A simple lodge with a community ethos in a fab location with plenty to keep you busy
Grootberg Lodge is perched on top of a high plateau between the red basalt mountains of Damaraland to the west and the scrubby bush edging towards Etosha in the east. Commanding a fabulous view of the picturesque mountains and unusual ecology of this area, Grootberg is rather a unique setting.
The lodge too is special in that it is fully owned by the community conservancy on which it sits, and efforts are underway to train the local people in the hope that they will have the capacity to run the lodge in the near future. Stone and thatch chalets with a private balcony perch on the edge of a great escarpment.
Well-positioned as a stop-off between Etosha and Damaraland, it is worth spending two or three nights here as there is so much to do. Lengthy walks or hikes along the plateau or down the Klip River, tracking desert-adapted rhino and elephant and horse-riding to gorgeous sundowner spots are among the pursuits on offer. Depending on their movements, you might also be able to visit the nomadic Himba people and learn about their customs and traditions.
Grootberg is a simple lodge in a gorgeous location with plenty to do and see. The lodge itself is simple and unpretentious and service can be a little wobbly so don’t expect all the trimmings of a luxury lodge. However, you can expect a friendly welcome, good value and knowledgeable guides in a stunning area.
12 thatched rooms with spectacular views
A simple lodge with a community ethos in a fab location with plenty to keep you busy
Damaraland is a stark, perpetually surprising landscape of red rock mountains interspersed with some pretty tenacious vegetation and the odd misplaced sand-dune or grassy meadow. Harsh lunar vistas, deep silence, unbelievable starry skies and a geological Disneyland are the order of the day here. This is where desert-adapted elephant, rhino and lion roam (though they are not a dime a dozen so you should plan for some exciting hours “on the case" if you expect to have a chance of seeing one). You can actually join researchers at Desert Rhino Camp where you can specifically head out to track rhino. Surprising as it may sound, there are people here too, though not many. Now referred to as the Damara, these unsuspective folk were relocated from South Africa in the 1960s under the Odendaal Plan and somehow scratch a living from land that is neither well-suited for crops nor livestock. They are charming, bubbly people and you will no doubt spot the odd tumble-down homestead looking like something from the Midwest while you travel through this area. Read more?
If you are considering travelling to Namibia, chances are you are looking for something out of the ordinary. A journey through Namibia is all about daily surprises; the impossible number of stars, the expanse of views over desert mountains, the improbable salmon-pink of sand-dunes at sunrise, the ingenuity of small creatures adapted to the harsh environment, the ochre and leather dress of the Himba and petticoated dresses of the Herero, the first taste of ostrich biltong and the excellent seafood. Jump straight to some of our favourite Namibian experiences. Read more?
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Catherine's long experience of, and enthusiasm for Africa, makes her a mine of travel information. Add to the mix her vivacious character and inscrutable attention to detail and there are few people you'd rather have plan your holiday.
At Natural High, we've had long experience putting together trips in Africa that really work. Whether it's intimate bushcamps in out of the way places, or a private lodge in one of Africa's top-billing wildlife areas, light mobile camping or remote island escapes, we know there is a lot to choose from. We're absolutely confident that we can recommend the right places for you.
