GUESTBOOK - Feedbacks, Field reports and more

This is a recent field report on the experiences made at Granietkop campsite!

To get a personal impression of the campsite read the following:

"Saturday, November 7, 2009

Twyfelfontein

Twyfelfontein is a magical area of huge boulders interspersed by impressive rock engraving galleries and the main area with engravings is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the nicely laid out visitors center that perfectly blends into the surroundings we were met by a guide (guides are compulsory). He was a very intelligent and well informed young man and we had a nice talk while walking around looking at the engravings. The engravings are believed to be up to 6000 years old and have been done by the San, a nomadic hunter-gather people that have lived in Namibia always it seems. All the engravings are of animals, except for a few human footprints. There were elephants, giraffes, wildebeest, lions etc. but quite surprisingly there were also depicted flamingos and seals - which live by the coast. Our guide told us that it is believed the San traveled to the coast to collect salt, a journey that would take 6 months! We were there at midday and the hot African sun was beating down on us relentlessly - it was damn hot!





We are camping at a community run place called Granietkop Campsite, it is the cheapest place we have camped so far at 40 Namibian dollars per person, and the setting here is stunning! The camp ground is laid out around a hill made out of big orange boulders and the individual sites are placed around this hill. Each site has its own “kitchen area” with a sink as well as a shower and toilet that are incorporated into the boulders and the cliff side – our toilet came with a great view too. It’s part of the NACOBTA organization, which have many community run campsites around Namibia – quite a lot of them sounds very appealing! (http://www.nacobta.com.na/)

Our site is really secluded and it feels like we are the only people in all of Namibia, while we are sitting here looking out over the beautiful landscape that stretches out beneath us. We ate a lovely meal that we cooked on our camping stove as the sun set casting an orange light over the boulders making them look like they were almost on fire. Later as the shiny full moon rose we retired into our tent for a peaceful night’s sleep, next morning however we woke up to the sounds of two little rat dassies who had found a packet of biscuits that we had left out the night before…

Posted by Lærke at 5:59 PM

link to this blog.
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Article about the Granietkop campsite in the tourism magazine

"TRAVEL NEWS Namibia" in the June/July edition 2009

	"Travel News - Camping - Granietkop Campsite
	The natural environment well utilized Watching shooting stars whilst sitting around a campfire, lounging on a boulder with the late afternoon sun coloring the mopane landscape before you, or showering in the original boulder shower, a combination of boulder and sapling roof, with the blue sky and buttermilk moon peeping through, are a few of the highlights that make Granietkop campsite so appealing. This peaceful and lovely campsite has three exclusive sites in alcoves of granite rock. The sites combine latte (sapling) roofs and small round rocks, with the granite boulders creating rustic and attractive camping areas. A toilet with a boulder as a wall, steps leading up the mountain into a natural shower cubicle, a few fading Bushman rock paintings, or a view of the landscape may be yours for the duration of your stay, depending on which campsite is available. All are equally special and well positioned, nestled in the rocks with a shaded laps area with a sink, barbecue facility, flush toilet and hot shower provided by an efficient wood-burning ‘donkey’. Barking geckos call their mates in the evenings with their clicking staccato notes, and delightful birdsong greets you when you wake. In between, stars, granite and peace surround you. Rock engravings Situated only 20 km from the Twyfelfontein rock engravings, the campsite is a good base to explore the Twyfelfontein area and return for privacy, quiet and beauty away from the busier route. Creatively designed, the Granietkop (translating from Afrikaans into ‘Granite Hill’) campsite, offers more than simple camping. With all the well-made facilities, the visitor enjoys the feeling of an outdoor home with secret places. Evidence of previous inhabitants once favoring the spot can be seen in the few faded rock paintings and artifacts including arrowheads and clay pot shards found in the area when the campsite was constructed in 2006. Benefiting conservancy members Granietkop is situated in the Doro !Nawas Conservancy, with the proceeds from the camp going to the conservancy. On the D2612, look out for the sign to the Doro !Nawas Granietkop Campsite. The reception area, visible from the road, was constructed from the red rocks of the area, and has a wide sapling and steel-drum roof. Cold refreshments are available, as is firewood, and guided walks to the surrounding rock paintings are offered. Damara singing and dancing and village visits are available on request. Donkey-cart rides are planned for the near future. A few local crafts are for sale at reception, including Himba dolls, carved makalani palm kernels and necklaces. This campsite provides every-thing a camper could wish for: well-constructed facilities, privacy and the beauty of the natural environment well utilized. Sunrise and sunset times are favorites, when the sun highlights the orange-pink granite rocks and the yellow grass surrounding the camp. Springbok wander around in the afternoon and mornings, and ostriches and baboons regularly visit. The nights are magical when the stars, undisturbed by pollution or lights, twinkle and shine or when moonshine lights up the granite boulders and campsite in a silver twilight beauty. This is when camping is one of the best experiences in the world and campsites like Granietkop are true finds. (RS) info@nacobta.com.na www.nacobta.com.na Expo stand P8, President\\\'s Hall"

or find more here on page 28-29 with some impressive pictures...