About this hotel
General information
Zannier Sonop is a tented camp in a remote corner of the Namib Desert in southern Namibia. Its ten tented suites stand on wooden platforms among giant granite boulders that rise above open plains and red dunes. The camp has its own private reserve of some 5,600 hectares, where wildlife roams the desert freely and other people are scarcely seen.
Interiors take a vintage safari mood: four-poster beds, copper bathtubs, period furniture and antiques, and canvas walls that roll up to open the view. Evenings unfold slowly, with five-course candlelit dinners, open-air films by the pool and a clear, star-filled sky. Stays include full board, drinks (premium spirits and Champagne aside), two shared nature drives a day and selected experiences. The camp is Green Globe certified.
Location
The camp lies in the Hardap Region on the edge of the NamibRand Nature Reserve, one of the largest private conservation areas in southern Africa, about 20 km from Betta and some 500 km (around six hours by road) from Windhoek. Light aircraft land on the camp’s own airstrip, about an hour and twenty minutes’ flight from Windhoek’s international airport. Guests may also self-drive, and the camp can arrange transfers to Sossusvlei, Windhoek and the international airport.
Spa
The spa occupies a traditional hut with two double treatment rooms. Massages and facials draw on ancient Namibian healing traditions, using locally grown roots, herbs and spices. Alongside is a fully equipped fitness room with free weights, benches, barbells and cardio machines, plus a quiet space to unwind.
Sports & leisure
The morning and afternoon nature drives are included; other activities are booked through reception.
- a sunrise drive with short walks to sociable weaver colonies, quiver trees and San rock shelters;
- an afternoon drive that ends with a sundowner as the stars come out;
- private sunrise or sunset drives;
- horse riding over a red dune and along an ancient riverbed, plus private riding lessons for all levels;
- self-guided electric fat-bike trails, one easy and one moderate, along the NamibRand Nature Reserve;
- two-hour guided walks in the early morning or late afternoon, exploring the desert’s geology and ecosystems;
- breakfast on top of the Sonop dune, with 360° views, Champagne and fresh orange juice;
- hot-air balloon flights and helicopter rides on request;
- open-air cinema by the pool every other evening (weather permitting) and stargazing through telescopes;
- group yoga by the pool at sunrise or sunset.
Restaurants & bars
The camp’s main communal space, looking out over the desert, serves as the restaurant by day, while evenings turn to more formal dinners.
- main living area — à la carte breakfast and light sharing dishes at lunch;
- dinner — five courses at communal tables by candlelight, with menus built around local flavours;
- Cocktail & Cigar Lounge — an evening lounge in the manner of an old-world club, with billiards and parlour games;
- Pool Bar — cocktails, juices and light bites by the water;
- fire-pit terrace by reception, with a telescope for stargazing;
- private lantern-lit suppers on a dune top, on request.
Swimming
An outdoor heated infinity pool, free-form and warm, looks out over the desert and the distant tents, with the Pool Bar beside it.
Rooms
The ten tented suites — eight with one bedroom and two with two — sit on granite boulders and have roll-up canvas walls that open onto the Namib Desert. Interiors bring together four-poster beds, vintage furniture and antiques with a separate lounge, and each wooden terrace has a telescope.
Each tent has a four-poster king-size bed, a lounge with armchairs and a desk, a bathroom with double basin, copper bathtub and rain shower, air conditioning and heating, Wi-Fi, a Nespresso machine, kettle, minibar, safe, sound system, telephone, hairdryer, bathrobes and a terrace with a telescope.
One Bedroom Tent
A one-bedroom tent with a four-poster king-size bed, a separate lounge and a bathroom with desert views. The wooden terrace, with its telescope, looks across the Namib Desert; it sleeps two adults and one child aged 6–12.
Two Bedroom Tent
A tent with two spacious bedrooms, each with a four-poster king-size bed and its own bathroom, around a shared lounge. The large wooden terrace with a telescope faces the desert; it sleeps four adults and two children aged 6–12.
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.