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Perched on the rim of the Grootberg Plateau, the Grootberg Lodge stands sentinel over the Klip River Valley. It’s 11 rock and thatch chalets gaze out over the gorge, where Black Eagles hunt just below the level of your private deck.
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 car to encounter the inhabitants of this remote biosphere, it is the first middle-market establishment in the country that is 100% owned by the conservancy.
Desert elephant, Black Rhino and Lion are some of the more impressive mammals to be found, but not to be outdone you’ll find a myriad of smaller mammals, birds, reptiles, insects and plants.
For travelers 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.
Grootberg Lodge is a landmark in Namibia for the tourism industry as 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 with a donation of N$4.5 million to develop the 12-room Lodge. At the same time, the private sector has been called in to supply the training and management skills until the community becomes self-sustainable.
The purpose of the Grootberg Lodge is not only to offer a professional service, great surroundings, extremely good food, well-trained guides and exceptionally good local management but, at the same time, to benefit the local community thanks to the revenues generated by the Lodge.
While sustainability of the Conservancy is a primary objective which the Lodge would contribute towards, there are additional benefits such as increasing direct job opportunities in a poorly developed area; supporting marginal people with projects such as building schools, clinics, creating a community kitchen for the elderly and vulnerable groups and award bursaries to promising pupils with the proceeds of the lodge. Another important aim of the Lodge is to reduce the animal/human conflict in this community so that the locals will be more tolerant of the lions, cheetahs and elephants and give them a value from a tourism perspective.
The success of the lodge is critical to demonstrate the value of the land-use which the conservancy is promoting. The exclusive development area needs to show the value in setting aside “core” areas for tourism and biodiversity conservation.
2011 Rates [Valid until 31 December 2011]
Double room DBB pp night from R2100
Single room DBB night from R1400
2012 Rates [Valid until 31 December 2012]
Double room DBB pp night from R2150
Single room DBB night from R1450
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