activities at grootberg lodge

Guided walks on top of the plateau N$150.00 pp
After a scrumptious breakfast on the veranda of the restaurant with the
Black Eagles hovering around the cliffs, the guests who prefer an early
start to the day will depart at around 7.30am for a 3 hour walk on top of
the plateau. Our knowledgeable guide will enable guests to enjoy the local
flora, the amazing rock formations of the Etendeka Mountains and the shy
wild animals, long inhabitants of this plateau.

For the afternoon walkers, departure is around 4.30 pm after coffee
and tea, served with home made cakes for extra energy for the hike.

Guided walk down the mountain to the Klip River Springs
N$300.00 pp
For the more adventurous guest, a challenging hike down into the
Klip River, with the possibility to see kudu, oryx, klipspringers and
mountain zebras. It is usually a 3 hour walk. Hikers will then be
returned to the lodge in the comfort of our custom built Range Rover.

Elephant tracking N$600.00 pp
This is one of our most popular activities. A guide with a tracker
will take you out into the surrounding farms in search of the elusive
desert elephants, giving one also the opportunity to appreciate the
life style of the local people. Lunch takes place in the shade of a tree
in the remote wilderness of Damaraland Departure at around 7.30am
and back at the lodge in the early afternoon.

Rhino Tracking N$900.00 pp
Departure is at 7.00am after an early breakfast at the lodge. The guide,
along with the game trackers will take the guests in an open 4x4 game
vehicle down to the Klip River. They will track the rhinos from the vehicle
using telemetry as transmitters have been inserted into the animals' horns
for monitoring purposes. Part of the tracking will take place on foot, with
the possibility of between 1 to 3 hours walk at the most. At lunch time
there will be a stop near the springs where people can enjoy some
refreshments. It's almost a full day activity going along bumpy roads
and walking in rocky terrain, so not advisable for the faint-hearted.

Himba trip N$600.00 pp
Come and visit one of the last most traditional peoples of Namibia in
a small settlement near Palmfontein surrounded by makalani palms and
dry river beds. These friendly people, closely related to the Herero, are
herdsmen, breeding mainly cattle and goats while leading a semi-nomadic
life. Learn how the proud Himba women spend many hours on beauty care
and clean themselves with herbal steam baths. See their homesteads,
cone shaped structures made from palm leaves, mud and cattle dung.

Scenic drives down the Klip River am N$350.00, pm N$250.00
The lodge offers scenic drives down to the Klip River Valley where
permanent springs provide water for the local population of zebras,
antelopes and occasionally elephants and black rhinos. Springboks,
kudu and oryx are a permanent fixture and even the nervous and
shy klipspringers are sometimes seen leaping about on the steep
cliffs of the mountain as if they were flying. The morning drive starts
after breakfast and takes between 3-4 hours, the afternoon drive is
shorter, leaving after tea and coffee at the lodge for a 2-3 hours drive.

Horse sundowners N$300.00 pp
Meander through the mopane savanna on a shiny steed and enjoy
the view of this beautiful landscape, with the possibility of a close
up encounter with the general game of the area. The guide will stop
for a sundowner for you to appreciate the pristine wilderness of the
plateau while sipping a cold drink. Beginners are welcome.

Horse back safaris
For the keen horse riders the Grootberg Lodge also offers horse back
safaris.

This takes you on a longer journey through the surrounding mountains
of Damaraland, camping out every night under the stars and cooking
on the fire. The guests will see how the locals live , track desert elephant
and spend quite a bit of time in the saddle, up to 8 hours.

It is backed up, luxury camping with not too much hardship involved,
long drop loo, hot shower, stretchers, linen, dome tents and cold gin
and tonics.

The terrain is varied with dry river beds, open plains with big lead woods,
mopane bush and even some makalani groves. The rate we charge is
N$1800.00 per person per day and is inclusive of drinks, meals, activities
and accommodation, exclusive of phone calls and curios.

We have a minimum number of two riders and a maximum of six with a
weight limit of 90kg.