Hoanib Valley Camp

Offering more of a ‘boutique’ polish and size set in the 37,000- hectare private Kulala Wilderness Reserve, and a stone’s throw from the Sossusvlei dunes, this beautiful lodge is easily the most luxurious in the area. Wilderness Little Kulala consists of 11 climate-controlled thatched suites, sympathetically designed so as to merge deceptively into the desert landscape. Each one is air conditioned with an en-suite bathroom, and has its own private outdoor pool and shower. The rooms are huge and with floor-to-ceiling windows designed to spoil you with the incredible views that flood in. Or take it a step further and star gaze in style on your own private rooftop. The main lodge is built on three levels and provides an elegant entertainment area, with a spacious lounge, stylish dining area , well-stocked reference library and its own wine cellar to boot.

Placed at the confluence of two tributaries in a broad valley of the Kaokoveld Desert, the camp offers an unforgettable gateway from which to experience both the thrillingly desolate Skeleton Coast and the private Palmwag Concession, alive with desert-adapted wildlife. You’ll get a feel for the exclusivity and wonderful remoteness of your accommodation as you fly in by light aircraft – the only way to access the camp. The imitate, luxury tented camp consists of just seven twin-bedded suites and one family unit, each complete with shaded outdoors decks from which to contemplate the valley’s starkly stunning, moon-like landscape. Scenic flights over desert shores reveal lonely shipwrecks, massive dunefields, floodplains and the Auses Spring. Explore the Hoanib Riverbed for sightings of elephant, lion, giraffe, gemsbok and springbok, shaggy brown hyaena and opportunistic black-backed jackal, or head to the rocky shoreline to get an earful of the noisy Cape fur seal colony. Unravel the mysterious history of the original ancient Strandloper people and the enigmatic stone circles they left behind and encounter the Welwitschia on a nature walk – one of the oldest and strangest plants on the planet.

You’ll find this luxurious lodge set in the Zannier Reserve. Omaanda, which is located near the N/a’an ku sê private conservancy, looks out over the expansive savannah. There are 10 spacious round thatch huts to choose from, each of them a warm, welcoming sanctuary inspired by the traditional architecture of Owambo. The design is simple but elegant and the colours reflect the surrounding earth and sand. The huts have their own private terraces which boast magnificent views of the small lake and hills of the Khomas Hochland plateau in the distance. There is a walk-in rain shower, separate WC and a large bath tub. At Ambo Delights restaurant you’ll be treated to refined cuisine, from wholesome breakfasts to delicious dishes to share, as well as game meat prepared on the spit. Set beside the heated outdoor infinity pool, the bar is the perfect place to enjoy a refreshing drink at the end of a day enjoying memorable excursions and safaris. Gather with your fellow guests around an open fire in the boma and relive the best moments of your day. Take time to refresh your body and mind at the spa which offers a variety of massages and treatments inspired by local Namibian beliefs.

Grouped together like a typical African village in squeezed between huge rust-coloured boulders of the Twyfelfontein Conservancy, Mowani is an imaginative and sustainable eco-lodge with astonishing desert views. Perfectly placed to explore the landscapes of southern Damaraland and the bushman rock art the area is famed for, not to mention the desert elephant and black rhino within the conservancy, Mowani conjures up a wild romance and ethnic tranquility in its setting and service. Four ‘View’ tents, eight standard ones, one luxury room and one suite (with private deck & private lounge area) give you a choice as to the type of traveller you are.