Grootberg Lodge is situated on the C40 road, 90kms from Kamanjab and 23kms from Palmweg. Perched on the rim of the Grootberg Plateau, the Grootberg Lodge stands sentinel over the Klip River Valley. 12 000 hectares have been set aside by the Khoadi / Hoas community for conservation and tourism, and it is through this pristine wilderness that you meander either on foot or by vehicle to encounter the inhabitants of this remote biosphere.

Grootberg Lodge is a landmark in Namibia's tourism industry. It is the first middle-market establishment in the country that is 100% owned by the conservancy. The European Union funded the project, through the Ministry of Environment and Tourism's Development Programme. At the same time, the private sector has been called in to supply the training and management skills, until the community becomes self-sustainable.

Grootberg Lodge offers a professional service, extremely good food, well-trained guides and exceptionally good local management in great surroundings. The local community benefits greatly, thanks to the revenues generated by the Lodge.

The main thatched lodge has a restaurant, lounge and bar. Guests can charge electrical goods here. A set menu is available for all meals. The swimming pool is close to the main building.

Grootberg Llodge has 16 rock and thatch chalets.

• Double Chalets: 14 Double Chalets have an en-suite bathroom or a shower (with large viewing window) and toilet, twin beds, wall paintings and lights. Mosquito nets are fitted to the doors and windows. There is a tea/coffee station; ask for a flask of hot water. Step outside through sliding doors to a small, private deck. Every room has a wonderful view over Klip Valley Vlei, where Black Eagles hunt just below the level of your private deck.
• Family Chalets: 2 Family Chalets can sleep up to 5 and have similar facilities, furnishings and views as the Double Chalets.

Desert elephant, black rhino and lion are some of the more impressive mammals to be found. But you will also find a myriad of smaller mammals, birds, reptiles, insects and plants.

Guests can take advantage of rhino and elephant tracking trips in the valley. Morning and afternoon scenic drives on the plateau at Grootberg Lodge offer an alternative pursuit.

For travellers making the journey between Etosha and Swakopmund, this lodge provides the ideal midway stopover, whilst allowing guests to experience the true wilderness that is Damaraland.

Accommodation in Namibia

Guided walks on top of the plateau

After a scrumptious breakfast on the veranda of the restaurant with the Black Eagles hovering around the cliffs, the guests who prefer an early start to the day will depart at around 7.30am for a 3 hour walk on top of the plateau. Our knowledgeable guide will enable guests to enjoy the local flora, the amazing rock formations of the Etendeka Mountains and the shy wild animals, long inhabitants of this plateau. For the afternoon walkers, departure is around 4.30 pm after coffee and tea, served with home made cakes for extra energy for the hike.

Guided walk down the mountain to the Klip River Springs

For the more adventurous guest, a challenging hike down into the Klip River, with the possibility to see kudu, oryx, klipspringers and mountain zebras. It is usually a 3 hour walk. Hikers will then be returned to the lodge in the comfort of our custom built Range Rover.

Elephant tracking

This is one of the most popular activities at Grootberg Lodge. A guide with a tracker will take you out into the surrounding farms in search of the elusive desert elephants, giving one also the opportunity to appreciate the life style of the local people. Lunch takes place in the shade of a tree in the remote wilderness of Damaraland Departure at around 7.30am and back at the lodge in the early afternoon.

Rhino Tracking

Departure is at 7.00am after an early breakfast at the lodge. The guide, along with the game trackers will take the guests in an open 4x4 game vehicle down to the Klip River. They will track the rhinos from the vehicle using telemetry as transmitters have been inserted into the animals' horns for monitoring purposes. Part of the tracking will take place on foot, with the possibility of between 1 to 3 hours walk at the most. At lunch time there will be a stop near the springs where people can enjoy some refreshments. It's almost a full day activity going along bumpy roads and walking in rocky terrain, so not advisable for the faint-hearted.

Himba trip

Come and visit one of the last most traditional peoples of Namibia in a small settlement near Palmfontein surrounded by makalani palms and dry river beds. These friendly people, closely related to the Herero, are herdsmen, breeding mainly cattle and goats while leading a semi-nomadic life. Learn how the proud Himba women spend many hours on beauty care and clean themselves with herbal steam baths. See their homesteads, cone shaped structures made from palm leaves, mud and cattle dung.

Scenic drives down the Klip River

The lodge offers scenic drives down to the Klip River Valley where permanent springs provide water for the local population of zebras, antelopes and occasionally elephants and black rhinos Springboks, kudu and oryx are a permanent fixture and even the nervous and shy klipspringers are sometimes seen leaping about on the steep cliffs of the mountain as if they were flying. The morning drive starts after breakfast and takes between 3-4 hours, the afternoon drive is shorter, leaving after tea and coffee at the lodge for a 2-3 hours drive.

Horse sundowners

Meander through the mopane savanna on a shiny steed and enjoy the view of this beautiful landscape, with the possibility of a close up encounter with the general game of the area. The guide will stop for a sundowner for you to appreciate the pristine wilderness of the plateau while sipping a cold drink. Beginners are welcome.

Horse back safaris

For the keen horse riders the Grootberg Lodge also offers horse back safaris. This takes you on a longer journey through the surrounding mountains of Damaraland, camping out every night under the stars and cooking on the fire. The guests will see how the locals live , track desert elephant and spend quite a bit of time in the saddle, up to 8 hours. It is backed up, luxury camping with not too much hardship involved, long drop loo, hot shower, stretchers, linen, dome tents and cold gin and tonics. The terrain is varied with dry river beds, open plains with big lead woods, mopane bush and even some makalani groves. The rate we charge is N$1800.00 per person per day and is inclusive of drinks, meals, activities and accommodation, exclusive of phone calls and curios. We have a minimum number of two riders and a maximum of six with a weight limit of 90kg.

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