About Bush Pillow Guest House

Otjiwarongo as it is known today came into existence mainly because of the need to find a connection between Swakopmund, Windhoek and Tsumeb.The powers that be (Germany) knew about the copper ore in the Otavi (Tsumeb) area and they needed to get the ore to the coast for shipping back to Germany. At first they wanted to develop Port Alexander, but that was 730 kilometers from Otavi and Swakopmund was only 581 kilometers away. The Germans also knew what South Africa was like, but they did not have good faith in the future of Angola. They did however also keep the options open in case trouble presented itself with South Africa and thus it was imperative that the railroad was built via Outjo. Another factor to consider was the Waterberg area, with enough water and fertile soil it was seen as a growth point.
Thus based on these factors the decision was taken to establish the link between Waterberg and Outjo at kilometer 378 (Otjiwarongo).The narrow gauge rail was completed in 1906 and the first train arrived on the 2nd April 1906. Otjiwarongo settled down and that same year the Post Office and Police station was opened. The first inhabitants were Hans Buerger, Julius Doll, August Laszig and Paul Witt.

So it is fitting that the Bush Pillow Guest House also came into existence indirectly because of the railway. The original house was in fact built more than 140 km from Otjiwarongo as part of the South African Railways project at Okozongoro Siding.

This siding was part of the Kranzberg – Tsumeb guaranteed line. For some reason the Okozongoro siding was never utilized and all the goods and houses were sold on auction.

Mr. Claussen – the owner of the farm Okozongoro – bought the house and then broke it down brick by brick to rebuild it in Otjiwarongo on erf 522, as his town dwelling, where it still forms part of the extended Bush Pillow Guest House building today. This was done in 1963. (The name Okozongoro means “place of the Zebras.”)

Mr. Claussen sold the property to a Mr. W.A. Klepach who in December 1986 decided to enlarge the small railway house to the extensive dwelling that it is today. The additions to the building totaled 550 square metres. Mr. Klepach was at the time the Manager of the Hamburgerhof Hotel (today the private school in Otjiwarongo).

The property was sold when Mr. Klepach was transferred. A farmer, Mr. Nederlof purchased the house and in turn they sold the house to Dr. F. Steyn one of the medical practitioners in town. Dr. Steyn added to the buildings in August 1994. He added a set of garages totaling 78 square metres. The plans for these extensions were drawn by Ms. Anita Giani and approved by the Municipality in September 1994.

In February 1999 the wife of Dr. Steyn decided to change the residence to a Guest House . The current owner – Neville Neveling – purchased this Guest House in September 1999, and have upgraded the facility to its present state. The Guest House is fully registered with the Namibia Tourism Board and have become a firm favorite with the visitors to Otjiwarongo.

In 2007 it also became a part of Sun International’s Privilege Portfolio Partners. This means all holders of the Sun International Privilege Portfolio card can get discounts on accommodation as well as meals.

The current owner also developed the theme of elephants for the Bush Pillow Guest House and another remarkable link was discovered between the Bush Pillow and one of the magnificent seven elephants of South Africa – Mafunyane. The story in short is as follows: Mr and Mrs. Rossouw were filmmakers who filmed the gentle giant Mafunyane in the Kruger National Park in South Africa.

Mrs. Rossouw was pregnant at the time of filming and when their son was born he was named after this graceful elephant.

Years later they filmed in the Kavango region in Namibia and a Mr. J. Joachim – a Namibian citizen – and information officer had to show them around. He was puzzled at the name of the tiny lad – Mafunyane Rossouw – and enquired how it came that this boy was named such. The story was then related to Mr. Joachim who later related this story to the present owner of the Bush Pillow Guest House.

Today one can order the small in-house publication of the stories of these elephants, well illustrated by Leana Oberholzer one of the local artist from Otjiwarongo.

It has won several awards in this time as well as receiving some very unique accolades from the SADF and NDF jointly. It is the only establishment in Namibia to have received this accolade

The Bush Pillow Guest House is proud of this historical link with the Rail development in Namibia and its influence on Otjiwarongo in particular.