Cape Cross Lodge is situated on the Skeleton Coast of Namibia, about an hours' drive (110km) north of Swakopmund; it's very close to Cape Cross Seal Reserve.
Cape Cross Lodge is built in a mix of Cape Dutch and west coast fishing village style, within a fully-glassed front, which lets in plenty of light. The open-plan lounge and dining areas have individual fireplaces, helping to make it feel very cosy and warm – in sharp contrast to the atmosphere outside, which is often bitterly cold.
Enjoy before or after dinner drinks at the bar, or sit on the very comfortable sofas. There are plenty of coffee-table books to read or just sit quietly and listen to the music or watch the waves break. There is a private wine cellar with a good selection of wines and spirits.
Each of the 24 bedrooms at Cape Cross Lodge is decorated with pastel colours and furnished with wicker furniture and good-quality fabrics – and sometimes a bowl of sea-shells for decoration. Most have twin beds and simple and elegant en-suite bathrooms, and some are a little small!) They are all clean and practical, have an electric shaver point, and offer complementary shampoo, body lotion and guest soap. Most have a shower but no bath.
Eight of the rooms have private balconies with beautiful sea views and wooden deck chairs and tables; six of the rooms are facing what they call the courtyard. The rest of the rooms are in privately-owned houses, a stones throw from the main building.
Cape Cross is usually fairly cool at night, and the rooms have no air-conditioning, fans or mosquito nets. They don't have heaters or electric blankets either, so if you want to request extra blankets – we suggest that you do so before dinner.
Being close to the seal colony, Cape Cross Lodge is open to day visitors who sometimes come for lunch. It's also convenient place to stay for the night when travelling between Damaraland and Swakopmund. However, Swakopmund is only an hours' drive south – and so many people prefer to stay there instead.
Lodge overview
Lodge type: Safari
No. of bedrooms: 14 rooms
Season: Open Year Round
Ideal length of stay: One night – it's usually a used as a stop-over.
Central facilities: The lodge has a cosy lounge with two fire places in the middle of the open plan floor that separates it from the dining area. There is a bar to the one side of the floor and stairs that leads to the wine cellar. The cellar has a few comfortable sofas and a TV.
Food quality:Breakfast is served buffet style between 06:30 and 10:00; expect a variety of cereals, bread, muffins, cold meat, cheese, fruit, and yogurt to be laid out - on a table that looks almost makeshift, draped with fish nets and on wooden kegs.
Lunch is served between 12:00 and 15:00, and dinner is usually a set menu, served between 18:00 and 21:00. Dinner is only served buffet style during the festive season.
Tea/coffee and cake is available throughout the day and is included in the price of an overnight stay.
Dining style: Inidividual Tables
Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining
Room service: There is no room service available at Cape Cross Lodge.
Drinks included: Drinks are not included at Cape Cross Lodge
Children
Attitude towards children: Children with parents are welcome at Cape Cross Lodge.
Age restrictions: There is no age restriction at Cape Cross Lodge.
Activities: There are no special activities at Cape Cross Lodge for children but they can quite happily play and walk along the beach with parental supervision (the ocean can be rough at times).
Equipment: Cots and highchairs can be provided for children.
Generally recommended for children: Yes
Notes: None
Central communications
Power supply: Generator
Communications: There are no phones in the rooms but the lodge has mobile reception. The reception has internet and fax facilities but it is not for the use of guest
TV & radio: There are no TVs or radios in the rooms but there is a central radio/entertainment centre that plays music throughout the day. There is a TV with satellite channels in the downstairs cellar.
Health & safety
Malarial area: No
Medical care: The closest hospital or doctor is in Henties Bay, which is about a 30mindrive.
Dangerous animals: Low Risk
Security measures: There are no guards on site
Fire safety: There are no fire extinguishers in rooms but there a few in and around the lodge.
Extras
Disabled access: In Place
Laundry facilities: Laundry can be done at an extra charge per item and can be returned within 24 hours.
Money: You can exchange traveller's cheques at the lodge and each room has an electronic combination safe.
Accepted payment: They accept payment with Visa, Amex, Mastercard and traveller's cheques.
Cape Cross Lodge mixed experience
We had booked a room without a sea view (to save a bit of money) but that was the wrong decision. These rooms had no views at all and were subjected to noise from the generator while it was on. We w...
Cape Cross Seal Res.