Guest Farm Ghaub is located in the agricultural heartland of Namibia’s fertile northern region in northern triangle: Tsumeb - Otavi - Grootfontein. Experience our daily farm life revolving around livestock and maize plantations.

Formerly a Lutheran mission station (established in 1895), sprawling lawns dotted with palm trees and original old-style mission buildings roll into wild bush and a view of the Otavi Mountains in the distance.

Dive into the sparkling blue waters of the generous pool, sleep in one of our ten modern and tastefully furnished en-suite double rooms and relax on a large shaded verandah with magnificent views. The facilities also include an old farm-style dining area, comfortable lounge and bar.

A stay at Guest Farm Ghaub is affordable, yet packed with wonderful surprises: walking trails, mountain biking and guided nature drives.

The true highlight is caving. The Ghaub Cave is the third largest cave in Namibia; it has got beautiful stalactites and stalagmites and is about 38m deep and 2,5km long.

Ghaub cave photo album

Guest Farm Ghaub now offers camping facilities as well! Whether you are a senior guest, a family, a self-driving tourist or a local, we welcome you with open arms.

History

Guest Farm Ghaub has a strong history embedded in the Namibian agriculture and missionary fields. It was established in 1895 as a reserve for the Bergdamara and Hai/om communities by the Rhenish Mission society.
Ghaub become a major center for agriculture and education in Namibia and one of the main aims was to reach out to these communities who gradually settled at Ghaub.
In 1913 Dr. Vedder discovered the famous cave at Ghaub and it is assumed that the entrance to the cave only emerged after the extremely wet rainy season in 1911/1912.
The Rhenish Mission society send many farmers out from Germany in the years to come to continue the agricultural work and missionary work was also part of this effort. Drought and other issues eventually took its toll and the farm was purchased in 1996 by Namibian company Ohlthaver & List who turned it into a guest farm.
The original buildings were meticulously renovated and all new buildings were designed to complete the existing style and retain the historic character.
This has been kept up until today and is what lends Ghaub its wonderful charm.

Ghaub offers 10 large and spacious rooms with en-suite bathrooms.


Camping

Guestfarm Ghaub also offers camping facilities of a superb standard with wonderful views, grass area, safe parking and good shade.

Camping facilities

• Private ablution, electricity, hot and cold water, and access to the facilities
• Meals and activities can be booked at the main lodge at an additional cost

WHO WILL WELCOME MY GUESTS AT GHAUB
Mika Vaamwapeni Shapwanale – The General Manager and his team will make your guests feel at home. Mika was born on 27 March 1978 at Engela in Ohangwena region.
He attended primary school at Engela Senior Primary school and attended secondary school at Oponhofi Secondary school in Ohangwena region.
He started working at Ghaub in January 1998, as gardener up to beginning 2000, under the management of Volker and Gisela Steinstrater that time.
After 2 years they moved him to the maintenance department where he worked as handyman for 3 years.
Beginning 2003 he was promoted to the restaurant/bar, where he worked as waiter and bartender and started conducting the cave tour, Nature drives and guided walking.

Mika was appointed as acting general manager of Guestfarm Ghaub in January 2006 by Namib Sun Hotels the owners that time until end of 2007 when Ghaub was bought by the family Compion. They employed him as general manager, and he enjoys working/living at Ghaub.
Mika is married and the father of 5 children.

Unique activities at Ghaub

The Cave adventure at Ghaub

A national monument and the third largest cave in Namibia, the Ghaub Cave in the Otavi Mountains can be visited on the Ghaub Guest Farm, from where tours are organized with a designated guide, minor’s lamp and safety helmet. The Ghaub cave is 38 meters in depth with 2.5 km of chambers and passageways. Petrified waterfalls, organ pipes, rock curtains and interesting crystal growths are some of the features to be seen.

Cave's background

.The cave is on the Ghaub property.

.The cave is about 38m deep and about 2,5km long with a lot of different channels.

.It is between 25 and 29 degrees warm which is the average temperature of the outside, and which makes it to feel warmer in winter and feel colder in summer.

.This cave consists in 4 different types of rocks - the main rocks are dolomite and sand stones, then lime stones and often you also find some Crystal stones in some parts of it.

.This cave has got beautiful stalactites and stalagmites - which were formed by the water and calcium over long period of years, a stalactite takes about 100 years to grow for 1cm, and this cave is more than 7 million years old.

.There is a lake inside the cave and no one can really tell how large or deep it is but quite deep and large.

.In March 2010 we had some professional divers from Italy/Switzerland, I went with them there in and one dived 17m into the lake, when he came out he told us that he couldn't continue anymore because the way became quite narrow, but the water continues and he could not see where the water stops.

.The cave is 3km from the main lodge - still on Ghaub property.

.There is no light in the cave, so guests have to wear a headlamp which is provided to them by Ghaub.

.There is a small entry into the cave called “ The Post-box”, but a large man can easily fit through and the caves inside are large and roomy.

Details of the actual adventure

.Duration of adventure - +- 2 hours including the 3km drive from the main buildings.

.Morning adventure time after breakfast between 9h00 and 11h00.

.Afternoon adventure time: between 15h00 and 18h00.

.The guests will have to do some climbing and will get a bit muddy.

A day in the life of a Namibian farmer (Agricultural tour)

This is a two hour tour which can be booked in the morning or in the afternoon (depending on availability)
Farming done: Maize farming and cattle farming
Maize Farming:
Irrigated maize used for silage production
Dry land maize used for grain production
We discuss cultivation, fertilisers, herbicides, moisture conservation, harvesting and marketing of maize.

Cattle Farming

Brahman Stud, where we breed bulls for use in commercial, communal and stud applications. Discussion of show animals and auction bulls (when available).

Commercial beef production, where we use Brahman/Simmentaler cross females and Limousin/Charolais bulls for production of heifers and steers for feedlot finishing. F1 Brahman/Simmentaler heifers are retained for future breeding.

Feedlot: Feed production (silage, maize, cowpeas, sunflowers and sorghum), preparation of new intakes, feed composition and finishing.

How to get there

Guestfarm Ghaub - 410km north of Windhoek, 25kg from the B1 between Otavi and Tsumeb on the D3022, or 23km from the C42 between Tsumeb and Grootfontein again on the D3022. Can also be reached via a very scenic route, the D2863 turning off from the B8 at Kombat.

Landing strip co-ordinates
S19.27.54 E017.47.10, 2000m long, east-west direction

Rates per room per night, bed and breakfast: on request

Contact & reservations:
E-mail: info@namibweb.com

To book:
1) you can e-mail us requesting information and/or rates

Reservations are only accepted in writing: by fax or via e-mail.
Final availability confirmation: in writing: by fax or via e-mail.

Terms & conditions, Payment options and Cancellation policy