Ask Janine where to stay when in Augrabies

Her answer… Dundi Lodge! Located 3km from the Place of great noise, Augrabies Waterfalls, you will find an exquisite 4-star lodge. En route to the Augrabies National Park, we took a tiny detour that led us to this hidden treasure in the Northern Cape. Janine, trainee manager of this superb gem cheerfully agreed to show me around in order to share this first-class establishment with you.
 

Dundi Lodge is definitely a place of tranquillity, peace and nature. When I arrived at the lodge, a warm reception was nothing less than expected from the staff of this lodge. With eleven luxury suites, words like indulgent, opulent, lavish, comfort, comes to mind and you are definitely spoilt for choice. Thanks to Janine and her friendly staff I was privy to the Dundi Presidential suite and the Manor house at the lodge. I felt a bit like I tripped and fell into Top Billing before Janez or Joann Strauss landed on the lodge’s private airstrip to do an insert. All the suites are to the nines with unique contemporary décor and top quality products including  Maria Garcia found in the bathrooms.

The Dundi Presidential suite and Manor House

The Dundi Presidential has its own study, lounge, beautiful bathroom and all white bedroom complete with a private balcony for overlooking the swimming pool and restaurant below. Janine quoted the website and said that the contemporary feel of  the décor makes Dundi Lodge  ‘a lady in the bush’. After visiting the Manor House I was convinced of this truth and was about to discover an amazing revelation. The Manor House is in a typical Cape Dutch style with three rooms, kitchen, lovely open area with beautiful dining room table seating twelve and a fireplace and lounge. Standing in the middle of the lounge and dining room, I drank in the beauty and could imagine myself and five of my friends or family creating the most precious memories right there. Janine is not only the trainee Manager but she is also a relative of mine. As we sunk into the tub chairs in the main bedroom and stared out of the large wooden framed window, she told me that her grandfather and uncle were involved in the construction of the Manor house and at that very moment my heart swelled with pride, making the Manor house a Manor home.

Back at the restaurant we sat a table on the patio where you could hear nothing but the sounds of branches swinging and leaves snapping softly in the wind. I felt at peace and then I started wondering about what the lodge can offer in terms of adventure, entertainment and fun. Janine assured me that Dundi is much more than just beauty on the inside (of the lodge)… Night game drives are on offer where you get to experience nocturnal wildlife about 40km from Dundi and not forgetting the Augrabies Falls. The privately owned game reserve is on the banks of the Orange River where you can view rare species on your drive such as the aardvark, Black Springbok and various antelope.

What is Dundi?

I had to ask this question as I was hoping that it had some Nama background. Nama is the Khoisan language and name of the indigenous people also known as San or Boesmans. Janine explained that a black Rhino was brought back from Lisbon in an Australian zoo about 21 years ago to resume her life at  Augrabies National Park. The owners of the lodge tracked the progress of this cow after she gave birth to a female calf and she was named, Dundagos meaning ‘we accomplished’. The owners’ sense of accomplishment was heartfelt and decided that Dundi, short for this precious calf’s name would be the most suited. The rhino is an animal close to my heart and I found this story very endearing.

What if we never see another rhino?

Earlier in the year when I attended the Li Edelkoort Trend Union seminar, a young man representing an organization against Rhino poaching made an appeal to all in attendance to support this cause. Rhino poaching is a serious offence that promises imprisonment when caught.  These animals are critically endangered. The numbers are truly alarming. I did some research of my own and found that in 2010 the Vietnamese Javan Rhino became extinct as well as a subspecies called, the West African Black Rhino.

There are numerous organizations that are making the utmost efforts to preserve and grow the numbers of these animals to prevent that anymore of the rhino species become extinct. Rhino horns are exploited for the following uses; The production of traditional Chinese medicine to cure or treat strokes, nosebleeds, epilepsy and fever. These are all myths because administration of refined Rhino horn has no effect on a fever in humans. These horns are also considered an aphrodisiac in some parts of the world. Centers in Yemen and the Arabian peninsula used rhino horns for the production of dagger handles, candelabras etc. These products are highly profitable but detrimental to the Rhino species.

In the last year 705 rhinos were poached according to Business Day newspaper. That is not counting the poaching up until today. Make a difference by tweeting my story about the rhinos and let’s raise awareness. Also follow @Savingrhino,  @Antipoach, @SANparks on Twitter for regular updates and keep watching the news.

Let’s speak for those who can’t. If you need to relax, unwind and breakaway from the city life visit Augrabies, stay at Dundi Lodge and if you are feeling like poaching… Go to your fridge, get an egg and Google how to poach… an egg!