Best Lodges & Camps To Stay Around Sossusvlei

The sand dunes of Sossusvlei in Namibia are one of Africa’s most beautiful natural landscapes. When visiting the dunes, in Namib-Naukluft National Park, you can expect accommodations worthy of such a remarkable place. Some are located close to the park entrance in or near the small settlement of Sesriem, while others are spread across the surrounding expanses of the Namib Desert. All are ideal for visiting Sossusvlei, and some are set in such beautiful country that they’re almost destinations in their own right. The following Sossusvlei lodges and camps make memorable bases for exploring the area.

117 Sossusvlei Tours

1. Namib Desert Lodge

You’ll feel immersed in the desert when you stay at Namib Desert Lodge, which is as convenient for the starkly beautiful Naukluft Mountains as for the dunes of Sossusvlei. The lodge has appealing, colorful rooms and all the necessary elements for a comfortable stay, including swimming pool, bar and restaurant. Friendly service is also part of the deal, and the leafy grounds offer welcome respite from the desert sun. It’s close to the entrance to Sossusvlei, but you’ll feel a long way from anywhere whenever you’re in camp.

28 Namib Desert Lodge Tours

2. Sossusvlei Lodge

Rising from the Sossusvlei sands with elegant accommodations built in the colors of the desert, Sossusvlei Lodge is a fabulous choice for staying in the area. The lodge is as close to the park entrance as you can get, and the rooms are in chalets, many of which look out across the sands. High-class facilities include a bar, restaurant and pool, and you’ll have access to a full range of activities. It can get a little busy in high season with queues at dinner, but it’s still an excellent choice.

15 Sossusvlei Lodge Tours

3. Kulala Desert Lodge

Kulala Desert Lodge combines the sensibility of a safari camp (whose tents allow you to immerse yourself in the landscape) with the luxury you’d expect from a first-rate lodge. It has glorious views out toward the dunes, and a location that surrounds you with desert sands and silence. Everything here, from the excellent service and lovely accommodations to the tranquil desert setting, is a highlight.

Kulala Desert Lodge Tours

4. Hoodia Desert Lodge

With an extraordinary position between desert mountains and sand dunes, Hoodia Desert Lodge is a warmly decorated lodge with delightful thatched-roof chalets. It’s friendly, extremely comfortable, and quite simply one of the best places to stay as you explore the Sossusvlei area. The sunrises and sunsets here are magnificent. Unimaginable sprays of stars fill the night sky, and the feeling of being surrounded by an eternal landscape is one you’ll never forget.

Hoodia Desert Lodge Tours

5. &Beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge

Part of &Beyond’s superb portfolio of properties, the secluded and hyper-luxurious Sossusvlei Desert Lodge is one of Namibia’s best places to stay. Nestled on its own private reserve, this mountain-desert hideaway is close to Sossusvlei yet feels a world away. The views are exceptional and everything here is first-class: the stunning, spacious designer rooms, the service, the food and the overall attention to detail. The guides also have a reputation as being among the best in the area. If you’re looking for the ultimate indulgent desert experience, this might be it.

6. Desert Homestead Lodge

One of the loveliest places to stay in this corner of Namibia, Desert Homestead Lodge is a luxury experience in the heart of the Namib Desert. You’ll sleep in supremely comfortable accommodations that face out into the desert around a long arc of sand. The views of jagged mountains, sand dunes and a desert night sky filled with stars seem to go on forever. Service is also excellent. The lodge is conveniently close to Sossusvlei yet a little removed from other places.

Desert Homestead Lodge Tours

7. Namib Naukluft Lodge

You’re very much a part of the desert at Namib Naukluft Lodge, where you’ll look out over big desert skies and big desert horizons from what is one of the outstanding Sossusvlei lodges. Swim in the pool, enjoy a cooling desert breeze and cocktail in the open-sided bar, and watch for gemsbok wandering close to camp. The views are superb, and the silence that descends upon the camp at the end of each day is a quintessentially Namib experience. It’s a bit of a drive to Sossusvlei from here, which means an early morning start. But the sense of isolation and peace that comes from being a little farther away is worth it.

Namib Naukluft Lodge Tours

8. Desert Quiver Camp

Stunning accommodations lined up in an equally picturesque position make Desert Quiver Camp a wonderful Sossusvlei camp in which to stay. The high levels of comfort in the unusual A-frame chalets go perfectly well with the views and desert silence. The camp is really close to the park entrance, which makes it an ideal base for exploring the famous sand dunes of Sossusvlei. Yet it’s still wonderfully quiet at night.

Desert Quiver Camp Tours

9. Kwessi Dunes

Spread out across the low dunes of NamibRand Nature Reserve, Kwessi Dunes has mastered the art of desert solitude without compromising on convenience. It’s an easy drive to the park entrance for Sossusvlei, but you’ll love the experience of being far from everyone else the rest of the time. Zebra and gemsbok often come to drink right in front of the camp, and the views are magical. The public areas at Kwessi Dunes are lovely, and service is warm and personal. Accommodations are in large, beautifully designed safari tents with antique writing desks and terraces that take full advantage of the remarkable scenery. You can also have an outdoor shower or sleep under the stars.

Kwessi Dunes Tours

10. Rostock Ritz Desert Lodge

Built to take advantage of a fine hillside position that promises sweeping desert views of sands and mountains, Rostock Ritz Desert Lodge is a terrific place to sleep. There’s a unique water garden on-site, and the beautifully designed rooms have a cave-like coolness to help keep the desert heat at bay. You can also enjoy the hot springs nearby. The lodge is a long way from anywhere. To some, that might sound inconvenient, but the isolation is what most travelers identify as a major highlight.

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By Anthony Ham

AU

Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of the Lonely Planet guide to Botswana and Namibia.

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