Grootberg
On arriving at the Grootberg Lodge we were
transported from the parking area up to the
escarpment rim where the lodge was located
by a more realistic all terrain vehicle. If
you’ve done this journey you will know what
I mean. The road to the lodge needed a
vehicle that could navigate steep inclines
and at the same time clamber over huge rocks
and shinny boulders, our faithful Toyota
Corolla was not made with this testing
terrain in mind.
The greeting at the lodge was most friendly
and welcoming but the view from our chalet
surpassed all that and more. It was at this
point I realise my first mistake, one night
at the Grootberg Lodge was not enough. It is
said a picture is equal to a thousand words
but the picture you can see does not do the
lodge or the view any justice. You will need
to come here yourself to see what I mean.
The room was good and the food excellent and
the next day arrived all too soon. We
settled our bill and took flight down the
escarpment to the car park. Part way there I
felt uneasy, not because of the steep decent
but because I could not recognise our Toyota
Corolla in the car park. Grootberg was a
long way from nowhere without a car. As we
finalised the decent my apprehension was put
at rest, our transport was in the same place
as I had parked it but now it was shiny,
just like one straight out of the showroom
and gleaming in the morning sunshine.
Clarence the night watchman had dusted down
and buffed up the whole car, not a bit of
dust to be seen, just like it was his own
car. Now that is what I call service.
It took us just over 2hrs to reach Kamanjab, here
was an opportunity to pick up a few necessities and
top up with petrol, then back on to a tar road now
on route to the Dolomite Camp, the final part of
this journey into Etosha. We are amongst the first
tourists to use the Galton Gate, the new gateway
into Etosha from the west and only a 40 min drive
from Kamanjab. Previously the journey into Etosha
was via Outjo, which would mean a 4 hour drive using
the Anderson Gate.
The Dolomite Camp had been officially opened
the week before by the president of Namibia
his Excellency Hifikepunye Pohamba, those
who lodge at this camp can now use the
Galton Gate as their entry (or exit) point
into Etosha. This end of Etosha has never
been open for tourism and safari traffic
previously but now it can be used to travel
from this western end right through to the
Von Lindguist gate in the east. By opening
this end of the National Park it will double
the area used for tourism and safaris in one
go but to travel this part you must stay at
least one night in the Dolomite Camp.
After completing some paperwork then signing
in at the gate we continued on to the NWR
office where we paid our park fees,
formalities completed we then move on
heading to the Dolomite Camp.
It’s worthy to note the nearest fuel to
Dolomite camp is at Kamanjab some 100km
distant from the camp. Our journey through
the park took us past two waterholes and I
could not resist a peak at both to see if
there was any game. I was not disappointed
as these two short visits provided ten
different species of game in as many
minutes. The first thing I noticed was how
nervous all game was to vehicular traffic,
even if when approached with extreme
caution. The animals soon dispersed from the
waterhole when we drew near, not ideal, as
my main purpose for being there was wildlife
photography.