newsletter of grootberg lodge

Hello and good afternoon.

As promised by Rebekka earlier today, herewith the first of our monthly newsletters. This letter is positively
loaded with exciting information...there have been so many great developments... a new reservations office,
new reservations software, new faces, new lodges... that it’s difficult to even know where to start. So let’s kick
off with the basics...

EcoLodgistix cc is a Namibian business specialising in lodge reservations, marketing and management. This
company will be handling the reservations for Desert Homestead, Grootberg Lodge, Fish River Lodge and River
Crossing Lodge... when you call the reservations office in future, please don’t be put off your stride and think
you’ve reached a wrong number – the office ladies will be answering by saying ‘ You’ve reached EcoLodgistix,
how may I help you?’ All the contact details will remain the same, and in case you don’t have them on your system,
the telephone numbers are 061-246788 and 061-230905. The fax number is 061-243079. There are several
e-mail addresses in operation, and they are as follows:

Desert Homestead – sosses@iafrica.com.na OR reservations@homestead.com.na
Grootberg Lodge - reservations@grootberg.com
Fish River Lodge – reservations@fishriverlodge.com.na
River Crossing Lodge – reservations@rivercrossing.com.na

In our office you will find some familiar faces, as well as some new ones...Andrew and Melissa are part of the
furniture; Dom and Sim are relocating to Windhoek after a three year stint up at the Grootberg Lodge; our office
manager as of the 1st of June is Denitza Petrova; handling all Desert Homestead and Fish River Lodge bookings
is Rebekka Weinert – our new German speaking reservationist, and still managing the Grootberg Lodge reservations
and additionally the River Crossing bookings will be Tulina Hamutumwa. We say a fond farewell to Star who will
be heading out to fairly green pastures for the moment when she resumes duties at the Desert Homestead as of
the 1st of June.

Our office has moved from its old location and is new situated at the very funky Village Centre on the corner of
Robert Mugabe and Liliencron Streets. If you need a great cappuccino and to collect some brochures, you’ll now
be able to do both... the Fresh and Wild Cafe is right next door to our office. Soon we’ll have some great banners
in the windows too of all our properties, so pop in next time you’re in the area and come for a coffee, our treat!

On the reservations front still, in a bid to streamline our bookings we are doing away with our old system and
transferring all our bookings onto the Innkeeper System. We are trying to be as efficient as technology will allow
us to, so please let us know if you are not satisfied with the service that you are receiving. We will respond to all
your requests within 12 hours... please don’t hesitate to mail either Melissa or Simonetta personally if this is not
the case. We can be reached on simonetta@ecolodgistix.com.na and melissa@ecolodgistix.com.na

Lastly on the reservations, we know that sometimes you receive urgent enquiries after 5pm or on the week-ends,
you’ll now be able to reach one of the EcoLodgistix crew on 081 149 8239 for assistance!

Right, now onto new lodge developments...the Fish River Lodge is bang on schedule for its 1st of August opening.
In case you have been racking your brains for a great accommodation option at the Fish River Canyon – this lodge
will blow your mind (as well as your guests)! Twenty architect designed chalets sensitively built on the edge of the
canyon offer a view like no other... competitively priced at N$1800.00 for a double room (dinner, bed and breakfast),
this lodge will set a new high water mark for service excellence as a mid market offering. A great range of activities
will keep your guests busy for at least two nights... so please mail us on reservations@fishriverlodge.com.na for
pictures, details, rates or anything else you can think of.
The booking sheets are open...!

The Grootberg Lodge continues to amaze guests with its game experience. There are now four black rhinos in the
Klip River Valley – a sighting which we can practically guarantee. The black faced impala are breeding up a storm,
and they will soon be joined by some eland – to be released later in the year! The horse back safaris are becoming
more and more popular... we cannot keep up with the demand for our sun-downer horse ride on the edge of the
plateau, and as such we have acquired 4 more horses to meet the demand! Sadly, our local Himba settlement have
packed up and moved on for the time being. This activity is a bit in limbo as the closest settlement is now at
Sessfontein, which is a 300km round trip and means at least 5 hours in the vehicle for guests.

We won’t be taking any pre-bookings for the Himba excursion at the office, but guests can enquire at the lodge
whether or not this activity is possible, as the Himba are Nomadic, they may well move back into the area again.

Desert Homestead has been blessed with a great rainy season, and as such the entire area is well grassed and
looks beautiful. The year has kicked off well, and a ‘low season’ seems to be a thing of the past. We have a new
management couple in Nico and Liezel Barkhuizen, both well experienced in the industry. They started at the
beginning of March and we wish them a long and happy time down in the desert. A minor refurbishment is planned
this year for the lodge – all soft furnishings are to be upgraded during the course of the next three months – so
imagine a brand spanking new look to Desert Homestead! Speaking of brand spanking – our website has been
recreated and sports a whole new look – please go online and check it out at www.deserthomestead-namibia.com.

An intensive staff training program will be on the go from the middle of May until the end of June, in an effort to
offer an even better service and to ensure a highly motivated and cohesive team doing their thing! For guests that
have been able to spend a 3rd night at the lodge, a combined Naukluft hiking trip together with a wine tasting in
the afternoon at Neuras has proved to be very popular! If by some small chance you don’t have an up to the minute
breakdown of all the activities on offer, please drop us a mail...we have also finalised our rates for 2009. By the
way, in case you thought it was a printing error, no we haven’t increased our accommodation rates this year!

Lastly, we should probably mention our very funky new lodge that is to be built right on Windhoek’s doorstep. It is
located approximately three kilometres outside of town on the airport road, and will boast twenty gorgeous chalets
on top of a koppie, with outstanding views of the surrounding mountains. A conference facility will be an added
attraction for some, as will the small spa. The food will be out of this world, but we’re still close enough to town for
those guests who feel the need to sample the wares at Joe’s Beer House or elsewhere, to find it accessible.

Some of our sharpest crew from other properties will be joining the team at River Crossing, as we will also be
kicking off a training facility. Recruits will have classroom type sessions in the conference facility and then have the
benefit of on the job training with some old hands. River Crossing will be opening its doors for business during the
last quarter of 2008! Please drop us a mail at reservations@rivercrossing.com.na for more info, rates etc etc.

Well, that’s it for our May newsletter... I look forward to hearing from you all.
Enjoy the rest of the manic month of May...

Melissa