NAMIBIA'S luxury five-star train, the Desert Express, will soon introduce two more trips to its regular Windhoek-Swakopmund itinerary, with the first one departing in December this year to Tsumeb in the northern region of the country. The package includes a night at Namib Sun Hotels' Mokuti Lodge on the eastern edge of the acclaimed Etosha National Park.
"We also hope to introduce a third trip by the end of next year, which will explore the south," adds train manager, Leon Steyn.
It is envisaged that the trip will incorporate excursions to Keetmanshoop and Luderitz, including the opportunity to feed the famous wild horses of the Namib.
Having won two national awards in succession - the Hospitality Association of Namibia's 1999 Award for Excellence and its 2000 Award for the Best Hotel with less than 50 rooms - is "encouraging and a tribute to the product's overwhelming success in a short period of time," relates Steyn. "Though this doesn't mean we can rest on our laurels and we are continually looking for new challenges."
"A prime example of this has been the recent change of focus to address the gap in the corporate and incentive market by adding a 40 to 60-seater conference coach."
Steyn explains that the train recently hosted a motor car launch for a top UK company by adding flatbeds to the back of the train and towing no less than 15 cars to their destination.
(Southern African Tourism Update - September 2000)
