The Good Holiday.

 

So, you still want more? Here you go. Together with a host of other contributors, I now share responsible tourism stories from around the world on THE GOOD HOLIDAY. Here's how Daréll Lourens, the passionate film-maker behind the blog, describes the project:

TGH produces films in places that make an extra effort to involve and empower local communities. Our photographers take pictures in parts around the world that amaze with natural beauty and our writers string together sentences about destinations that inspire an inner knowledge that living well creates more abundance than living rich.

Do I need to say more?

Erongo Wilderness Lodge.

Erongo Wilderness Lodge has always been a special place but after a recent face-lift it's pure magic. Situated just outside the quaint little artist town of Omaruru, the lodge is nestled in the picturesque boulder landscape of the Omaruru Mountains. From your luxury safari tent built on stilts into the rocks the view goes out to lush greenery that contrasts the ochre hillocks with their rounded edges and steep, dramatic cliffs that plunge into nowhere. The tents, all with open air bathrooms, are tastefully decorated in contemporary safari style with only a hint of Afro-chic here and there. Each room features a large wooden patio for morning coffees or lazy afternoons. Before dinner, make sure you join one of the guides for the sundowner walk that leads you to a splendid lookout with jaw-dropping vistas of the plains below and the Omaruru river bed winding its way through the bush. Then, retreat to the new dinner deck overlooking a waterhole and enjoy whatever yummy goodness the chef whips up for you and some other lucky few (the lodge only has 10 rooms) in the gourmet kitchen. Staff are super-relaxed and super-friendly, yet very professional, which isn't something you can say about many establishments in Namibia. You will enjoy every minute, be it in the solitude of your tent tucked away in the hills or on a guided tour with one of the expert guides.

http://bigsky-namibia.com/index.php/erongo-wilderness-lodge/about-erongo-wilderness-lodge

River Crossing Lodge.

The good thing about coming to Namibia for vacation is that you can try out some of the wonderful lodges just outside town that are conveniently located to explore Africa's most orderly capital while at the same time offering an alluring bush experience. Our pick is definitely River Crossing Lodge on the way to Windhoek airport with your room overlooking either the city below or the green hills of the Khomas highlands. Even from your breakfast table you can either pretend you're in for a day of shopping and sightseeing in the city or for serious hiking out in nature. In any case, make sure you fill your tummy with a generous portion of their homemade cereal mix topped with fresh fruit and yoghurt. You'll definitely want more, we gurantee! When back from your adventures in the evening, River Crossing is also the perfect spot for sundowners, much loved by Windhoekites for that special weekend feel on a normal working day. On top of it all, staff are super-friendly and helpful so you might as well stay for dinner. All in all, it's a great value-for-money destination.

http://www.rivercrossing.com.na

Fish River Lodge.

For all of us who are sick and tired of so-called African-themed lodges with their thatched roofs and animal hides, here's the ultimate stylish, contemporary getaway. Set right at the edge of the Fish River Canyon in Southern Namibia, the aptly named Fish River Lodge occupies probably the most superb location of them all. Just where your private patio ends, the dramatic stone cliffs plummet down into the canyon. All here is glass and wood and concrete and decoration is kept to a minimum. It's the landscape that sets the scene, and any additional frills would just be a distraction from the spectacle outside your window. Whether it's from your cosy bed or the outdoor shower, there's always this grand panorama that makes you feel utterly content immediately. Just sit and stare. On top of it all, the people at the lodge are extremely friendly and food is definitely way above the Namibian average, especially if you consider the remote location.

http://www.fishriverlodge-namibia.com

Onjowewe - House in the Rocks.

Don't we all want that perfect, charming holiday home with plenty of outdoor areas, space to roam and explore for the kids, and a comfy lounge for leisurely sundowners? Plus, a secluded reading nook, a spacious kitchen, a decent braai, beds to sleep in, a pool to cool off, uninterrupted views, tranquility, bliss? Well, we've found it. And no, it's not in Swakopmund. Head to Kamanjab this festive season and book your retreat at Onjowewe, the House in the Rocks. Chances are it's booked already, but then you might want to explore this exqusite place later next year. The house (with all the above amenities) was built a couple of year ago as the set for French movie La Piste. The owners of the farm luckily decided to keep it and maintain it's rustic splendour, complete with swaying curtains and plenty of romantic candlelight. There's no electricity, but staff will make a turn in time for your evening shower to light the donkey (and the fire and the lanterns and the candles).

The house easily sleeps eight and can be booked via Namibia JJ Tours: http://www.namibiajjtours.com/onjowewe.php

Gondwana Collection.

They don't have to most luxurious lodges and rack rates are not a bargain, but Gondwana Collection definitely takes the cake when it comes to great value for money when travelling the beautiful country. What makes their establishments from Fish River to Damaraland stand out from the crowd is their honest and unpretentious service. While staff at most other lodges are either grumpy or overly obedient and submissive, Gondwana people approach you on eye level and are never short of a good chat, while still maintaining a professional distance. Food is moreish country fare and when you retreat to your well-equipped room after an enjoyable evening, you can look forward to a good night's rest (and a decent breakfast the next morning).
For Namibian residents Gondwana is especially affordable. For a once-off fee of N$100 you get your personalized Gondwana Card, with which you are eligible for a 50% discount on accommodation and 25% on meals, for the rest of your life and without restrictions. We think that's a system many more lodges and lodge operators should have copied long ago. For now, it remains Gondwana's unique selling point with the local tourist clientele, a market that will surely become more important in the wake of overseas visitor numbers declining rapidly.

www.gondwana-collection.com

Okahirongo Elephant Lodge.

The Namibian tourism sector manages to surprise time and again with absurdly luxurious accommodation in the most isolated and remote places. One of those spots certainly is the Kunene village of Purros, where a perennial river has created a most amazing riverine oasis. While you can also pitch your tent at the superb community camp or opt for the equally charming community lodge, it is Okahirongo Elephant Lodge that elevates the surreal Purros experience to a completely different level. From your spacious bedroom and equally large bathroom, including outdoor shower, you look out over the valley below where the greenery of the Hoarusib creates a stark contrast to the surrounding desert and mountains. The best spot though is your private daybed on a separate platform from where you can soak in the amazing scenery and fresh sea breeze coming in from the Skeleton Coast in peaceful slumber.
Ask manager Pieter for a discount when in Purros. Chances are Okahirongo is not fully booked and you can stay at a fraction of the rack rate.

www.okahirongolodge.com

Free & Easy.

Namibia can be quite an expensive, bordering on ridiculously overpriced, destination. Fortunately, the smart guys at tour operator Sense of Africa some years back had the great idea to introduce a last-minute accommodation voucher system for Namibia. It's as simple as can be and opens up some of the most luxurious lodges around the country to less loaded travellers. For Namibian residents a voucher for a double room is N$480 (approx. EUR50), bed only. The rate for tourists is slightly higher but still very affordable. When buying your vouchers from Sense of Africa they will also give you a little brochure that contains all establishments that are part of the Free & Easy system. Whenever you are on the road and looking for accommodation, simply consult the booklet and call your lodge of choice. Reservations can be made earliest 72 hours in advance before arrival.

www.senseofafrica-namibia.com

Teufelskrallen Tented Lodge.

Who would've guessed that just outside the nondescript town of Kalkrand lies a picturesque weekend retreat called Teufelskrallen Tented Lodge. While the check-in and restaurant area pays homage to its farming past, the six tended rooms a few kilometres away on the first string of dunes of the Kalahari desert are all about understated luxury. Make sure you are booked into one of their more spacious tent houses (instead of the less comfy house tents). The tents are all built on wooden platforms, though, from where you have an uninterrupted view over the grassy plains of the Karoo. Through the windows of the cosy reading nook on the other side of your room you can overlook the undulating sea of red dunes that stretches all the way into Botswana. Your own bathroom in a separate little hut is accessible via a raised walkway, making it an even more maritime adventure. Service is honest and friendly, meals are moreish, homey country fare, and the entire experience is surprisingly affordable.

www.teufelskrallenlodge.com

Nkasa Lupala Tented Lodge.

With the stiffling cold in the capital these days, we envy all those who are on vacation, who can migrate to the much warmer North of the country. When heading for the Caprivi, make sure you schedule at least one night at the magnificient Nkasa Lupala Tented Lodge. This intimate place with only 10 luxury tents is situated on the edge of the Nkasa Lupala National Park amidst the labyrinthine waterways of the Linyanti swamps. It's like being in Botswana's Okavango Delta, just as beautiful but much more affordable. And because the last few kilometres are small tracks and narrow bridges that can only be navigated in a 4x4, it feels more remote than most places in a country that isn't short of remote locations anyway. So when you finally arrive, lean back on their terrace overlooking the surrounding wetlands and savour the tranquility, which is only broken by a concert of frogs (in summer) or the occasional herd of elephants (in winter/spring). Then expect some home-made Italian goodness for dinner. The owners traded their Mediterranean home for life in Southern Africa, so you might be lucky and enjoy a Tiramisu in the middle of nowhere.

Visit their website at http://www.nkasalupalalodge.com/

The Little Red House.

Namibia's premier weekend resort Swakopmund, despite all its holiday homes of the country's moneyed elite, is an architectural nightmare. Apparently, wealth and good taste are mutually exclusive here, so most accommodation options in private flats or villas are strikingly tasteless. That's why we treasure the little red house right at the beach in central Swakopmund so much. It's the only really charming alternative that allows for relaxed seaside vacations as they should be. The small cottage is all wood, natural fabrics and patina, it has a hundred exciting stories to tell if you are ready to listen. Just sit by the window, your feet on the cosy Ibenstein rug, and enjoy a good read while the weekend companions are busy with dinner preps in the kitchen.

Only problem is, you can't just rent it from an estate agent. There is no website and no Tripadvisor account. You have to know someone who knows the owner and shares the relevant contact details with you...

Grootberg Lodge & Camp.

As Namibia's first community-run middle market establishment, Grootberg Lodge has received considerable attention in the past from both local and international travelers and the media crowd. But even without the added benefit of community involvement Grootberg Lodge is worth checking out. Perched among the rocks right at the edge of a large plateau, the main building and bungalows all look out into the valley below. Depending on the season, elephants and lions can be spotted close to the lodge. Now, the guys at Grootberg have also taken over management of Hoada, a beautiful campsite 20 kilometres to the East of the lodge. Complete with open-air bathroom and kitchen, each site is an outdoor home away from home. Plus, neighbouring sites are far away to guarantee complete privacy. A pool has recently been added and a bush bar overlooking the surrounding landscape is under construction.

http://www.grootberg.com/

Shark Island Lighthouse.

 



One of the most charming pieces of architecture in the country can be found in the quaint, little seaside town of Lüderitz. In fact, it is one of the main reasons we keep going back to this unreal, remote place wedged between the Atlantic to the West, the Namib to the East and two restricted areas to the North and South. The moment you enter Shark Island Lighthouse, perched on a steep rock just outside Lüderitz, the possibilities that this gem hold suggest themselves to you. The squeaky floor planks, the old French windows, and of course the lighthouse tower with the spiral staircase that leads all the way up to a roof-top terrace. The signs of neglect and non-maintenance can be seen all over this NWR property, but this only adds to your urge to buy it and turn it into a small guest house or cafe. The view from the front porch is so amazing, you can just sit there all day long and watch the fishermen without the slightest sense of boredom.

NamibRand Family Hideout.

         

If you want to get away from it all and spend a few days in complete relaxation, you should head for the wonderful, rustic Family Hideout in the private NamibRand Nature Reserve. And a hideout it is. From the front porch you look out to an endless sea of grass that washes up against rugged mountains in the far distance. Just a few hundred metres behind the house red sand dunes grace the eye in stark contrast to lush green trees and the crisp blue sky. For breakfast a bunch of Sprinboks pass by and for sundowner a lonely Oryx pays his regular visit. And this as exciting as it gets. Else, there is only you and the occasional bird and silence and peace. And the starlit night. http://www.hideout.iway.na/

Seminars at Eagle Rock Lodge.

In a world where most seminars are being held at really drab, dark conference hotels with fluffy carpets and eyesore curtains, Eagle Rock Lodge makes its mark as the saviour of more innovation-minded organisations. It's located just a few kilometres outside Windhoek, but it feels like miles away from the city. From the training and meeting rooms you look out into the beautiful Khomas mountains, cattle grazing in the distance. The location is perfect if you want to get some work done without being distracted by the nitty-gritty of daily office life. The service team is very attentive without being obnoxiously omnipresent, coffee is in abundant supply, meals are decent and even wi-fi is included in the very affordable rate. Check them out at www.eaglerock.de

Camping Deluxe.

When Namibians go camping, they do so fully equipped. We'd never leave for the outdoors without our Italian espresso cooker and our Jaffle iron. Obviously, we are not talking camping as in shoulder-your-backpack-and-go here. Boxes of supplies, appliances, army-size tents, tables, chairs, an electric fridge - all find ample space in the back of our 4x4. And of course even the most remote campsite in the middle of nowhere comes with running water, ablution facilities and a hot shower. Add the usual kitsch sunsets and amazing vistas and you know why »Out of Africa« looks like a mediocre band camp when compared to modern-day camping holidays in the Namib.

Flamingo Cottages.

Get away from it all this weekend. Skip Swakop and head straight for the Flamingo Cottages at the lagoon in Walvis. As nondescript as the city might be elsewhere, you can pretend to be in a charming seaside resort here. The whitewashed, thatched cottages open up to your own patio and the communal lawn, complete with palmtrees and all sorts of maritime features. When you look out onto the sea you can almost pretend to be somewhere in bucolic Holland. If it wasn't for the flamingoes and palmtrees of course. Light a fire in the huge fireplace or spend the evening outside and make a fish braai. Problem is, you may want to stay forever.

Lake Oanob.

Head for Lake Oanob this weekend. It's only an hour's drive from Windhoek, so you can be there well in time for sundowners. Rent one of their nice chalets by the water and enjoy the tranquility. Well, you'll have to ignore the other crazy guests on their boats and water-skies, but then perfect relaxation is guaranteed. Open yourself a chilled bottle of Delheim Rose, do some leisurely cooking and spent quality time with family and friends. Perfect for impromptu outings.

Dolomite Camp.

The Western side of Etosha National Park has recently been opened to the public. Provided you book a night (or two, or three...) at NWR's brand-new Dolomite Camp. That being said, the lodge itself is worth every minute of the long drive from Windhoek. And what a beautiful place it is. I suggest you skip the long drive from Okaukuejo and enter Etosha from Galton gate right into the mountainous part of the park. Dolomite is build around the slopes of one of the hills with commanding views over the flat expanse below. Brace yourself for amazing vistas from almost any point on the property.
Let the sun wake you up while it comes shining in through the wood-and-glass concertina doors that open onto your small private balcony. All about your chalet is high-quality, natural materials and attention to detail. Think wood, wood, wood. But without the polished kitsch you have become so used to in other establishments. Interior designer Heidrun Diekmann has done a magnificient job. I especially love the communal lounge area, which is housed in a separate, spacious hut. Huge armchairs and cushions invite you to grab a good novel (or a copy of National Geographic from the extensive NG library stacked on one of the shelves) and read the day away with the grandest of panoramas when you look up from your book. Or you take a dip in the sparkling infinity pool with the same amazing view. Pure bliss.
The food is pretty good and the people are friendly, too. If only the service was as stunning as the rest...