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Archive

Lianshulu Lodge open again (09.01.2012)

Lianshulu Lodge under new Ownership
Lianshulu Lodge is open again under new ownership and management.
The ownership consists of Dutch nationals Alexander Van Heeren and Peter Van Langeveldt as well as Dusty Rodgers who is well known in the Namibian Tourism & Hospitality Industry and Reinhardt Küsters, a local shipping entrepreneur.
Lianshulu Lodges which includes Lianshulu Main Lodge and Lianshulu Bush Lodge on an 800 ha private concession in the Mudumu National Park along the Kwando River as well as Matota Island Lodge, situated on the Mudumu National Park cut line inside the Bayelerwa Conservancy in the Eastern Caprivi Strip of Namibia, will be incorporated into a fully fledged marketing & management company known as The Caprivi Collection with central reservations and marketing based in Swakopmund under the management of Anette Küsters who too is no stranger to the travel and airline industry in Namibia.
The company has already embarked on extensive renovations and refurbishments of the properties and Lianshulu Main Lodge is now open for bookings with the remaining two properties opening on a gradual phase-in as business demands this.
This development will see the company having traversing rights through over 300 000ha, equal to the size of Belgium, of one of the most pristine and unspoiled natural wildlife areas which now form part of the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA) spanning Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Angola.
Further to local activities, the company will soon offer access to safari circuits in Botswana via its own border post at Lianshulu Lodge.
A range of exclusive activities which includes river trips, transfers, bush picnics and overnight fly camps will be on offer with our affiliated properties within the area.

News from Gondwana Collection (09.12.2011)

Five Flowers for a 'green' Roadhouse
For its eco-friendly management the Canon Roadhouse was rewarded by Eco Awards Namibia with five desert flowers (highest ranking). Canon Lodge and Namib Desert Lodge were awarded three desert flowers each. Decisive factors were the water recycling plants (for the gardens), the eco-friendly waste disposal and the Gondwana Eco Competition at their lodges and on the web.

Exploring Damaraland on foot
Two diverse new hiking trails at Damara Mopane Lodge offer guests the opportunity to explore the flora and fauna of Damaraland at their leisure. The Mountain Top Route (4 km) requires some climbing to reach a hilltop in the vicinity of the lodge. By contrast, the Valley Walking Trail is a leisurely 4-km-walk through diverse vegetation such as Mopane forest, grassy plains and thickets of Trumpet Thorn.

The Quiver Tree - a Victim of Climate Change?
Red alert for the quiver tree was declared at the climate conference in Copenhagen in January 2010. Aloe Dichotoma and nine other plant and animal species were added to the 'Red List'. There was indeed reason for concern: In many places in southern Namibia entire groups of quiver trees were dying while hardly any young trees were discovered. Climate change was seen as the main suspect.

Kulala Desert Lodge will be expanding (15.09.2011)

Kulala Desert Lodge will add 6 new rooms (5 twins & 1 family) in early 2012. The main area will be enlarged and remodelled. The camp will be closed from 15 January to 14 April 2012 inclusive. Alternative arrangements are being made for all affected bookings.

Kulala Wilderness Camp closing April 2012
Wilderness has announced that Kulala Wilderness Camp will close permanently on 15.04.2012. After Kulala Wilderness Camp has closed, future Wilderness accommodation in the Sossusvlei area will be provided by Kulala Desert Lodge and Little Kulala.
Alternative arrangements are being made for all affected bookings.

Public Holiday in August (24.08.2011)

Please note Namibia Reservations is closed on the 26.08.2011 (Heroe’s Day),
All requests and emails will be answered on Monday 29.08.2011.

Updated road conditions for the south of Namibia (23.06.2011)

Information received from the Gondwana Collection:
Please be advised that if you are entering the Canyon area from the north (Luderitz, Keetmanshoop areas) the C12 at Seeheim, leading off the B4 road has been closed due to severe flooding of the road.
We suggest that you rather take the Naute Dam turn off signposted the D545 and drive over the dam wall. The D545 then joins the C12 which will then lead you to the Canyon. The Canon Roadhouse, Canon Village and Canon Lodge are then well signposted off the C12.

It has also been reported that the road (C13) at Rosh Pinah has been washed away and is not accessible, therefore there is no access from Rosh Pinah up to Aus or from Aus to Rosh Pinah.

Local news from Okonjima - AfriCat (22.06.2011)

AfriCat Foundation a winner!
At a glittering ceremony held at the moyo Restaurant, uShaka Marine World in Durban, South Africa, on May 6, 2011, the AfriCat Foundation scooped the Good Safari Award for ‘Best Wildlife Charity Organisation’ in Africa.
The hard work and impact made by AfriCat has been recognized by the judging panel of the Good Safari Awards. Leading a diverse field of established African conservation projects, AfriCat was crowned ‘Best Wildlife Organisation’ on the continent.
The team at AfriCat and Okonjima are thrilled to have been recognized for what they do and look forward to introducing more international guests to their unique project in Namibia.

2011 Health Check a resounding success
Every year the AfriCat Team, including our supporting veterinarian Dr. Mark Jago, undertakes a health check on the resident cheetah, leopard, spotted hyaena & wild dogs at our Carnivore Care Centre based on Okonjima farm. The lions of the AfriCat North Care Centre will undergo a similar health check in June.
In preparation for these examinations, individual animals in the Care Centre are identified according to routine and specific needs which may have arisen such as contraception, eye infections or abnormalities, worn or broken dentition, serious injuries and any other obvious symptoms indicating poor health, observed during our daily rounds.

Fish River Hike is open again (06.06.2011)

The popular Fish River Canyon hiking trail is open.
 The trail had been closed due to flash floods which presented a danger to hikers. The water levels in the canyon have however subsided sufficiently to allow hikers to negotiate the 90 km long African marvel.
Please be aware that the Fish River Canyon is a fragile environment and remains subject to flash floods after an exceptional rainy season.
Visitors to the Fish River Canyon assume all risks while in the canyon and should come prepared with sufficient water.

Fish River Hike unsafe to hike (09.05.2011)

This is an urgent notice to inform you that the Ministry of Environment and Tourism has declared the Fish River Hike unsafe to hike now.
The rains and subsequent flood has caused the current closure and it is uncertain when it will re-open, but it will not open earlier than the last day of May 2011.

Easter & Public Holidays in Namibia (21.04.2011)

22.04.2011 - Good Friday
24.04.2011 - Easter Sunday
25.04.2011 - Public Holiday

01.05.2011 - Workers Day
02.05.2011 - Public Holiday
04.05.2011 - Cassinga Day
25.05.2011 - Africa Day

Local Finesse News (04.04.2011)

Kaisosi River Lodge
Chris has advised us that Kaisosi River Lodge is definitely operational. It is only the road leading to Kaisosi, which is under water, and if your clients do not want to drive through, they can leave their vehicle at a secure parking area. The lodge will then pick them up from there. The river is quite high, but lower than last year.

Kalahari Red Dunes Lodge
Even though the lodge is new the owner keeps improving things as feedback comes back from visitors. Currently they are busy building thatched roofs in front of every chalet so that the entrance and the little terrace in front are under shade.  Five units will receive air-conditioning for the time being.  All chalets will be fitted with fridges, and he is planning to replace the current beds with antiques dating from the German colonial time around 1905.
The terrace by the swimming pool and the outside terrace from the restaurant have received more shading as well.

Namtib Desert Lodge
Namtib will be closed during the month of June 2011, as from 31 May 2011 up to and including 03 July 2011.  We will still attend to all your e-mails and other booking requests during that time. 

North Namibi in flood (01.04.2011)

For the third consecutive year, president Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia has declared a state of emergency due to heavy rain and subsequent flooding mostly in the northern part of the country. There has been heavy rainfall since January, causing water levels to rise in the Zambezi and Okavango rivers. Around 62 people are reported to have drowned and thousands more are displaced. The government has authorised N$30 million in relief funds to assist residents and for crops and infrastructure that have been destroyed. Local Namibian media are also reporting that a health crisis is looming as 22 clinics are flooded and surrounded by water. To make matter worse, more flooding is still expected from Angola over the next two weeks. The Namibia Tourism Board issued the following statement: “We have not received any formal notifications from any of the stakeholders yet. However, the situation as it looks, is rather serious in the northern part of the country. There are roads that have been totally swept away, however the roads that we are aware of to date,‘do not’ include many of the tourist routes. There are some establishments in the north as well that are reported to be totally inaccessible but again, those are not among the ones that you find in our packages etc. “Overall, our historical and normal routes remain safe to travellers.” Following concerns about rising waters in far northern Namibia and north-eastern Namibia, the individual lodge statuses are as follows:

• Hakusembe River Lodgehas reopened with two rooms and the floating chalet but water levels may rise at short notice. Please call to check in advance.

• Impalila Island Lodge - the lodge is operating as normal. The airstrip is closed, and guests are being transferred by boat from Kasane.

• Lianshulu Lodge - the lodge is operating as normal.

• Namushasha Country Lodge- the lodge is operating as normal. Follow the clearly marked detour signs.

• Ndhovu Safari Lodge- the lodge is operating as normal but due to swamping of the access road, guests will be transported from the parking lot to the lodge by boat. The campsite is closed.

• Ntwala Island Lodge- the lodge is operating as normal. The airstrip is closed, and guests are being transferred by boat from Kasane.

• Susuwe Island Lodge - the lodge is operating as normal. 4x4 off-road travel and activities that require 4x4 vehicles may be cancelled, depending on conditions. Guests should be advised to keep to the main highway and other well-travelled routes. Road conditions should be established on departure by asking at reception or by calling the destination ahead.

News from Hobatere Lodge: Closed until further notice (17.03.2011)

We regret to inform you that the likelihood of Hobatere Lodge being able to continue in the future as before is not clear. They are doing all they can to ascertain Hobatere’s future in the tourism industry but it is less than clear at the present time to know what the future decision will be. You have our assurance that as soon as the authorities indicate their intentions in this regard all operators and loyal supporters will be informed immediately.
As their contract to manage and run the concession has not yet been renewed, we hope you will understand that it is impossible for them to guarantee any future reservations. We tender our sincere apologies for any inconvenience which their state of uncertainty may be causing, but tat the moment they cannot hold to their declared expectation of being able to re-open the lodge on 1 May 2011.
We will let you know as soon as we have any further clarity regarding the future of Hobatere and have this information relayed on to you.

Public holidays in March (15.03.2011)

Please note Namibia Reservations is closed on the 21.03.2011 (Independence Day),
All requests and emails will be answered on Tueday 22.03.2011.

Waterberg Guestfarm credit card facilities are off-line (23.02.2011)

Due to work being done to the telephone lines , Waterberg Guest Farm will have no credit card facilities for at least the next two months.
Please take along enough cash to cover any expenses.

News from the Gondwana Collection (21.02.2011)

It’s a verdant Desert
The clay pan of Sossusvlei in the heart of the Namib, surrounded by the highest dunes on earth, has turned into a big lake. A few days ago those who wanted to see this rare spectacle of nature had to walk for 5 km because the seasonal Tsauchab River, which flows into Sossusvlei, had swept away part of the gravel road to the vlei. The eastern fringe of the Namib Desert, which you pass on the way to Sossusvlei, has turned into a vast silvery-green sea of grass. At Namib Desert Lodge, nestled at the foot of the fossilized dunes, a bank of sand had to be heaped up to protect the lodge from flooding.

The Kalahari Desert in eastern Namibia is also decked out in greenery and blooms. The Auob River flooded the depressions near Stampriet and enclosed the rise on which Kalahari Farmhouse is situated. At times guests had to park their cars at the riverbank and climb onto a hanger to be taken through hundreds of metres of shallow water by tractor. At Aus in the south-westerly parts of the country a kayakist used the opportunity for a trip on the seasonal river in flood.
The monthly figures have beaten all records, at least since the time that rainfall results were recorded. Here are this season’s figures (from 1 September 2010):
Etosha Safari Lodge & Camp at Etosha National Park – 274.8 mm (annual average: approx. 300 mm; in February alone: 99.8 mm).
Damara Mopane Lodge near Khorixas - 306 mm (approx. 150 mm / 139.8 mm)
Kalahari Anib Lodge northeast of Mariental – approx. 300 mm (approx. 250 mm / no data available). Kalahari Farmhouse near Stampriet – 275.4 mm (approx. 250 mm / 112.0 mm).
Namib Desert Lodge north of Sossusvlei/Sesriem – 258.6 mm (approx. 100 mm / 160.6 mm).
Cañon Roadhouse east of the Fish River Canyon – 74.7 mm (approx. 80 mm / 64.6 mm).
Klein-Aus Vista near Aus – 103.4 mm (approx. 80 mm / 97.8 mm).

The rainfalls have washed away parts of gravel and tar roads and caused potholes. A roughly 50 metre section of the B 3 main road between Karasburg and Ariamsvlei in the southeast has been eroded. Repairs are expected to take two to three months. In the meantime travellers have to make a detour. Some passes on the escarpment between the central plateau and the coastal plains of the Namib can only be negotiated by four-wheel drive at present.

In Etosha National Park a bus with a tour group got stuck in a waterhole and had to be pulled out. Damara Mopane Lodge near Khorixas had no problems with flooding but there were constant power failures. Guests nevertheless had a pleasant stay thanks to the lodge’s own generator - and candles.

The dams have filled up. The sluice gates of Hardap Dam near Mariental, the country’s largest reservoir, had to be opened several times already to avoid overflowing. Hardap dams up the Fish River which nevertheless flowed in full width several hundred kilometres further south, in the Fish River Canyon. South Africa has also had a lot of rain. When the Gariep/Orange River, which forms Namibia’s southern border, burst its banks several weeks ago lodgings and fields of grapes were flooded, and the ferry service at Sendelingsdrift had to be suspended.

Impalila Island Refurbishment and news of Islands in Africa (02.02.2011)

In anticipation of the coming season, renovation is currently underway. Ntwala Island Lodge is undergoing general maintenance, while Impalila Island Lodge is enjoying a facelift with both structural and major soft refurbishment taking place - these improvements include the main lodge facilities as well as the chalets. As a consequence of the work being completed, under supervision of new management, Impalila Island Lodge is at present closed but will reopen in time for Valentine's Day on the 14th February 2011.

Though the Zambezi has begun to rise - as it is wont to do at this time of the year - the quality of the tiger fishing indicates the existing health of the river. In late January, productive angling was enjoyed at the lodges with a trio of specimen "water dogs" exceeding the 8 kg mark being landed.

At Susuwe Island Lodge on the Kwando River, feverish excitement prevailed when guests sighted lion cubs in the company of their parents near Little Serengeti. From the "vocalising" taking place from the males, it seems they are still intent on remaining active within their territory despite the inclement weather patterns. Encouragingly too, leopard sightings are becoming more frequent.

Flooding of the Okavango River and Mariental area (25.01.2011)

Leading Lodges of Africa has informed us of the following:

• Please be advised that the road from Mariental to the Intu Afrika Private Game Reserve is flooded.
  If you plan to travel in that direction without a 4x4 vehicle, please rather drive via Kalkrand.
• The Okavango River has started to rise at an alarming speed. It has already reached much higher levels now than it had the same time last year. The first floodings have been reported along the river and we expect more floods to occur in the coming weeks. Divava Okavango Lodge & Spa is in the fortunate position to be located on higher grounds and they do not experience flooding of the lodge or the access roads. Please continue to travel to the Okavango. The area needs your support and even during the floods the Kavango and Caprivi remain an unbelievable natural spectacle.

Fire at Hobatere Lodge (06.01.2011)

Hobatere Lodge has infomed us about the unfortunate incident at Hobatere Lodge last night. The main building consisting of the restaurant, bar, curio shop, reception and library together with the admin offices burned down. All reservations that have been implicated due to this have been taken care of and once we have more information on the operations of the Lodge, we will inform you.
We thank everyone for their support and understanding during this trying time.