Location:
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Palmwag Lodge, one of
Namibia's oldest and most popular tourist destinations, is situated
in northern Damaraland.
This oasis, situated on the banks of the dry Uniab River, provides
multiple accommodation options, from chalets to canvas-style tents,
all decorated in an individual, tasteful style. A swimming pool,
restaurant and cosy pool bar make this an ideal base for exploring
the vast 450 000-hectare Palmwag Concession and its surprising array
of wildlife in Namibia's dramatic north-west region.
The 450 000-hectare Palmwag Conservancy supports the largest
free-roaming population of desert-adapted black rhino in Africa as
well as a healthy number of desert-adapted elephants.
The concession's freshwater springs support healthy populations of
other arid-adapted wildlife including good numbers of Hartman's
mountain zebra, southern giraffe, gemsbok (oryx), springbok, greater
kudu, dwarf antelope such as steenbok and klipspringer, scrub hare,
comical meerkats (suricates), inquisitive ground squirrels,
black-backed jackal and small spotted genet. Palmwag holds the core
of the rarely seen desert-adapted lion population of north-west
Namibia. Cheetah and leopard also sometimes seen in this area. |
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The Etendeka Mountains
dominate the scenery - impressive flat-topped outcrops coloured
ochre-brown. The terrain is rocky but often covered with fine golden
grasses and interspersed with large Euphorbia damarana bushes, which
are endemic to the area. Other fascinating plants include the
odd-shaped bottle tree, shepherd's trees, ancient leadwoods,
salvadora bushes and unique welwitschias. Dry river-courses cut
through the landscape and occasionally fill with water.
Birding enthusiasts are sure to enjoy the diverse avifauna found in
this area. Raptors include Greater Kestrel, Lanner Falcon and Booted
Eagles, spotted in the sky or perching on a lonely shepherd's tree.
Out on drives, it is possible to see Namaqua Sandgrouse, Burchell's
Courser, the colourful Bokmakierie, Grey-backed Sparrowlark,
Monteiro's Hornbill and White-backed Mousebird. Other regular
endemics include Rüppell's Korhaan, Benguela Long-billed Lark and
possibly Herero Chat with some focussed searching. Verreauxs' Eagle
is often sighted around rocky hillsides. |
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Accommodation:
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The lodge offers 30
beds in 2- and 3-bed thatched bungalows, 10 beds in fully furnished,
en-suite luxury tents (5 tents only) and a cottage (family unit: 1
en-suite room with 4 single beds and 1 en-suite room with a double
bed ) with private plunge pool. Meals are served in a fully licensed
à la carte restaurant. The lodge swimming pool is a refreshing
invitation in the heat of the day.
There are only 5
Meru-style tents, built on individual, wooden platforms, which offer
a scenic view of the surroundings and its wildlife – such as the
desert-adapted elephants should they visit the lodge. These tents
are tastefully furnished, with en-suite facilities and are situated
about 600m away from the restaurant and main lodge bungalows
Palmwag Lodge is also
a welcome oasis to campers. Each campsite has a kitchen area, shade
and lighting. Some campsites have their own toilet/shower and a
river view which can be requested. The “Pool bar” with its own pool
and cosy atmosphere is a place to relax. Order drinks and enjoy
light meals (lunches and dinner from a varied a la carte menu) in
the thatched lapa.
Morning and Afternoon Game Drives
Full-day excursions into Palmwag Concession (with prior booking)
Nature Walks
Himba Cultural Excursions |
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Game
Viewing / Activities:
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In the Palmwag Concession where Palmwag Lodge is
situated we work closely with Save the Rhino Trust (SRT), a highly respected
NGO almost single-handedly responsible for the preservation of
desert-adapted black rhino in the area. SRT focuses on the protection,
monitoring and understanding of the local black rhino population and is
funded by donations and partnerships. About 30 trackers, employed for the
local community, monitor over 100 desert-adapted black rhino.
As the rhino numbers in the area shrank to near extinction, SRT was formed
to stop the indiscriminate hunting that was taking place here. Today this
programme is a major success and is responsible for the wellbeing of a very
unique sub-species of black rhino, differing from other populations found in
the sub-region. Since the founding of the Save the Rhino Trust poaching has
drastically declined and the rhino population has more than doubled.
Ironically, previously convicted poachers were employed by the Save the
Rhino Trust as guards - since they had extensive knowledge of the habits of
rhino!
Guests at Palmwag Lodge have the opportunity (at extra cost) to join SRT
members on daily rhino patrols and monitoring thus gaining an deeper insight
into the ecology and conservation of this area and its precious black rhino
population. The revenues generated by this contribute to the Trust and its
ongoing rhino monitoring and conservation projects. It is exciting that SRT
is enthusiastically supported by the local community and neighbouring farms
to the concession.
Our partnership with SRT as well as with Namibia's Ministry of Environment
and Tourism (MET) has meant that the black rhino population in this area is
now able to sustain relocations of founder individuals to surrounding areas
on communal land of Kaokoveld, thereby enhancing the population growth of
the species. |
Rates:
Please contact us for a suggested
itinerary and quote
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