Vreugde Guest Farm: Our full report

The word Vreugde means 'joy' in Afrikaans and encapsulates this wonderful little guest farm.

Owned and run by the delightful Elsie & Danie Brand this 3,400ha family farm was opened to guests in 2001. More recently they were joined by their son, Danie, and daughter-in-law, Rachel - who is English but moved to Namibia after spending some years studying giraffe in Etosha and meeting Danie.

Although, at 49km from the southwestern gate into Etosha National Park, Vreugde Guest Farm is a little further from the wildlife reserve than most travellers prefer, if you like owner-run, quaint, hospitable accommodation the extra driving time is worth it to stay here.

A beautifully tended garden with lush lawns and colourful flowerbeds separates the main farmhouse from the seven guest rooms. Four of the rooms are in pairs of semi-detached bungalows, one set with a metal roof and the other with a thatched roof. The other three are stand-alone bungalows all with metal roofing and one of which is big enough to accommodate a family of four. Each en-suite room is individually and tastefully decorated in shades of creams and terracotta with the furniture covered in African print fabric. Stone floors and ceiling fans help keep the interior cool and sliding glass doors lead out onto the gardens.

Mature trees provide shade and attract numerous bird species to this little paradise. Garden furniture has been set out in a variety of secluded corners to create individual seating areas. Additional shade is offered by a thatched 'lapa' complete with a little bbq area. Nearby, a swimming pool is surrounded by sun loungers.

Meals are traditionally served around a large communal table giving guests the chance to interact with their hosts and find out about farm life in Namibia. The tasty homemade fare often includes meat raised on the farm and vegetables sourced from a nearby village with a small project farm – an initiative set up in conjunction with the local Bushmen community.

Though most visitors use Vreugde Guest Farm as a base from which to visit Etosha in their own vehicle, there are a range of guided activities offered by the hosts. These include farm drives, walks and day trips to Etosha or Damaraland. Timings are flexible and you'll soon discover that no request is too much here!

Our view

For travellers who enjoy staying in owner-run accommodation with the opportunity to interact with Namibians going about their everyday lives, Vreugde Guest Farm is a little-known gem. The warm welcome given by charming hosts, and comfortable accommodation in pretty rooms usually outweigh the small inconvenience of a 30-minute drive to Etosha National Park.

Tom Morris

Country manager: Namibia

Geographics

Location: Etosha National Park, Namibia
Ideal length of stay: Expert Africa would recommend at least a 2-night stay at Vreugde Guest Farm allowing you a full day game drive in Etosha National Park.
Directions: About 40km south of Etosha's Anderson Gate on the C38 road and 9km west on the D2710.
Accessible by: Self-drive

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Half Board
Dining style: Group Meals
Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining

Children

Attitude towards children: Families with children of all ages are welcome at Vreugde Guest Farm. There is a family unit available which comfortably sleeps a family of four in two bedrooms with a shared bathroom.

Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Vreugde Guest Farm

Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Vreugde Guest Farm have kindly recorded their wildlife sightings and shared them with us. The results are below. Click an animal to see more, and here to see more on our methodology.