Put your shades on and get ready for the outside of this place. It's yellow. Very. Once you've settled in you can walk to Lüderitz town and marvel at all that architecture. Think German. Think art nouveau. Think surreal. You’re there.
Alte Villa Guesthouse is not some old dinosaur - sure, it was built in another century, it was Friedrich III’s spin of the wheel if you’re being pedantic. But in 2017 it got a whole new look when the current owners rolled up with their new fangled restoring and renovating ideas. All homemade bread, apple pie and coffee. With decent decking furniture and the civility of a reading area off the breakfast room. Marvellous.
Alte Villa Guesthouse has just 6 rooms each with their own name (in German naturally), decor and decadence:
Rotes Zimmer - queen sized bed, ensuite, red walls with a glass chandelier. Pretty glam this one.
Zimmer Garub - named after a train station nuzzled by wild horses. Big photo of two rearing stallions. No pressure. Twin beds. Ensuite. Here’s the money shot though - along with the room called Grazplatz, it shares exclusive access to a living room. A beauty with a balcony with views of Luderitz harbour.
Grazplatz - see above for adjoining joy. Twin beds. Ensuite. A Zacharias Lewala vibe. He being the guy who found the first diamond in Namibia in 1908. Got rich he did.
Ichaboe - large 2 room apartment, 65sqm, twin bed in one room, 2 singles in the other. Kitchen, shared bathroom.
Tsiras - This is a 60 sqm double with its own private garden - you can have your breakfast al fresco here which is rather superb. There's a TV, a built in fireplace and ensuite.
Bogenfels - This is a large double, 57 sqm. This room has a sunny disposition and stares out to sea. Little wonder it's such a cheery number. It's got it’s own entrance in the front garden, twin beds and an ensuite.
No longer a minefield of diamonds but one of history. Some grim - the nearby Shark Island which was a concentration camp in 1905 - and some glam and sparkling.
But, if history's not your thing - what are you doing here?! No seriously, it's fine because you can do several kayak tours nearby and you can paddle through lagoons if your kayaking's a bit lame.
You can also meet a complete Jackass. Of the African penguin variety. Cruise on a catamaran to a Cape penguin nesting island - look out for flamingoes, oystercatchers and dolphins too.
"Such a lovely trip"
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This trip was absolutely amazing and is one of my tops!
"A wonderful time"
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"Very special"
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