Location: Namibia
http://www.wolwedans-namibia.comBook Now
Wolwedans nestles into the dunes and is set against a backdrop of extraordinary natural beauty. Located in the heart of NamibRand Nature Reserve, the portfolio of camps provides a perfect base from which to explore vast stretches of awe-inspiring and undisturbed nature.
Each camp is designed with your individual needs at heart. For your home at Wolwedans, you have a choice of the rustic, but unique comfort of Dune Camp, the more elaborate Dunes Lodge and Mountain View Suite, the quietly secluded Private Camp or the ultimate, Boulders Camp, secretly tucked away amidst the grandeur of large granite rocks. No matter where you opt to stay, warmth and personalised service - embraced by a commitment to care for guest and nature alike - are our hallmarks.
Wolwedans is not a dune hotel or a one night stopover destination, which can be ticked off en-route to the next tourist hot-spot. It is a place to arrive, to be, to learn and unwind, whilst being looked after by a friendly and involved local team. Wolwedans provides an honest, relaxed and down-to-earth atmosphere, free of fanciness and pretence.
You will marvel at the exclusive opportunity to get up close and personal with nature... in the absence of five-star city luxury, marble bathrooms and air-conditioned rooms. A liberating thought. Wolwedans provides an intriguing window for you to experience the desert’s elusive grandeur and breathtaking beauty. We all have to bear in mind, however, that there are moments when the elements remind us of our human insignificance ... for as much as the desert kindles your spirits, it can also be harsh and unforgiving.
If you are an open-minded and nature-loving individual in search of a distinctive desert experience far off the beaten track, Wolwedans is for you.
Wolwedans is located in the heart of NamibRand Nature Reserve which is a model for private conservation and is probably the largest private nature reserve in Southern Africa, extending over an area of 172,200 hectares. It demonstrates holistic biodiversity conservation balanced with financial sustainability through low-impact sustainable tourism and park fees and is managed directly by the NamibRand Safaris.
It has been committed to environmental sustainability from its inception 16 years ago. Part of its long-term conservation objectives has been to run the whole Wolwedans operation solely on renewable energy sources doing away with its standby diesel generator. Whilst electricity for lights at the Lodge and Camps has been generated from solar panels from day one, it has until recently been running all fridges on gas. It has now taken the plunge and invested heavily in replacing all gas fridges with low-energy Ardo Solar fridges and freezers. Apart from reducing its gas consumption significantly, the use of solar fridges reduces its consumption of fossil fuels (i.e. the transport of gas bottles to Wolwedans) as well as carbon emissions generated by the usage of liquid gas making it an even greener operation.
Wolwedans is currently adding the finishing touches to a massive state of the art solar hybrid system at Wolwedans Village. This installation, which is set to reduce fossil fuel consumption by 70%, is setting a bold example to the local hospitality industry in Namibia. Many Wolwedans’ conservation efforts are invisible to their guests and are thus stem from a deep commitment to preserve the sensitive desert environment it operates in.
Wolwedans actively promotes and showcases local culture. Local arts and crafts are sold at its curio shops. It offers its guests a taste of Namibian culture – quite literally – through serving local cuisine and having readings of its menu in local languages. It encourages its staff to provide its guests with local cultural entertainment through guitar playing or telling short stories that offer a window into local culture. It is also dedicated to preserving archaeological and anthropological heritage of the region in accordance with the NamibRand Nature Reserve policies.
To promote staff interaction Wolwedans holds a monthly braai (barbeque) – a typical Southern African tradition. Additionally through the Namibian Institute of Culinary Education (NICE) restaurant, it holds a number of cultural events such as the Annual Tafel Lager Music Festival in which local musicians perform their music over a 10-week period.
Wolwedans currently runs a successful sustainable tourism business. It continuously explores innovative approaches to resource management and allocation to sustain its community, culture and conservation efforts. It has started a number of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to provide income for local communities. These have included a transport service run by a previous staff member. Others in the pipeline include a Laundry project in the Maltehohe community, and a bakery.
