A secluded hide in Namibia for Gondwana guests

Etosha King Nehale, the newest lodge addition to Gondwana Collection Namibia, opened its doors on the 10^th June 2020. Creating a gateway and an easier access to the regions of the north, this lodge is situated in the King Nehale Conservancy, attracting many guests and creating a lot of excitement over the detailed concept of the Nguni head shaped property.

Besides a brand new culinary experience for local and international guests, sleeping in a room full of rich cultural heritage and royalty, and getting lost in the endless view of the golden Andoni Plains, Gondwana guests are in for a real surprise as soon as they make their accommodation bookings.

Just 1 kilometer north of the King Nehale Gate, on the northern border of Etosha National Park, guests can indulge in a unique holiday experience. Each of the 40 rooms has its own private plunge pool, allowing for total relaxation, while exploring the cultural vibrancy of Owamboland. Although the interior decoration of the lodge is an eclectic mix of various royal influences from both the human and the animal kingdom combined in order to offer a unique opportunity to become part of the Namibian royal experience, the true wilderness experience awaits those, who see what else Gondwana has to offer.

The detail that puts this new lodge over the top is its private access to a secluded waterhole inside the Etosha National Park. This waterhole is reserved for Etosha King Nehale guests only and has an enclosed hide for leisure game viewing. To access this hide, a guided excursion can be booked, providing guests the opportunity to come face to face with Etosha’s wildlife in a secure and comfortable way. Choosing between a morning and an afternoon excursion, a professional guide accompanies those eager to adventure and spot wild animals, and refreshing drinks and snacks are provided. Comfortable seating options, binoculars, animal and nature guide books, as well as a bathroom make up a very stylish and unique hide in the middle of the Etosha National Park, in between zebras, elephants, lions, and many other animals.

The feeling of entering this hide, which is also wheelchair accessible, is thrilling. Partly, because one steps into the national habitat of wild animals and should always remain respectful of the surrounding environment, and partly also, because a hide typically represents a dark, enclosed place to quietly view animals as they go about their daily activity of eating, drinking water, and roaming around. This hide is everything but dark. It is decorated with tasteful furniture, offers massive sliding windows for an open view onto the waterhole, and provides everything one needs to silently observe animals that are usually only seen from the restricted inside of a car.

The hide, which has to be named still, creates a connection between Etosha King Nehale and the 'Great White Place' as the Oshiwambo people call the National Park, as well as between culture and royalty, and the wild animals of Namibia. At all of the Gondwana Collection venues, attention to detail, situation, culture, and practice are paramount to the authentic Namibian experience offered by the hospitality group. Each venue has a unique flagship style and commitment to guests, offering some of the most diverse and rich sensory experiences any particular region can boast.