About Us

Namibia Tracks & Trails was founded by Karl-Heinz Grüttemeyer in 1986 with the construction of Palmwag Lodge. The company was known as Desert Adventure Safaris in those days and owned only 2 safari vehicles offering guided adventure safaris in Damaraland and Kaokoland.

In 1990, Karl-Heinz’ eldest son, Jockel, joined the business and Jockel’s wife, Monica, shortly thereafter. Together, the family ran the daily operations of Palmwag Lodge and Desert Adventure Safaris, which was later re-branded to Palmwag Lodge & Travel Shop, as the inbound tour and safari operation was further developed. A further name change occurred in 2010 when Palmwag Lodge was sold and the focus was is now only on inbound services and travel arrangements within Namibia and neighbouring countries and the company is now known as Namibia Tracks & Trails. In 2015, Jockel and Monica’s first-born daughter, Wiebke, joined the team as the next generation within the family. Today, the Namibia Tracks & Trails family comprises of 90 permanent staff and a fleet of around 39 vehicles ranging from transfer vehicles, SUVs and specialized safari vehicles.

Our team are fully trained to give you experienced advice regarding all aspects of your holiday in Namibia, whether exclusive fly-in’s, guided lodge tours, tented safaris or mapping out a personal itinerary for a self-drive tour. With friendly and efficient service we aim to ensure that every visit to Namibia results in a memorable experience.

For over 30 years, the Namibia Tracks and Trails team has been unbelievably lucky to share our home and serve as leaders in sustainable tourism across Namibia. Our humble beginnings can be traced back to the construction of the Palmwag Lodge in 1986, spearheaded by Namibia Tracks and Trails founder, Karl-Heinz Grüttemeyer. Just like his children and grandchildren who came after him, Karl-Heinz was an avid conservationist who believed that sustainable tourism offers a bright future for remote African communities, while also providing a strong incentive for ongoing cultural and natural conservation.

Working in the safari industry is a deeply rewarding experience for all of us at Namibia Tracks and Trails. It gives us the cherished opportunity to introduce to the world what we hold most dear: our home.

Namibia is — in our opinion — the best place on earth. We are home to unbelievably vast open spaces, the most pristine nature, amazing fauna and flora, the friendliest people, and unmatched diversity in landscape and scenery.

To top it all off, we get to share these treasures with our guests. We offer guests the opportunity to visit cultural and conservation projects across Namibia, providing both an enriching and educational experience about what conservation challenges are being faced by our country, and how sustainable tourism can help create a brighter future for the next generation of humans and animals alike.

There is no better detox from modern life than watching the sunset over Namibia, witnessing wildlife drinking at the waterhole, and absorbing the incredible “nothing-ness” and silence of being in one of the most remote areas on earth.

Our vision is to help our clients disconnect from day-to-day stress and reconnect with themselves by offering unforgettable wildlife encounters and cultural experiences across Namibia.

Our mission is to support local conservation efforts, to change guests’ lives, and to ensure a brighter future for Namibia’s people and wildlife by providing educational, enriching, and sustainable African safari tours.

Our priority is to communicate the value and conservational importance of our offerings to encourage our guests to immerse themselves in an once-in-a-lifetime safari experience. We want to be passionate about our cause while still focusing on the comforts and experiences the guest is seeking on their holiday.