Fire ravages luxury Koedoeberg G/farm

Floris Steenkamp

The luxury Koedoeberg guest farm at Omaruru near the scenic Erongo mountains, owned and operated by the well-known Walvis Bay business couple Servaas and Melanie van Wyk was partly destroyed in a fire late on Wednesday afternoon.
The fire completely destroyed the main building which housed the lapa, kitchen, offices, reception, bar and nine rooms. A total of 21 rooms which are not connected to the main building were spared in the inferno.
The van Wyk’s are now racing against time to make interim arrangements to receive and accommodate guests.
A film crew and members of the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation stayed at the lodge at the time of the fire, as they were busy producing a documentary in the area for the national broadcaster.
They assisted staff to rescue some furniture and belongings of the lodge, but the fire soon raged out of control and completely destroyed the main building. The complex had thatched roofs.
What is particularly sad is the fact that the main building consisted of the original farm house, when Mr van Wyk’s father, Mr Josef van Wyk owned the farm in the 1950’s, 1960’s and part of the 1970’s before the farm went into the hands of successive owners. Mr Servaas van Wyk then purchased the farm back and they developed the Koedoeberg lodge.