Wilderness Namibia newsletters – December 2024

By Monika N. Edward |Pictures by Sem Alweendo & Colin Ananias Netope

Weather and landscape

Our temperatures here in Damaraland ranged between 32° Celsius during the day and 19° C at night. Naturally, this can vary considerably, depending on the movements of cloud across the area. This year the rain started early in some parts of the catchment areas, and we actually saw the Huab and Auob rivers flowing for 24 hours! It was an amazing and unexpected desert experience for our guests.

Wildlife

As usual, elephants, and giraffes were seen roaming in the dry river beds and surrounding streams, attracted by the natural water springs in the vicinity. This month we had flowing water to add to the excitement for the species. Good sightings of wildlife were recorded by our guides and guests, and included springbok, Cape foxes, and ostriches.

Damaraland Camp staff news

A highlight of this time of year is the festive vibe, especially our staff year-end function which creates great anticipation, with the team ready for some team-building and energising activities beyond the daily routine. The news that got us particularly upbeat was a trip for all to the coast at Torra Bay – it was indeed a tremendous highlight.

So, the first week of the month was about team-building and our heartfelt thanks goes to our Wilderness management for honouring and showing appreciation in the form of an awards ceremony, and an invigorating get-together.

Damaraland Camp culture

Our festive season vibe greeted guests across all our camp front-of-house areas, with Christmas décor on the tree, and some mouth-watering homemade cookies baked by our chef for tea time adding to the Christmas spirit, as well as lively singing in the evenings. Our guests were invited onto the dance floor, and jived happily, celebrating these magic moments with us.

Guest comments

Enos the guide was a highlight of all our guest comments
‘Hospitality, food, friendliness and team spirit is incredible’.
‘Almost everything… I like that we are called by name – this sounded like a national anthem.

Staff in camp

Congratulations to our service stars, Riana Simon and Nicolen Gewers. We are proud to announce that Riana has moved to Front of House from Housekeeping, and we now welcome Roux-Che Coetzee to Housekeeping. Ricardo Williams is our driver, as part of the Maintenance crew.

Camp team:

General Manager – Collin Ananias Netope; Assistant General Manager – Monika Edward; Mechanic – Sem Alweendo; Kitchen – Mr Pinehas, Ashley, Pauline and veterans Josephine and Emelia; Housekeeping – Hansina-Anna, Annalise, Virginia, Martha, Elizabeth and Roux-Che.

Guide team: 

Enos, Joas, Nicky and Trainee Guide Sylvester
Front of House – Donavan, Emmy, Leonie, Moreen, Riana and Dios
Men in Overalls: Oupa Wellem, Sylvester, Ricardo Williams (Team No Sleep) 

Finally, a round of applause to Christelle Jansen and George Muvuma for being solid Relief Managers.

Words and images by Christelle Jansen 

Weather and landscape 

The temperatures in the last weeks of 2024 were actually very pleasant.  From Christmas Day up till new year we had lovely cloud cover, and cool days and cold nights. We even received some drops, though not even 1 mm, but we are thankful for every little bit. All around us it rained, and rivers were flowing.  We will still wait patiently for our turn in 2025 to hopefully be blessed with rain. 

The landscape in our corner of Damaraland consistently amazes our guests, especially as to how the animals manage to survive. Look at the picture above, and at first you see only rocks. However, where there is even a dry riverbed, but with a natural spring and little bit of water, you can immediately see some green relief.   

Wildlife 

Animals seen while out tracking with the guests were rhinos, giraffes, oryx with a young calf, and occasionally elephants, though they have not been seen for the past week or so.   

We have three ‘resident’ Rüppell’s korhaans, which make their appearance almost every day at the camp, just casually walking around, especially during the mornings when all the guests are out, and the camp is quiet.  

The SRT guides, together with our guide Leonardo, found a dead elephant while on a rhino tracking outing with guests. We are not sure of the reason for the death, but MET came out the same day, and a report was made to the police.  

Staff news

The staff had their year-end function at Terrace Bay in December.  We were busy around Christmas and had different menus for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  Diana from Head Office in Windhoek was also here over the Christmas period to assist the team in the kitchen with preparing the food.
  

Desert Rhino Camp culture

We are a ‘blended’ family at Desert Rhino Camp, and over the festive season we had discussions about how our different cultures celebrate Christmas, and what we eat.  It was really interesting to hear from different staff about how they celebrate Christmas.  What we could all agree on was that there is always way too much food – you eat for two days from the Christmas feast!

Guest comments 

Again, the staff were complimented for their honesty, friendliness and openness towards the guests.  They feel so at home from their check-in until they leave.   

Guests also get so emotional when the staff sing goodbye as they are getting onto their vehicle to leave. This singing comes straight from the heart, showing everyone is happy to be here; the singing is completely optional but everyone always joins in.

Managers, guides & staff  

It is with sad hearts that we have to say goodbye to Wilson Paulus (F&B Manager) who is leaving our camp.  We wish him all the best on his future path which is taking a different direction.  It was such a pleasure to work with him, and he really made a difference while he was at our camp.

 
 
Team:  

One of our chefs, Edison, will also be leaving us, but happily still within the Wilderness family as he has been transferred to Wilderness Doro Nawas.  Although he will be missed at Desert Rhino Camp, we wish him the best of luck for this new chapter in his life.   

As we all know some of us must work during the holiday times, but luckily some of the staff’s children and families could visit them here in camp during the festive season. This made it easier for them to work over the festive period, knowing they had their family with them.  

From the team at Desert Rhino Camp, we wish everyone a prosperous 2025!

Finally, here’s a short quote to remember to live by for 2025. 

  
‘The secret of success is to do the common things uncommonly well’. – John D. Rockefeller.

We also like to remember ‘A goal without a plan is just a wish’ – so put your goals for 2025 together for all your wishes to come true.   

Weather and landscape

We actually experienced a little bit of rain in the desert! While not even enough to measure, the rain from the catchment areas created a short-lived flow in the Hoanib River, and guests were thrilled to see the water coming down.

Staff news 

Four members of our staff received their long-service awards.

 
Guest comments

‘Everything! Cuisine = Top Notch. Room servicing = Excellent. Care and thoughtfulness = Amazing. Talk = So interesting. Vincent = Not enough words of praise and gratitude, a wise gentleman’.

‘Attention to detail, excellent staff, food from another planet, unbelievable guides. Keep it up’.

‘Overwhelming. Best staff. I would choose Wilderness again if I have the chance to come back to Namibia again. Thank you so much’.

Weather and landscape

It was a fairly hot month, with temperatures reaching as high as 44° Celsius during the daytime. We were delighted to actually experience a few drops of rain, but they didn’t even wet the ground. Other than that, the wind came up every day around midday, until sunset, occasionally bring sandstorms. 

The riverbed vegetation is green, but the overall landscape is still very dry though dotted with occasional mopane trees, Euphorbia damarana and our national flower, Welwitschia mirabilis.

Fortunately, there are government-monitored water sources for the elephants.

Wildlife and birds 

We saw an exciting fight between two elephant bulls. The guides recorded numerous species, including elephants, giraffes, springboks, baboons, ostriches, steenbok, red wildebeest, kudu, dassie (rock hyrax) and ground squirrels. 

Other exciting sightings included scorpions, zebra snakes, brown snake eagles, mountain wheatears, pale-winged starlings, pied crows, the near-endemic Damara hornbill as well as yellow hornbills, grey hornbills, white-backed mousebirds and beautiful Namaqua sandgrouse.

Staff news 

Our guides went out for some refresher training at Hobatere Lodge.

Camp news

We had honeymooners and birthdays in camp to celebrate, and we loved setting up special surprises for them.

One guest couple requested a private dinner in the circle, with traditional singing and dancing performed by the staff. 

The staff village is undergoing a revamp – watch this space!

Guest comments

‘Our tours were great; our guide knew lots and the food was amazing and accommodating for gluten free and dairy free needs’.

‘Ability to adapt on the fly and friendly, warm engagement’.

‘Hospitality, friendliness and extremely genuine the staff are. You make this an amazing place. We loved every moment. Fanuel is great!’

Weather and landscape

Thrillingly, we have had some very good rain! The Tsauchab River has flowed and there is water in Sesriem Canyon. That said, the reserve is still very dry, and we are hoping for some more rain, which will encourage the fields of beautiful flowers. 

Wildlife and birds 

The more frequently seen animals around the waterhole were a little scarce due to receiving some rain in the mountains. However, we still got to see a lot of the black-backed jackals around camp. 

Camp news  

Our traditional braai night is always a special treat for the guests who just love the set up and the food.

Guest comments 

‘Such a special team and experience’. – Country Life Media. 

‘The friendly, professional and personal service from all your staff’. 

‘Your service is fabulous, each and every staff member is a credit to you’.

 
‘The customer service was exceptional! The little touches such as a drink when you arrive back, and the staff remembering our drinks order. We were made to feel very special and loved on Christmas Day’.