Luxury Travel Advisor - December 2007 - (Page 18) ADVISOR INSIGHT: Matt Kareus of Natural Habitats, a tour operator in Boulder, CO, says that Namibia is unique in Africa because of its combination of wildlife, culture and topography. His company sends 700-1,000 American wildlife lovers to Southern Africa every year. He says Namibia is coming on strong and is selling quickly to people who want a true African wilderness experience without the crowds. Kareus particularly likes Okonjima, where his clients can get very close to the big cats; he also recommends Serra Cafema and Palmweg Rhino Camp. Mark Nolting, president of Africa Adventures in Fort Lauderdale, who sends several hundred clients to Namibia every year, picks Wolwedans and Serra Cafema as his favorites spots to send clients, as well as for his own personal visits. “Namibia bookings are increasing more than any other country in Africa because it’s so unique,” Noltin says. He also likes Little Kulala at Sossusvlei. Jamie Bell at Ker & Downey in Houston loves Wolwedans, Mowani Mountain Camp, Onguma Private Game Reserve and Okonjima, all Namibianowned luxury lodges. She is doing more Southern African and Namibian honeymoons and thinks Namibia is a nice combo with Botswana and South Africa. Christina Alfieri, co-owner of Africa Calls in Santa Fe, loves Namibia so much that she got married at the private camp at Wolwedans. Her second-favorite is the Schoemann Skeleton Coast flying safari, which is a three-anda-half-day, three-night adventure in the wilderness with a group known for its knowledge of wildlife and geology. Alfieri often sends clients to Namibia for a return trip to Africa, but is finding more and more people asking to go—about 30 percent of their Africa bookings are to Namibia. SERRA CAFEMA’S tented cottages sit along the riverbank. WOLWEDANS DUNE LODGE (pool shown here) overlooks the Namib Desert. (Continued from page 15) Take a dawn balloon ride over the dunes at Sossusvlei. Then, after a sumptuous champagne breakfast, join your ranger for a drive into the center of nowhere, where springbok, oryx and ostrich wander the vast reaches of the preserve. Serra Cafema (www.wilder ness-safaris.com), one of the most remote lodges in Southern Africa, offers five-star luxury at the northern tip of Skeleton Coast Park and is reachable only by private plane. Riding the banks of the Kunene River, where crocs bask in the sun and Angola can be seen on the other shore, recently renovated Serra Cafema offers a family or small group eight luxury tented cottages raised above the riverbank and reached by shaded walkways from the main lodge. There are king-size beds, in-suite baths and, much to our delight, private verandas with hammocks overlooking the river. Tip: Try quad biking; any one of several trained guides can take your VIPs on a ride to find a nomadic Himba village. We went up mountains and down dunes, across plains to far horizons—it was the most exhilarating way to spend a day. Then slip into the icy pool before sitting down to a multi-course meal paired with fine wines. Don’t let your clients leave Namibia without shopping for jewelry, skins and crafts in Windhoek. Arrange a stay at Hotel Heinitzburg (www.heinitzburg.com), which was built in 1914 and restored by the Raith family in 1996, with more renovations planned for early 2008. This is the place to experience German-colonial Namibia, as the castle was built for the wife of the first colonial governor and designed by a Bavarian architect. Past guests include former French Prime Minister Valery Giscard, and Jacques Rogge, former president of the International Olympic Committee. Ask Alvin Farmer, reservations manager, for one of the four poolside Double Deluxe Rooms with a tub and shower; there also are a dozen Twin Deluxe Rooms overlooking the garden, which we found equally comfortable. Manager Tibor Raith (tabor.raith@heinitzburg.com; 264-61-128-0000) will provide assistance with VIP guests. Arrange sundowners on the terrace so your clients can appreciate the stupendous sunset views of the capital and the mountains beyond, and ask Alvin to book a table at Leo’s at the Castle for dinner. Tip: The best times to visit Namibia are in Southern Africa’s spring—particularly in September and October—and fall, especially in March and April. Some remote properties close from January through March due to extreme heat; Southern African winter travel means sunny days and cold nights. 18 LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR | December 2007 http://www.wilderness-safaris.com http://www.wilderness-safaris.com http://www.heinitzburg.com
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