There are several guest farms and lodges in this area, including:

Albrechtshöhe Guest Farm

(5 rooms) PO Box 124, Karibib; tel/fax: 062 503363; email: meyer@nam.lia.net

Albrechtshöhe is off the D1988, about 2km south of the main B2, 92km west of Okahandja, and 26km from Karibib. It's a traditional guest farm, run by Paul-Heinz and Ingrid Meyer, which started life as a railway station. Because of the natural springs of the area, the Schutztruppe completed Albrechtshöhe in 1906 to provide water for horses and steam trains. Today these historic, fortified buildings house a guest farm. Activities here include bush walks and game drives as well as expeditions to search for gems and explore the local mountains. Like many Namibian guest farms, this is also a hunting farm.

Rates: N$500 per person, sharing or single, including dinner and breakfast.

Tsaobis Leopard Nature Park

(10 bungalows, camping) PO Box 143, Karibib; tel: 064 550811/241191; fax: 064 550954/272791; email: tsaobis@iafrica.com.na

This is a private game reserve in beautiful hilly country 11km west of the C32, on the south bank of the Swakop River. The animals here include leopard, cheetah, wild dog, aardwolf, caracal, zebra and gemsbok. The lodge also supports a research project into the baboons that inhabit this area.

The reserve covers a large area of 370km2 and many animals are kept in enclosures near the main house and bungalows, so they can often be seen. This is a good area for hiking; there are several trails and two-way radios are available. A number of activities are currently planned, including geological excursions, a mountain-bike trail, and a 4WD route.

Tsaobis is more like a restcamp than a guest farm and accommodation is in simple self-catering bungalows, or at the adjacent campsite. Meals are available on request. Outside, a new lapa offers welcome shade in the heat of the day, and there is a swimming pool for cooling off. Note that there is no fuel or supplies at Tsaobis, and neither the activities (hiking tours of the animals) nor the meals are automatically available: all should be pre-arranged when you first book your accommodation here.

Rates: self-catering bungalows N$290–504 for two people, camping N$46 per person and N$200 per campsite.

Etusis Lodge

(7 bungalows, 6 tents) Farm Etusis No 75, PO Box 5, Karibib; tel: 064 550826; fax: 064 550961; email: etusis@natron.net; web: www.etusis.com

The turning for Etusis is signposted from the C32, about 19km south of Karibib. The lodge itself is 16km from the road, standing at the foot of the Otjipatera Mountains: a range of white marble.
There are seven solid, comfortable bungalows here with en-suite toilets and showers, and each has two beds designed for children also. Each has 220V electricity, solar-heated water and a ceiling fan – as well as exposed wooden beams and attractive thatch. The 'luxury' tents each stand nearby on a concrete base, and share clean communal facilities.

Central to the lodge is a bar and dining area, with small curio shop and TV/lounge– all under a large thatched building overlooking a small swimming pool. The lodge also has limited conference facilities.
Activities centre on morning and evening game drives – in search of impala, kudu, mountain zebra, leopard, jackal, and blesbok – and the opportunity to hike unguided in the mountains behind the lodge. There are also options for horseriding, kite-flying, target shooting, and various other sports.

Rates: bungalows N$1250 single, N$1100 per person sharing; tents N$850 single, N$750 per person sharing. Full board and activities are included.