Acacia News August 2008

100 years of diamonds in Namibia
Our centenary celebrations do not end. Last year the establishment of the Etosha & Namib Naukluft Park was commemorated. This year Namibia celebrates the discovery of the first diamond. Railway worker Zacharias Lewela found the first precious stone on the 8th April 1908 near Lüderitz. With this discovery the era of diamond exploitation started around Lüderitz and the ‘forbidden’ Sperrgebiet was established. Today, the diamond industry contributes to 40 % of Namibia’s export products. Unrefined diamonds are extracted from the sand and dune belt as well as the surf and ocean bed in the 'Sperrgebiet'. Oranjemund with it’s around 10000 inhabitants is today the only still active diamond-mining town in Namibia. The ‘forbidden city’ where visitors are only allowed with official permits, prepares for the ‘opening’ and transformation into a municipal town, which is due to be proclaimed by end of the year. For the ceremonial occasion of the diamond centenary, a special Namibian ‘diamond cut’ was developed, aptly named ‘the Namibian Sun’. This cut is also pictured on the new diamond jewellery stamp, which honors the diamond industry as a whole. While busy with diamond-mining activities in the Sperrgebiet, an incredible discovery was made: the remains of an ancient ship, which could be 500 years old, was found. The National Heritage Council regards this find to be the “oldest ship-wreck ever found south of the Sahara”. The late 15th century was the era of legendary explorers Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama und Bartholomew Diaz. Experts are now in the process of revealing the origin the ship. Tons of copper, over 50 ivory tusks, tin tableware, navigational instruments, weapons and thousands of Spanish and Portuguese gold coins have been salvaged. Cannons made of bronze have been identified of Hispanic origin. The discovery of the ship is considered of immense national and international interest and Namibia’s key archeological find of the century.

Acacia Namibia can recommend excursions to deserted mining towns and along the coastline to the ‘Rock-Arch’ in the forbidden 'Sperrgebiet'

Special offer from Acacia Namibia

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As ideal holiday package we recommend a combination of: “8 days guest farm & 8 days self-drive tour “ After arrival in Namibia, guests will be transferred from the airport to the guest farm Okomitundu. The farm is located 170 km from Windhoek and the ideal starting point to get accustomed to African conditions during a weeks time of relaxation. Activity offers include horse riding, walking trails, farm drives and bird watching. Children will find a kids playground, petting zoo and antelopes nearby, which makes the farm for families very recommendable. The rental car will be delivered to the guest farm, from where the pre-booked self-drive will start. Guests have the choice between economical or up-market accommodations and a northern or southern travel route for their tour. Classic highlights like the Etosha National Park, Damaraland, Swakopmund, Sossusvlei, the Kalahari and Windhoek are offered.

New route Windhoek – Cape Town

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New in the range of guided tours is a cross-border safari offered by Landrover. These safaris offer the scenic variety of two countries and new routes “off the beaten track’”. Amazing landscapes combined with a little adventure and interesting attractions. Guesthouses and lodges offer comfortable accommodation. Extension offers to the northern parts of Namibia or around the Cape are available on request. The 9 day tour offers a meeting with a bushman tribe in the Kalahari, extensive explorations of the Kgalagadi Transfrontierpark Park, a small glimpse of the Namaqualand and the Northern Cape. The 13 day tour offers highlights of the SA West Coast, the remote Richtersveld, Fish river Canyon, Sossusvlei, Swakopmund and the Erongo Mountains.

Mata Mata border post: Now open!

After many years and lots of controversy, the Mata Mata gate has finally been opened again, providing easier excess between Namibia and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in South Africa.

In terms of SANParks regulations, Tourists are required to stay over for two nights in one or more of the official overnight facilities of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. This regulation will be strictly enforced and no commercial traffic is allowed through the park.

Tour operators and guests would be required to do their planning thoroughly and well in advance as the camps in the Park operate at high occupancies, which could result in guests being unable to use the Mata Mata Tourist Access Facility, should they not have a confirmed booking for one of the official overnight facilities in the Park.

Tourists from Namibia may make use of the new entrance to Kgalagadi, as a day or overnight visitor access point without checking in with the border officials at Twee Rivieren as long as they return to Namibia. If, however, a tourist leaves the Park to go in to South Africa or Botswana they will have to go to the passport control at Twee Rivieren, the only full passport control post on the South African side of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

Opening Hours Mata Mata – Namibia: Summer and winter 8:00 – 16:30

Twyfelfontein: Namibia's First ‘World Heritage Site’

Our famous Bushman Rock engravings at Twyfelfontein have been declared a ‘World Heritage Site’. UNESCO considers Twyfelfonteins Rock Art of ‘Outstanding Universal Value’.
Around 3000 rock engravings in Damaraland form an extensive and high quality record of ritual practices relating to hunter-gatherer communities in Southern Africa of more than 2000 years.
All the rock engravings and rock paintings within the core area are without doubt the authentic work of San (Bushmen) hunter-gatherers who lived in the region long before the influx of Damara herders and European colonists.
Most of these well-preserved engravings represent lion, rhinoceros, elephant, ostrich and giraffe, as well as drawings of human and animal footprints.
The site also includes six painted rock shelters with motifs of human figures in red ochre. The objects excavated from two sections, date from the Late Stone Age.
The setting of the Twyfelfontein rock art is authentic and represents one of Africa’s most important rock-art concentrations. The core area was designated a national monument in 1948 and is now protected by the National Heritage Act.
Tourists visiting Namibia and Damaraland in particular cannot miss a visit to ‘Twyfelfontein’. The Old Fort Museum in Windhoek has an ongoing exhibition of Rock Art in Namibia, which explains the meanings of the paintings.

Tourism Radio Namibia

Fully independent travellers have the opportunity to hire their own ‘electronic touring guide’ while travelling in Namibia.
The device which uses GPS technology, broadcasts interesting information relevant to the area the tourist is passing through. Light hearted shows keep tourists entertained while points of interest, landmarks or accommodation establishments are pointed out on approach.
The same intelli-point system will also alert drivers of road hazards, high accident areas and invaluable road safety information.
Tourism Radio is easily installed into your hired vehicle and is available from all major car-rental companies.
The device can be rented for a fee of N$75 per day at the booth of ‘Tourism Radio’ at Windhoek International Hosea Kutako Airport.

For info:
info@tourismradionam.com www.tourismradionam.com

The year 2008 has started off busier than ever in the Tourism Market and we experienced the opening of some exciting new properties in Namibia.

Andersson Camp:

The lodge, which opened in February 2008, is situated close to Etosha. It caters primarily for independent travelers and lies in the medium price segment.
Surrounded by plains teeming with wildlife, the resurrected 'Discoverers' farmstead now forms the anchor fronting onto a thriving waterhole and the 20 tented guest units with en-suite bathrooms have raised on decks for an enhanced view.
This model of eco-sensitive lodging provides an authentic, safe and down-to-earth experience for small groups, families and independent travelers to Etosha. The camp is enclosed to keep out big cats.

Etosha Safari Camp

Since January 2008, this Camp is part of the Gondwana Collection group, who has embarked on an extensive upgrade and the building of 23 new chalets to be completed by Sept 2008, after which the Camp will have 50 units all together. Etosha Safari Camp provides affortable mid-market accommodation and is situated 10 km south of Etosha's Andersson Gate

Dietlind Dietterle

(updated July 2008)