New Lodge in Namibia's Forgotten Wilderness

July 2015 

Steppes Travel is excited to announce that Namibia's wildest national park, otherwise known as 'Namibia's forgotten wilderness', will soon be home to an exciting, new luxury lodge. Until now, Khaudum has been restricted to all but the hardiest of travellers, but thanks to the vision of a new company, Namibia Exclusive Safaris, this extremely remote and undeveloped national park will become more accessible to all. Close to the border of Botswana, the opening up of the park will connect the two countries more closely, with expectations of easier border crossings making a Khaudum – Okavango Delta pairing an irresistible prospect. There is also talk of developing a former military airstrip, near to Khaudum, to enhance access to the area.

A magical and pristine wilderness with large herds of elephant, tsessebe, red hartebeest, blue wildebeest, kudu, oryx, giraffe as well as hyena, lion, leopard and wild dog, Khaudum National Park is an exciting prospect for any wildlife enthusiast.  And with 12 official waterholes and 2 small natural springs, the park offers plenty of opportunities for game viewing.  Combined with wildlife havens such as Kongola and Mamili in the renowned Caprivi Strip, Khaudum promises to make the North East of Namibia a must see region for serious wildlife enthusiasts.

July 2015 will see the arrival of Namibia Exclusive Safari's four brand new eco lodges in the Northern area, all of which tie in with Steppes Travel's ethos of wildlife conservation and presevation.  The lodges: Sorris Sorris, Omatendeka, Sheya Shuushona and Khaudum form an arc from the Brandberg through Damaraland, Etosha and across to Khaudum National Park on the border of Botswana.  Designed by green build architect Greg Scott, this series of 9-room lodges all blend beautifully with the surroundings, and are set off the beaten track in the wilds of the country allowing greater access to a beautiful, game rich area of Namibia.

They are, however, more than just luxury eco lodges.  Surrounding communities play an important role and have not only helped build the lodges but will also continue to help run the lodges, having been taught all the necessary skills.  Moreover, the lodges are a significant international conservation symbol having received the most capital-intensive investments on communal land in Namibia.  Partly funded by The Millenium Challenge Corporation from the US, the project hopes to increase the number of tourists to the area which will in turn help fund the conservation of rare species of plants and animals, including the endangered black rhino, as well as help communities create jobs, attract investment and fight poverty.

Namibia's 'Vanishing Kings' - New July 2015

Namibia is all about conservation, and July also sees the release of 'Vanishing Kings', a documentary led by Dr Flip Stander which records the secret lives of the few remaining desert lions in this extreme landscape.  The documentary follows the lions across the rugged mountains, sand dunes and sometimes even the beaches of the Skeleton Coast illustrating how Desert Lions can survive in extreme conditions.   

The Desert Lion Conservation Project was started by Dr Flip Stander in 1998.  Flip has dedicated his life to following and studying the desert lions, once thought to be extinct.  Working in collaboration with government, local communities and NGOs, Flip uses the data he collects to manage the human-lion conflict, which is one of the biggest challenges in assuring the survival of the lion population.  

Do have a look here for a sneak preview of this mesmerising documentary:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQqgnDr0Lls

For further information and details on Namibia, please look here:  http://www.steppestravel.co.uk/namibia 

For further press information please contact:

Frangelica Flook frangelica.flook@cedartreepr.com

Henrietta Quicke henrietta.quicke@cedartreepr.com

T: 020 7978 4534, M: 07747 606 898

Note to Editors:

Other conservation projects which Steppes Travel is proud to be involved with in Namibia include the Cheetah Kingdom project. Working exclusively with AfriCat, this is a unique conservation tour with the opportunity to work with AfriCat's vets on the Annual Big Cat Health Examination weekend that takes place at Okonjima.  Clients assist vets to ensure all cheetahs are vaccinated and given a thorough health examination.  This is hands-on participation and unparalleled access to cheetahs over two days of checkups.  

Specialist tour operator Steppes Travel designs innovative tailor-made itineraries for 'off the beaten track' trips. With over two decades' experience in the industry, Steppes Travel fields a team of creative, knowledgeable and responsible experts committed to providing ethical, pioneering journeys all over the world.

Steppes offers exceptional wildlife holidays focusing on conservation with sustainable and responsible travel at the forefront of their mind. By joining forces with local research projects on an Indian tiger safari or whilst gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda, or supporting carefully chosen wildlife charities in the Galapagos Islands, Steppes is able to give privileged insight into the natural world while supporting conservation and local communities worldwide.

Also, recognised as one of the UK's leading specialists in cultural tours and historical and archaeological small group holidays, Steppes prides itself on offering a diverse range of small group tours led by renowned experts, and their pioneering reputation