Namibia: Top Four Sustainable Eco Lodges

Top Four Sustainable Eco Lodges In Namibia

Namibia recognised that to safeguard its precious resources, they’d have to make some collaborative efforts. Today, the government, private sector, and local communities collaborate to protect ecological resources here.

With this vision in mind, sustainable tourism and localised initiatives are now commonplace. These initiatives have helped to preserve endangered wildlife and land. Additionally, they ensure local livelihoods are protected and even enhanced. From remote desert lodges to luxury hideaways, the following eco lodges in Namibia proudly advocate sustainable travel.

1. Damaraland Camp

Championing sustainable tourism ideals doesn’t mean compromising on luxury. And nowhere does that statement ring truer than Damaraland Camp.

Nestled in the heart of the Torra Conservancy in north-western Namibia, Damaraland Camp is encircled by some of the most dramatic and stunning landscapes in Southern Africa. Many visitors are drawn to the camp owing to its remote location. This allows for more peace and quiet reflection. Especially wonderful under star-strewn skies!

After a quick scan of the arid landscape, you could be forgiven for thinking nothing ever grows here. However, that’s the beauty of Namibia: expect the unexpected. Look closely, and you’ll find an abundance of desert-adapted animals and plants that are absolutely thriving.

Satisfying the needs of the luxury safari traveller, the camp boasts ten stunning adobe-style chalets. Each of these come with a range of modern amenities. These include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee makers, and blow driers.

Feeling the desert heat? Guests can dive into the huge, sparkling swimming pool during their stay. They’ll also enjoy first-class cuisine in the magnificent dining area. But that’s not even the best part. Get this: guides here can lead you to families of elephants that live in the desert!

Since the camp’s inception in 1996, it’s been instrumental in championing eco values and supporting both education and conservation in the local area. In fact, all this work culminated in a Sustainable Travel Award in 2017.

One of the best eco lodges in Namibia for: food! The full English or vegetarian breakfasts here are famous.

2. Desert Homestead

Set against a jaw-dropping backdrop of rocky mountains lies Desert Homestead. This eco lodge blends into its natural environment of grassy plains and sprawling sand dunes perfectly.

Guests will find accommodations that boast natural linens, stylish wooden furniture and huge windows. And of course, views of endless desert scenery! Other features guests love include: a cosy library, fully-stocked bar, spacious lounge and refreshing pool. The staff at Desert Homestead are super-professional and friendly. You can rest assured they’ll go above and beyond to make your stay extra special.

Location-wise, Desert Homestead lies in the Namiba Tsaris Conservancy. This a 150,000 hectare private reserve adjacent to NamibRand in the west. Wondering what to do? Try a trip to the famous Sossusvlei. There, visitors can take photographs of some of the world’s largest sand dunes. Hot air balloon rides, as well as sundowner game drives, are other popular activities.

In line with the lodge’s commitment to sustainable tourism, all amenities are powered by solar energy. As well as producing their own electricity, Desert Homestead ensure that all the produce they serve is sourced from nearby farms. This helps to support local communities.

But there’s more! All profits earned by the lodge are invested in the maintenance of the Ondili Nature Reserve. Which means by staying here, you’re essentially promoting the survival of local flora and fauna.

One of the best eco lodges in Namibia for: viewing wildlife. You’re likely to see everything from lions to gerbils! You can also tailor-make your own safari tour.

3. Serra Cafema

Located close to the magical Kunene River, Serra Cafema Camp is widely considered as one of the best places to stay during a luxury Namibia safari. A magical oasis situated on the Marienfluss Conservancy, here guests can escape reality, indulge their every luxury whim and experience life-changing excursions.  

Guests stay in one of ten canvas-and-thatch villas. Each one boasts a large private lounge, elegant beds, and intimate viewing decks complete with sun beds. The privacy here makes it the perfect place for a honeymoon!

Bush walks, relaxing boat trips and sunset drives give you a flavour of just some of the incredible activities you can experience. Uniquely, Serra Cafema is also one of a select few camps that offer guests the opportunity to engage with the semi-nomadic Himba Tribe.

Emphasising their commitment to sustainable initiatives, the camp runs on a hybrid power system. Owing to Serra Cafema’s work supporting the local Himba, as well as tireless wildlife conservation efforts, the camp is recognised as being extremely sustainable travel friendly.

One of the best eco lodges in Namibia for: luxury accommodation, getting to know the local culture

4. Shipwreck Lodge

Namibia’s Skeleton Coast is vast and desolate. It’s also famed for the ships that have perished attempting to charter treacherous stretches of the Atlantic. In homage to these stricken ships, the magnificent Shipwreck Lodge comprises ten charming chalets. Each features a design clearly inspired by fallen vessels.

All the chalets come with a luxury private bathroom and viewing deck. Guest rooms also feature a wood-burning stove, which is handy as the Skeleton Coast region regularly experiences cooler temperatures. In the communal area, visitors can socialise at the charming bar and enjoy some world-class cuisine in the lodge’s dining room.

Thrill seekers can go sand boarding or hot air ballooning, and of course, safaris are available. At Cape Cross, guests will marvel at the sight of over 200,000 Cape Fur seals.

One of the best eco lodges in Namibia for: strong sustainability efforts. In fact, the Shipwreck has received the Green Flower Eco Award in recognition of their waste management, conservation and energy practices.

www.traveltonamibia.com
YouTube: Exploring Namibia TV

Purchase photo/4K video: portfolio1 portfolio2
Aerial photo/video service/inquiries: info@traveltonamibia.com

Telegram: ExploringNamibia

The 12 best things to do and places to explore in Namibia

The 12 best things to do and places to explore in Namibia

Garth Owen-Smith once said of the Kaokoveld, one of the wildest places in Namibia: ‘The region is stark and hostile, but in the early morning and late afternoon light, when the basalt rocks turn to the color of rust, and the distant mountains to soft shades of purple and blue, it can also be breathtakingly beautiful.’

It’s places and descriptions like that which have long lured South Africans to our northern neighbour. We go for the surreal landscapes, roadside cafes, unusual wildlife, and the sense of exploration that comes with a road trip into that vast and dazzling wilderness of Namibia. If you feel its pull, consider all of these stops well worth your time.

1. Explore the deserted town of Kolmanskop

This ghost town just outside of Luderitz is as eerie as it gets. The town sprung up in the desert when diamonds were found littering the dunes, but when bigger diamonds were discovered elsewhere in Namibia, the town’s inhabitants moved on. The last people left around 60 years ago and since then, the desert has taken over the buildings. You can go on a tour of the bowling alley, dairy, butchery, town hall, and some of the houses, learning about how the 300 Germans lived in the inhospitable environment.

2. Hike the Fish River Canyon

As one of the largest canyons in the world, the Fish River Canyon makes for one of the most unique hiking trails in Africa. Its surreal landscape will make even the most blasé of travellers fall in love with this place. The canyon is a whopping 160km long and almost 30km wide, giving you some of the most dramatic scenery in the world to enjoy. There are a few trails to hike and vary depending on how tough you’d like your hike to be.

3. Spend a morning or three at Etosha National Park

Etosha National Park covers more than 20, 000 sq-km and is one of the most unique reserves in Africa. Everything revolves around the watering holes bringing all animals close together to drink. At dusk, you’ll find all kinds of species of animals making their way to the waterhole for a drink. The wildlife activity goes on all night with elephants, giraffes, rhinos, and even lions if you are lucky.

4. Just drive

The D826 and C27 are considered the most scenic roads in the whole country. Think long, straight, red, dusty roads surrounded by mountains, silvery swathes of grassy plains punctuated with terracotta dunes. And silence. You’ll only pass a car occasionally.

5. Hike the Tok Tokkie Trail

This three-day desert experience will see you walk for the day over sand dunes and in the vast landscape of the NamibRand Nature Reserve. Camps include a semi-permanent kitchen set up on a hill with ‘bedrooms’ spread out from it, which consist of two stretchers with bedrolls and a paraffin lamp. Think three-course meals, fantastic guides, hot water bottles, stargazing and waking up to a sunrise from bed.

6. Hot air balloon over the Namib Desert

Taking off at dawn, you’ll watch the sunrise over the Namib-Naukluft National Park, fly over dunes that look otherworldly, gaze down on gemsbok and drift over the endless spans of orange dunes contrasting with a large white salt pan island. A bird’s eye view of the massive desert and both its rocky and sandy character puts Sossusvlei into perspective.

7. Climb a dune at Sossusvlei

Dune 45 is 150 m of burning orange sand dune in Sossusvlei. Hiking to the top won’t be the easiest morning you have in Namibia but the sunrise from the top is worth it. This is what many visitors to Namibia come to see – the iconic red dunes of the Namib. The nearby Dead Vlei – a big cracked mud plain dotted with dead trees – is just as captivating. The trees are thought to be around 1,000 years old. They’re not petrified, but rather haven’t decomposed because the air is so dry here. 

8. Relax in Swakopmund

Namibia is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world, but this seaside city of 44,000 people is a must-visit while in the country. The town has a relaxed atmosphere with lots of local eateries and specialty shops. It’s an excellent place to base yourself for a few days with lots of top attractions nearby.

9. Wonder at the rock art at Twyfelfontein

ǀUi-ǁAis is the official name for the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Twyfelfontein and is the largest concentration of rock carvings (2,500) in all of Africa – and totally worth a visit when you’re in Namibia. With prehistoric hunter-gatherer rock engravings that date back more than 6000 years and petrified forests at its doorstep, Twyfelfontein makes an obvious choice for travellers wanting to explore one of Namibia’s most enigmatic locations. Just make sure to pack lots of water and an umbrella and hats. There’s little to no shade around there and it can get very hot around midday.

10. Marvel at the Cape Cross seals

It’s not just lions and elephants that you can see in Namibia – the coast is famous for the Cape Cross Seal Reserve, a place where you can come and see 100s of Cape Fur Seals. The Benguela current is home to a big population of fish so you can rest assured that the seals aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

11. Climb at Spitzkoppe

Known locally as the Matterhorn of the south, Spitzkoppe is a 120 million-year-old chunk of granite that springs out of the desert floor. It’s a 1,784-metre tall rock formation surrounded by nothing but miles and miles of flat desert. If you make a visit, staying the night is a must and choose between a chalet at Spitzkoppe Lodge or the campsite. 

12. Stargaze in the desert

The dry cool desert air at night is perfect for gazing up into the night sky. Without moisture in the air, the night sky is crystal clear and stars are very visible. If you want to stargaze, try plan your time during a new moon as the less light in the sky will make the stars shine even brighter.

www.traveltonamibia.com
YouTube: Exploring Namibia TV

Purchase photo/4K video: portfolio1 portfolio2
Aerial photo/video service/inquiries: info@traveltonamibia.com

Telegram: ExploringNamibia

Namibia: railway history

A new era

And as for the railway, although animal- and man-drawn wheeled vehicles were pulled along grooves in limestone in the 6th century BC in Greece, and horse-powered funiculars and wagonways were in use in mid-16th century Germany, modern rail transport only began in Britain with steam locomotives carrying goods in 1802 and passengers in 1825. Trains and ships allowed access across the continents and over the oceans, heralding a new era for transportation and travel.

In Namibia

The first railway line in Namibia was a 21-kilometre track that was constructed in 1895 to transport pelts and guano to awaiting ships at Cape Cross, north of Swakopmund. The outbreak of rinderpest in 1897 had a devastating effect on the oxen and ox-wagon transport, which until then had been the country’s main means of transport. It motivated the construction of the railway line from Swakopmund to Windhoek, which reached Windhoek in 1902. From 1905 to 1907 the Lüderitz to Keetmanshoop line was constructed during the Nama uprising to convey supplies to troops. Stretch by stretch, the Namibian towns were linked by railways conveying goods and passengers, and bustling stations emerged along the routes. While many local labourers were involved in the construction of the Namibian railway - including forced labour in the early years, in 1904 there was a shortage of labourers and Europeans (mostly Italians) were brought in as the work force.

Upon commencement of their contracts, they found that the working conditions were harsh and the payment considerably less than they were promised, triggering the first railway strikes. During the depression years in the 1920s work on the railway was offered to "blanken" - whites - (as seen in the 1921 newspaper advert), who were agreeable to work with pick and shovel, in a job-creation initiative. More than a hundred years after the first railway track was laid in the coastal desert at Cape Cross, there is now almost 3000km of railway track running through Namibia, linked by bridges, of which the iconic Avis Bridge is one of the more noteworthy.

YouTube video of Windhoek Railway Bridge:

Today, the steam trains of the bygone era have been replaced by diesel locomotives. And as for the Avis railway bridge, there is little traffic, only a train that occasionally travels along it, conveying fuel to the airport. More often, it is occupied by a troop of baboons relaxing along its struts, enjoying the vantage point, or it is used as an interesting photo backdrop by honeymoon couples and photography groups.

It doesn’t take much, however, to take a leap of the imagination into the previous century when steam trains were busily transporting goods along the line. The Avis railway bridge still stands proudly spanning the Klein Windhoek River, as if cognisant of the important part it once played in Namibian history.

www.traveltonamibia.com
YouTube: Exploring Namibia TV

Purchase photo/4K video: portfolio1 portfolio2
Aerial photo/video service/inquiries: info@traveltonamibia.com

Telegram: ExploringNamibia

Namibia: West Coast shipwrecks: "Naustilus" & "Norma" | Кораблекрушения у западного побережья Намибии

Namibia: West Coast shipwrecks: "Naustilus" & "Norma" | Кораблекрушения у западного побережья Намибии

Facebook groups:

NAMIBIA

SKELETON COAST NATIONAL PARK

SHIPWRECKS

66. "Naustilus"

Date: 06.03.1919

Possession Island

66.1. "Norma"

The fishing vessel that foundered near Cape Cross.

Date: 1969

Cape Cross

www.traveltonamibia.com
YouTube: Exploring Namibia TV

Purchase photo/4K video: portfolio1 portfolio2
Aerial photo/video service/inquiries: info@traveltonamibia.com
Telegram: ExploringNamibia

Namibia: Windhoek Avis railway bridge

A new era

And as for the railway, although animal- and man-drawn wheeled vehicles were pulled along grooves in limestone in the 6th century BC in Greece, and horse-powered funiculars and wagonways were in use in mid-16th century Germany, modern rail transport only began in Britain with steam locomotives carrying goods in 1802 and passengers in 1825.

Trains and ships allowed access across the continents and over the oceans, heralding a new era for transportation and travel.

And, in Namibia . . .

The first railway line in Namibia was a 21-kilometre track that was constructed in 1895 to transport pelts and guano to awaiting ships at Cape Cross, north of Swakopmund. The outbreak of rinderpest in 1897 had a devastating effect on the oxen and ox-wagon transport, which until then had been the country’s main means of transport. It motivated the construction of the railway line from Swakopmund to Windhoek, which reached Windhoek in 1902. From 1905 to 1907 the Lüderitz to Keetmanshoop line was constructed during the Nama uprising to convey supplies to troops. Stretch by stretch, the Namibian towns were linked by railways conveying goods and passengers, and bustling stations emerged along the routes.

While many local labourers were involved in the construction of the Namibian railway – including forced labour in the early years, in 1904 there was a shortage of labourers and Europeans (mostly Italians) were brought in as the work force. Upon commencement of their contracts, they found that the working conditions were harsh and the payment considerably less than they were promised, triggering the first railway strikes. During the depression years in the 1920s work on the railway was offered to ‘blankes’ – whites – (as seen in the 1921 newspaper advert), who were agreeable to work with pick and shovel, in a job-creation initiative. More than a hundred years after the first railway track was laid in the coastal desert at Cape Cross, there is now almost 3000 km of railway track running through Namibia, linked by bridges, of which the iconic Avis is one of the more noteworthy.

YouTube video of Avis railway bridge:

Today, the steam trains of the bygone era have been replaced by diesel locomotives. And as for the Avis railway bridge, there is little traffic, only a train that occasionally travels along it, conveying fuel to the airport. More often, it is occupied by a troop of baboons relaxing along its struts, enjoying the vantage point, or it is used as an interesting photo backdrop by honeymoon couples and photography groups.

It doesn’t take much, however, to take a leap of the imagination into the previous century when steam trains were busily transporting goods along the line. The Avis railway bridge still stands proudly spanning the Klein Windhoek River, as if cognisant of the important part it once played in Namibian history.

www.traveltonamibia.com
YouTube: Exploring Namibia TV

Purchase photo/4K video: portfolio1 portfolio2
Aerial photo/video service/inquiries: info@traveltonamibia.com

Telegram: ExploringNamibia

Namibia: Atlantic West Coast shipwrecks: "Hendrik Ibsen" & "Henrietta Spasheti" | Кораблекрушения Намибии

Namibia: West Coast shipwrecks: "Hendrik Ibsen" & "Henrietta Spasheti" | Кораблекрушения у западного побережья Намибии

Facebook groups:

NAMIBIA

SKELETON COAST NATIONAL PARK

SHIPWRECKS

38. "Hendrik Ibsen"

Date: 1896

Cape Cross

There is a small graveyard near the seal colony at Cape Cross, bordering Atlantic Ocean with old weathered wooden crosses as witnesses of harsh conditions endured by the men on the isolated barren coastline without adequate supplies of fresh fruit and vegetables that made them susceptible to scurvy. The ships that carried supplies and transported the Cape Cross riches back to Europe were carriers of disease and their sailors were prone to scurvy. Without a harbour and with the strong seas and winds, several ships were wrecked along the coastline, including the Norwegian ship Hendrik Ibsent that sank off Cape Cross. One of the survivors, August Hasselund, subsequently worked for the Damaraland Guano Company for many years. After World War I he again worked at Cape Cross for another concessionaire and died in 1959.

39. "Henrietta Spasheti"

Date: 14.07.1968

165 nautical miles north of Walvis Bay, near Koigabmond

"Henrietta Spasheti", the 90-foot trawler, ran aground on 14 July 1968 while moving inshore to fix their bearings, under command of Captain W.S. Gillion. The incident occurred 165 miles north of Walvis Bay. The crew of ten was able to get ashore safely in a life raft. Police Landrovers under command of G. Brand and Port Captain Bob Harding brought them back to Walvis Bay. This wreck can be seen at the most southern border of Torra Bay. Nature Conservation erected a signboard north of the Ugab River, on the Torra Bay road.

www.traveltonamibia.com
YouTube: Exploring Namibia TV
Purchase photo/4K video: portfolio1 portfolio2

Aerial photo/video service/inquiries: info@traveltonamibia.com

Namibia: Atlantic West Coast shipwrecks: "Fukuseki Maru" & "Gamsberg" | Кораблекрушения Намибии

Namibia: West Coast shipwrecks: "Fukuseki Maru" & "Gamsberg" | Кораблекрушения у западного побережья Намибии

Facebook groups:

NAMIBIA

SKELETON COAST NATIONAL PARK

SHIPWRECKS

30. "Fukuseki Maru"

Date: 22 March 2018

Mile 108

GPS: -21.308333, 13.695838

MVF "Fukuseki Maru No 7", Japanese tuna fishing longliner vessel ran aground near Mile 108, south of Ugab River estuary, near Durissa Bay, on 22 March 2018. The ship was en-route with tuna catch from Angola fishing grounds to Walvis Bay. It grounded on coastal rocks, crew evacuated. Navigational error was the cause of this accident.

IMO 9141223, Call sign JEKB, GT 577, built 1996, flag Japan.

Present wreck's location GPS coordinates: -21.308333, 13.695838.

31. "Gamsberg"

Date: 02 June 1981

Sandwich Harbour

www.traveltonamibia.com
YouTube: Exploring Namibia TV

Purchase photo/4K video: portfolio1 portfolio2

Aerial photo/video service/inquiries: info@traveltonamibia.com

Namibia: Atlantic West Coast shipwrecks: "Forester" & "Frotamerica" | Кораблекрушения Намибии

Namibia: West Coast shipwrecks: "Forester" & "Frotamerica" | Кораблекрушения у западного побережья Намибии

Facebook groups:

NAMIBIA

SKELETON COAST NATIONAL PARK

SHIPWRECKS

28. "Forester"

Date: February 1897

Cape Cross

The sailing vessel "Forester" was grounded at Cape Cross in February 1897.

29. "Frotamerica"

Date: 25.03.2013

Near Anichab Rocks

The Brazilian 35 000 tons bulk cargo Frotamerica, built in 1979 by Estaleiro Ilha, on tow by MV SKUA to the scrapers, lost her tow and was wrecked near Anichab Rocks on 25 March 2013, no casualties reported.

The wreckage and oil pollution present a threat to wildlife along the coast.

www.traveltonamibia.com
YouTube: Exploring Namibia TV
Purchase photo/4K video: portfolio1 portfolio2

Aerial photo/video service/inquiries: info@traveltonamibia.com

Namibia: Atlantic West Coast shipwrecks: "Erycina" & "Flora" | Кораблекрушения Намибии

Namibia: West Coast shipwrecks: "Erycina" & "Flora" | Кораблекрушения у западного побережья Намибии

Facebook groups:

NAMIBIA

SKELETON COAST NATIONAL PARK

SHIPWRECKS

26. "Erycina"

Date: 04.09.1896

Cape Cross

In 1896, the "Erycina", a sailing Norwegian bark vessel belonging to the Damaraland Guano Company sank while it was offloading coal and supplies and loading guano destined for the U.K. when strong winds blew her ashore. Additional pumps were supplied at Cape Cross, but after two days it was found that she could not be kept afloat. It was finally decided to beach her. "Erycina"'s crew was taken back to Europe by the Woermann Liner, Lothar Bohlen. Over the years many wooden parts of this ship were washed ashore in the bay north of Cape Cross. There are no recognisable traces of "Erycina" today.

27. "Flora"

Date: 31.03.1859

South of Walvis Bay

www.traveltonamibia.com
YouTube: Exploring Namibia TV

Purchase photo/4K video: portfolio1 portfolio2
Aerial photo/video service/inquiries: info@traveltonamibia.com

Namibia: Wlotzkasbaken near Swakopmund - holiday settlement at the west coast

Wlotzkasbaken was named after Paul Wlotzka - a sturdy Prussian coachman to German Senator Pridas’ survey party which capitulated to the invading South African Forces in 1915. Pridas’ party was appointed by the arbitrator, King Alphonso of Spain, to delimit the disputed boundary line between Walvis Bay, under British rule, and the former German South West Africa. As a German, Wlotzka was very fortunate to be able to join this party, probably due to his intimate knowledge of the coastal area. Paul Wlotzka then became a merchant, delivering mail and general necessities to surveyors working north of Swakopmund, using a four-wheel-horse cart, probably up to Cape Cross.

To store water and food for his horses halfway between Swakopmund and the Omaruru mouth, today Henties Bay, Wlotzka erected a little shed made of self fabricated clay bricks about 200 meters from where the beacon is. The exact date is unfortunately unknown. Unfortunately Mr Dougal Bassinghtwaight a later lessee of the plot was forced by the PUDB for unknown reasons to brake down the ruins of Wlotzkas shed and only the rest of the foundations can still be seen today. He obviously spent time fishing near his shed, and brag in the pubs of Swakopmund about the good fishing spot below the beacon of mile 20.

And the locality Wlotzka’s Baken was born.

Others followed suit to fish at the beacon and soon the first campers, like Risser from Osona and Gebser from Maltahöhe, came to stay in tents and makeshift accommodation over the Christmas holidays. In 1936 Risser erected a makeshift hut on today’s plot 45, and in 1938 Dr Waldemar Leitner built the first proper wooden chalet on plot 74.

There was an interval in happenings at Wlotzkasbaken during the Second World War due to the interment of men. It was only after World War II that the SA Administration roughly surveyed and allocated 24 plots to the first part time inhabitants of Wlotzkasbaken. These allocations were done by Mr L.A. Steyn from the Directory of Lands, and signed by a certain Mr Sonnekus. The levy was 5 Pounds and payable at the Magistrate’s Office in Swakopmund. Demand for plots grew and in 1955 Mr Drinkhuth from the Government surveyed 87 erven, numbering them in a rather unorthodox way, reserving plots 95 to 87 for Government use.

The only permanent residents in those days were Claude “Taddy” and wife Annemarie Wecke, grandparents of Peter Mathews. Taddy acted as unofficial mayor of Wlotzkasbaken, allocating plots to prospective lessees and showing them where to erect their dwellings. (See the Wecke story). Mr Wecke was officially appointed by the Administration in 1959 as caretaker to help the police and magistrate with rural sanitary implementations (memorandum BO 41/46). From that date he received a salary of R30.00 per month and was allowed to open a shop on his plot. From 1950 until his official appointment Mr Wecke fulfilled his duties without remuneration. In 1974 his monthly salary was increased to R 100.00, but due to old age he retired in 1975 and passed away in 1976.

The main road from Swakopmund to the north was directly adjacent to plots 5, 13 and 18 to 34 (re old map of 1955), which was unacceptable to the road ordinance of those days. Thus a new road further to the east was constructed in 1958. More space was gained and another 23 plots were surveyed between the old and the new road. Wlotzkasbaken now had 107 plots.

Until 1960 Wlotzkasbaken was administered by the Lands Department and applicants for plots had to have a police clearance with no criminal record. In 1960 the Peri Urban Development Board (further shortly PUDB) was established, which took over the administration of all small towns and villages in the territory. (SWA Administration letter dd 24-8-1972: As from 1 July 1972 Wlotzkasbaken was proclaimed as Peri Urban areaby Mr Franzen in terms of proclamation 45 of 1972. (“Wlotzkasbaken is met ingang 1 Julie 1972 as Buitestedelike Gebied verklaar. Die beheer berus dus nou by die Raad vir Buitestedelike Ontwikkeling.)

As from 1955 plots were leased for a period of five years. The one-year lease contracts came into effect shortly before independence in 1988. Unitl 1960 the annual lease payable was 6 Pounds (N$12), increased by Peri Urban in 1960 to R120, and then again to R150 in 1988.

At an unofficial meeting with the administration on the 10th of April 1964 the homeowners were represented by S.A.Engels, T.Demasius, A.Kiesewetter, D.Mathews, and H.Wilhelm

In a letter dated 20th October 1965 the S.W.A.Administration informed the homeowners that they did away with a waiting list of prospective buyers and that tenants could sell their houses from then on themselves.

1972 Wlotzkas unofficial committee consisted of the following members. H.J. von Hase, D. Mathews, J.H. Visser and W.G.L. Engling.

In 1975 on the 1st of October Adolf Syvertsen was made temporary caretaker with a monthly salary of R200.00. The tanks were leased to him at R 1 per annum and water was supplied at 70 cent per 200 liter.

In 1985 the beach near the beacon was demarcated with rocks to zone off a safer beach area with no vehicles allowed in the zone. It is not known who faced the bill. In 1989 Wolfi Zimmer arranged with Salz Gossow to rearrange the rocks to make the area smaller. Cost involved R 450.00 and paid by the homeowners. Over the coming years most of the rocks disappeared below the sand and only a few can still be seen. This year also saw the introduction of the first official water tanker, a 2 cubic meter unit, purchased by PUDB in Cape Town. (See water story) As Wlotzka developed and more pressure was put on the PUDB, they decided in 1985 that a committee consisting of tenants should be formed so that mutual matters should be discussed on a regular base. So on the 28th of December under the supervision of Mr Blaauw at 8 hours 30, just before the fishing competition started, the first official committee of the Wlotzkabakens Homeowners Association was elected and consisted of S.Engels (chairman), H.Hatz and W.Zimmer. The members were appointed for five years in an advisory capacity.

After demanding a balance sheet for the expenses of Wlotzkasbaken in 1986 it waslearned with dismay that R 5000.00 were spent to resurvey the area and cram 490 erven into Wlotzkasbaken. The Professor from Cape Town who was responsible for the scheme, allocated the job to his students and never saw Wlotzkasbaken in reality. Peri Urban memorandum 17/2W1 dd 21/11/1986. Make available: 490 residential plots 1 plot for administrative purposes 1 Business plot 5 open spaces Giving Wlotzka a village status was discussed but abandoned because the outlay was not according to standards and that there were enough empty erven available in Swakopmund and Henties Bay. In this year consent was given to aero plane owners to develop the old road north east of Wlotzka into a landing strip, Expenses and maintenance at own costs. Road names in memory of old inhabitants was also discussed but never materialized. Ronnie Rabie on plot 10 became the first owner ever to get directly connected to the water pipeline.

December 1986 also saw the founders meeting of Wlotzkabaken “Plot-Renting” Association. Present: J.Powell, M.Hatz, A.Herrle, Mrs.E.Stier, H.Hatz, K.Mc Namara, W.Zimmer, S.Engels, apology K.Eisenberg who also was the first secretary. From the 15th of December 1986 to the 3rd 0f January 1978, Nature conservation erected a tent on the open space and gave lectures and showed films on the coasts ecology. Since the first effort to divide Wlotzkasbaken into 400 erven failed, PU handed out another contract to the consulting firm Plan Medewerker to subdivide the erven to such an extent that a village status could be achieved. This again failed due to costs to develop sewerage and water supply.

In 1987 the first recorded financial statements were drawn up by Maelger & Mai, Otjiwarongo, (Manfred Mai). Voluntary subscription fee was R50 and paid by 74 homeowners, additional donations were made by Kopp and Blohm, R50 each. Surplus cash in bank account R 3931.56.

Again on the 10th of march a letter was received from PU stating that there would be a detailed investigation into declaring Wlotzkasbaken a township and the implementation thereof would be finished by April 1st 1989. The committee replied that the residents are not in favour as already outlined at previous occasions.

The 1988 Financial Report from Maelger & Mai states that only 5 residents paid subs. Subsequently a circular was sent to every ‘plot renter’, reprimanding them to pay the R50 subs per annum, “to enable us to improve facilities over and above those supplied by the State”. At the AGM the problem of free roaming dogs who became a hassle to many occupants was discussed and dog owners were reprimanded to control their pets more efficiently. Christmas 1988 also saw the first recorded arrival of Father Christmas by parachute at Zimmers home. The lease period changed from 5 to 2 years and the yearly rent was R 150.00.

In 1989 a letter from the Administrator General was received stating that the current status quo regarding the administration of Wlotzkasbaken would remain and no village development would be considered. No division of erven would be considered and no addition of permanent structures to existing buildings would be allowed. Property rights would only be considered once Wlotzka is proclaimed a village. The Advisory Committee received a donation of R 100.00 from PUDB towards their beach cleaning operation during the holiday season. Wolfi Zimmer arranged with Salz Gossow that their front-end loader should re arrange the black rocks at the swimming area, to make it smaller. The annual financial report showed cash in Bank R 8595.71 and a further R 250.00 was collected during the “Martepfahl” fishing competition.

1990 Independence year. At the AGM it was decided against security operations in Wlotzkasbaken, although a spate of burglaries had taken place. Main reason being that not everybody would contribute towards the expenses. Advisory committee consisted of H.Hatz, K.mc Namara, J.Powell, Wolfi Zimmer and Secretary Doris Zimmer. The financial report showed a surplus of R 16 459.42 in the bank. The members were also notified that a vehicle for waterman Mr Oosthuizen, for him to travel from Henties to Wlotzka, was bought for R 6000 by Wolfi Zimmer and that every homeowner should contribute R 60 towards this expense.

In mid 1992 a company applied for erecting a Marina at Blackrock Bay south of Wlotzkasbaken. Fortunately for the bay the project never got off the ground. During August a company called Marine Life Namibia applie for a site south of Wlotzka to put up a fish farm. Fortunately they were convinced that Henties Bay was a much better proposition but again this project died in its planning stage. During September Wlotzkasbaken was declared a village in the Government Gazette 479. Since there were too little permanent residents, this decision was reversed and Wlotzkas status was lowered to a settlement. In November PUDB asked the engineering company Bührmann & Partners to investigate the water supply to Wlotzka and to make recommendations on how to improve on the current situation. All thre proposals were far too costly and thus rejected. No financial statements were issued in that year.

Over the weekend 5 to 7 November 1993 members of the community erected 5 new water tanks and a new garage for our water lorry. Total costs N$ 44065.00. This year the Marterpfahl Fishing Competition showed a profit of N$ 4328.84. At the AGM the community members were officially informed that Wlotzka was a Settlement and the Advisory Council was abolished, however the committee changed it’s name to The Homeowners Association of Wlotzkasbaken. All assets, liabilities, rights and obligations would be transferred to the Erongo Regional Council who then would be responsible for the management of the settlement. Financial report showed a retained income of N$ 43342.51. The state was also requested to remove the dilapidated toilets on the beach, but the foundations were forgotten and can still be seen today. For the first time a Moto Cross event was hosted just north of the settlement and Father Christmas arrived at the Marterpfal as he still does today.

The first action of the ERC in January 1994 was to inform the residents of Wlotzka by letter that Permanent residents will be identified and registered as voters in Wlotzkasbaken and that the settlement should be open to all Namibians irrespective of their color, race or origin. On first of April the Ministry proposed that the current lease system should be abolished and that the erven would be rented out according to their size on a monthly base, payable yearly in advance. This was rejected by the homeowners. In April 1994 a meeting was arranged at the house of Wolfi Zimmer with Dr Libertine Amathila, then minister of Local Government and Housing, representatives of her ministry and the Homeowners Committee, after a copy of the following letter by the ERC to the ministry was received. a)”There are virtually no permanent residents living at Wlotskasbaken for the place to be proclaimed a settlement area. In fact it is only a holiday place for people living outside the Erongo Region.

b) There are 107 even or site rentals leased out on PTO basis of which 71 are occupied by Windhoek residents. Four of the erven / sites are occupied by South African citizens –

absentee landlords, listed as follows: Erven 35,55,71, and 98. It can be concluded that these people only use Wlotzkasbaken to exploit the Namibian fishing industry. Since they are only paying N$ 300.00 per annum on site rentals, they do not even contribute to the Namibian economy in terms of paying for hotels / bungalow accommodation etc. When visiting they may travel with all the necessary material, including food, in order not to spend any money in Namibia. There is no stipulation in a lease agreement on foreigners occupying sites on a PTO basis and we would like to be advised within a legal framework. Wlotzkasbaken is an exclusively white-only area, which is a disturbing factor in a Democratic Independent Country. To strike a balance, my council, at it’s meeting held on Friday 2 December 1993 resolved and recommended that:- - The Ministry of Regional and Local Government and Housing should demarcate more erven, or rather subdivide bigger erven into smaller units, to open up the area for all Namibians to enjoy or benefit from the privileges of their independence. - A solution is found on the question of lease agreements granted to people living outside Namibia, absentee landlords. After some facts about Wlotzka were explained to the minister she sounded positive regarding the future of the settlement, but that was the end of the story. Year end the SWABOU account was closed and moved to Standard Bank. Retained income N$ 69180.15.

May 1995 a circular was received from the ERC stating the following message: Please note that an application for the extension of lease period (yearly Basis) is the responsibility of all lessees and cannot be requested from this office. If the extension of lease is not requested by the lessee upon expiry it will be an automatic cancellation. The case was handed over to H.Diekmann and Ass. Who subsequently handled all applications. The same year a letter from Mr E.Wannemacher was received requesting that water was supplied from Wlotzkasbaken to his intended fishing lodge at mile 17. Like other intended projects before this one also never got off the ground. End of November the first analogue telephone boxes were installed by Telekom. The annual AGM saw the presence of Ms Gases and Mr Goethje from the ERC. S. Engels and J. Powell resigned from the committee and the following members were elected. K. mc Namara, W. Zimmer, E. Demasius, H. Diekmann, And P. Heckmair. Mrs. D. Zimmer vacated the post of secretary and was followed up by A. Schidlowski. Retained income N$ 89515.00 and Marterpfahl profit N$ 8525.00 . 1996 the first auditors namely Delloitte $ Touche were employed for the first time. At the AGM W. Zimmer resigned from the committee and J. Traut was elected in his place. P. Heckmair and clan organized the Marterpfahl party and fishing competition for the first time.

In July 1997 the ERC informed the committee that our request to obtain a lease agreement for the area where the garage is situated could not be considered due to plans to adjust the current town layout. In August 1997 the first official house was erected by the ERC for their employees who were responsible for water supply and rubbish removal in the future. A tractor with water trailer was supplied as well as a three wheeled Work Horse for the rubbish removal. Gerson Katambo was employed from September and during the holidays. In November 1997 improvements were made to the water tanks over a weekend by the following home owners. M.Trümper, W.Zimmer, R.Boehme, M.Ihms, I.Kiesewetter, F.Schidlowski and P.Heckmair.Gerson Katambo was employed on a permanent basis. Again a new development was planned at the Black Rocks by Mr Bergendahl of Eco Solutions and again like all before it failed. The Marterpfahl function showed a handsome income of N$ 50965.81.

In 2006 improvements were done to the refuse dump. Fencing material was donated by Peter Mathews and Gerdi Heussen and helpers extended the existing fence so that no debris would create an eye saw for wlotzka baken.

Wlotzkasbaken or Wlotzka's Baken (German: Wlotzka's beacon, often shortened to Wlotzka or Wlotzkas) is a holiday settlement on Namibia's Atlantic coast, situated approximately halfway between Swakopmund and Henties Bay. The area around the village lies within the Dorob National Park and features extensive lichen colonies. Founded as a holiday angling spot in the 1930s, Wlotzkasbaken developed into a settlement of unusual design and administration. Without any fences or boundary walls, privacy is achieved only by the distance between the houses. Titles in the village are held by the Regional Council and only leased to the residents. A legal battle ensued about how to expand the resort without disadvantaging lessees who built houses on land they do not own.

As the expansion of Wlotzkasbaken stopped in the 1970s when recreational developments were exclusively for Whites, it currently still has no residents of previously disadvantaged population groups. The place is named after a trigonometrical beacon, the only one that remained from a land survey along the Skeleton Coast in the 1930s. Paul Wlotzka, a member of the surveying team, chose this place to erect a storage structure to support his frequent horse cart rides between Swakopmund and Henties Bay. He soon discovered that the coastal waters boast an abundance of fish which he caught and sold.

His bragging about the find soon lured more anglers who pitched temporary structures during holidays since approximately 1936. In 1955, 87 erven were surveyed and leased to holiday makers. Later this number was increased to 110. Wlotzkasbaken was proclaimed a peri-urban area in 1972, and a village in 1992. A Government Notice from 1993 converted it back to a settlement area, denying the establishment of a Village Council for self-governance. The place is thus still under the direct jurisdiction of the Regional Council of the Erongo Region, a situation that has been described as a "burden".

www.traveltonamibia.com

YouTube: Exploring Namibia TV

Purchase photo/4K video: portfolio1 portfolio2

Aerial photo/video service/inquiries: info@traveltonamibia.com