Heavy rains in and around Omaruru have caused the Omaruru River to flood its banks, leading to significant damage to nearby properties, including guesthouses.

The Kashana Guesthouse was particularly affected, with its fencing destroyed and water entering guest rooms, forcing some guests to check out.

"The water came near the entrance; some left and put all their cars in front of the lodge, and two stayed in the rooms, but these rooms were not affected, so we could move the people in the rooms to the yard; we could move them to our luxury rooms. Luckily, those rooms were not affected, but it was only a matter of some centimetres," said owner Heink Klittich.

Klittich said that although the luxury suites are along the river bed, they are built high and were not flooded.

He said he has been running his business for the past 25 years, and it is the first time that the river has flooded to this extent.

The Omaruru Game lodge, a few kilometers outside the town, is built amid a green oasis on the banks of the river.

Heavy rains left the lodge heavily flooded, causing it to shut its doors temporarily.

Renovations are, however underway and are expected to take place over the next two weeks before operations commence.

The people who were reserved or booked at the lodge had to be moved elsewhere in the meantime.