About this hotel
General information
Sossusvlei Desert Lodge is a string of stone, glass and steel pavilions laid out along the curve of an ancient escarpment above the plains of the Namib Desert. Rusted-steel shade structures over the guest area echo the outline of the nearby peaks, and their laser-cut Milky Way patterns throw constellations of shadow across the ground by day. Fold-away glass doors open the public spaces to the desert, which hold a bar, a wine cellar, a wellness floor and a Signature Shop selling local craftwork such as rose-quartz jewellery.
There are ten Suites and one two-bedroom Star Dune Suite, so guest numbers stay small, with the units spaced about 20 m apart. Each suite runs on solar panels on its own roof, rainwater is harvested and grey water is recycled. Three meals a day, soft drinks, house wines, local spirits and beers, laundry and most activities are included, and every stay is looked after by a butler and a guide. The lodge is open all year.
Location
The lodge stands in the 12,715-hectare &Beyond Sossusvlei Private Desert Reserve, which borders the NamibRand Nature Reserve and Namib-Naukluft National Park and forms part of the Namib Sand Sea, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with dunes rising above 230 m. The nearest town is more than 140 km away, and the lodge lies on the edge of Africa’s first International Dark Sky Reserve. Guests arrive by scheduled or charter flight at the lodge’s private airstrip, with airstrip transfers included; by road it is about 400 km from Windhoek and 380 km from Swakopmund on gravel roads, and a 4×4 is advised in the rainy season from November to May.
Spa
The sunset-facing wellness centre comes in two parts: a treatment room with a private spa bath and a wet treatment room with a shower and bath. Healing Earth treatments, made with all-natural ingredients and essential oils and inspired by Africa’s traditional healers, are given there or in the suite at additional cost.
Sports & leisure
Most activities are included and guided, and this is one of the places where guests are also encouraged to explore on their own:
- a morning excursion to Sossusvlei in Namib-Naukluft National Park, walking to Deadvlei and, for the fit, climbing Big Daddy;
- the Big Dune Walk, a dawn climb up a star dune on the private reserve followed by a picnic breakfast at its foot;
- the Living Dune experience, exploring dune ecology on foot or by quad bike with a specialist guide (quad bikes from 16);
- the Desert Rock experience, a geology outing by vehicle and on foot about how the break-up of Gondwana shaped the land;
- the Desert People experience, a guided walk to San rock art and heritage sites;
- scenic drives through four desert habitats, with sunrise coffee or a sundowner;
- e-bikes on 11 km and 19 km routes and two hiking trails of 2.2 km and 3.4 km, alone or combined;
- stargazing at the lodge observatory with a Celestron CPC 1100 GPS telescope when the visiting astronomer is on site;
- a behind-the-scenes sustainability tour of the solar and water systems, and birdwatching;
- a sunrise-view gym with a treadmill, weights and yoga mats, plus yoga sessions.
At additional cost there are helicopter flights (a scenic desert route, a Namib dune photographic flight and a coastal route) and a shared sunrise hot-air balloon flight over plains dotted with fairy circles and oryx; weddings and blessings can also be arranged.
For children
The WILDchild programme keeps children busy with painting in red dune sand and filling bottles with it, making bookmarks and fridge magnets with San rock-art designs, crafting solar-system mobiles or stargazing for older children, listening to African stories about the night sky, and making jewellery and mosaics from traditional materials. Childminding is available at additional cost and is booked on the day of arrival.
Restaurants & bars
The cooking draws on Namibian produce in a quietly refined, unfussy style, and meals can move to a different setting each day:
- Bar — a central island counter of local granite slabs, classic cocktails and Namibian craft beer;
- Wine cellar — a walk-in cellar of local and international wines, with the butler on hand to suggest pairings;
- Interactive kitchen — guests can cook alongside the chefs and shape their own menu;
- Private dinner by candlelight on the suite’s veranda under the stars;
- High tea at the lodge and dinners in the open air or beside the fire.
Champagne, cognac, fine wines and premium spirits are charged separately.
Swimming
There is a lodge pool by the guest area, and every suite has its own plunge pool on the veranda facing the desert.
Rooms
Ten Suites and one Star Dune Suite are spread along the curve of the escarpment, their glass fronts facing the desert and a retractable skylight set above every bed for stargazing.
Air conditioning and heating, ceiling fans, a fireplace in the lounge, a personal bar stocked with local brands, a coffee station, a music system, indoor and outdoor showers (no bath), telephone, safe, hairdryer, Wi-Fi and a pair of Swarovski Optik binoculars for the stay.
Suite
A suite with a bedroom beneath a retractable skylight, a cosy lounge with a fireplace, a bathroom with a glass-encased rain shower looking out over the desert, and a veranda with a private plunge pool. Sleeps two; a third bed can be added for a child aged 16 or under.
Star Dune Suite
Two en-suite bedrooms linked by a shared lounge, a private dining area and a shaded veranda with a plunge pool. Sleeps four adults, or two adults and two children.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.