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WOLWEDANS DUNES LODGE AND CAMP

Wolwedans is located in the NamibRand Nature Reserve, within the Namib Desert. At roughly half a million acres, the NamibRand is the biggest private game reserve in Africa, and Wolwedans is a wonderfully atmospheric base from which to explore the vast expanses of the Namib.

The particular attraction of the NamibRand is the diversity of different desert landscapes. Virtually all facets of the Namib are represented here, from expansive sand and gravel plains to vast stretches of golden grass savannah and majestic mountain ranges. Encroaching from the west are tongues of dunes, their colors changing from yellow-gold and ochre to rose, russet, maroon, and deep brick-red through the course of the day.

Activities at Wolwedans focus on nature drives and walks with the Reserve's experienced and highly trained guides, to experience the NamibRand's scenic beauty and diverse wildlife. Once hunted extensively by farmers, wild animals have again found safe pastures within the NamibRand Nature Reserve, and their numbers have recovered significantly. Interesting species that are encountered within the Reserve include gemsbok (Oryx), springbok, red hartebeest, bat-eared fox, and aardwolf. The desert is also home to a fascinating array of micro-fauna such as moles, gerbils, geckos, and beetles, and the apparently indestructible camelthorn trees add to the ensemble of strange life forms capable of surviving in this dramatically beautiful, yet harsh environment. For a different perspective on the great expanse of desert, treat yourself to a balloon safari capped with a champagne breakfast (optional extra).

The lodge itself is a harmonious blend of form and function. The buildings and everything in them are of the highest quality and nothing is extraneous. In such simplicity there is perfection! The entire lodge is constructed on wooden platforms and offers panoramic vistas in all directions, capturing the desert in an intimate and memorable way.

The eight spacious chalets are comprised of wooden poles and huge canvas blinds which can be easily retracted to reveal spectacular views. Furniture has all been crafted especially for the lodge using Zimbabwean Saligna wood. Sheets are tailored locally from unbleached linen. Wake up in the morning, prop yourself up with the oversized feather-stuffed pillows, and enjoy every drop of your coffee or tea while imbibing the energy of the desert sunrise.

The main lodge is built in the same fashion as the chalets, and is comprised of several connected units. There is a bar area, a library, an outdoor sitting area with a fireplace, and a dining room. All are beautifully appointed with buttery soft leather furniture in the library, a heavy polished wooden bar and, in the dining room, a long table flooded with candlelight in the evenings. After dinner, retire to the deck around the fire and experience the vast stillness of the desert, interrupted only by the occasional chirp from a barking gecko.

For those seeking even greater intimacy with the desert, Wolwedans also offers the more rustic Dunes Camp. Accommodation consists of six tents and a common area with a deck and fireplace where guests meet for sundowners and meals. As with Dunes Lodge, the entire camp is constructed on wooden platforms above the ever-shifting dunes, offering unforgettable vistas. Each tent has a private veranda and en-suite bathroom. The ambience at Dunes Camp in the evenings with all the candles and lanterns lit, the aromas of a delicious dinner emanating from the open-plan kitchen, and the table set with linen and crystal, is quite magical.

Whether at Dunes Lodge or Dunes Camp, Wolwedans offers tranquillity to clear the mind, beauty to feed the soul and space for the imagination to fly!

Ecotourism angle

The NamibRand Nature Reserve was established on degraded agricultural land, with the aim of rehabilitating this land, restoring it to its former wilderness state, and protecting the species of animals that occur naturally in the region. To this end, two of Namibia's foremost conservation authorities were enrolled to manage the reserve. In the process of returning the land to wilderness, some 125 miles of fences were pulled down, and 75 miles of dirt road closed off and returned to the desert.

With the cessation of hunting, and the removal of competition for scarce resources from destructive domestic species, the populations of wild animals on the Reserve have recovered dramatically. The most recent project has been the establishment of the NamibRand Conservation Foundation to carry out further research into the delicate ecosystems of the Namib Desert, educate Namibians and tourists about this natural asset, and further the conservation ideals of the Reserve. Plans have been laid to reintroduce rare and endangered species such as the desert-adapted black rhino that once roamed this wilderness.

To find out more about Wolwedans Dunes Camp and Lodge, or to make a reservation, call on 27-11-463-7889 or email us.

LIYATSHWA SAFARIS PORTFOLIO - Sossusvlei and Namib Desert