If you're feeling a bit travel weary
after all of your touring around Namibia then Gross Barmen is the place
to go to. There's a good selection of accommodation from VIP bungalows
to a well appointed camping site with good facilities. The bar /
restaurant prices are reasonable and there's a curio shop and children's
play area.
Getting There: As you drive
on the B2 By-Pass road for
Okahandja you can't miss the sign to Gross
Barmen. It's then a further 25km drive on a good tarred road to the
resort.
Temperatures for the outdoor pool
are usually maintained between 28-32c. There is a large covered area
for sitting and relaxing. Beware of getting sun-burned. The water is
so inviting that one tends to float around and stay in a bit too long.
You would be wise to time your stay in the sun at Gross Barmen the sun
reflects from the water and also the sand and stone surrounding
compounding the rays.
The enthusiast bather may be interested to know that
Gross Barmen is classified as being a 'Very Hot Spring'. The
waters bubble up from a depth of 2500 meters
having an exit temperature of about 65 c. The smell of sulphur is due to the dissolved
hydrogen sulphide gas in the water. The relative high mineral content
and high temperature of the spring is of therapeutic value. Beside sodium
the water also contains concentrations of Potassium, calcium, magnesium,
sulphate, chloride, carbonate and fluorite and other
dissolved minerals.
The water temperature is usually maintained between 38
- 42 c. This is where you can boil yourself in the therapeutic waters
until you're as pink as a lobster. The Gross Barmen thermal pool is equipped with hydro
jets, so you can even treat yourself to a hot water massage. When you
feel you're cooked enough you can creep ashore and have a nice quiet
sleep on one of the comfortable beds that are spaced around the pool.
