Olupale Lodge is set to open near Namibia’s Etosha National Park next year.

The Ministry of Environment and Nuvella Development Marketing Management (NDMM) have signed a 25-year lease with the Iipumbu ya Tshilongo Conservancy for the construction of a N$40-million (€2.46m) lodge in the conservancy.

Chantal Pinto, Nuvella’s spokesperson, told Tourism Update that construction would start early next year with the lodge expected to open at the end of 2019. The lodge will have 30 standard four-star rooms, and 10 luxury five-star units.

Facilities at Olupale Lodge will include a restaurant serving à la carte lunches, buffet dinners and breakfasts. There will also be a rim-flow pool with sunbathing deck, open-air seating and pool bar, a lounge area for relaxing and enjoying the views, and massage rooms.

Activities will include game drives into Etosha National Park via the private gate, traversing the northern area, and will include a visit to a newly built hide at one of the waterholes. A cultural experience and horse-back safaris are also available.

“The range of offerings here are intended to showcase local skills and culture, and to enable the local communities to both display their pride in their locally produced products, as well as to generate an income stream from the increased numbers of visitors to the area. The aim is to have the lodge deliver the core services that are capital intensive and to promote entrepreneurs in the local community to offer other activities as a group,” added Pinto.

NDMM is a developer of numerous prestigious projects in Namibia, has worked on a number of hospitality projects and has developed and delivered the multiple-award-winning Epacha Game Lodge & Spa, Eagle Tented Lodge and Intu Afrika Kalahari Reserve, including Zebra Kalahari Lodge, Suricate Tented Lodge and Camelthorn Lodge, Le Mirage Desert Lodge & Spa, Divava Okavango Lodge & Spa, Villa Verdi Guest House and Gochanas Game Lodge, amongst others.