December 2018

Namibia ~ Wolwedans fairytales desert

When people ask me, what’s the most beautiful place you already visited, I do not have to think for a second, without any doubt, emphatically I answer: the NamibRand Nature Reserve.

In 2009 I worked for a Belgian tour operator specialized in the luxury segment; they gave me the incredible opportunity to accompany a group of travel agents (clients) on a luxury tour through Namibia. I instantly fell in love with Africa, thanks to the beautiful nature that Namibia has to offer, the quality of the accommodations we stayed in, the friendliness of the population, a feeling of serenity that came over me, and my first pure safari experience. During this trip there was 1 place that made me feel overwhelmed & speechless like never before! This place is called “NamibRand Nature Reserve”, in the South-Western part of Namibia.

Well hello there …

The NamibRand is a private nature reserve, one of the largest in Africa, similar in size to the Masai Mara. A spectacular place that’s mostly overlooked by tourists heading to Namibia’s most popular attractions: Sossusvlei, Dune 45 and Dead Vlei.

“The Reserve originated in 1984 as the dream of J.A. Brückner, to extend desert frontiers by integrating a large number of former livestock farms and developing a wildlife sanctuary. The NamibRand Nature Reserve was registered as a non-profit private nature reserve in 1992. All landowners belonging to the Reserve have signed agreements and adopted a constitution which sets the land aside for conservation - now and in the future. The Reserve is financially self-sustaining mainly through high quality, low impact tourism.”

Source: http://www.namibrand.com/

Orange and blood-red dunes, silvery grass dotted with fairy circles, gravel plains and savannas fringed with imposing mountains covered in golden light. Just magical, spiritual, indescribably beautiful! Pictures cannot express enough the beauty of this place, if you have the chance go and see for yourself! It isn’t Big Five territory but you can find here, more than 100 bird species, as well as springbok, kudu, Hartmann’s and Burchell’s zebra, hartebeest, leopard, spotted and brown hyena and cheetah. And of course the photogenic oryxes!

Along the edges of the Namib Desert, are thousands of small circles on the ground, in which nothing grows. Various theories have been formed by scientists and researchers, trying to explain their existence: that they’re a result of fungi which poison the soil, gas released from Earth’s core or termites. However, no-one knows for certain… 

A popular way to explore this wilderness is the 3 days / 2 nights “Tok Tokkie Trail”. Whilst walking, you will discover many secrets of the Namib Desert that cannot be experienced when driving. Although you will be in the middle of pristine nature you can look forward to the luxuries that you do not want to miss, like hot bucket showers, 3-course dinners, etc http://www.toktokkietrails.com/

The NamibRand Nature Reserve was in 2012 named an International Dark-Sky Reserve, which means it’s one of the world’s least light-polluted areas.

Goodnight, sleep tight.

Wolwedans is the oldest and the most exclusive tourist camp on NamibRand. Its name, which was inherited from the farm that once occupied the site, pays tribute to the spotted hyena, often called “wolf” in Afrikaans. The concession was granted in 1994 to Brückner’s son Stephan, who was studying in Germany at the time. He agreed to help his father for just one year, but fell in love with the area and today manages NamibRand Safaris.

Five properties make up the Wolwedans Collection: Dunes Camp, Dunes Lodge, Boulders Camp, Private Camp and the Mountain View Suite. Wolwedans is an expensive option, but the rates include almost everything and the accommodation is in my opinion, just worth the money.

We stayed at Dunes Camp where a maximum of 12 people can sleep in tents on wooden platforms, with a deck for sleep outs on warmer nights, a main tent with a lounge, dining area and an open-plan kitchen. Awakening with a gorgeous view on the dunes, was really a once-in-a lifetime experience for me.

Since its establishment, the Wolwedans Foundation has educated more than 250 young Namibians in hospitality and culinary arts. I was really impressed; elegant dining, fine food ( I ate a delicious Kudu steak ) and an excellent wine list.

http://www.wolwedans.com/