Stargazing. Photography. Nature Immersion. Micro Adventures. Ocean Walks. Or just Soaking up the Sun …
Naries is perfectly situated at the epicentre of the vast Namaqualand region, allowing guests a complete experiential immersion in surrounds brimming with enough culture, nature, cuisine and adventure for a week of fun! Great roads and a low population density make this a safe, secure area for international visitors, brimming with quirky characters, unexplored back roads, sleepy villages, and national parks larger than some European countries. Naries is proudly off the mainstream tourism track.
Arid desert plains, with outstanding mountain biking, gravel-riding and hiking trails; ocean surf breaks where you will have the whole beach to yourself; a superlative bird- and reptile species list, in a globally recognised diversity hotspot; Bortle 1 dark-sky locations for unmatched stargazing and astronomy; and the best sunsets in the world … We’re not boasting when we say this is authentic and accessible tourism at its very best.
Contact our reception office to arrange your day activity a few days prior to your arrival to avoid disappointment.
Astro-tourism and nocturnal experiences are on every travellers’ Bucket List these days, and our Naries night skies are on par with anywhere else on the planet. Weekly astronomy talks – lead by a guide using our Meade telescope – will transport guests on a billion-star journey into the Northern Cape’s night skies. Star whizz-pop and fizzle like in a Roald Dahl tale, with comets arcing amidst the zirconia scatter and the milky way beaming down from the heavens. Guests can bring their own observation scopes, and safely set up their equipment to view key celestial events upon request.
Add a dose of Vitamin Sea to your Naries experience by meandering along quiet backroads to where the village of Kleinzee slumbers on the windswept coastal plain. It is best to wait for the sun to burn away the West Coast morning mist before meandering along the sandy 4×4 tracks into Rooiklippies Nature Reserve. A wild and tempestuous coastline awaits, with surf breaks for the brave, and many rockpools and points to feed your ocean stoke. This ‘secret’ reserve unfolds on the edge of an incredibly diverse marine environment, resplendent with endemic succulents, ocean bird species, as well as potential whale and dolphin sightings.
The richly diverse mix of Succulent-Karoo, Fynbos and Renosterveld biomes will pop, crackle and crunch underfoot while you breathe in the herbaceous aroma of wild rosemary, golden sage, snakeberry, gannabos and a diverse range of other botanicals wafting on the Namaqua breeze. This ecosystem makes for an absolute paradise for nature-, macro- and landscape photographers, so bring your camera (or mobile device), hiking boots, and a broad-brimmed sun hat. It is a visual feast for the eyes!
Reconnecting with Mother Earth through sight, smell and sound is a proven way of resetting circadian rhythms and enhancing our overall mental wellbeing. Laze in the African sun next to one of our swimming pools while sunbirds dart amongst wild aloe flowers; or meditate on a far-away rock, watching the aerial acrobatics of our endemic clapper larks. At night, you may spot Karoo scrub hares, porcupines, genets and caracal, or use an ultra-violet light to track skittering scorpions and wind spiders hunting in the dark.
All our Naries Namaqua Retreat hiking trails, gravel tracks and mountain bike routes are free to explore to our guests. Wander solo along a well-marked Interpretive Nature Trail, or book a guided Nature as part of your outdoor experience when visiting Naries Namaqua Retreat. All routes are clearly marked, and perfect for wild running, scrambling or hiking, but also great on a mountain bike if you have the required endurance and skills. There is something for everyone in the area, from challenging enduro-style downhills or winding tarmac passes, to endless gravel-grinder backroads.
The seasonal wildflower miracle is unarguably Namaqualand’s most celebrated botanical event. This spectacular display – typically from late July through September every year – is renowned the world over, with many thousands of visitors every year. The bloom is generally reliable and triggered by the predictable winter rainfall along the coastal belt. Early spring sees the arid plains and mountain slopes burst into a neon display, mostly by annuals such as the vibrant Asteraceae daisies, creating carpets of orange, yellow, and white, and transforming the landscape overnight. This brief but intense burst of life is vital for the region’s botanical diversity, attracting super-specialised insects – such as long-tongued flies and beetles – which function as exclusive pollinators for many of the rarest Namaqua plant species.
The glorious ‘Green Season’ stretches over the cool winter months and heralds in a fabulous time to escape to Naries. Zero crowds and no tourist buses or noise, allowing you to reset mind, body and soul as you recover from the rat race. Add fireside evenings, South Africa’s world-class red wines, sizzling organic steaks and local produce, and a lodge library filled with books on local history and culture, and you get tranquil perfection guaranteed.
Self-drive guests have the whole of Namaqualand waiting to be explored. Venture down the serpentine bends of Spektakel Pass to pop into the tiny village of Buffelsrivier. Quirky dorps languish beyond Springbok along the N7, where you can cruise quiet main streets or pop into a tea room for a cuppa and a chat. Then there is Namaqua National Park(at 1,368km², it is roughly three times the size of Andorra), with superb archaeological sites, pristine beaches and surf spots, outstanding birding, and offering a full gamut of wildlife encounters. The Caracal Eco-Trail (approximately 150km on jeep tracks through the park – winds via gnarly mountain passes and the sandy West Coast shoreline. This makes for an incredible 4×4 adventure, and a great way to see this off-grid park.
The Northern Cape’s food landscape fuses traditional Nama meals with contemporary cuisine, and Chef Andrias Bok will no doubt trigger your taste buds when you visit Naries. Tuck into a mouth-watering basket of organic tapas finger-food high while picnicking on an ancient granitic dome, sip on a chilled glass of bubbly while the horizon fades to gold and rose, or revel in a ‘Fire Night’ meal grilled over an open fire at our mountain-top boma to experience dining as honest and beautiful as our land.
