Kuibis Restaurant opened in 1997 as a small establishment, but customer demand soon led to expansion. Kuibis is known locally as the biltong farm due to the popularity of their biltong (jerky) and droëwors (dried sausage).

They also sell freshly baked cookies, bottled fruit, meat and much more. Overnighters have a choice of five rooms on a bed-and-breakfast basis, as well as cooked meals, and a “promise that you will enjoy the beautiful garden, spaces and tranquillity of nature.”

]]> 16.74480056762695312,-26.61949920654296875 This camp began as a launch site for Amanzi River Trails canoe trips. The river’s edge setting provides an ideal camping area which has grown over the past six years.

The camp has spacious shaded lawns for camping, electrical points and hot-water ablution blocks. It also has braai (barbeque) facilities, a bar and kiosk selling ice and firewood.

Bird-watching, canoeing, fishing and swimming are all on offer.

]]> 17.53230094909667969,-28.69910049438476562 Experience the Orange River at its best with a four-day family friendly Amanzi Trails canoeing experience. Children aged five and adults over 70 will cope with this gentle paddle along the Orange River while taking in the beautiful Richtersveld scenery.
This experience instils a sense of achievement whilst relaxing and enjoying the beautiful surroundings and the calm river, with the odd rapid that provides an adrenaline rush.
Drift with the flow in a 5m Indian Mohawk canoe as it glides alongside lush riverbanks rich with bird life before conquering Sjambok or Entrance Exam rapid. Listen for the call of the fish eagle as the sun soaks away your worries, and fall asleep under the stars.

The clean, drinkable river water is free from bilharzia and malaria-carrying mosquitoes. Yellow fish, silver fish and catfish abound for the keen angler, so pack your hand line and corn kernels.

Johan explains how Amanzi trails started:

“A teaching colleague and myself bought some 1:50 000 maps of the area, hired a few canoes and invited a few matric pupils to join us. We stopped along the river to scout each rapid and hoped for the best! From those humble beginnings – learning firsthand about the river by taking small groups downstream – Amanzi Trails has grown to attract new clients, yet we’ve kept in personal contact with our early clients who still return to the river that first attracted them all those years back.”

Amanzi Trails
Enjoy a four-day family friendly canoeing experience for anyone aged 5 to 70!

]]> 17.53230094909667969,-28.69910049438476562 Thatched cabanas offer spectacular views of the Orange River where canoe adventures promise fun-filled days. Evenings are heralded by incredible sunsets, chatting around the campfire and sleeping out under the stars.

Relax and enjoy mouth-watering meals and good times with family and friends.

The cabanas offer :

17 x cabanas sleeping two guests each in either twin or double;
2 x family cabanas sleeping four people each in either twin or double;
All cabana's have air-conditioning;
All cabana's have en-suite bathrooms;
Towels are supplied;
All cabana's have mini bar fridges, kettles and crockery; and
All Cabana's have their own tea, coffee and milk.

Activities:

4 and 6 day river tours and overland camping;
Day trips - (Pre-booking required and minimum six people);
Northern Namibian 14 day birding tour - Group bookings only - min 16 pax; and
Ten day Rio Cunene river safari - Group bookings only - min 16 pax.

]]> 17.55850028991699219,-28.68560028076171875 This campsite was started in 1996 as a base from which 4x4 trips headed into the surrounding mountains. Apart from campsites set in the scenic Namuskluft, there are self-catering bungalows, hiking trails, self-drive 4x4 trips, a swimming pool, bar and pool table.

]]> 16.86870002746582031,-27.86960029602050781 Norotshama offers 22 river-facing chalets. Two of these chalets are on the river (floating) and six are self-catering. There are also camping facilities, an on-site à-la-carte restaurant and bar and swimming pool.

A host of activities include:

4x2 route;
4x4 route;
Half-day canoe trips;
Bird-watching;
Village tour;
Sundowners tour;
Twelve sport-rock climbing routes;
Items for sale;
Retail stores in Aussenkehr Village; and
Central market place in the village.

The 1 200ha Aussenkehr Grape Valley was formed in 1992. Interesting sites in the area include a German post office dated 1897 and ancient German soldiers’ graves. Aussenkehr Nature Park is home to 30 Namib feral horses.

Norotshama, started in 2000, is named after a mountain in Aussenkehr. Noro in the local indigenous language means “melon” and tshama means “rock”. Aussenkehr Village is home to 10 000 people.

]]> 17.41099929809570312,-28.39459991455078125 The centre offers:

Educational displays on:

The plant and animal life of the area;
The legendary wild horses;
The people of Aus;
Mining activities;
The history of World War One;
A café and restaurant;
Local curios and souvenirs; and
Home-baked goods.

Activities:

Guided hiking trials with freelance guides;
Tour to historical sites; and
Viewing hut where wild horses roam free.

"Aus Info Centre - Everything you need to know about Aus".

]]> 16.26280021667480469,-26.66220092773437500 Desert Horse Inn:
Nestled in the Aus Mountains in Gondwana Sperrgebiet Rand Park, the Desert Horse Inn commands a breathtaking view across endless desert plains. All guests who overnight at Klein-Aus Vista are welcomed at the impressive Desert Horse Inn.

The Inn offers:

Fourteen en-suite bedrooms;
Country cuisine restaurant, Wild Horse Bar and wooden deck with panoramic views; and
For lovers of the outdoors, there’s a dormitory cabin at Geisterschlucht which sleeps ten people, plus a 10-site campsite, both with outstanding facilities in a great setting.

Eagle’s Nest Lodge:
To experience true desert space and solitude, a sojourn at the Eagle’s Nest Lodge, 15 minutes’ drive from the Desert Horse Inn is a must. Each natural-rock chalet is built around an enormous granite boulder. Private verandahs offer breathtaking views of Gondwana Sperrgebiet Rand Park in absolute tranquility and privacy.

The lodge offers:

Eight open-plan en-suite natural rock chalets;
Cosy fireplace and kitchenette;
All meals served at the Desert Horse Inn; and
Take-away braai (barbeque) packs or breakfast platters on request.

Activities:

Several scenic hiking trails; and
Guided half-day or full-day tours to the Namib Desert horses, the Koichab dune sea and the rare succulent Karoo flora.

Gondwana Sperrgebiet Rand Park
Every year, following soft winter rains, the Succulent Karoo Desert is transformed by an explosion of bright colours into a carpet of flowers. The Gondwana Sperrgebiet Rand Park is part of one of the 20 most important natural biomes in the world.

This 51km² park borders the Nama Karoo to the east and the Namib Desert biome to the north. It is a landscape of massive granite mountains, dry riverbeds scattered with rocks, and sweeping desert plains. Sperrgebiet, where the legendary Namib Desert horses roam free, is to the west.

]]> 16.24379920959472656,-26.65200042724609375 This is the eighth largest zinc mine in the world, producing special high-grade (SHG) zinc. The plant is unique in that it incorporates the world’s largest solvent-extraction circuit, which purifies the solution before electro-winning. It forms part of the Anglo Base Metals division.

]]> 16.76049995422363281,-27.88139915466308594 Amica, meaning “friendly house” in Latin, lives up to its promise, since all the staff and management are always warm and welcoming, and ready to assist with guests’ needs.

The guesthouse has the following facilities in its rooms:

Television with DSTV;
Air-conditioning;
Telephone;
Coffee/tea trays; and
En-suite bathrooms.

The guesthouse also has a swimming pool and braai (barbeque) area to cool down on hot desert days, and various games to play at night. There is a library, internet and conference facilities. Children are welcome.

]]> 16.69729995727539062,-27.98760032653808594 The Four Seasons Lodge has 37 air-conditioned rooms with fridges and televisions. Rooms vary between single, double and self-catering units.

The lodge also has a swimming pool, fully licensed à-la-carte restaurant and bar.

]]> 16.76020050048828125,-27.96220016479492188 Lo Rentia’s was opened in 2004 and is the first business in Rosh Pinah to be started by a women’s group. It offers a range of food including fast food and pizzas.

They also have a bar, pool tables, swimming pool and braai (barbeque) facilities.

]]> 16.76160049438476562,-27.96419906616210938 McMillan’s earned its name from the first geologist to discover zinc ore in the mountain behind Rosh Pinah. This guesthouse has 13 rooms with seven currently under restoration. All rooms are fitted with air-conditioning and television.

The guesthouse does not have a restaurant, but Lo Rentia’s is conveniently located across the street. They also have braai (barbeque) facilities and offer a laundry service.

]]> 16.76160049438476562,-27.96419906616210938 Rooiduin is a fully licensed sports bar and restaurant where you get to be your own chef. Different cuts of meat are provided, and you braai (barbeque) it yourself to your liking. Cost includes side dishes.

]]> 16.75729942321777344,-27.96509933471679688 This golf club offers a nine-hole course (18 tees and 17 greens) and a driving range. A clubhouse with a bar and restaurant serves light meals. The desert course was established in 1972. Only the greens and tees are grassed, while the rest of the course is as you find it.

]]> 16.76183319091796875,-27.96675491333007812 The Rosh Pinah Tennis Club has three tennis courts, including refreshment facilities. Contact Yolanda for further information.

]]> 16.76084518432617188,-27.96382141113281250 This business has been operational since 2002 and offers en-suite single and double rooms. They have braai (barbeque)facilities and a self-catering kitchen with a fridge.

]]> 16.75930023193359375,-27.96439933776855469 Grande View Lodge originated after an accident in the canyon brought a group of investors together. A member of a hiking group broke both his ankles and had to be flown out of the canyon by helicopter. Members of the group, who also assisted with the rescue, decided to establish the lodge in 2001. The lodge underwent renovations in 2007.

It has three thatched deck-chalets with viewing decks and two twin beds each, and two standard thatched chalets with two double beds each.

Two inclusive activity packages are offered:

Package 1: Guided two-hour morning hike along the canyon rim. Interesting facts on the fauna and flora of the canyon is discussed with guests during the hike. At sunset, a two-hour 4x4 drive takes guests to the northern part of the park to various viewpoints and areas where game like mountain zebra, kudu, springbok, oryx and ostrich can be seen. Sundowners are provided at one of the viewpoints; and
Package 2: A morning trip in the lodge’s 4x4 takes you down the canyon to a rock pool in the river. The day is spent at the pool under the shade of a rock overhang. Lunch and drinks are served.

Fully catered 1-5 day hiking trail packages are also offered. Hikers carry small day packs while luggage is transported to the overnight camps. The first and last nights are spent in the lodge.

Interesting features include ancient geological formations, hand-axes from the Stone Age, petroglyphs (rock paintings) and petrified trees dating back 300-million years.

]]> 17.53440093994140625,-27.50690078735351562 The Kalahari, Namibia’s rough south, together with the adjoining Namib, is the world’s oldest desert. This landscape has fascinated people since time immemorial: The meagreness, the infinite distances, the tranquillity, the fragile but resistant nature and the incredible view of the stars of the southern hemisphere.

The idea behind Vogelstrausskluft was to preserve this heritage and make it accessible in a unique and ecological way. As such, the number of guests is restricted, making for wonderful opportunities to explore nature, watch the stars of the southern skies far from the glare of city lights, learn more about the fascinating wildlife of the southern African deserts, explore stone-age and modern history by visiting rock paintings or fortifications of the German Schutztruppe, or simply absorb the silence.

The Vogelstrausskluft covers an area of more than 26 000ha, enclosing several different landscapes such as a pan, which fills with water during heavy rainfalls, or the impressive valley of the Fish River Canyon. In addition to its location between the high plains around Keetmanshoop and the dunes and diamond mining areas close to Lüderitz (both can be reached on a day trip), the farm is an ideal starting point to explore southern Namibia.

The lodge has 24 twin-bedded, air-conditioned en-suite rooms. Walks, quad-biking, stargazing and accommodation in a luxury bush camp down in the Fish River Canyon (under construction) are also offered.

]]> 17.51880073547363281,-26.96439933776855469 The historic Bahnhof Hotel – initially built in 1906 – presents itself in a modern, elegant format, combining rich history and traditional comfort with excellent service and a-la-carte cuisine.

Accommodation is offered in 13 stylish refurbished double rooms with en-suite facilities, including a four bed family room and a wheelchair room - inviting the weary traveller to stop over for a good night's rest.

Restaurant: The menu and kitchen is getting lots of appreciation from an ever growing group of pleasantly surprised and satisfied customers. Daily fresh bread and cakes from the Hotel's own kitchen are becoming a trade mark of The Bahnhof! Staff members are all originating from Aus and those who finally decided to stay on are so dedicated to the success of the hotel, that the customers can virtually feel it, if the enthusiastic remarks about the service are any yardstick to go by.

Points of interest:

South African built Prisoner of War Camp;
Wild Horses of the Namib;
Nama Padloper Route; and
Commonwealth Graveyard and German Schutztruppe Graves.

]]> 16.17627906799316406,-26.40077972412109375