The picturesque Popa Falls Resort in Divundu, Kavango East, reopens on Friday. Journalist Moses Magadza (MM) spoke to Tangeni Kaulu (TK), the Manager: Marketing and Sales for Namibia Wildlife Resorts.
MM: What makes the Popa Falls Resort unique?
TK: “The Popa Falls lodge is located within the small Popa Falls Game Reserve on the banks of the mighty Kavango River, in north-east Namibia. It is the only NWR facility in the Kavango East Region. Popa Falls eco-lodge is only 15km from the Mahango Game Reserve, one of the most diverse and interesting conservation areas, characterized by riverine forests, magnificent baobabs and a wide variety of wildlife species, including elephant, hippo, buffalo, the Nile crocodile, reedbuck, roan and sable antelope, and the elusive Sitatunga antelope. The lodge falls within the area identified for the Kavango Zambezi trans-frontier park and is the perfect stopover when travelling between the Khaudum and Mahango game reserves. The name ‘Popa Falls’ is somewhat of a misnomer, as they are really a series of rapids. The course of the river is abruptly interrupted by rocks, creating a four-meter high waterfall, before the river enters Botswana and the Okavango Delta. The lodge is also a haven for nature lovers as it provides activities such as fishing, canoeing, boating, guided tours and unguided self-drive game tours to Mahango Game Reserve (the area borders the Okavango River, where crocodile and hippo abound), scenery drives, walking trails to name but a few. Anglers can enjoy the presence of some of the species of game fish that occur in the Kavango River such as three-spot, green headed tilapia and tiger fish.”
MM: The lodge is set to be re-opened on Friday. What prompted its closure?
TK: “The closure of the lodge was prompted by dilapidation and it was no longer meeting international standard tourism requirements. The camp closed for redevelopment in March 2013.”
MM: Could you provide a profile of the Popa Falls Resort’s clientele?
TK: “Popa Falls attracts local, regional and international people. The camp is an ideal stopover for tourists travelling to Namibia’s neighbouring countries, namely Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe.”
MM: To what extent is the lodge patronised by ordinary Namibians and what incentives does the NWR offer to promote local tourism?
TK: “In May this year, NWR launched Namleisure card, a discount card that gives Namibian cardholders and their family members access to 50 percent discount on accommodation whenever they are visiting or making use of NWR facilities. Apart from the Namleisure membership card, Namibians get a 25 percent discount (on accommodation only) throughout the year. In addition, it is worth mentioning that during renovation, the project employed 30 local labourers from the community. A local supplier was contracted, hence economic empowerment and cash injection into the community which supplied the grass used for roof thatching. Furthermore, members of the local community make up fifty percent of permanent employees at the camp.”
MM: How much did the Popa Falls Resort renovations cost?
TK: “Over N$41 million was budgeted for the project and just over N$35 million was spent on the actual facelift.”
MM: How many lodges does the NWR operate countrywide?
TK: “NWR runs 18 camps countrywide. The camps are located in Namibia’s prime tourist attraction areas, namely, Etosha National Park, Skeleton Coast, Namib Naukluft Park, /Ai-/Ais Richtersveld–Trans-Frontier Park, Waterberg Plateu Park.”
MM: What specific things does NWR do to ensure that its lodges provide tourists and other visitors the ultimate African or Namibian experience?
TK: “NWR is a Namibian as well as African company, so, naturally it ought to provide both the African and Namibian experience. At NWR, the African experience is not only limited to game viewing and hiking activities but can also be felt in the décor in the rooms as well as the food in the restaurants. The Namibian barbeque – ‘braai’ as it is commonly known – is always on offer at all the camps. Tourist shops at various camps stock a variety of locally and African made products.”
MM: An increasing number of tourists in some African countries prefer to live in tents. Is this happening in Namibia and if so, how does it impact on NWR’s accommodation venture?
TK: “For safety purposes, in Namibia tourists are not allowed to camp in the open. Because NWR camps are strategically located (in the national parks) tourists who prefer to camp normally stay at NWR facilities.”