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Namibia> Places to visit in Namibia |
Conservation has a long history in Namibia. As early as 1907 an huge area of 93.240 sq km. in the north of Namibia was proclaimed a game reserve. As a comparison, Ireland is only 70.000 sq.km and Indiana, USA covers an area of 93.000 sq.km. This conservation region stretched from the west coast to the eastern side of the Etosha Pan. In 1964 this protected area was reduced to 22.270 sq km. and farmland was fenced off. Further comparisons of size: Wales is only 20.763 sq km and Massachusetts is 24.000sq. km.
In 1993 four idealistic Europeans purchased the farmland to make a dream come true. A thatched 18-bed lodge (Etosha Aoba Lodge) was built in a forested (!) part of the property. The internal cattle fences were removed, more permanent waterholes were made and today game that formerly fled on hearing a vehicle stands and accepts the presence of humans.
In 1998 the farmland was formally proclaimed a Private Game Reserve by act of Parliament. This private reserve covers an area of 7.000 ha and is adjacent to the present eastern border of the Etosha National Park incorporating the eastern tip of Fischer's Pan.
The Etosha Aoba Lodge belongs to the first generation of purpose built lodges in this country. Namibia has a history of travellers / tourists being hosted by farming families in the rural areas. Only in the past few years have large financial investments been made through private investors building lodges or tented camps up to international standards.
The Etosha Aoba Lodge has been built in a Terminalia-Tamboti forest. Everything has been done to ensure minimal impact on the environment. The buildings were sited next to shady trees, the building structures utilise a great deal of timber, thatch and stone and no additional roads were built. The paths to the individual thatched bungalows were formally game paths and are still frequently used by kudu and zebra.
The establishment is limited to 10 twin-bedded bungalows to ensure an exclusive atmosphere. The area is very tranquil and as main line power is available, the noisy intrusion of power generating machinery is absent.
As a third world country that is racing to join the first world, a major problem is unemployment. The area around the Etosha Pan and far to the east has traditionally been the home area of Heikom Bushmen. Over the years the opportunities for continuing the traditional way of life has become impossible and gradually the Heikom are being absorbed into the agricultural way of life.
Within a radius of 100km the possibilities of finding employment are restricted to farming on commercial farms, tourism in the private sector, employment with the mine at Tsumeb or government employment in conservation. The vast majority of Namibians of an employable age are illiterate and may have only a slight knowledge of English (the national language), Afrikaans (the historical lingua franca) or German.
Through the lodge, employment has been found for 11 local people who each support a minimum of 5 other people through their income. They actually probably support more than 10 people. These employees are local Heikom Bushman or Ovambo from just north of the Etosha. All were unskilled and have been trained at the Lodge to fulfil their duties of housekeeping, cooking and service at table or in the case of the men, various types of maintenance and building.
The supplies for the Lodge are obtained locally if at all possible. Local fruit and vegetables are purchased thus supporting local smallholdings. Also the fruits of the bush are collected and provide a small additional income for the collectors. The water is freshly wind-pumped spring water and guests are asked to use this valuable resource carefully. The pool is small in surface area and shaded by tall trees which helps to reduce evaporation. All plants in the very natural garden surround of the lodge are indigenous and require no irrigation. This consequently reduces the number of insects which irritate human beings.
Self-sufficiency on the catering side is strived for and our visitors enjoy the experience of the fruits of the bush. This varies from home made jams of wild Eros plums or Marula fruits to Omajova mushrooms freshly harvested on the termite hills. "Home-grown" meat appears on the dining table as home made game pate, kudu steaks or roast beef from cattle raised biologically. There is a great emphasis on fresh vegetables and salads.
Fischer's Pan Private Game Reserve was until recently only game-fenced on the western side as this is the common border with the National Park which allowed the game to move freely. However in recent years the neighbouring farms have erected game fences leaving only the eastern border open for movement
Prior to 1993, the former owners had all predators shot on sight as they were seen to be a serious threat to the animal population on the property. Since then the policy has been very much live and let live. There are resident leopards and numbers of hyena and jackal roam the reserve. Genet, wild cat and caracal may also be seen. Although the fence with the National Park was recently strengthened, lion continue to appear and tracks and kills are visible evidence of their presence. 
Sightings are difficult owing to the thick bush environment. The Big Five are not naturally present in this area of Namibia, but the Small Big Five are. They are Lion ant, Leopard tortoise, Buffalo weaver bird, Elephant shrew and Rhinoceros beetle. This last being as difficult to find as his larger namesake!
The vegetation is bush and grass savanna of varying density which offers the appropriate environment for different animals. The trees around the Lodge are populated with bush squirrels and bushbabies. Kudu may come to drink at their waterhole whilst the guests view them from the dining table. The thicker bush is attractive to kudu, duicker, steenbock and damara dick-dick whilst herds of springbok, gnu and zebra graze in the more open areas and giraffe maintain the overview!
It is gratifying that the game numbers sighted continue to grow. A very small number of black-faced Impala forms the nucleus of a new herd and the rare Red Hartebeest may be seen. Even eland antilope have been sighted in herds of up to 70 head.
Depending on the season, a large variety of birds can be observed. The waterholes draw everything from palm swallows and queleas to Egyptian goose, knob-billed duck as well as hammerkop and vultures. We also offer many other lodges in the Etosha National Park region