PARADISE JUST GETS BETTER ! DATE POSTED 2 SEPT 2008
This magnificent border river between South Africa and Namibia has been described as a spiritual place where the ochre mountain ranges fold into the orange tinted waters at sunset and rise up to touch the gold desert-dusted moon at dusk. Apparently even the barbell fish turn an imposing tangerine hue as they are hung to dry. Orange is the colour of harmony and this is where hundreds descend to feed the soul and row with the flow. This is Provenance Camp on the Orange River. In a bid to accommodate the increasing demand from tour operators, who are literally block booking tour series groups into this awe-inspiring oasis two years in advance, it became evident that the facilities at the camp needed to be expanded. Consequently, another nine cabanas are being built, two of which will be 4-bed family units. All the cabanas are wheel-chair friendly. The expansion will take the camp capacity to forty-two beds, essentially doubling the current accommodation configuration. The convenient location of Provenance Camp, being on the Namibian side of the border and exactly halfway between Cape Town and Windhoek, is also proving to be popular amongst day-trippers and individual travelers.
Furthermore, the building of a brand new 60 – 80 seater restaurant is well under-way. This facility will offer guests a breakfast menu (continental and full farmstyle), and lunch and dinner options. The Cabanas will be marketed and booked on a bed basis only, with the opportunity for guests to make reservations at the restaurant.
The existing restaurant will be converted into an inviting and sumptuous lounge complete with coffee station and internet access.
Additional plans include a sizeable deck that will extend from the bar area right up to the new restaurant. The deck will feature an elevated beach pool affording sweeping vistas over the majestic Orange.
The camp retail shop will also be expanded to incorporate an internet café with 4 work stations. Internet connectivity is a popular requirement for overlanders. The shop will retail an extensive range of Felix branded apparel, basic commodities and every conceivable convenience item that guests could possibly have forgotten to bring.
The camp facelift includes investment in a whole new fleet of canoes, that will be phased in over the next year and a permanent handyman based at the camp to maintain and repair these on site.
Carlos Peres, Director of the Felix Unite Namibian River Adventures, says that: “The developments in camp have attracted another market of tourists and passing trade that use the river and cabanas for a relaxing day. The added creature comforts make the transition from the city to the wilderness a more subtle one.”
When I asked Carlos if the murmurings of the grand plans for phase two of developments were fact or fiction, he was ardent that they were indeed fact. He replied, with a chuckle in his voice: “You did not hear wrong, as soon as we finish with the phase one, we will start with the development of the Golf Course and Spa.”
Clearly these exciting prospects will attract a whole new national & international tourist to the shores of this Orange River nirvana. It’s apparent that there’s no limit to the Felix Unite Group’s vision, flair for innovation and setting of new industry standards.
DATE POSTED : 2 SEPTEMBER 2008
