Asco Car Hire expands Asco Car Hire is in the process of updating its fleet with 75 new vehicles for the 2010 season, which will bring the fleet size back to its regular 230 cars. Ninety-five per cent of the fleet consists of 4x4 vehicles with a large variety of different makes and configurations, from standard to camping vehicles, and different makes such as Toyota pick-ups, Land Cruisers, Jeeps, Mitsubishis, Dodges, Hummers, full-size 4x4 DiscoveryX campers, Quantum minibuses and Chevrolet sedans. There is a shift in preference among tourists visiting Namibia from manual to automatic 4x4s, and as a result most new vehicles are purchased with automatic transmission. Some of the Toyotas Hilux 3.0TD Automatic will be upgraded to specialised high-end quality vehicles equipped for long-term and far-distance rentals. Asco Car Hire incorporates Value Car Rental and B-Mobile Car Rental, and provides a camping rental fleet in Namibia.
NCL developments Namibia Country Lodges moved office to larger premises during January. The company is now situated on the corner of Diehl and Bam streets in the Southern Industrial Area in Windhoek. NCL has just completed the last upgrades of Tsumkwe Country Lodge. This includes a new lapa, restaurant and office. Old wooden bungalows were replaced by newly designed ones, built on a concrete floor with en-suite shower and toilet. All units have corrugated roofs with ventilation ports to allow for airflow, especially for the hot summer months. The lodge currently runs on generator power that is switched off at 22:00 in the evenings. Tsumkwe Country Lodge acts as a base from where guests can visit the Khaudum National Park, interact with various Bushman villages in the area and experience one of the last remaining wilderness areas in Namibia. www.namibialodges.com
Aus Centre in new hands The Aus Tourist Information Centre is now officially in the hands of the Aus community. Previously funded by the European Union, the centre is now fully owned by the Aus Community Conservation Trust, after renegotiating a five-year management contract signed in 2006. The Ministry of Environment and Tourism has granted a concession in the Khoichab dune belt to make the Trust more profitable and sustainable. The initiative is also supported by the Karas Regional Council, Gondwana Desert Collection, and the Namibia Community-based Tourism Association (NACOBTA). The Information Centre includes a café and souvenir shop.
Protea Hotels management changes Graham Howard, formerly Regional Director for Protea Hotels Namibia, has now taken up the position of Development Director of United African Hospitality. He is responsible for the development and expansion of the hospitality portfolio. Petra Deja has joined the Protea Hotels team in Namibia as Operations Manager. For the past 21 years, Petra worked for several Protea Hotels in South Africa as General Manager. Her most recent position was Regional Manager for Protea Hotels in the Cape, which included a portfolio of 25 establishments. Petra was awarded the Golden Circle Award, which is given by the Protea Hotel Directors for past winners of the Protea Hotels General Manager of the Year Award. www.proteahotels.com/namibia
Lüderitz receives fire wagon Lüderitz has received a brand-new fire engine. The fire wagon, a 1980 Daimler Benz 1017 (4x4), nicknamed Roter Hans, arrived in Walvis Bay in November after permission and permits had to be granted by the Ministry of Work and Transport and the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Roter Hans has a strong pump and a 2 500-litre water tank, which was needed in Lüderitz, as the areas where most fires occur don’t have enough water hydrants. The truck was paid for by the Rotary Clubs of Bad Homburg, Magdeburg and Roma Olgiata and then donated to the Voluntary Fire Brigade of Lüderitz via the Rotary Club Lüderitz. grunewald@iway.na
LCFN opens three more The Living Culture Foun-dation of Namibia (LCFN) opened three more Living Museums during the month of February – the Nharo Museum, situated on the farm Okatumba-west; the Damara Museum close to Twyfelfontein; and the Living Hunters’ Museum in the Otjozondjupa Region, close to Tsumkwe. The LCFN is a non-profit, German-Namibian organisation, which focuses on cultural co-operation in rural areas in Namibia. The main aim is to generate an income for the community involved and to keep old, rapidly vanishing cultures and traditions alive by showing and demonstrating traditional dances, instruments and habits. The first Living Museum was that of the Ju/’Hoansi San at Grashoek. www.lcfn.info/index.html
Eningu Clayhouse new owner Well-known tourism personality, Kate Düvel (neé Dunstan) sold Eningu Clayhouse Lodge to Bettina Spoerndli, who took over management in February 2010. Known for the outstanding rewards it has received over the years, Bettina promises to keep the legacy running high. Kate has now joined husband Kurt on their fami-ly farm and will be actively involved with their trophy hunting operation. Built of 120 000 handmade clay bricks and creatively decorated, Eningu offers a rustic, comfortable atmosphere to relax, just little more than an hour’s drive from Windhoek. Anja Hinterholzer of LOGUFA remains the booking agent for Logufa. www.eningulodge.com logufa@mweb.com.na
Tourism Personality of the Year The 2009 Hospitality Asso-ciation of Namibia Personality of the Year was awarded to Wolfgang Schenk, no stranger to the industry. Wolfgang has committed much of his time over the past 14 years to further the role, goals and interests of HAN. Besides his involvement in HAN, he runs the ecotourism agency Nuevas Ideas Consulting, and was the initiator of the eco awards of Namibia. The HAN Personality of the Year is awarded to a dynamic, dedicated and determined full HAN Member for his or her unselfish input in the development of the Tourism & Hospitality Industry. Wolfgang has been a true and excellent role model and ambassador for tourism development and promotion in Namibia.
New NWR Board Namibia Wildlife Resorts appointed its new board of directors during February. Well-known figurehead in the tourism sector and CEO of FENATA, Jackie Asheeke, was appointed as chairperson. The new board was inaugurated by the Minister of Environment and Tourism, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who urged the members of the board to increase NWR’s market share in the tourism sector both locally and abroad. Other members of the board are Epson Jossop as Vice-Chairperson, Kalumbi Shangula, Pierre du Preez, Festus Nghifenwa, Tobie Aupindi, Rehabeam Erkie and Nashilongo Shivute. www.nwr.com.na
