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Kuzikus Gobabis - Namibia
This traditionally game-rich part of the Kalahari was developed
into a wildlife reserve with lodge and today enjoys the status of
a private game sanctuary which is accredited by the Namibian State.
As a family business we combine tourism, education and research
directly with conservation projects.
Our guests experience the Kalahari Desert on an individual basis
and gain insights into research projects.
Your holiday on Kuzikus also directly supports
the governmental Black Rhino Conservation project on the reserve.
KUZIKUS (Nama language: whitethorn tree, lat.
Acacia carroo) is a private wildlife reserve on the edge of the
Kalahari. We have been committed to protect endangered species for
the past 30 years.
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Kuzikus rates and prices |
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The accommodation (5 rooms with own bathroom) is excellent, the swimming
pool large, the cuisine (full board) with regional produce delicious,
the recreational value high and the leisure activities manifold. The Namibian
hotel authorities have therefore awarded Kuzikus with 3 stars, which is
the maximum rating.
Kuzikus Accommodation
KUZIKUS is a very exclusive guest lodge with only 5 suites. Our comfortable,
large and light rooms have:
- Mosquito nets over large beds
- Gas heating & warm bottles for the winter months (June to August)
- Comfortable mattresses, where double beds have two separate blankets
but one fitted double mattress
- Cotton linen
- Large, en-suite bathrooms
Room service:
- Every morning your room will be cleaned and in the evenings it will
be prepared for bedtime
- Washing: your clothes will be washed and ironed daily on request (inclusive)
- Safe: we provide a safe for your valuable belongings
- Telephone & fax
- Very good mobile connection around the house area
- Free WLAN / WiFi in every room
- Being in the middle of the Kalahari Desert, we can unfortunately not
provide you with daily newspapers nor satellite television.
- Video and DVD television is possible
- Electricity: 220 V, 36 V in every room, as well as adapters
We live in a desert area, therefore, we have to pump our own water daily
to ensure a constant supply for human beings, gardens and animals. We
kindly ask you to be considerate with your water consumption and to please
use biological degradable cosmetic products.
Included in your stay is a nutritious breakfast with
bread, cold meat, eggs, cereals, fruit salad, good coffee and a selection
of teas, which we can serve directly outside your room.
A most delicious warm lunch will be served together with
a salad after your morning’s excursions.
In the evenings we will surprise you with an elegant 3-course
candlelight dinner at an open fire served either in our Caprivi
Restaurant, or in our spacious, straw-thatched Lapa in “old Africa
style”.
A selection of fine South African red and white wines brings the evening
to a closure.
Organic fresh lemons and oranges from our own garden and fresh ingredients
in the kitchen are an obvious choice for us. In addition we offer coffee
and homemade cake in the afternoons.
Our cook can naturally take any special dietary wishes into consideration.
Meal times
Breakfast: between 7:00 and 10:00 am - we are flexible
Lunch: 12:30 to 1:00 pm
Afternoon tea and coffee: 3:00 pm
Dinner: 7:00 pm to 7:30 pm - by arrangement
- Additionally we have a large selection of soft drinks & alcoholic
beverages, an excellent wine assortment as well as Champagne and sparkling
wines.
- The menu and prices can be found in the rooms and restaurant.
- The numbers of guests remain small, so that we can take our time to
attend to you personally.
- Children are welcome too.
Personal atmosphere:
The number of guests will never exceed 10 people at the same time. This
endows a homely feeling and personal contact to the host, cook and other
employees.
We always try to organize our bookings, so that you as our guest can enjoy
your exclusive holiday. In this way we are not only able only cater for
your needs more effectively, but you too have the chance to experience
some peace and quiet.
On request you can book Kuzikus exclusive for you only.
Kuzikus Activities include:
We will be happy to arrange a program for you, which may include:
· Kalahari Wilderness Excursion
· Horseback rides into the wild
· Game drives
· Daytime excursions by plane
· Safaris after your stay
On Kuzikus, there is always time for:
Animal observations:
You can always sit by the waterhole at the lodge and watch, document or
take pictures of the drinking, bathing or grazing animals. Species checklists
and literature about flora and fauna are available upon request. Furthermore,
it is always possible to discuss any interesting findings with the biologists
of our family.
Exploring the Kalahari on foot:
Hikes off-the-beaten track are available upon request.
Insights into biological field research projects (seasonal):
Accompany our researchers (max. 2 guests) for a couple of hours and find
out about their projects and discover what field research really encompasses.
Jogging: Should you enjoy Nordic walking or jogging,
you are welcome to join us, or else take a different route. Someone of
the family is bound to be out on a run every day.
A jump in the Pool is also always a pleasant refreshment.
A typical aspect of a safari in Africa is the acquaintance
of the fascinating fauna and flora.
Due to prevailing conditions of a conventional safari the visitor has
to be satisfied with the passive status of being an observer. He/she can
make his observations from a safe vehicle and within a group of travellers
where an experienced tour guide explains facts about fauna and flora in
a competent manner.
An excursion into the Kalahari on our wildlife reserve
Kuzikus offers the right conditions for an in-depth immersion into nature.
Due to the individual character of our Kalahari Excursion (groups of 2
to max. 4 guests) as well as the aspect of "on foot through the bush"
it is possible to carry out independent discoveries in nature and gain
deep insights into the ecology.
Our aim is to discover the Kalahari eco-system over a time span of 1 -
3 days (depending on the guest) during the mornings as well as during
the afternoons for 3 - 4 hours respectively.
Here observations of various wild and bird species, as well as their interaction
with the other Kalahari biodiversity are being discussed.
It is important that you move on foot (stalking) through the various vegetation
zones of the reserve (savannah landscape, bush and saltpan). By way of
this movement (stalking) you can experience the distinct differences of
the various vegetation zones more clearly, you can directly experience
contact with the wild animals and you can feel the elements of nature,
namely heat, cold and drought more intensively.
You will notice how much more you can hear, see and smell once you can
understand and interpret the signs of the Kalahari.
Africa on horseback:
Our six riding horses are well trained and taken care of by a trained
professional who will be glad to give riding lessons or accompany you
on a Kalahari ride, no matter whether you are a beginner or an advanced
rider.
The horses are used to game (including rhinoceros and giraffes). This
means that the animals can often be ridden past game at close distance.
Before venturing out into the bush, we will ask you to pay a visit to
the riding stables to make sure your saddle is comfortable and you feel
confident on “your” horse.
We have a dressage arena, a jumping arena and a special area for lunging
as well as a fenced-in Round Pen.
We also offer riding experiences for children.
Our horses are all in a good condition, well groomed, trustworthy and
do not bite or kick.
We offer drives to several different biotopes, e.g. over grass covered
dunes, through expansive saltpans, passing by thick bush or open tree
savannas.
On our way we learn about the resident animal species. As game drives
are limited to 6 guests, we will always have time for in-depth animal
observation, stopping for pictures or getting out of the car to try and
stalk an animal.
For your stay at KUZIKUS we recommend you to stay at least three nights
/four days in order to fully appreciate the stillness of the Kalahari
and the many game observations.
In this way, you will also have enough time to discover the savanna more
thoroughly and begin to understand the interactions of the ecosystem.
Animal species at Kuzikus:
The vast diversity of free-living wildlife (most is conservation- dependent
in IUCN red list) is the major attraction of Kuzikus: there are over 3000
individuals from more than 20 larger animal species such as the Common
Eland (Taurotragus oryx), the Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros),
the Gemsbok (Oryx gazella), the Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus), Gnu
(Connochaetes gnou and C. taurinus), the Blesbok (Damaliscus albifrons),
the Springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis), the Steenbok (Raphicerus campestris),
the Common Duicker ( Sylvicapra grimmia), the Impala (Aepyceros melampus),
the Burchell’s Zebra (Equus quagga burchellii ), the Ostrich (Struthio
camelus australis and the Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa).
Kuzikus is also home to Pangolins (Manidae), aardvarks (Orycteropus afer),
Bat-eared foxes (Otocyon megalotis), aardwolfs (Proteles cristatus) as
well as Rock Pigeons (Columba livi), and an impressive array of other
birds, insects, spiders and plants.
Especially in the vastness of the Kalahari, it is a unique experience
to witness the large, free roaming game herds or explore the expansive
saltpans and overgrown dunes on foot or on horseback.
The south-western Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis bicornis) is critically
endangered (IUCN red list), facing an extremely high risk of extinction
in the wild, and we feel privileged to have obtained a special permission
to renaturalise these rare creatures on KUZIKUS.
This offers you a good opportunity to see the Black Rhinoceros in the
wild, and learn more about the Custodian Black Rhino Project.
Our reserve lies off roads with heavy traffic and main tourist routes,
hidden on the edge of the Kalahari, making it ideal for a most individual
holiday.
In close co-operation with nature conservation authorities, we endeavour
to preserve a part of unspoilt Africa.
The experience of discovering the opulent flora and fauna in
Kuzikus is especially impressive as you can leave the vehicle
at any point (with or without an accompanying tracker from either the
bushmanland or the west Caprivi) and as you are not bound to a set schedule.
The ability to walk freely through the Kalahari brings about the actual
“Africa flair” by a perception through all the senses (smelling,
silence, natural sounds, tactile stimulus, vast expanses, cold and heat)
with an intensity that many people from abroad have become estranged to.
The informal atmosphere and direct contact with the nature-passionate
host family contributes to gaining an impression of what it means to live
on the edge of the Kalahari and uphold a wildlife reserve and lodge.
Guests can learn about the necessary infrastructure, as well as the re-introduction
and preservation of endangered species and experience for themselves what
it means on a day-to-day basis to maintain such an integrated nature conservation
concept. The 1-3 day Kalahari Wilderness Excursion is highly recommended.
Our game often uses the water hole in front of the lodge. It can therefore
be photographed directly from the lodge without disturbing them.
Email Kuzikus Reservations: booknamibia@madbookings.com
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