| Hiking trail 1 | | Print | |
Hiking trail 1
Please take along:
This trail is approximately 30 km long and really only suitable for the more experienced hiker, although there are several shortcuts available as described below.
The path begins at the official entrance near the horses stables on the main road and leads through the first gate which is located to your right about 2.7 km further: Please remember that all locked gates must be locked again, and that open gates must stay open!
After some 5 km you will reach the electricity line, where your trail leads slightly left. When you reach the large fig tree at the dam you will have covered about 20 km and another rest in the camp may be welcome. The trail continues on towards the mighty Otjipatera mountain range, and after 2 km you will reach a junction indicating »Kiebitzeier Pad«. Carry on straight for about 1,000 meters where you will come to the T-junction at the main road. Turn left, after another kilometer, you will cross under the electricity line where you should go right for a few meters until you reach a track, which again leads towards the Otjipatera Mountains. After approximately another 1,000 meters there is a small track leading up the hill to your left. The spectacular all-round view from the top of the hill makes the climb well worth your while. Having enjoyed the view, resume the trail in front of you, and you will clearly see the remains of an old tourmaline mining area. After another kilometer you will come to a T-junction again, at which point you have walked about 25 km.
For the next 1,000 meters you will be crossing the dry river bed quite often following the way slightly to the left and ignoring the trail which leads to the right. Once you have passed the marble hills, you will see the Lodge again, after enjoying a most interesting 30km hike.
This short cut begins after 5.5 km on the main hiking trail No.1, and brings you back to the lodge after another approximate 4 km. Keeping to the right for about 400 meters on the riverbed you will reach a path, which goes up to the left. After following the track for about 500 meters you will reach the main road or »Alte Pad« as we call it. Turn right, disregarding the two junctions and go straight on for 1.3 km, where you will pass the road sign »Zebra Pad«. (Just a few meters down this road to your left you will find the 100-year-old grave of a Herero chief.) On the »Alte pad« along the fence towards the Otjipatera mountain range, you will pass the Ledermann house on your left. Turn right at the end of the fence, cross under the large car and machine port and after about one kilometer you will reach the Lodge grounds again.
About 700 meters after the junction to the shortcut (B), there is another junction to your left, which you follow towards the mountain range. After about 1 km you will reach the small hut at the »Trockenposten«, an old shepherd's refuge and a kraal. Passing these, you will reach the main road at a T-junction. Follow the road to your left for approximate 4 km and you will reach the Lodge again.
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After a few hundred meters you will reach our landing strip which you follow to the right. Attention: Landing airplanes have the right of way! The landing strip is 1.5 km long. At the end of it you will come to the so called »Kiebitzeier Pad« and the telephone line to the old Mission school, Goas. Follow this to the left until you reach a fence, which has a gate both ahead and to the right. This is where the first short cut (A) begins.
you will pass through a gate in the fence, after about 700 meters, you will notice another track leading to the left. This is the start of shortcut (C). Carry straight on until you reach a T-junction. Shortcut (D) will be on the left, and the main hiking trail No.1 is to the right. Follow the road signs to the »All Around«. You have now covered a distance of 10 km. After another 1.5 km you will reach a rather large dam (the Tekkidamm) where there is a rest hut. Follow the way straight-ahead, ignoring the small track to your left.
At the junction turn left between the mountains. After 1,000 meters there is a junction to your right which is clearly a steep climb into the mountains. Continue walking straight ahead for 2 km, where you will see our mountain hut in the mountains to the right, which is another refuge and offers a lovely view of the Etusis waterfall with the eternal small lake to the right and the river to the left. This is a good opportunity to take another rest considering that you have hiked for 27 km and have another 3,000 meters still to go. From the hut follow the track to the right through the dry river bed. After another kilometer you will see an old marble mine to your left which may be interesting to visit.
