Happy International Cheetah Day!

Did you know that today, 4 December, is International Cheetah Day? Namibia's own Cheetah Conservation Fund hopes the day will "increase worldwide awareness about Africa and Iran’s most endangered cat.” Namibia's commitment to conservation has provided a healthy environment for studying about the cheetah population and how to strengthen its numbers. To help you mark International Cheetah Day, here are some FAST facts about the world's FASTEST land animal!

• The cheetah is the fastest land animal in the world. They can achieve speeds of 112 to 120 km/h (70 to 75 mph) in short bursts. 
• Most car dealers would be envious of their acceleration skills - the cheetah can go from 0 to over 100 km/h (62 mph) in just three seconds! 
• So how does the cheetah have to power to sprint so fast? Partly because of its ability to increase circulation of oxygen as a result of its unusually large heart, wide nostrils and increased lung capacity. 
• A cheetah's breath will increase from 60 breaths per minute to 150 when moving at top speed! 
• Other adaptations include a flexible spine and thin, muscular body with long legs - a bit like an olympic athlete! 
• Despite moving at incredible speeds, the cheetah is able to make swift, sharp turns to keep up with its prey - thanks to its tail which it uses as a rudder. 
• The cheetah's characteristic black "tear marks" that run from the inside of its eyes down to its nose help keep the sun's glare out of its eyes - aiding the big cat while it hunts.  

The Famous Ongava Game Reserve..

Ongava Lodge    

     

The well-established Ongava Lodge is situated in the privately owned Ongava Game Reserve along the southern boundary of Etosha National Park. Placed as it is close to the top of a hill in the foothills of the Ondundozonanandana range, the vantage point is beautiful and overlooks a well-frequented waterhole and the plains beyond.

Ongava Lodge offers luxury accommodation in 14 rock-and-thatch en-suite chalets. There are impressive views over the camp’s waterhole from the main lounge and dining areas and there is also an inviting pool to cool off in the heat of the day. Meals are either served in the main dining area under thatch or on the dining deck under the stars.

Activities include game drives into Etosha, spending time in the camp hide, and nature drives and walks on the reserve. Ongava has resident white and black rhino, giving guests staying at Ongava the opportunity to see both species.

Little Ongava

Little Ongava is perched on the crest of a hill commanding magnificent vistas of the plains stretching for miles to the horizon, offering an extraordinary experience as the focal point of an Etosha journey.

This intimate camp has only three spacious suites each with its own plunge pool, en-suite bathroom, “sala”, and outdoor shower. The lounge and dining areas have wonderful views of a productive waterhole below the camp, the open deck allowing for relaxed, stylish dining under the African sky. Guests at Little Ongava share a dedicated guide and vehicle, ensuring the best possible nature experience at one of Africa’s great wildlife destinations. Day and night wildlife-viewing drives, visiting hides overlooking waterholes, walks and rhino tracking with experienced guides can all be enjoyed exclusively on this reserve. Game drives and day trips into nearby Etosha National Park are also offered.

Ongava tented Camp

The classic safari style camp is tucked in a hidden valley at the foot of a dolomite hill in Ongava Game Reserve bordering Etosha National Park.

Eight large comfortable Meru-style tents all have en-suite facilities, open air showers and private verandas; the family unit sleeps four. The main area, built of stone, canvas and thatch, fronts onto a much-frequented waterhole; watching wildlife coming to drink from here or from the swimming pool is a favourite pastime.

Ongava’s proximity to Etosha allows for game drives in the Etosha National Park and on the Ongava Reserve itself. Other possibilities include guided walks, birding and visiting hides. Ongava holds one of the largest rhino custodianships for the Namibian government in the country and is one of the few private game reserves in southern Africa where guests can see both black and white rhino.

Andersson's Camp

Nestled in mopane scrub on white calcrete soils, Andersson’s Camp is situated 4.5 km from Etosha’s Andersson Gate. The camp was named after Swedish explorer Charles Andersson – one of the first Europeans to “discover” Etosha, Africa’s largest saltpan.

The resurrected former farmstead that stands on the site now forms the centre of a charming camp fronting onto a productive waterhole. The 18 tented en-suite units (including two family suites) are raised on decks. The camp is an exciting example of sustainable construction; this model of eco-sensitive lodging provides an authentic, safe and down-to-earth experience for small groups, families and independent travellers to the Etosha region and is easily accessible by either road or air.

Activities include morning and/or afternoon game drives in Etosha National Park, and morning and afternoon/evening drives (on request in camp) and nature walks on Ongava Reserve. The sunken hide at the waterhole in front of camp is an excellent place from which to watch wildlife coming down to drink.

Ongava Wildlife

The Skeleton Coast of Namibia...

A little about the Skeleton Coast

The Skeleton Coast is the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean coast of Namibia and south of Angola from the Kunene River south to the Swakop River, although the name is sometimes used to describe the entire Namib Desert coast. The Bushmen of the Namibian interior called the region "The Land God Made in Anger", while Portuguese sailors once referred to it as "The Gates of Hell".

The name Skeleton Coast was coined by John Henry Marsh as the title for the book he wrote chronicling the shipwreck of the Dunedin Star. Since the book was first published in 1944 it has become so well known that the coast is now generally referred to as Skeleton Coast and is given that as its official name on most maps today.

On the coast the upwelling of the cold Benguela current gives rise to dense ocean fogs (called "cassimbo" by the Angolans) for much of the year. The winds blow from land to sea, rainfall rarely exceeds 10 millimetres annually and the climate is highly inhospitable. There is a constant, heavy surf on the beaches. In the days before engine-powered ships and boats, it was possible to get ashore through the surf but impossible to launch from the shore. The only way out was by going through a marsh hundreds of miles long and only accessible via a hot and arid desert.

The coast is largely soft sand occasionally interrupted by rocky outcrops. The southern section consists of gravel plains while north of Terrace Bay the landscape is dominated by high sand dunes. Skeleton Bay is now known as a great location for surfing.

The Shipwrecks at the Skeleton Coast

Dunes of Namibia!

     

The Namib is a coastal desert in southern Africa. The name Namib is of Nama origin and means "vast place". According to the broadest definition, the Namib stretches for more than 2,000 kilometres  along the Atlantic coasts of Angola, Namibia, and South Africa, extending southward from the Carunjamba River in Angola, through Namibia and to the Olifants River in Western Cape, South Africa. The Namib's northernmost portion, which extends 450 kilometres  from the Angola-Namibia border, is known as Moçâmedes Desert, while its southern portion approaches the neighboring Kalahari Desert. From the Atlantic coast eastward, the Namib gradually ascends in elevation, reaching up to 200 kilometres  inland to the foot of the Great Escarpment. Annual precipitation ranges from 2 millimetres in the most arid regions to 200 millimetres at the escarpment, making the Namib the only true desert in southern Africa. The Namib may be the  oldest desert in the world and contains some of the world's driest regions.

The desert geology consists of sand seas near the coast, while gravel plains and scattered mountain outcrops occur further inland. The sand dunes, some of which are 300 metres high and span 32 kilometres long, are the second largest in the world after the Badain Jaran Desert dunes in China. Temperatures along the coast are stable and generally range between 9–20 °C (48–68 °F) annually, while temperatures further inland are variable—summer daytime temperatures can exceed 45 °C (113 °F) while nights can be freezing. Fogs that originate offshore from the collision of the cold Benguela Current and warm air from the Hadley Cell create a fog belt that frequently envelops parts of the desert. Coastal regions can experience more than 180 days of thick fog a year. While this has proved a major hazard to ships—more than a thousand wrecks litter the Skeleton Coast—it is a vital source of moisture for desert life.

The Namib is almost completely uninhabited by humans except for several small settlements and indigenous pastoral groups, including the Ovahimba and Obatjimba Herero in the north, and the Topnaar Nama in the central region. Owing to its antiquity, the Namib may be home to more endemic species than any other desert in the world. Most of the desert wildlife is arthropods and other small animals that live on little water, although larger animals inhabit the northern regions. Near the coast, the cold ocean water is rich in fishery resources and supports populations of brown fur seals and shorebirds, which serve as prey for the Skeleton Coast's lions. Further inland, the Namib-Naukluft National Park, the largest game park in Africa, supports populations of African Bush Elephants, Mountain Zebras, and other large mammals. Although the outer Namib is largely barren of vegetation, lichens and succulents are found in coastal areas, while grasses, shrubs, and ephemeral plants thrive near the escarpment. A few types of trees are also able to survive the extremely arid climate.

Everything is exciting about Lake Oanob.

The Lake Itself...

Situated on 6200 hectares in the beautiful Hardap Region and only 100 kilometres south of Windhoek. Open all-season, Lake Oanob Resort offers superb lake views, genuine, heart-felt hospitality and is the perfect place to relax and be invigorated.

Accommodation...

The Lake Oanob Resort offers many different types of accommodations. From Luxury Chalets to En-Suite rooms and Family Rooms over to a Special Suite and different Campsites as well. Most of our accommodation are situated by the Lake site.

Activities...

Some activities you can enjoy year-round include game drives, hiking, boat rides, canoeing, aqua cycling, giraffe pool bar, swimming in our outdoor pools or in the lake.

In the Karas Mountains South of Namibia..

Goibib Mountain Lodge 

Goibib Mountain Lodge is a tranquil hideaway in the heart of the Great Karas Mountains in Southern Namibia easily accessed via the main B1 tar road, 48 km North of Grunau.

     

Goibib is an ideal stopover or as a base from which to explore the Fish River Canyon, Quiver Tree Forest, Giant’s Playground, Brukaros Volcanic Crater and Ai-Ais Hot Springs with absolute serenity. The main building boasts reception area, Lounge, Bar and Dinning room which serve buffet-style meals.

Their accommodation comprises of eight (8) Standard spacious en-suite rooms, each furnished to the highest standards and fitted with the comforts of home, allowing Guests to relax and recuperate.

Each room has en-suite bathroom, air-conditioning, television with local and satellite channels, mini-bar, built-in safe for valuables, coffee/tea station and wireless internet connection. Rooms are serviced daily. 

 

Seven (7) Campsites: All campsite are leveled with normal soil, fireplace with grid, no electricity points available, partial shade, ablution block with showers hot & cold water, accessible by all types of vehicle, Overlander buses, suitable for Caravans, no pets allowed, firewood available for sale. we are more than happy to assist set up your camp for your comfort.

The Lodge facilities include a swimming pool, bar, Lodge library and credit card facilities (Visa or Master). Complimentary on-site car-parking is available for all guests.

Activities 

A range of activities are offered to our guests and we are always happy to share our experiences with them.

 

Nature Drives: a 2 hour drive on the farm with the intention to find and view our local game.

They offer Morning Drives, Afternoon Drives and Night Drives.

There are also the Hiking Trails, The Early Bird hike, Day River and Mountain Adventure.

The Recently Opened Cheetah View Lodge!

Opened June 2017

Featuring air conditioning, Cheetah View Lodge offers accommodation in Otjiwarongo. Frans Indonga Game Drive is 24 km away. Free WiFi is provided .

All units feature a seating area. There is a private bathroom with a shower in each unit. Towels and bed linen are featured.

Cheetah View Lodge also includes a terrace. Guests can enjoy a meal at the on-site restaurant.

Frans Indonga Hiking trail is 25 km from Cheetah View Lodge, while Roadside picnic spot (shaded) is 26 km from the property.

San People

The San people (or Saan), also known as Bushmen, are members of various Khoisan-speaking indigenous hunter-gatherer people. The ancestors of the hunter-gatherer San people are considered to have been the first inhabitants of what is now Botswana and South Africa. The historical presence of the San in Botswana is particularly evident in northern Botswana's Tsodilo Hills region.  In this area, stone tools and rock art paintings date back thousands of years. The San were traditionally semi-nomadic, moving seasonally within certain defined areas based on the availability of resources such as water, game animals, and edible plants.

Felix Unite - Cabana Namibia

Cabana Accommodation Namibia ~ There are 17 en-suite Cabanas sleeping two each, 2 Family en-suite Cabanas sleeping 4 each, 1 Honeymoon Suite sleeping Double only. Each Cabana has air conditioning with mini coffee bars. Cabanas are available on the following basis, either bed only, bed and breakfast or Dinner, bed and breakfast. All meals are served in our restaurant situated on a “”koppie”” overlooking the vast Orange River.

 

 Felix Unite also offers the Orange River Day Trips & the Breede River Day Trips.

Bastion Farmyard B&B - Mariental

Bastion Farmyard offers 5 very well equipped en-suite rooms and 4 en-suite camp sites. They can accommodate up to 16 guests in the guesthouse and 24 in the camp site comfortably, are owner managed and will take care of any special requests. Bastion provides you with old-fashioned quality and a wholesome family experience. 

They also cater for happy locals and travellers and they’d love to do the same for you. Their facilities are what set them apart, and they know they'll make your stay with them even more enjoyable. 

You’ll find them conveniently situated 1km from the B1 main road, 14km North West of Mariental and 9 kilometers from Hardap Dam. 

Situated on a farm, it has a peaceful atmosphere, a lovely garden with green lawn and lots of space for energetic children. Here in the countryside you can relax, have something to eat and browse through Bastion Farm Stall & Coffee Shop for that something special.