A desert adventure on our doorstep
TOGETHER Walvis Bay
and neighbouring city
Swakopmund make up a
Namibian hotspot alive with
new development. Now, just
over two hours by air from
both Johannesburg and Cape
Town, the area offers South
Africans a wildly different
landscape, geared towards
adventure experiences.
Michell Fourie, SA sales
and marketing manager of
Air Namibia’s Commercial
Services, says the airline
decided to reopen direct
services between South
Africa and Walvis Bay
because of the considerable
development taking place
in and around the area. “In
particular, the development of
a new harbour in Walvis Bay
signalled the right time for us
to relaunch flights,” she says.
Two new hotels in
Swakopmund – roughly a
20-minute drive from Walvis
Bay – will open by the end
of the year: Gondwana
Collection’s The Delight
(scheduled for completion in
November) and O&L Leisure’s
Strand Hotel (set to open in
October).
There is also a growing
MICE interest in the region.
Janet Wilson-Moore, gm
of Swakopmund Hotel and
Entertainment Centre, says
MICE travel to Swakopmund
was booming in the early
2000s but dropped off largely
as a result of the global
decline in incentive travel.
However, she says business
has picked up again.
“Other popular incentive
destinations have been
so overdone. We’ve been
campaigning for South
Africans to come and try
something different,” says
Janet.
So far the uptake of flights
to Walvis Bay has been
phenomenal. “Interest in
the area’s MICE offering
is definitely growing,” says
Michell.
The strength of Namibia as
a MICE destination lies in
the diversity of its offering.
Its combination of sand
and sea lends itself to a
wide range of adventuretype
activities. It can also
accommodate groups of all
sizes at some of its more
versatile conference venues.
The Swakopmund Hotel has
hosted events of up to 700
delegates, says Janet. “We
are able to provide groups
with huge variety in terms
of breakaways and the way
in which we personalise
the event through corporate
branding like banners and
such.”
Driving tourist numbers
Air Namibia is collaborating
with other airlines to increase
connectivity to the country.
Namibia’s new Minister of
Environment and Tourism,
Pohamba Shifeta, was quoted
as saying in media reports
that tourist arrivals in Namibia
had been negatively affected
by South Africa’s new strict
visa regulations as many
travellers transit through SA.
Michell confirmed that
the airline was in strategic
talks to improve connectivity
through alternative hubs,
which included talks with
Turkish Airline and Kenya Airways.
5 things to do in the desert
1. Cruise with dolphins
and seals
For those who appreciate the
finer things in life, a catamaran
cruise from the Walvis Bay
Yacht Club with Catamaran
Charters is a good choice.
Prepare to welcome a variety
of fun characters aboard in the
form of the resident pelicans
and seals, which guests have
the opportunity to interact
with and feed. Dolphins can
also be spotted frolicking
alongside the catamaran while
the vessel’s skilled guide
provides engaging commentary
on the region’s marine life
and visible landmarks. When
passengers grow tired of
snapping away at the scenery
they can relax below deck with
oysters (Walvis Bay is famous
for its incredible oysters) and
champagne.
2. Desert quad biking
If your clients want to get
the adrenalin pumping while
getting up close and personal
with the desert, they should
consider quad biking with
Desert Explorers. Experienced
bikers and complete novices
are able to enjoy this thrilling
exploration of the desert.
Riders are given a choice of
an easier more scenic pace
or a more adventurous race
through the dunes. A guide is
provided to take riders out into
the endless sea of sand where
they can have fun shooting up
to the top of the dunes and
careening back down again.
3. Living Desert Tour
At first glance there appears
to be little that moves or
breathes in the desert. But
just beneath the surface of
the sand the dunes are alive
with activity. Tommy’s Living
Desert Tour is renowned in
Namibia – and it’s easy to
see why. Namibia’s very own
desert guru, ‘Oom Tommy’,
bolts up and down the desert
dunes in an interactive
exploration of the region’s
wildlife. Using small signs that
are completely hidden to the
untrained eye, he uncovers
a range of unusual species,
including chameleons, desert
spiders and colourful geckos
and lizards. The desert
sidewinder (Peringuey’s Adder)
is also a common sighting on
the tour.
4. The Brauhaus
A quaint town with significant
German heritage, Swakopmund
has retained much of its
European charm. The seaside
town’s Germanic influence is
perhaps best captured by the
Swakopmund Brauhaus, which
offers a full range of traditional
German favourites – some of
which South Africans would
know well and others that
provide the opportunity to try
something new. Decorated
in typical Bavarian style and
adorned with flags from across
the world, the restaurant
provides a warm and relaxing
atmosphere.
5. Dinner in the desert
Ideal for those extra-special
evening events, a celebration
in the desert is hard to
beat. Event planners have
the opportunity to surprise
guests, driving them out to
a dinner set up under the
stars, illuminated only by
the moon and surrounding
lanterns. Special touches
like a bonfire and blankets
ensure that guests remain
comfortable and warm while
they breathe in the incredibly
still and peaceful night-time
atmosphere. Specialist
outdoor caterers are able
to provide a delicious threecourse
buffet – impressive
when you consider that you
are literally dining in the
middle of a desert.
