Sleepy Aus revives in time for its centenary

A FESTIVE spirit prevailed in the tiny settlement of Aus in southern Namibia when a centenary festival was held over the Easter weekend and the first passenger train in 11 years puffed through the mountainous valley of the erstwhile German colonial place with its quaint architecture of yesteryear.

Several hundred visitors from far and near flocked to Aus to enjoy live music, nature drives, a historical exhibition and special train rides at sunrise and for sundowners. Bow shooting, small stalls with arts and crafts, a motor show and fun for children provided ample opportunities.South African singer Bernard Finch entertained visitors into the early morning hours and Namibian singing legend Sebulon Axue Gomachab provided music during the day.The theme for the festival was ‘Aus – a century later’, because some people believe Aus was founded in 1906 while others say it was in 1907.The first train arrived at Aus from Keetmanshoop on November 1,1906 and the hotel was built the same year.However, San and Nama people had been using the fountain – which has now dried up – long before that, as Chief David Frederick said in his keynote address last Saturday.Aus, which means “the end” in German, started to flourish with the advent of the railway line to Luederitz, which was completed in just seven months a century ago.”Once the old railway line is rehabilitated, Aus will be a busy tourism hub,” says Bernd Roemer, one of several investment partners who bought the old Bahnhof Hotel, which was revamped for N$2 million a few months ago.A tiny beer garden opened in the courtyard just in time for the festival.”The hotel is but one part of a larger project,” Roemer adds.”We are developing the Huib Plateau Park, which is the area along the newly tarred road to Rosh Pinah, since the unique desert landscape, the feral horses nearby the large variety of succulents are ideal for tourism.”Hiking trails and off-road routes are planned for this private reserve.Since June 2006 Aus has an information centre with a café serving snacks and light meals.The souvenir shop sells arts and crafts.The centre is run by Claudia Baisitse and a staff of three, all of them from Aus.Basitse is leasing the premises from the recently established Aus Community and Conservation Trust (ACCT).The info centre was built with EU funding.The ACCT owns the building and the rental income is used for the benefit of the Aus community.Six young locals already benefit, as they are receiving training as tour guides.A British tourist once called Aus a one-horse town, which means that there is nothing much going on there, but this was taken too literally by one inhabitant.”We have more than one horse, the whole desert is full of our beautiful wild horses,” he said in a sulking tone, clinging to the 100-year-old bar counter of the Bahnhof Hotel last weekend, holding a beer in the other hand.”Say nothing against Aus, my father was born here and I had a happy childhood in this dorf,” the greybeard said in English with a very strong German accent.”An American tourist couple the other day said Aus has a Wild West quality about it and one could make nice cowboy movies here,” his friend added with disgust in his voice.”Ag man, we are a tourist town now.Julian, noch ein Bier!” Julian van den Heever doubles as hotel manager and chef.He has cooked for Namibia’s most famous visitors, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, who stayed at Langstrand for several months a year ago.”They are such lovely people and easy to please, not fussy at all,” he fondly remembers.What brought him to Aus after a touch of Hollywood glamour? “This is a new challenge and maybe other famous film stars will come to Aus, who knows?”Bow shooting, small stalls with arts and crafts, a motor show and fun for children provided ample opportunities.South African singer Bernard Finch entertained visitors into the early morning hours and Namibian singing legend Sebulon Axue Gomachab provided music during the day.The theme for the festival was ‘Aus – a century later’, because some people believe Aus was founded in 1906 while others say it was in 1907.The first train arrived at Aus from Keetmanshoop on November 1,1906 and the hotel was built the same year.However, San and Nama people had been using the fountain – which has now dried up – long before that, as Chief David Frederick said in his keynote address last Saturday.Aus, which means “the end” in German, started to flourish with the advent of the railway line to Luederitz, which was completed in just seven months a century ago.”Once the old railway line is rehabilitated, Aus will be a busy tourism hub,” says Bernd Roemer, one of several investment partners who bought the old Bahnhof Hotel, which was revamped for N$2 million a few months ago.A tiny beer garden opened in the courtyard just in time for the festival.”The hotel is but one part of a larger project,” Roemer adds.”We are developing the Huib Plateau Park, which is the area along the newly tarred road to Rosh Pinah, since the unique desert landscape, the feral horses nearby the large variety of succulents are ideal for tourism.”Hiking trails and off-road routes are planned for this private reserve.Since June 2006 Aus has an information centre with a café serving snacks and light meals.The souvenir shop sells arts and crafts.The centre is run by Claudia Baisitse and a staff of three, all of them from Aus.Basitse is leasing the premises from the recently established Aus Community and Conservation Trust (ACCT).The info centre was built with EU funding.The ACCT owns the building and the rental income is used for the benefit of the Aus community.Six young locals already benefit, as they are receiving training as tour guides.A British tourist once called Aus a one-horse town, which means that there is nothing much going on there, but this was taken too literally by one inhabitant.”We have more than one horse, the whole desert is full of our beautiful wild horses,” he said in a sulking tone, clinging to the 100-year-old bar counter of the Bahnhof Hotel last weekend, holding a beer in the other hand.”Say nothing against Aus, my father was born here and I had a happy childhood in this dorf,” the greybeard said in English with a very strong German accent.”An American tourist couple the other day said Aus has a Wild West quality about it and one could make nice cowboy movies here,” his friend added with disgust in his voice.”Ag man, we are a tourist town now.Julian, noch ein Bier!” Julian van den Heever doubles as hotel manager and chef.He has cooked for Namibia’s most famous visitors, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, who stayed at Langstrand for several months a year ago.”They are such lovely people and easy to please, not fussy at all,” he fondly remembers.What brought him to Aus after a touch of Hollywood glamour? “This is a new challenge and maybe other famous film stars will come to Aus, who knows?”