Farm Sandhof
FARM SANDHOF from nowhere, devouring the lot within days. To see the fleeting spectacle, visitors flock to Sandhof from
About 35 kilometres north of Maltahรถhe on the farm
different parts of the country and even South Africa. They
Sandhof is an enormous salt pan extending over an area
usually converge on the small town of Maltahรถhe, which
of a thousand hectares. The pan is normally bone dry and
has a country hotel and a small number of guesthouses.
few people would think of visiting it other than to drive
The last time the lilies appeared was after the copious
across it at speed to see how fast their vehicles can go.
rains of 2006.
However, once every four or five years when there have been good rains in the surroundings, usually in January or February, the pan becomes inundated, if the water reaches a depth of 15 centimetres, it transforms miraculously into a vast field of lilies emerging from a sheet of sparkling water tinged red by the underlying sand. In next to no time shoots break through the surface of the shallow water and burst into a vivid display of pink and white for as far as the eye can see. This ephemeral blaze is but short-lived, because as quickly as the flowers take shape they wither and thousands of elephant beetles appear as if www.namibiatravelcompanion.com
SOUTHERN ACCOMMODATION
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