Accomodation
Top 10 Camp Sites(Namibia)
Southern African Story:A Wildlife Safari Lodge
12/11/2019
Accomodation
# Southern African Story:A Wildlife Safari Lodge
Composed By: Francois Boois (opens new window)@Facebook
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Funded By: Welwitschia Building Company
One of the hardest reservations to snag in Southern Africa is probably not what you’d expect. Because here’s the thing, the place we’re talking about which offers bunks and rustic cabins at best is definitely not luxurious.But it does offer something that no other lodging property can compete with: Location, location, location.
Nestled along the Fish River, some 5,800 feet below the North Rim of the Fish River Canyon, there is no other place quite like Ai Ais Hot springs Resort. The rustic oasis and lodge was built on the 16 of March 1971 and remains the only lodging facility within the canyon.So it’s no surprise that it’s one of the hardest reservations to snag in the National Park System, let alone the country. (Cabins and male/female dormitories can sell out within two hours the day they become available,13 months in advance!). But the hassle of booking these modest accommodations, not to mention the epic hiking trip or mule ride to get there, doesn’t deter people from wanting to stay at Ai A is Hot spring Resort at least once in their lives. So what is the allure?
THE ONE PERCENT CLUB
Once you’ve stayed at Ai Ais Hot spring Spa, you become a part of an exclusive club of people who know the ones who truly understand and appreciate the grandeur of the Fish River Canyon.That’s because from the top, it’s hard to really grasp the magnitude of this special place.But for the hearty souls who are willing to work for it less than one percent of the 1 million annual Fish River Canyon visitors the real magic lies below the rim.
BRAGGING RIGHTS
For some, it’s the pure challenge and adventure of getting there that draws them to Ai Ais Spa Resort in the first place.If you snag a reservation, one way or another, you’ve got to get yourself to the bottom of the canyon and out again.That means hiking the epic 52.8 mile North Rim to South Rim route down the North Palm Trail and up the Hobas Trail, or opting for the shorter but no less grueling 17 mile South Rim experience, often choosing to hike down the steep South Hobas Trail and back up the more gradual Palm Trail. But regardless of which trail you choose, once you’ve done it descended through two billion years of spectacular beauty and back again there is no greater sense of personal satisfaction.
SOLITUDE
Bragging rights aside, staying at Ai Ais Spa Resort is something special. It’s a chance to marvel in the magnificence of the Fish River Canyon as you gaze back up at the rim in awe. It’s the rare opportunity to let nature overwhelm your senses, not technology, as you soak in the solitude with nothing but the sounds of the Fiah River to distract you. Most importantly, with no cell phone reception and total seclusion from the outside world, staying at Ai Ais Hot spring Resort allows you to reconnect with yourself.
CAMARADERIE
While the solitude at the bottom of the canyon can be magical, so is sharing the experience with some of the other people who are on the same journey as you. Take the time to wander over to the canteen for a cold one (yes, there’s beer at the Palms Lodge it in along with everything else you’ll find at Spa Resort) and you’re guaranteed to make a new friend or two.Not to mention, all the fascinating folks you’ll meet along the trail or share a meal with at the dining hall where family-style breakfasts and dinners are served daily for anyone who makes arrangements in advance.The moments you share with them and their stories will stick with you in unexpected ways well after the journey is over.
At Namibia’s most-exclusive lodge, it’s all about the experience, not the amenities. And that’s why staying at Ai Ais Spa Resort is so worth it.
How to snag a spot at Ai Ais Hotspring Spa Resort: Mark your calendar for 13 months in advance of the time you want to go. When the day comes to make a Ai Ais Spa (opens new window), call +264 61 285 7333 PARKS at 7 a.m. GMT and cross your fingers (you can also submit a request online (opens new window), but you’ll have better priority if you call). If a bed and a hot shower don’t concern you, there’s also the option to try to secure a backcountry permit (opens new window), for camping at Palm Lodge Campground located at the bottom of the canyon less than a 1/2 mile from Ai Ais Spa Resort.Or, Fish River Lodge, sign up for a Grand Canyon hiking trip with NWR and enjoy one or two nights at Ai Ais Hotspring Spa Resort without any hassle.
That's it for this weeks Southern African Stories Article click The link below to E-mail the editor if there's something you'd like to share or want to clarify something pertaining to this particular article thanks for reading and kind regards:-).
A little Honourable mention for the Gondwana Canyon Lodge that didn't make it in the Article, this time round but still loved by many in this part of the world.
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