Damaraland Lodge - Hotel Designs Review

This was one of the first Wilderness Safari Lodges, built with one of the first community conservancies. These are areas where the local population works to promote eco-tourism, taking a share in the income. Sharing the income incentivises the small farmers to aid the conservation of the wildlife habitats and to act as informal rangers in policing and protecting that environment. Damaraland Camp and the Torra Conservancy has been in existence for over 12 years and is considered a model for many other such projects.

Damaraland is situated in the high veldt (Kaokoveld), amidst a stunning landscape of red rocks, savannah grassland and stunted trees, an area cut by mostly dry riverbeds that flood only in the wet season, providing a home for elephant and other game.

Wilderness Safaris now operates over 50 camps exploiting the attractions of the ecology and the hankering for wilderness in urban man. They are positioned across an arc of countries including Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa, the Seychelles, Zambia and Malawi.

Reception in the Lodge is informal. Guests can be seen coming by the plume of dust from the Landrover, and a glass of cool fruit juce is offered on arrival

Reception is informal. Guests are welcomed with a cool drink and advised on safety measures - in some lodges this can mean armed guards after dark to protect from wildlife

"the success of these ventures is as much about sustaining communities"

The success of the operation can be judged in part by the growth in income received by the Conservancy, which grew 32 times between 1996 and 2005 and doubled in the last five years. Salaries paid to local community members have matched this growth. The establishment of Wilderness Safaris and the partnerships formed have enabled a career structure in hospitality and tourism to be presented to local communities as an alternative to the drift to the cities for those ambitious for a different lifestyle to their parents.

It is important to realise that the success of these ventures is about sustaining communities in area where they might otherwise be reliant solely on subsistence farming. The Wilderness Lodges help maintain stable social groups and give economic benefits to them.

Part of the success of these projects depends on their working as quality hotels. The appearance of operators such as Kempinski in the milieu points to the level of income that can be successfully demonstrated as well as the level of luxury requested by what are often high income earning tourists.

Entrance leads to exterior access balcony. Note the 12 volt light on the entrance step. Solar power means electricity is 12 volt only - no hairdryers, kettles, TV's etc.

Individual lodges have en-suite bathrooms with solar water heating. Electicity is 12 volt power from solar panels - meaning no kettles, hairdryers, phones or TV's.

Damaraland Lodge

Damaraland Lodge, October 2009