WINDHOEK – Hardap Dam and Gross Barmen resorts owned by Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) are nearing completion after they were closed three years ago for renovations.
The two resorts will reopen by the first week of December this year.
The Hardap Dam Resort closed in 2011 for renovations after the restaurant burned down in 2010 due to an electrical fault in the kitchen area.
“When the restaurant burned down we were already in the process of receiving some funds from the government to revamp the resort – it was luck if I may say so,” stated an upbeat Zelna Hengari the MD of NWR.
The Gross Barmen Resort was shut down to allow for a major revamp.
Hengari expressed joy over the fast-moving pace of the renovations when she inspected the revamped site at Gross Barmen.
“I was there two weeks ago and what I saw was extraordinary. I can assure the public that these resorts will reopen by the first week of December and if the progress will be like this I am certain they will be the best in the country,” stated Hengari.
An amount of N$57 million from the government was availed for the first phase of renovating the Hardap Dam Resort, which covered the administration building, the swimming pool, the conference centre, restaurant and 5 VIP bungalows, while the second phase consisting of 45 rooms will likely be completed in March 2015.
An amount of N$120 million was invested in the Gross Barmen Resort which has 50 rooms including family VIP rooms, a gym, sauna, camping site just to mention a few with some rooms having facilities to cater for Muslims.
Hengari told New Era that this time around NWR has come up with a strategic plan through which it aims at recruiting well-trained and qualified staff and promised to plough back into the community by providing training to the unskilled.
“We now have cost-effective plans in which we will no longer allow staff members to live at the resorts except staff on duty, but we will provide transport and housing allowances to the employees because some employees retire without having a house and thus they struggle to make it out there and therefore we want to give them these chances,” stated Hangari.
Furthermore, she encouraged the nation to use the facilities once they are functional in order to promote Namibian tourism through the Nam Leisure card which allows all Namibian citizens to get a huge 50 percent discount at all NWR resorts.
These resorts will be a hub of entertainment for the festive season with activities such as angling, water rafting, boat cruising and island camping.