Tsondab Valley Scenic Reserve new on Namibia Reservations website

Tsondab Valley is a private Nature Park of 170km2. Bordering the Namib Naukluft Park on two sides, the Reserve’s varied landscape impresses with a combination of the red Namib dunes and typical African Camelthorn Savannah. Petrified (or ‘fossilised’) dunes, as ancient remains of the world’s oldest desert, magnificently formed into our 50m-deep ‘Secret Canyon’, as well as our ‘Blue Marble’ Mountains, may also be explored on the property.

Conveniently situated along the main tourist route C14 Walvis Bay – Sossusvlei, Tsondab Valley is not only an accommodation, but destinationfor nature friends & desert enthusiasts, especially photographers! Suitable for self-drivers and very small guided groups.

For more details visit our website at www.namibiareservations.com/tsondab_valley_reserve.html or email us at info@namibiareservations.com

Huab Lodge & BushSPA News

Huab Lodge & BushSPA been awarded for the 16th year in a row with the Gold Award of Excellence, we also will been honoured with the ECO-Award 2011 four flowers. Also Huab Lodge & BushSPA has been rated #1 Lodge at Tripadvisor based on independent guest reviews.
Huab Lodge & BushSPA has become the first Lodge in Namibia that has passed the accreditation and joined the Global Sustainability Tourism Council.
The most recent studies on Travelers indicate that price is not the main criteria for chosing a destination or accommodation. More important for the traveler is the experience, a personal and individual treatment and to feel at home away from home. This is exactly what Huab Lodge & BushSPA has been providing since 1993 and one of the main reasons that we have almost 20% returning guests. Many of them are returning year after year.
Huab Lodge & BushSPA provides a true unique experience instead of just an accomodation.

For information or to make a booking pleae contact us at info@namibiareservations.com
or visit our website at www.namibiareservations.com/huab_lodge.html

Fish River Hike unsafe to hike

This is an urgent notice to inform you that the Ministry of Environment and Tourism has declared the Fish River Hike unsafe to hike for now.
The rains and subsequent flood has caused the current closure and it is uncertain when it will re-open, but it will not open earlier than the last day of May 2011.

For more information please do not hesitate to contact us at info@namibiareservations.com or visit our website for accommodation in this area at www.namibiareservations.com/canyone.html

Asco Car Hire new on Namibia Reservations website

For the best 4x4, camping and car rental while on vacation in Namibia look no furhter than the specialists at Asco Car Hire in Windhoek.

They are the largest rental company, specialized in 4x4 vehicles and fully camping equipped 4x4 vehicles, in Southern Africa.
Their fleet consists of more than 200 rental vehicles with different makes, types and configurations available. Everybody will find his/her preference. All their vehicles are new or very recent. All vehicles are being maintained to perfection and are subject to a comprehensive service every time before they hand them over to clients.

To see the prices and make a booking visit our website at www.namibiareservations.com/asco.html or email us at info@namibiareservations.com

News received from Air Namibia

Walvis Bay – Johannesburg

New route effective 15 April 2011, 6 times per week on Embraer ERJ 135, convenient departure and arrival times. Clients should look forward to a flight per day except for Saturday; depart JNB at 09:00 arrive WVB at 10:25 and depart WVB at 16:20 arrive in JNB at 19:35

Walvis Bay – Cape Town

Increased frequency on Walvis Bay – Cape Town, from 3 flights per week to 6 flights per week. Existing flights operated on B737-500 and the 3 new rotations operated on ERJ 135. New departure times are: WVB-CPT depart 10:45, arrive 13:50 and CPT-WVB depart 14:40, arrive 15:45. These flights will be operated daily except for Saturdays. Additional frequencies start 15 April 2011.

Increased baggage allowance

On WDH-JNB, WDH-CPT and on WDH-LAD. Economy class passengers are now granted 32 kg and business class is now 42 kg. Applicable for departures effective 15 April 2011

Improved departure & arrival times

Departure and arrival times on the JNB-WDH, CPT-WDH and WDH-Luanda routes were adjusted to meet travellers’ needs offering better onward connections. Morning flights from JNB to WDH, as well as from CPT to WDH now depart at 07:00 and arrive in WDH at 08:00 (ALL TIMES are local at airport of departure or arrival). This schedule allows our clients a full business day in Windhoek due to earlier arrival times. Departure times from Windhoek to both Cape Town and Johannesburg are at 16:40 and 16:55 respectively, affording our esteemed customers early arrival at their destinations be it for home, or in time to catch onward connecting flights to various destinations.

Luanda – Increased Frequencies Operating hours of the Windhoek - Luanda route have also been improved, departing from Windhoek at 09:30 arrive in Luanda at 12:00. The return flight leaves Luanda at 13:00 arriving in Windhoek at 15:25. We are pleased to announce further that our new and additional frequency to Luanda on Thursdays started on 30th March 2011, and that the new flight was well received and appreciated by the market. New fare structure and fare basis on the JNB-WDH route, highlight the key thereof

Windhoek - Rundu – New on our route The new Rundu - Windhoek received overwhelming response and is currently doing well. We look forward to seeing you on this new exciting route opening up Namibia’s markets.

Derived from Air Namibia Newsletter

For more details or flight bookings contact us at info@namibiareservations.com

Local news from the Gondwana Collection

Enjoy the Wonders of Nature at Leisure

Guests of Namib Desert Lodge who want to participate in an organized excursion to Sossusvlei have to rise early. Because the colours of the desert are at their most beautiful and resplendent in the first light of the morning. And the ascent to the top of the highest dunes on earth is not quite as taxing in the freshness of the new day. It will definitely rev up the circulation of any morning grouch and the reward is a magnificent view across the dune landscape and Sossusvlei, currently filled with water - which is a very rare sight. Namib Desert Lodge acquired a second all-wheel drive with eight passenger seats this month. This means that the two vehicles can now take a total of 16 guests on a leisurely excursion to Sossusvlei every day. Professional guides provide details on the specific features of the landscape, the fauna and flora.

Gondwana Cañon Park a Garden of Eden

All internal fences have now disappeared in Gondwana Cañon Park. The last section of 15 km of fencing along the public road near Holoog was taken down in January. In total, 500 km of fences have been removed. They were a relic from earlier farming activities. Foraging game needs to be able to move around as freely as possible in order to survive. The park is situated in the Nama Karoo Desert where rainfall usually is scarce and scattered. Since its inception in 1995 only game species which once were indigenous to the region were reintroduced to the 1,260 km² nature conservation area, among them hartebeest, wildebeest and plains zebra. This year, however, game animals find more than enough food almost everywhere. In January 25.1 mm of rain (monthly average 19.9 mm) were recorded and in February 61.5 mm (31.2 mm). All of the park’s seasonal (mostly dry) rivers were in flood at some stage. Everything is sprouting and blooming now, the game is well-fed. In January the park rangers watched a herd of 140 springbok grazing in the grassy plains. The camera traps at Jagpos and Jakkalsdam took pictures of two leopards.

Menu enriched by traditional Speciality

There is a new delicacy on the menu of Damara Mopane Lodge: roasted Mopane worms. They are harvested on site, just like the vegetables, herbs and fruit. The worms, or more correctly caterpillars, are picked from Mopane trees around the lodge. Our guests react differently to this new speciality - which in fact is a traditional, regional one. Some leave it at a curious glance into the bowl, others valiantly reach into it. Mopane worms occur only in southern Africa and are usually unknown to guests from other continents. In its distribution area in Africa the caterpillars are an important source of protein for millions of people. For many it is also a desperately needed source of income.

For more information email us at info@namibiareservations.com

New service connects CT with Livingstone and Vic Falls

Starting June 30, Zambezi Airlines will introduce new flights connecting Cape Town directly with Livingstone and on to Lusaka. Flights from Cape Town are scheduled to operate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and will depart at 08h00, arriving in Livingstone at 11h10. Flights will then depart Livingstone at 11h55, arriving in Lusaka at 12h55. The return service will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, departing Lusaka at 12h15, arriving in Livingstone at 13h15. From Livingstone flights will depart at 14h00, arriving in Cape Town at 17h10. Connecting passengers between Lusaka and Cape Town, in both directions, will not be required to disembark in Livingstone and baggage will be tagged through to the final destination. Zambian entry and exit customs and immigration will be cleared in Lusaka. Flights will be operated by a B737-500, configured in 99 economy seats and 12 business-class seats.

Derived from: Tourism Update