The Sound of Nature
A gate opens and you have the feeling of entering a new world. Bushland surrounds a narrow gravel road that leads to the horizon.
Just a few kilometers away from the main road, quiet and beautiful and yet so different.
The vistior feels that he has to stop the car and switch off the engine. Silence. After a few moments the ears get accustomed to the sounds of nature. Singing of birds seems to appear from nowhere. The sound of the wind blowing through grass and bushes. Far away a Kudu is walking proudly in its undisturbed world.
No hunter will disrupt this gentle, beautiful world, just a car here and there passing by.
Take your time to drive slowly, breathe the fresh air and allow your eyes to open for a feast on the amazing landscape, unreal somehow, allmost surreal.
Passing mountains with unique forms, the road leads through valleys with bushland and high trees, crosses the river bed of the Huab and there it is: Eight stone-andthatch bungalows, harmonically integrated in the untouched environment of the Huab valley. A thatched lapa roof appears and a friendly person walks towards you with a smile: "Welcome to Huab Lodge. Please feel at home."
This place makes a real difference to most of the lodges in Namibia. Just 16 guests are accommodated at a time. You cannot help but adore the family atmosphere which is created.
All meals are taken together at a big wooden table placed under the spacious lapa with a great view of the open bushland.
In true Huab Lodge tradition, the wonderful wines of the smaller, less well-known estates of South Africa are presented for guests to appreciate. This much enjoyed custom is carried out ceremoniously each evening with different wines.
The Huab river bed passes by where desert elephants, antelopes and all sorts of small mammals are found. Dozens of birds build their nests next to the lodge, their singing fills the air with a wonderfully lively atmosphere and the visitor realizes a deep feeling of peace.
The spacious guest bungalows offer a touch of luxury and amazing views from the windows and verandas. As they fall asleep, guests can watch the moon and stars and listen to the barking geckos and calls of several owl species.
Take a shower while you see antilopes passing by in the valley and feel fresh and relaxed to start for some excursion.
Suzi and Jan van de Reep have owned Huab Lodge for 19 years and love the silence of this special place in the middle of untouched nature. Jan offers sundowner drives in the dry ri-ver bed where he seems to know each single blade of grass. An oryx herd crosses the river bed, not running but slowly moving, peaceful and proud. Endemic and semi-endemic birds are flying around and hiding in camelthorn and ana trees. A sundowner drink is offered at a wonderful spot at the edge of a hill under shady trees while the sun sends its last warm light over the river bed.
Natural hot spings The Huab Lodge and BushSpa also offers wellness applications like massages and Asian meditation. A carefully hidden natural spring place invites to a relaxing bath in thermal waters with a plunge pool next to it. The hot, mi-neral-rich water soothes and heals. It is pH neutral and free of sulphur.
A hot spring dubbed "German spring" next to the lodge is named after German soldiers who discovered it during colonial times.
A swimming pool with a prettily planted island invites for a cool dip.
Guests can easily walk or hike along the ri-ver bed; guided walks are offered in the early morning hours.
There are unusual rock paintings and old tools and shards. The area boasts nine ende-mic species of birds out of a positively identified number of 190 and many mammals and reptiles. For those who can ride, seeing game from horse back in the spectacular scenery of the nature reserve is particularly rewarding.
Some evenings Jan van de Reep drives down the river bed with his guests, where the water of the Huab flows in a little brook and tracks of leopards and anitlopes are found.
An eagles nest is placed high up in the rocks, the eagles waiting for their offsprings to grow up and capture the world of freedom, turning their rounds flying with the thermic winds.
Huab Lodge and Private ReserveHuab Lodge and BushSpa lies in the middle of the "Huab Lodge and Private Reserve" which has created a buffer zone for the so-called desert elephant in particular, and wild animals in general.
The ephemeral Huab River, which runs through the 20.000 acre nature reserve, has natural water pools which attract wildlife. The previously overgrazed farmland has been completely given over to wildlife and is gradually returning to its pristine condition, assisted by some anti-erosion measures. These consist of half moon contours raised on the affected land to decrease the speed of flowing rain water as well as gabions and the filling of erosion channels. The indigenous flora now has a chance to proliferate and provide food for the animals and refuge for birds, insects and reptiles.
Species such as kudu, oryx and mountain zebra have been able to survive the shooting parties of the past and are gradually forgetting that danger. Their numbers are building up and the new generation is approachable. However, in order to re-establish the natural balance of fauna, it is necessary to reintroduce indigenous animals such as giraffe, springbok and ostrich, as these species succumbed to the shooters. As the vegetation is no longer over-utilised by excessive domestic stock numbers, the wild ani-mals are drawn to the improving grazing and can drink peacefully from waterholes which have been made "game-friendly".
Since its establishment, Huab Lodge has received prizes in the "Best Lodge" category in the Hospitality Association of Namibia's guest appraisal contest as well as Iwanowski's Golden Palm Award year after year.
The lodge's drinking water is of first class quality and salads and herbs served at the table come fresh from the Lodge garden. In keeping with the ecological belief of the owners, solar energy is harnessed to provide clean, silent power for the lodge and bio-degradable clea-ners are utilised throughout. The neighbouring Damara people may find work at the lodge directly or otherwise sell their handcraft or freshly grown vegetables to the lodge.
Huab Lodge, with all it has to offer and being off the beaten track is not a place for a single night stop. Guests should allow several days to enjoy and absorb the tranquillity and quiet, the welcoming and comfortable atmosphere, and the many activities. And just enjoy - the sound of nature.
Further information: www.huab.com
Just a few kilometers away from the main road, quiet and beautiful and yet so different.
The vistior feels that he has to stop the car and switch off the engine. Silence. After a few moments the ears get accustomed to the sounds of nature. Singing of birds seems to appear from nowhere. The sound of the wind blowing through grass and bushes. Far away a Kudu is walking proudly in its undisturbed world.
No hunter will disrupt this gentle, beautiful world, just a car here and there passing by.
Take your time to drive slowly, breathe the fresh air and allow your eyes to open for a feast on the amazing landscape, unreal somehow, allmost surreal.
Passing mountains with unique forms, the road leads through valleys with bushland and high trees, crosses the river bed of the Huab and there it is: Eight stone-andthatch bungalows, harmonically integrated in the untouched environment of the Huab valley. A thatched lapa roof appears and a friendly person walks towards you with a smile: "Welcome to Huab Lodge. Please feel at home."
This place makes a real difference to most of the lodges in Namibia. Just 16 guests are accommodated at a time. You cannot help but adore the family atmosphere which is created.
All meals are taken together at a big wooden table placed under the spacious lapa with a great view of the open bushland.
In true Huab Lodge tradition, the wonderful wines of the smaller, less well-known estates of South Africa are presented for guests to appreciate. This much enjoyed custom is carried out ceremoniously each evening with different wines.
The Huab river bed passes by where desert elephants, antelopes and all sorts of small mammals are found. Dozens of birds build their nests next to the lodge, their singing fills the air with a wonderfully lively atmosphere and the visitor realizes a deep feeling of peace.
The spacious guest bungalows offer a touch of luxury and amazing views from the windows and verandas. As they fall asleep, guests can watch the moon and stars and listen to the barking geckos and calls of several owl species.
Take a shower while you see antilopes passing by in the valley and feel fresh and relaxed to start for some excursion.
Suzi and Jan van de Reep have owned Huab Lodge for 19 years and love the silence of this special place in the middle of untouched nature. Jan offers sundowner drives in the dry ri-ver bed where he seems to know each single blade of grass. An oryx herd crosses the river bed, not running but slowly moving, peaceful and proud. Endemic and semi-endemic birds are flying around and hiding in camelthorn and ana trees. A sundowner drink is offered at a wonderful spot at the edge of a hill under shady trees while the sun sends its last warm light over the river bed.
Natural hot spings The Huab Lodge and BushSpa also offers wellness applications like massages and Asian meditation. A carefully hidden natural spring place invites to a relaxing bath in thermal waters with a plunge pool next to it. The hot, mi-neral-rich water soothes and heals. It is pH neutral and free of sulphur.
A hot spring dubbed "German spring" next to the lodge is named after German soldiers who discovered it during colonial times.
A swimming pool with a prettily planted island invites for a cool dip.
Guests can easily walk or hike along the ri-ver bed; guided walks are offered in the early morning hours.
There are unusual rock paintings and old tools and shards. The area boasts nine ende-mic species of birds out of a positively identified number of 190 and many mammals and reptiles. For those who can ride, seeing game from horse back in the spectacular scenery of the nature reserve is particularly rewarding.
Some evenings Jan van de Reep drives down the river bed with his guests, where the water of the Huab flows in a little brook and tracks of leopards and anitlopes are found.
An eagles nest is placed high up in the rocks, the eagles waiting for their offsprings to grow up and capture the world of freedom, turning their rounds flying with the thermic winds.
Huab Lodge and Private ReserveHuab Lodge and BushSpa lies in the middle of the "Huab Lodge and Private Reserve" which has created a buffer zone for the so-called desert elephant in particular, and wild animals in general.
The ephemeral Huab River, which runs through the 20.000 acre nature reserve, has natural water pools which attract wildlife. The previously overgrazed farmland has been completely given over to wildlife and is gradually returning to its pristine condition, assisted by some anti-erosion measures. These consist of half moon contours raised on the affected land to decrease the speed of flowing rain water as well as gabions and the filling of erosion channels. The indigenous flora now has a chance to proliferate and provide food for the animals and refuge for birds, insects and reptiles.
Species such as kudu, oryx and mountain zebra have been able to survive the shooting parties of the past and are gradually forgetting that danger. Their numbers are building up and the new generation is approachable. However, in order to re-establish the natural balance of fauna, it is necessary to reintroduce indigenous animals such as giraffe, springbok and ostrich, as these species succumbed to the shooters. As the vegetation is no longer over-utilised by excessive domestic stock numbers, the wild ani-mals are drawn to the improving grazing and can drink peacefully from waterholes which have been made "game-friendly".
Since its establishment, Huab Lodge has received prizes in the "Best Lodge" category in the Hospitality Association of Namibia's guest appraisal contest as well as Iwanowski's Golden Palm Award year after year.
The lodge's drinking water is of first class quality and salads and herbs served at the table come fresh from the Lodge garden. In keeping with the ecological belief of the owners, solar energy is harnessed to provide clean, silent power for the lodge and bio-degradable clea-ners are utilised throughout. The neighbouring Damara people may find work at the lodge directly or otherwise sell their handcraft or freshly grown vegetables to the lodge.
Huab Lodge, with all it has to offer and being off the beaten track is not a place for a single night stop. Guests should allow several days to enjoy and absorb the tranquillity and quiet, the welcoming and comfortable atmosphere, and the many activities. And just enjoy - the sound of nature.
Further information: www.huab.com
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