A secluded safari hideaway in Namibia
Watch the enthralling spectacle of the African night sky’s big five from a private star gazing pod at Kwessi Dunes, an off grid retreat space in Namibia’s NamibRand Nature Reserve.
Look up, exhale and imagine you’re in deep space. Wherever you look are stars, just millions of them, like diamond studs in black velvet. Let your mind wander the Milky Way and trace the outline of Orion. If you are looking for an off the grid romantic getaway, can anything beat stargazing from the luxurious safari lodge, Kwessi Dunes.
The 200 000 hectare Namibian reserve is Africa’s first designated International Dark Sky Reserve, which means the stars are stupendously bright and clear and make for natural theatre every evening.
Although as remote as it is possible to get, Kwessi Dunes ensures your comfort. The luxury accommodation includes air-conditioning in each of the suites at has its own ‘star gazer room’ outside, it’s a complete outdoor bedroom sans roof, where you can fall asleep under shooting stars. Or cosy up inside in a beautiful and quirky suite of striped canvas under thatch. By day, you’ll gaze across red dunes against mauve mountains, met by indigo skies.
Big Five country this is not; exquisite, unusual country it is. You won’t see another soul when you’re horse riding, quad biking, on a nature drive or enjoying a morning nature walk. And if you take to the skies in a hot air balloon or a helicopter, you’ll see just how vast and beautiful this ancient desertscape is. It is humbling and inspiring at the same time.
A hidden getaway, full of adventure
There is wildlife for sure. Graceful oryx will wander by and hardy springbok too, plus kudu, steenbok, Burchell’s zebra, bat-eared foxes and black-backed jackals. Aardwolf and African wild cats also live here, along with elusive leopard and cheetah. Take time to explore the fragile desert, look beneath the figurative surface and savour this, the world’s most ancient desert.
In keeping with its tread lightly ethos, Kwessi Dunes is entirely solar powered and water is from an abundant borehole – which also keeps the pool full all year round. There’s something evocative about swimming, surrounded by deep desert, and then seeing a herd of oryx or springbok stroll by. Actually, it’s unforgettable. As is a daytrip outing to the sandscape of Sossusvlei, where the world’s tallest dunes stand stoically.
But wherever you find yourself at the end of the day, pause and soak up the spectacular play of light on the desert dunes. It’s breathtakingly beautiful and balm for the soul. And it will remind you in an instant that one can simply never tire of Africa and her evocative spaces.
What we love!
- The soul nurturing silence. Recognised by Quiet Parks International, Kwessi Dunes is one of the most peaceful places on the planet.
- The wide open skies, unmarred canopy of blue during the day and a thrilling theatre of light at night. During the day, floating through these wide open skies on a hot air balloon ride, is a memorable experience.
- The organic simplicity of the lodge doesn’t detract from the desert scenery.
- Cooling off in the pool is a great way to spend midday.
- Seeing the fairy circles in the desert have you wondering just how they came to be.
- The décor colours reflect the desert, sun and sky.
- A spa treatment in the desert is enthralling.
What you need to know…
- Guests at Kwesi Dunes have exclusive experience of a 15,000 hectares of desert terrain and access to a further 200, 000 hectares of the NamibRand Reserve.
- Morning and afternoon scenic drives
- The area is malaria free.
- Unfortunately, this camp is not wheelchair friendly. For a wheelchair friendly option in the vicinity, please check Sossusvlei Desert Lodge.
- All children are welcome, but the minimum age for driving quad bikes is 16 years.
- There is wifi and a complimentary laundry service.
- Getting there: self-drive 5.5 hours from Windhoek airport, named Hosea Kutako International Airport. Or fly in directly to the lodge landing strip on a charter flight, then enjoy a 10 to 15-minute scenic drive to the lodge.
- If Dune Camp is unavailable to book for your dates, browse our other Perfect hideaways in Southern Namibia, or our perfect safaris in Namibia.
Reviewed by Keri Harvey
Edited by Dawn Kennedy