News

When one sees the local Rundu inhabitants wading through the Okavango on foot, it is clear: Unfortunately, boat trips for guests at Hakusembe River Lodge have been stopped temporarily. This is due to the low water levels in the river. The Chobe River might also be affected and with it the activities at the Chobe River Camp.

Did you know that Namibia has the largest known intact meteorite in the world! The Hoba Meteorite was declared a national monument in 1955. Today, it can be visited on the Hoba West farm between Tsumeb and Grootfontein in the Otjozondjupa Region; a rare opportunity to touch a shooting star.

The first of November marks a new beginning for the Gondwana Collection, when all of its 821 employees become shareholders. This milestone in the history of the company is part of the recent restructuring of the Gondwana Group with Gondwana Holding Limited now acting as the group’s holding company.

Several Namibian Regions received the first good rainfall at the end of October, while the meteorological authority predicts a normal to just below normal rainfall this rainy season. Petrol and diesel prices remained unchanged this month. The Bank of Namibia kept its repo rate unchanged at 6.75 percent in October. Inflation for September increased slightly to 5.6 percent.

The Gondwana Collection’s newest lodge, the Zambezi Mubala Lodge in the far east of the Zambezi Region, is excitedly awaiting the arrival of the first guests on 1 November. Guests are ferried to the lodge by boat. The boat trip gives guests an idyllic first impression of the spectacular water world of the Zambezi and the spacious lodge along its banks. Zambezi Mubala Lodge offers eighteen luxurious and spacious double rooms, and two family cabins with en-suite bathrooms and stunning views of the river landscape. 

On 21 October 2017, the diamond mining town of Oranjemund will open its doors to visitors for the first time. Up until now, the small town, hidden in the Namib Desert close to the Orange River mouth, has been a restricted mining area. From then onwards, anyone will be able to enter, or drive over the impressive Sir Ernest Oppenheimer Bridge to Alexander Bay on the South African side. This opens huge economic prospects for this hidden gem in the Namibian Desert, including tourism.

‘Quiche, hazelnut cheesecake, white-wood furniture . . . what’s not to like about this fine little lunch and breakfast spot that makes a priority of fresh ingredients and friendly service? Oh, and there’s great coffee, art on the walls, free wi-fi and so much more.’ (Lonely Planet) The Main Street Café in Omaruru has received the Certificate of Excellence award on TripAdvisor for the last two years with its small and simple menu and high quality of ingredients, level of service and cleanliness.

On the new Gondwana Website you can now go shopping. With the new shopping cart function you can conveniently plan and book your entire trip. You can select and pay for more than one property at once. An integrated map functionality shows the route description. Clients will be able to create a profile and account on the store. Online shopping made easy.

Always remember that the gentle giants are wild animals! They cannot think as we do but their memory is legendary – an elephant never forgets, as the saying goes. Also remember that we are encroaching on their space, not the other way round. Elephants are seen as being good-natured, deliberate, calm and tame. But when we cross the invisible line between them and us they are dangerous, powerful, ruthless and unpredictable.