River 48, 52, 55, 174 Swakop River valley 48, 55 Swartbooisdrift 114 Sylvia Hill 187 T Taleni Africa 44 Taranga Safari Lodge 92, 95 TASA 15, 198 Tax and customs 10 Teller essen 46 Temperatures 195 Terrace Bay 41, 57, 171, 172, 177 Teufelskrallen Lodge 39, 78, 85 The Erongo Mountains 135, 137 The Farmhouse 99 The Green Market 48 The Living Museum of the Mafwe 61 The Mole 162, 163, 164 The Mushara Collection 43, 102, 107 The Namibian Pick 'n Pay Cycle 56 The Nedbank Cycle Challenge 56 The Olive Trail 54 The Orange River 51, 186 The Shed Market 48 The Stiltz 172, 177 The Walvis Bay Lagoon 51, 167 Thimbukushu 60 This is Namibia 1 Tholch Brewery 48 Thonningii Wine Cellar 49 Ti Melen 39, 78, 85 Tintenpalast 72 Topnaars 66 Torra Bay 41, 141, 171, 172, 177 Tourism insurance 193 Tourism structures 198 Tourist Information Centre 101, 124 Towns close to Windhoek 6 Traditional cuisine 202

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Traditional San crafts 62 Traditional territories 62 Trail 54, 134, 139, 146, 151, 169, 191 Trans-Caprivi Highway 88 Transfrontier Conservation Areas 203 Trans-Kalahari Highway 75 TransNamib Railway Museum 17, 72, 201 TransNamibâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Starline Passenger Service 17 Travel News Namibia 2 Tree Park 124 Treesleeper Camp 33 Trekkopje Battlefield 137 Tsams Ost 54 Tsandi 59, 101, 201 Tsau//Khaeb Concession 187 Tsau//Khaeb National Park 7, 160, 186, 187 Tsintsabis 62 Tsisab Gorge 134 Tsiseb Conservancy 136 Tsondab Vlei 53 Tsumeb 26, 67, 98, 99, 100, 107, 124, 125, 199, 201 Tsumeb Arts and Crafts Centre 99 Tsumeb Cultural Village 100 Tsumeb Museum 99, 100, 201 Tsumkwe 32, 33, 62, 122, 125 Tsumkwe Lodge 62 TUCSIN Tsumkwe Lodge 62 Tulipamwe Sewing Project 101 Turnhalle Building 72 Turnstone Tours 57 Tutaleni Village and Relocation Project 167 Twyfelfontein 5, 7, 27, 33, 39, 62, 67, 132, 133, 138, 140, 141, 142, 143 Twyfelfontein Adventure Camp 39, 138, 143 Twyfelfontein rock engravings 33, 140 Twyfelfontein World Heritage Site 67, 141 U Ugab River 27, 32, 140, 160, 171 Ugab Vingerklip 133 Uis Guesthouse 138, 143 Unda 59 Unique Tours 57 Uranium exploration 196 Urbock 48 Usakos 7, 136, 137, 142, 195 Uukwaluudhi Royal Homestead and Museum 101 Uukwaluudhi Traditional Homestead 59 V Vagiriku 60 Vakangwali 60 Vambunza 60 Van Zylâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pass Campsite 34 Vashambyu 60 VAT 10 Veldkos 67 Venison 202 Venture Media 2, 5, 6, 196 Vernichtungsbefehl 63 Verreaux's Eagle 136 Villa Margherita 43, 172, 177 Vingerklip 133 Von Bach Dam 51, 74 Von Bach Recreation Resort 73, 74 Von Lindequist Gate 26, 98, 99, 105, 107 W Wag-'n-Bietjie Trail 54 Walvis Bay 7, 9, 17, 22, 27, 38, 46, 47, 49, 51, 52, 53, 57, 66, 77, 136, 141, 147, 148, 160, 161, 166, 167, 168, 172, 175, 183, 187, 197, 198, 199, 201 Walvis Bay Corridors 199

Walvis Bay environs 167 Walvis Bay Lagoon 51, 160, 166, 167, 175 Walvis Bay Municipality 167 Walvis Bay Tourism Centre 166, 167 Walvis Bay Waterfront 167 Warehouse Theatre 201 Warmbad 7, 33, 65, 66, 189 Warmbad Museum 189 Waterberg, Khaudum & Surroundings 126 Waterberg, Khaudum & Surroundings, map 126 Waterberg Plateau Park 7, 77, 122, 123, 196 Waterberg Resort 41, 126, 127 Waterkloof Trail 54 WCRA 160 Wecke & Voigts 47 We Kebi 150, 152 We Kebi Safari Lodge 150, 152 Welwitschia mirabilis 132, 133, 169, 196 Westair 23, 186 West Coast 4x4 57 West Coast Recreational Area 160 What to do in Henties Bay 168 White Flag 63 White Lady of the Brandberg 134 Wilderness Safaris 37, 141 Wild Horse Safari 55 Willi Probst Bakery 47, 167 Windhoek 1, 5, 6, 12, 14, 17, 22, 26, 27, 39, 47, 48, 49, 54, 55, 56, 60, 62, 65, 67, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 88, 94, 103, 104, 105, 111, 115, 118, 119, 124, 127, 134, 137, 140, 141, 142, 143, 148, 151, 153, 154, 156, 168, 174, 177, 181, 182, 191, 192, 194, 195, 196, 198, 199, 200, 201, 203, 210 Windhoek Jazz Festival 201 Windhoek Light Quest 56 Windhoek Luxury Suites 78, 78, 85, 85 Windhoek Railway Station 17, 72, 201 Windhoek Schlagterei 47 Windhoek, Surroundings and Central East 70, 78 Windhoek Surroundings & Central East, map 78 Witbooi Nama 66 Woermann Brock Arcade 164 Woermann House 162, 165 Woermann Tower 162 Wolwedans Collection 42, 150, 157 Woodcarvings 60 World Heritage Site 27, 62, 67, 132, 134, 141, 142, 151, 160 Wronsky House 134 Wuparo Campsite 33 X Xwama Traditional Restaurant 47 Z Zacharias Lewala 184, 198 Zambezians 6, 61, 90, 91, 194, 200 Zambezi Art Centre 61 Zambezi Region 6, 9, 14, 36, 61, 89, 93, 95 Zambezi River 38, 61, 89, 90, 92, 93, 95 Zeraua Herero 63 Zeraua Ovaherero 63 Zimtsterne 47 Zoo Park 71

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