The Soft Adventure Camp – Sossusvlei Namibia
August 28, 2012Windhoek to Sossusvlei via the mountain passes
August 28, 2012A jewel yet to be discovered
by Marita van Rooyen
Situated just outside Rietoog and accessed from the MR47 road 400 metres from the C14 T-junction, Tismaree is still very much a hidden treasure that not many have had the opportunity to visit.
But to those who have been there, Tismaree is a guest farm as precious as the special stones found in the nearby Rietoog riverbed. An American couple that visited the farm shared their experience on TripAdvisor (an online site with unbiased reviews): “We were pleasantly surprised. Tismaree has a very nice central building, complete with a well-equipped kitchen, healthy food, a sophisticated outdoor barbecue facility and a great little bar with ice-cold beer. There’s even a room in the central area with some groceries and golf equipment…”
Tismaree was built from scratch by Henry and Mary-Anne Tise on a piece of land previously owned by Mary-Anne’s parents. An SME enterprise, the farm caters mostly for locals, but visitors from the USA, Spain and Denmark have also had the opportunity to experience the Tise’s hospitality. Says Henry, “I’ve had such a great time with my Danish visitors, sitting on a bench at the lookout point and enjoying a cold beer. They were amazed by the peace and quiet of the area and the magnificent views over the surrounding koppies.” Tismaree is situated on one of these koppies. In fact, views are amazing from wherever you are on the property.
Tismaree is a convenient stopover en route to Sesriem, Sossusvlei and the Namib-Naukluft Park, as it is situated approximately halfway between Windhoek and the Namib Desert. “It’s a great getaway for weekenders. We even have a driving range and golfing equipment for those who want to hit a few balls to get rid of stress.” The accommodation, which consists of five double chalets and a four-man dorm, is kept small and simple, enabling Henry to pay attention to his guests.
The American couple ended their review: “The owner is a very nice and intelligent man who obviously likes golf, and understands the area. He even pointed out the nearby Rietoog Airport (a dirt strip that used to be a race track). Tismaree is a little gem that is yet to be mentioned in the tourist guidebooks.”
This article appeared in the Dec ‘11/ Jan ‘12 edition of Travel News Namibia.
