Namibia: The Portfolio news from Frans Indongo Lodge, Huab Lodge and Kifaru Lodge

The Portfolio

Newsy bits from four of our lodge partners

Frans Indongo Lodge:

The swimming pool at Frans Indongo Lodge needs to undergo urgent repairs and will not be available to clients for the remainder of this week.

The sun loungers and area around the swimming pool are still accessible to clients, it is only the swimming pool itself that is not available this week. 

Hopefully the current cold front would preclude anyone from wanting to brave the water, but we do apologise for any inconvenience that these repairs may cause.

Huab Lodge:

The new HUAB LODGE WEBSITE has gone live! 

There is a phenomenal bird list that you can spend many a happy hour trawling through!

Nkasa Lupala Tented Camp:

Please take note of the new cell phone number for Nkasa Lupala Tented Camp.

Please update your client documents and address books accordingly.

Kifaru Luxury Lodge & Bush Camp:

There have been some instances recently where clients have been given the incorrect information, directions and contact numbers for Kifaru Luxury Lodge and Bush Camp.

Rules and regulations for Rhino Tracking on Foot and Breakfast with the African Unicorns:

1. These activities are only available for adults and children above 12 years of age.  A parent or legal guardian must accompany minors.

2. A maximum of 8 participants per walk will be allowed for safety reasons; a group bigger than 8 people is difficult to handle and compromises the group's safety in an emergency.

3. The guide reserves the right to decide if guests are physically & emotionally able to do the tracking activity; rhinos are wild animals and potentially dangerous. Our guides will not put any person or any rhinos life at risk. The guide's decision is final.

4. Regrettably, we cannot accommodate people with any disability/handicap restricting swift movement due to the terrain covered and the safety factor.

5. The guide will not be persuaded, talked into or bullied into doing anything by a guest, tour /operator, bookings agent or anyone else that he/she does not feel comfortable & safe to do.

6. Participants depend on the guide for their safety and for guidance. The guide ranger should always therefore be obeyed. Failure to co-operate in this respect could lead to the immediate cancellation of the activity.

7. Our guides will not do any activity or let an individual participate in any activity if he/she feels it is not safe, possible or legal.

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Namibia: new Huab Lodge | Хуаб Лодж Намибия

New Year, New Huab Lodge!

After a hiatus of nearly two years, Huab Lodge has re-opened its doors to welcome tourists!

The new owners, Deon and Lidia Brummer, come to Huab Lodge from a conservation background and are very proud to take the lodge into this next era, building on the foundation that Jan and Suzi van der Reep laid.

Huab Lodge was originally founded in 1992 to help generate funds for the conservation of the desert-adapted elephants that roam this remote stretch of Damaraland, and conservation remains central to the Huab Lodge ethos.

Huab Lodge is situated at the end of a 35 km cul de sac, so it is the ideal place to stop over for a few nights, explore the ephemeral Huab and Aba-Huab Rivers in search of the desert adapted elephants and experience 'The Huab Sound of Silence'.

The main area:

The unique main building blends well into its surroundings, with the irregular thatch roof mirroring the mountain range on the southern banks of the river. Open on all sides, you are offered striking views of the swimming pool, and along the river valley. The reception area has been moved to a newly built area next to the main lapa.

In keeping with the ambiance at Huab, meals are enjoyed at a family table.

The chalets:

The 8 chalets are all situated along the northern banks of the Huab River, offering magnificent views down the valley.

Each chalet has a large private patio and is tastefully furnished with two extra-long double beds. Large windows and sliding doors allow in both light and a view across the Huab. There is in fact no need to even close the curtains – rather watch the stars and listen to the calls of owls and barking geckos as you drift off to sleep.

The Activities:

Thermal Spring: At Huab Lodge you can enjoy the soothing benefits of the natural thermal spring which bubbles up out of the ground at about 60 degrees Celsius but is maintained in the ‘bath’ at between 37 and 40 degrees.

Ephemeral River Drive: This full day activity starts with a quick 7am coffee before departing in the direction of the ephemeral Huab River 

With fences having, for the most part, been removed in the Damaraland area, the desert-adapted elephant are free to roam the entire area and the morning will be spent exploring both the Huab and Aba-Huab rivers, in search of these magnificent behemoths.

Early Morning Walk: Offered either before or after breakfast,  the best time to do these walks is before the sun reaches its zenith as, even in winter, temperatures can rise to 30 degrees during the day and most animals prefer to find shelter during that time of the day.  Longer walking routes for the fitter, or more adventurous guest, can be offered though.

Scenic and/or Sundowner Drive: A drive is offered in a game viewer vehicle, departing the lodge after breakfast to explore the nature reserve and the beauty of the morning.

Another drive is offered in the late afternoon, taking in the magnificent Namibian sunset, along, of course, with the obligatory sundowner!

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Namibia: ResDest & The Portfolio

ResDest & The Portfolio

In this newsflash we have updates on:

The Portfolio and ResDest

Huab Lodge

Otjiwa Safari Lodge

Kunene River Lodge 

Okutala Etosha Lodge

The Portfolio - and ResDest

After nearly 20 years in tour operating, Margo Bishop, who spent more than a decade working for ATI Holidays, took the plunge and started her own marketing and representation company in early 2022.

The Portfolio is a completely separate company to Reservation Destination, and - going forward - the business functions will be split between the two entities.

ResDest will be responsible for reservations, rate allocations and administration and The Portfolio will handle marketing queries, newsletter and product updates.

The two companies will work together very closely, so please feel free to direct any questions or queries to either Margo or Suzanne and we will get you the answers and information that you need!

In addition to the ResDest marketing queries, Margo also handles the marketing for Cornerstone Guest House and Frans Indongo Lodge.

Huab Lodge

After a hiatus of nearly two years, Huab Lodge re-opened its door to visitors in the middle of February this year.

The website is still currently under re-development and we are still waiting for the new photos of the rooms, but we do have some interim photos for you.

The original lodge footprint is very much the same, but both the main area and the chalets have been modernised and refurbished.

Lidia and Deon do have plans for future developments and upgrades - so watch this space!

Otjiwa Safari Lodge

In the last newsletter, we announced that Otjiwa Safari Lodge was doing a complete rebuild of the main area at Eagle's Rest and that Mountain Lodge's main area had been refurbished and is looking incredible.

The photographers will be up to take photos and we will share those in due course, but here is something to whet your appetites.

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Namibia: Huab Lodge updates

Huab Lodge in north-western Namibia

This unique lodge on the edge of Damaraland is located at the end of a 30km cul de sac. Built on the northern banks of the Huab River it offers, not only the opportunity to experience the abundant plant-, bird- and wildlife but also the space freedom to breath and revitalise mind, body and soul.

Updates and changes effective Immediately are as follows: 

° No Single Supplement charged for Single room occupancy during the low season (01 Nov - 30 June)

° The lodge can seat maximum 22 people (including children) in the restaurant

° Early Morning Guided Walk, the "bushman's newspaper" is an informative

° 2 km walk which takes about 1.5 hours

° - departs 06:30 (November through to April)

° - departs 07:00 (May through to October)

° Scenic Drive (duration 2 hours)

° - departs 08:30 (November through to April),

° - departs 09:00 (May through to October)

° Sundowner Drive (duration 2 hours)

° - departs at 17:00 (November through to April),

° - departs at 16:00 (May through to October)

° Ephemeral River Drive - a full day's excursion in search of the illusive

° desert-adapted elephants, or if you are really lucky there might also

° be sightings of leopard and other wild life.

° - departs 07:00 all year round

° All excursions with vehicles require a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 8 persons, beverages are included.

° Fly-In guests: the owner of Bay Air in Walvis Bay or Nationwide Air Charters must be contacted in order to sign the necessary indemnity forms to land on the air strip.

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Namibia: Reservation Destination news: Huab, Kifaru and Otjiwa

Reservation Destination

#Namibia #ReservationDestination #Kifaru

Huab & Kifaru are open and Otjiwa refurbishments

New year, new you, new positive outlooks and we are hugely optimistic that this is the year where we will see a resurgence in international travel, and this optimism is shared by our lodges.

They have not been resting on their laurels, but have been working hard, behind the scenes, to ensure a quality travel experience going forward.

Huab Lodge - OPEN

After a hiatus of nearly 18 months, we are absolutely delighted to announce that Huab Lodge has been sold and the lodge, under its new ownership is up an running!

Deon and Lidia have chosen to re-establish the lodge's working relationship with ResDes.

There has been a rate freeze, and the 2020 rates will be valid for the 2022 tourism season, however there have been changes to the packages and structures and we are re-issuing those rates.

Updated images will be shared as soon as they are available - but they great news is that the fencing along the Huab River has been removed, meaning that the elephants are, again, able to roam the length of the river and have been back to Huab Lodge already!

Otjiwa Refurbishments

Otjiwa Lodge is in the process of doing extensive refurbishments.

The main area at Mountain Lodge has already been completed and is looking stunning!

Mountain Lodge is open and they will be refurbishing one suite at a time, so as to not cause any disruption to clients staying at the lodge - they aim to be completed with the entire Mountain Lodge project by November.

Schalk and his team are currently busy with Eagle's Rest. They are doing a complete rebuild on the main areas and this project will be completed by March.

Eagle's Rest is open to guests, and meals are being served at Mountain Lodge.

As soon as we have updated images, we will share these with you and your teams.

Kifaru Luxury Lodge & Bush Camp

Just before the onset of the Covid pandemic in early 2020, Kifaru Luxury Lodge and Bush Camp opened its doors.

Home to the Rhino Momma Project  Kifaru is more than just a luxury lodge, set in the heart of the Namibian bush. 

Kifaru Luxury Lodge and Bush Camp is closely associated with the Rhino Momma Project, which is a not for profit organization with the sole purpose of helping re-establish rhino populations throughout Southern Africa through translocation of individuals, thus ensuring genetic diversity in future generations.

With the remote location and the abundance of animal and birdlife on the reserve, Kifaru is a destination in its own right, and definitely not a stop-over.

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Namibia: road access to Huab Lodge | Хуаб Лодж Намибия

#Namibia #HuabLodge #ХуабЛоджНамибия #Damaraland #Africa #Khorixas #Kamanjab #RainsInNamibia

Road Access To Huab Lodge Affected By Good Rain

Please be advised that the road leading up to Huab Lodge have been affected by recent good rain and is in a bad condition for normal sedan vehicle driving.

Kindly inform our mutual clients that road D2670, the last stretch of about 35 km towards Huab Lodge from road C35, is in a pretty bad condition. We advise guests traveling to Huab Lodge, please make use of high surface clearance 4x4 vehicles as from today 29 March 2018 and for the next two months (April and May 2018). We expect road condition to return to normal by late May 2018 however we caution for any possible prolonged bad conditions.

Huab Lodge is situated halfway between Khorixas and Kamanjab in the north-west region of Namibia. It is accessible via tarred and all-weather gravel roads without 4x4 vehicles, except perhaps in the rainy season. Even a 4x4 cannot compete with roaring rivers so please do not attempt to cross these!

Driving Directions to the Lodge:

From Outjo you can cut off about 70 km by first heading 10 km towards Okaukuejo on the C38, then turn left for a further 40 km on the tar towards Kamanjab on the C40. Turn left again onto the D3236. At the T-junction with the C35 turn north toward Kamanjab for 15 km and just after the narrow bridge take the D2670 road left/west sign-posted to Huab Lodge. The road becomes more and more breath-taking the further you drive, and you arrive at Huab Lodge after 35km. Driving time 2.5hours.
From Khorixas or Kamanjab driving takes about 1.5 hours, at a safe speed, but without stopping to smell the flowers!

Lodge coordinates: -19.972151, 14.761381

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