Bird’s-eye view – Helmeted Guineafowl
August 22, 2012Central Guest House, Swakopmund
August 22, 2012by Marita van Rooyen
Looking for the ideal place to catch the big one? Make your way to the small coastal town of Henties Bay—known for being a fisherman’s retreat especially for locals. Here you will find Byseewah Guesthouse, situated a mere 200 metres from the beach.
At Byseewah Guest House (previously known as Fisherman’s Lodge), fish will be the most important aspect on your mind once you’ve turned green with envy at the sight of the owner’s collection of fish trophies. Fish such as the spotted gully shark, steenbras, kabeljou, St Joseph’s, blacktail, galjoen, bronze whaler shark and sand shark line the walls of the dining room, lounge and bar. Your hosts at Byseewah will gladly organise a fishing adventure for you, complete with expert guides to show you different techniques and the best spots for angling. Byseewah also supports the copper shark catch-and-release programme of Namibia.
The guesthouse has nine spacious rooms, each with coffee-making facility, ceiling fan, minibar (offering the full selection of Namibian beer, cool drinks, water and juice), telephone, television (DStv) and heater. Two of the rooms have double beds, one is a family/honeymoon suite and the rest offer single beds for those preferring not to share their sleeping space. One of the double beds is extra long for travellers who are somewhat taller than the average guest. “Many of our clients are walk-ins,” says Linda Poole, stand-in manager. “We also have many people who come specifically for fishing trips, or even hunters coming to the coast for a few days of relaxation and fresh sea air before hitting the bush.”
Like a smoothly oiled machine
Other services include laundry, Internet facilities, a fully stocked bar and a restaurant. At breakfast, guests can expect a full English breakfast that will ‘keep you loaded for the rest of the day’. Dinner is prepared on a pre-booked basis with the option of three courses. Further lunch and dinner options are offered in the outside braai area, where Linda has created a lovely atmosphere with candles and lanterns. For a cosy evening ‘at home’ and to entertain the younger generation, Byseewah offers a large number of board games, books and a fireplace in the living room. “People enjoy sitting at the fireplace and reading up about our beautiful country,” says Linda. The jungle gym in the garden is another plus point for the kids, while the curio cabinet will keep their mothers busy. Jewellery, semi-precious stones, branded clothing, photo frames, bangles, makalani key rings, and, needless to say, suntan lotion, are offered for sale here.
Owners of Byseewah Guest House, Ken and Lynda Morris, also own Byseewah Safaris, a hunting farm situated 40 kilometres south of the Etosha Pan. Ken is the founder of World Wide Ethical Hunters.
With ‘everything working like a smoothly oiled machine’, Byseewah Guest House is sure to be a popular choice.
This article appeared in the Dec ‘10/ Jan ‘11 edition of Travel News Namibia.
