HARDAP DAM RECREATIONAL RESORT AND GAME RESERVE
14 July 2000 - 02 August 2000
About 250km from Windhoek, and less than 25km from Mariental, lies the Hardap Dam, creating Namibia’s largest man-made lake. This dams the upper reaches of the Fish River to provide water for Mariental and various irrigation projects. It is surrounded by a small reserve, complete with restcamp.
The Dam
The origin of Hardap’s name is uncertain. It is probably derived from a Nama name for a big pool that was flooded by the dam, though the word also means nipple (or possibly wart) in the Nama language – and one of the rounded hills around the dam is said to resemble a female breast.
The dam wall is 39.2m high and 865m long and was completed in 1963. It holds a maximum of about 300 million cubic metres of water, and covers around 25kmē. Though it doesn’t often fill, it will when the rains are exceptional. It filled to 97.7% of its capacity in early 1997, forcing the sluice gates to be opened at 09.00 on Wednesday 22 January – for the first time in 20 years. If they had remained shut, it would have flooded Mariental with the next rains. (This same 1997 season also saw Sossusvlei flooded for the first time in a decade.)
A small game reserve shelters wildlife such as kudu, springbok, eland, hartebeest, mountain zebra, gemsbok, rhino, baboon and more than 100 different bird species, including ostrich and fish eagle. Rock rabbits (hyraxes, or dassies) are common.
Project Manager: Theresa Bailey
Assistant Project Manager: Rachel McCormick
Venturers: Jimmy Lo, Alexander Jason, Hannah Godfrey, Kate Waddecar, Nic Archdale, Steve Ashdown, Graham Watts, Harry Ingle, Karina Aluvilu, Lloyd Bowden, Pete Banks, Tom Oxford
Here.....The Dam!!!! (15 Jul)
I am standing near the lake. (15 Jul)
We are on the way to the campsite...... (15 Jul) Left to right: Pete, me, Alex
The trail starts here. (16 Jul)
Look at the blue sky!!! No Clouds!!! I am very lucky....I stand on the amazing land and looking at the amazing sky!!! (16 Jul)
Deadly Tired!!!!! I took this pic when we heading back to the campsite. I'm sitting on the river bed and took this photo. (18 Jul)
Left to right: Hannah, Lloyd, Alex
Day Off.....Mariental town. (21 Jul)
SPAR, the biggest supermarket in Namibia (21 Jul)
Tom & Harry found firewood for the camp fire. (22 Jul)
Free time!!! Just back from work, everybody relax...... (22 Jul)
We will be done very soon...... (24 Jul)
I'm making BREAD!!!! This is the first time I make bread on the river bed!!!!! (26 Jul)
Massage session held by Hannah.
We are a team!!!! (Let to right: Steve, me, Hannah, Nic, Harry, Pete, Tom and Alex. (forget about the date)
We are building a wall as a car park. (8:00am 27 Jul)
Mission Accomplished!!!!! We build a 3 ft stone wall as a car park in Bird Paradise. Sunset coming......(6:00pm 27 Jul)
Rear: Pete, Tom, Lloyd. Center: me, Steve, Karina, Hannah, Rachel (Assistant Project Manager) and Alex. Front: Graham, Kate and Nic. (30 Jul)
We just completed the work and took a photo somewhere in the Rhino hiking trail.
Do u know what animal the skull is?? (31 Jul) (a)Kudu (b)Springbok (c)Oryx Email me if u know the answer!!
Me & Tom in Hardap, my skin is turning brown...... This was the last day in Hardap. (31 Jul)
Rear: Tom, Lloyd, Alex. Center: Theri (Project Manager), Karina, Hannah, me, Pete and Steve, Front: Graham, Kate, Nic and Harry
For phase one, we are camping on a river bed, what a unique experience!!! (31 Jul)
Pete and me, we were together again in phase three (Trekking phase), We both get injury during the trekking phase. (31 Jul)
Rhino Board....my name is at the bottom!!! Guest which part I painted?? (31 Jul)
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