Unbridled desert beauty
Emerging from the orange-hued dunes as a luxury tented camp, Desert Lodge encapsulates the essence of the Southern Namibian wilderness, where the most serene escape unfolds.
When we yearn for that sense of remoteness and seclusion, where we can ponder time, space and existence, the Namibian landscape that unravels from every area of Desert Lodge is beckoning that call. Not least for its luxury accommodation suites, teetering above the dunes, but for its vast, golden terrain, that rises and falls like a never-ending ocean of sand. A place that’s as pacifying as it is evocative. Conjuring up a romance with everything that falls into sight. The light that’s ever-changing. The kaleidoscope of burnt, earthy colours that come with the travelling rays. The air, the skies, the wildlife, the stars, the fire that’s alight in your heart. This desert hideaway, settled on over 200 000 hectares of the NamibRand Nature Reserve, in Southern Namibia, has a way of affirming one’s tiny existence in a boundless world of breathtaking beauty.
Whether you’ve opted for a self-drive or a flight to Desert Lodge, you’ll be greeted at the reception area by an extraordinary team of guides. Setting the tone of your stay with a familial welcome. You’re then escorted to the main lodge via vehicle, less than a 20-minute drive through the sand. Resting on the tips of a dune that reaches 230 metres in height, the lodge comprises of a series of decks that extend into ten luxury tented suites. Two spacious lounges and dining areas, a plethora of sundowner spots, a tea deck, a library, and a delightfully-stocked wine cellar. Each suite furnishing you with all of the lavish details you might desire, including your own patio with a plunge pool. The canvases rolled away to allow the landscape to flood through the open spaces and embrace your stance. A breathtaking moment from one pocket to the next. Whether you’re staying at Desert Lodge as a travelling team and have the lodge exclusively to yourselves, or individually as a couple or small family, you’ll always have the sense of it being just you and the views.
To infinity and beyond
Once you’ve settled into your beautiful suites, hats resting and kaftans hung, a light lunch – farm-to-fork style – ensues. Delicious fresh salads sourced from the gardens and a smorgasbord of local delicacies and treats spread across the long dining tables. Then off into the landscape to go out, seek and discover. A guided drive across the terrain at sunset. Beautiful sundowner spots for you to take in the magic of the surroundings, with a tipple in hand, tailored to your requirements. Back to the lodge for a slow refresh before dinner. Another unforgettable feasting around the tables, as the stars begin to blanket the skies. It’s as if you could pluck a couple from the atmosphere and sprinkle them over your dessert.
Mornings begin nice and early, with a lovely hot brew delivered to your deck. Then it’s out gallivanting with your guide in a sunrise vehicle. Stopping off to admire the views from a selected spot with a freshly baked rusk and warm mug of tea or coffee. After breakfast at the lodge, guests can dip in and out the activities as they so choose. It’s good to get the activities done before the desert sun lives up to her reputation. Bushman walks, adventuring with the elements on E-bikes, or a Heart and Home village tour. Learning all about the sustainability and conservation efforts that enrich the local communities. A slow lunch followed by a slow afternoon of reading in the library, lapping up the luxury of your own tented suite, swimming in the plunge pool, or as the lodge team like to call them, “chillers”. Indeed they definitely do offer that respite from the heat. Then it’s back out into the desert for a truly special experience. A sundowner moment of solace. Each guest is assigned their own unique spot to settle into the sand, perfectly secluded from one another, and simply absorb the silence, the serenity and the solitude for a tranquil moment.
It’s experiences like these, and everything that’s tied into this extraordinary place, that will have all of those questions on space, time and existence answered. Leaving you recharged and inspired to live life in accordance with your new understanding.
What we love!
- Spending time in the tented suites, relaxing and reading from bed or on the deck around the little swimming pool. The luxury in each suite and the views that come with it are nothing short of spectacular.
- Experiencing a full day scenic safari with one of the expert guides. Spotting wildlife like oryx, zebra, springbok, jackals, bat-eared foxes and hyenas. As well as taking in the beauty of the surroundings.
- The solitude moments of reflection. Sitting in the stillness of NamibRand Nature Reserve for twenty minutes, without any distractions (you are requested to leave your phones in the vehicle).
- There’s something to be said about the skies. With that, the stars at night. Quite possibly the best place in the world to enjoy the intimate space between you and the next galaxy.
What you need to know…
- Desert Lodge is part of the Wolwedans Collection. Sharing a small portion of the 200 000 hectares of the NamibRand Nature Reserve, in Southern Namibia. An open space equating to 2000 hectares per guest! It is part the Dark Sky Reserve, where there is zero light pollution.
- There are an abundance of activities available to you and your guests. Included in your stay are the morning and evening scenic drives. The desert sundowners, the Heart and Home village tour, the bushman walks, the E-biking and the solitude moments. As well as the full day scenic safari. At an additional cost, guests can also experience hot air ballooning, horse-riding, spa & wellness treatments and a desert sleep-out. The team will encourage guests to experience being closer to nature. Partaking in activities like E-biking and walking, exposing one to the elements.
- If Desert Lodge is not available on your dates, browse our full collection of exclusive-use holiday houses and lodges in Namibia.
Written by Colleen Ogilvie