Welcome to the Lodge We Call Porcupine (Eningu)
About Us
Eningu Kalahari Lodge (formerly known as Eningu Clayhouse Lodge) is conveniently situated just over an hours’ drive from Windhoek and approximately 45 minutes from Hosea Kutako International airport.
With the warm red sand of the Kalahari, the open savannah landscape and the huge camelthorn trees providing shade, Eningu is the perfect backdrop to absorb the beauty of untouched nature and tranquillity of the Namibian bushveld.
The lodge was built from 120,000 hand-made clay bricks. Clay is a completely natural material that is sourced locally from the farm and its surrounds, making it a very eco-friendly material to build with.
We trust that your stay with us will be comfortable and enjoyable, and we look forward to welcoming you personally. Our team is warm, attentive, and always happy to assist, please do not hesitate to ask if there is anything you may require.
Our chef is pleased to accommodate special dietary requirements and create alternative menus where possible. To avoid disappointment, we kindly recommend that such arrangements be made in advance.
Eningu Kalahari Lodge covers approximately 56 hectares and offers informative and scenic walking trails. For longer walks, you are welcome to explore the trails on Farm Peperkorrel as well. Please consult the walking maps provided in your room.
On Farm Peperkorrel, you will also find the stone art gallery of internationally recognised artist Dörte Berner. Her impressive stone sculptures are well worth a visit. A small selection of her work is displayed in our gardens as a preview. We are happy to assist in arranging a visit to her “Home of Sculptures,” although visits are limited.
We hope you enjoy our friendly hospitality, relaxing facilities, good wine, and of course our excellent cuisine.
Eningu Kalahari Lodge
Environment
Eningu Kalahari Lodge is located in the south-eastern part of Namibia, within the geographical borders of the Kalahari. While often referred to as a desert, the Kalahari is not a true desert. Unlike arid deserts, it receives irregular but relatively high rainfall and is therefore often described as a “green desert” more accurately, a bush and tree savannah growing on deep red sands.
At Eningu, we receive an average annual rainfall of approximately 320 millimetres. When the rains arrive, most commonly between January and April the transformation is remarkable. Within days, grasses, acacias, and creepers flourish, and flowering plants display a vibrant array of colours. This period is a feast for plants, animals, and people alike. After the rains, and with a bit of luck, we search for the famous Kalahari truffle, which is then prepared by our kitchen.
By mid-May, the landscape changes again. Grasses begin to dry, and the leaves of the hook-thorn acacias fall, providing valuable fodder for wildlife. Gradually, the classic Kalahari palette returns: red sands and golden grasses.
Eningu Kalahari Lodge
Thoughts on Environmental and Nature Protection
Water is a precious resource in Namibia. Our water is pumped from a 93-metre-deep borehole and stored in elevated reservoirs to provide natural water pressure. The tap water is tested, safe to drink, and of excellent quality.
Our garden consists mainly of indigenous plants that require minimal watering. When watering, we apply water directly at the roots to reduce evaporation. We kindly ask you to help us conserve water by:
- Turning off taps when not in use (e.g. while brushing teeth)
- Taking short showers
- Turning off the water while soaping
- Using moderate water pressure
- Reporting any leaks immediately
Eningu operates a three-chamber wastewater system, where wastewater is broken down through bacterial action and filtered through rock and sand before returning safely to the ground.
We minimise waste by using returnable bottles and cans. Glass and tins are recycled in Windhoek, kitchen waste is used at the porcupine feeding site, and paper is burned responsibly.
Water heating is provided by solar geysers, and part of our electricity is generated by a photovoltaic system located 500 metres from the lodge. We kindly ask you to use these resources responsibly.
Our History
Why Was Eningu Built of Clay?
The builders of Eningu, Stefanie and Volker Hümmer, discovered large deposits of high-quality clay approximately eight kilometres from the lodge, in a tributary of the dry Seeis riverbed. After the Namibian Construction Engineering Council confirmed the excellent quality of the clay, they sourced literature on clay architecture from around the world and began exploring its advantages.
Clay buildings have proven to remain approximately 5°C warmer in winter and 5°C cooler in summer, making them ideal for Namibia’s extreme climate. Stefanie and Volker wanted to provide guests with a healthy, comfortable room temperature, combined with the natural beauty and tactile warmth of clay walls.
The process was labour-intensive: digging, sieving the clay into powder, transporting it to the site, mixing it with water, kneading it by foot, forming bricks by hand, and allowing them to dry slowly under plastic sheeting. At times, they joked that they themselves were turning into clay.
After producing 120,000 handmade clay bricks, drafting plans, and building a cardboard model of the lodge, construction began.
One and a half years later, the lodge called Porcupine (Eningu) was completed. The first guest arrived in September 1994, and the clay lodge became a unique addition to Namibia’s hospitality landscape.