Reviews of Desert Homestead
Wildlife sightings and reviews
105 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Desert Homestead and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa
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"Clean and comfortable"
Check in was efficient but there was no offer to carry bags to your room along the gravel path. I saw one women struggling to drag her wheelie suitcase along the gravel. We found there were a lot of young people working here who didn’t really know what they were doing, especially at the bar. The accommodation is individual cabins, which are quite small, although the bathroom was quite spacious. The room does have air conditioning but the mains do not seem to be able to cope with the demand of all the cabins, so often cuts out. When we arrived the safe had been locked shut and it took a lot of badgering before someone finally came and fixed it for us.
It appeared that you couldn’t request a table reservation so people tended to be seated early to get the best spots, which was no hardship really. The food was good with three choices from what I remember. Service was a bit haphazard with orders being taken and being delivered to the last people first. Although there were no tea making facilities in the room, hot and cold drinks and snacks were available at the bar, which was a nice touch.
There is a waterhole in front of the lodges but one of the guides told us you never get any wildlife there, which was accurate on our visit.
We did the organised trip to Sossusvlei dunes but on the day we went it was extremely windy so visibility was poor. This trip was still worth doing as I think it is easy to get stuck in the sand if you self drive. Even the official transport in the park got stuck when we were there and had to be pulled out. The guide we had was very informative and professional and tried to make the visit as interesting as possible. Our picnic brunch among the dunes had to be taken in another lodges canteen but there was plenty to eat and drink and it was fun. We had also booked the balloon ride over the dunes but unfortunately due to the high winds this was cancelled too.
Although this accommodation was comfortable and clean I think I would probably look for a different place if I was to visit again as there is lots of choice in this area.." See all these reviews: 18n in Namibia; 5n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe
Oryx
3 sightings
"Beautiful tranquil setting"
"Desert Homestead"
Just a chance remark I made when on the sundowner trip about it would be great to have a night safari to be away from all lights, even the lights from the Lodge to do some Astrophotography saw the manager come to me at Dinner and ask me if I wanted the guide to take me out - no charge - away from the Lodge lights to take some photos of the Milky Way!!!!!!
Emmanual was very helpful and interested in my photography and took me quite a way from any lights giving fabulous views of such a wonderful Namibian night sky!!!!" See all these reviews: 14n in Namibia
"Desert Homestead review"
We stayed in the family room which was set back a little so didn't have the views the main 2 person stone cottages, but the bar and terrace had amazing view so it didn't really matter. The horse riding was a great experience for the kids and we were the only ones on the sundowner drive which made it really special.
They do a great 'breakfast packet' which is more like a packed lunch which keeps you going when you are out at the dunes etc during the day." See all these reviews: 14n in Namibia
Oryx
6 sightings
Wildebeest
2 sightings
Zebra
2 sightings
"Stunning Desert Homestead "
All the staff were lovely. Never seen so many stars in the night sky. One of our group went for a sunset horse ride and had a blast. Cantering out towards the mountains and stopping for a sundowner before returning just before dark. We drove ourselves to Sossusvlei early morning and hiked up Little Daddy (more manageable than Big Daddy). Strenuous but amazing. An otherworldly landscape.
Get here as early as possible to try and capture some solitude before too many people arrive." See all these reviews: 12n in Namibia
Oryx
1 sighting
Wildebeest
1 sighting
"Authentic desert location"
After dinner we enjoyed a private session to introduce us to the Southern skies by our knowledgeable guide and even managed to capture this on camera as the air was so clear and we were in a 'dark sky' area.
We showered in the evening as our hot water tank was heated by solar panels and as the capacity looked to be fairly small we doubted there would be enough hot water for the morning. The water supplying the hand basin was just one cold tap.
There were loads of power points, more than any other accommodation and a generous area for storing and repacking our luggage. The most enormous mirror assisted the use of the provided hairdryer. The lighting in the bedroom after dark was rather poor.
Wi-Fi was advertised but in fact we never did get a signal as they were waiting for an engineer to come and fix it although another couple appeared to have been given a code to a different signal and were able to catch up on their communications.
It was nice to have complimentary afternoon tea and cake provided. One evening we ate Oryx for dinner." See all these reviews: 17n in Namibia
Oryx
3 sightings
"Quite businesslike, but good"
We did the sundowner horse ride as rank beginners and were well and thoughtfully looked after. Thank you. We also did the Soussevlei trip in a group of ten. I think you'd have to arrange a private trip to get the isolation you'd expect from a desert trip, but I did quite enjoy it, and it's handy to have someone taking you to the right bits. Both activities were worthwhile." See all these reviews: 19n in Namibia; 4n in South Africa
"Desert Homestead review"
We had our only puncture of the trip within a mile or so of this camp - the staff could not have been more helpful in helping us get this fixed - many thanks for excellent customer service." See all these reviews: 19n in Namibia
"Good location for exploring Sossusvlei"
Our hut was quite small, but well appointed with a lovely bathroom and great views of the mountains. The staff are maybe not as friendly as some we have encountered but they provided everything we needed. The food was very good and there were lots of options for tables outside or in.
We went horse-riding, which we wouldn't really recommend highly as the guide wasn't very talkative and the horses seemed rather tired. The walk up the mountain from the Homestead is worth doing, especially at sunset." See all these reviews: 15n in Namibia; 6n in Botswana; 3n in Zimbabwe; 2n in South Africa
"Sundowners and Dunes in the Desert..."
We did the sun-downer drive which was simply amazing. Completely isolated stunning view as the sun went down with drinks and nibbles - a very special memory.
Use this as a reasonably close location for the dunes - we did the drive to the Sestriem gate and then into the dunes with breakfast included. The trip was a little long but absolutely a highlight of our Namibia trip. Very knowledgeable guides with great ability to find snakes and spiders...
Rooms are super and the beds wonderful - and what a view to wake up to. Sky at night is awesome too." See all these reviews: 15n in Namibia
Holiday styles & special interests in Namibia
From birdwatching breaks to walking holidays, find great ideas for your trip in Namibia.
Other lodges in Namib-Naukluft National Park
Alternative places to stay in this same area.
Kulala Desert Lodge
The comfortable Kulala Desert Lodge offers fantastic views of the Namib and a private gate to the Namib-Naukluft Park - a bonus on guided excursions.
Hoodia Desert Lodge
The owner-run Hoodia Desert Lodge offers a high standard of accommodation, delicious food and excellent service in a stunning, peaceful setting just 22km from Sesriem.
BullsPort Lodge & Farm
A traditional Namibian farm, BullsPort offers warm hospitality and a genuine rural experience, with excellent hiking and horseriding.
Sossus Dune Lodge
One of only two properties inside the Namib Naukluft Park, Sossus Dune Lodge has a superb location, for visiting the dunes.
Zebra River Lodge
Zebra River Lodge offers a range of hikes around the Tsaris Mountains from a comfortable and homely base.
Little Kulala
A high-end lodge with spectacular views, Little Kulala, makes a great base for visits to Sossusvlei or a balloon ride over the Desert.
Rostock Ritz
The igloo-style chalets at Rostock Ritz offer exceptional desert views and make a convenient stopover between Swakopmund & Sossusvlei.
Barkhan Dune Retreat
Barkhan Dune Retreat is a welcoming lodge close to the impressive Spreetshoogte Pass, majors on hiking and relaxation.
Sossusvlei Lodge
Sossusvlei Lodge is one of the larger options in this area. However, it occupies a convenient location next to the Sesriem gate into the Namib-Naukluft Park.
Namib Outpost
About 30km from the gate to Sossusveli, Namib Outpost is a great base for exploring the dunes and surrounding attractions.
Dead Valley Lodge
Dead Valley Lodge is inside the Namib-Naukluft National Park, affording guests almost unprecedented access to the dunes.
Desert Camp
Desert Camp is an economical option for independent travellers who want to self-cater, and is well situated for access to Sossusvlei.
Desert Quiver Camp
Desert Quiver Camp is an economical option self-catering, well located for access to Sossusvlei.
Corona Guest Farm
In central Namibia, north-east of the Namib-Naukluft, Corona Guest Farm offers a traditional farm stay and rugged hiking.
Elegant Desert Lodge
Elegant Desert Lodge can be used as a base to visit Sossusvlei. It offers comfortable accommodation and facilities in the desert.
Namib Naukluft Lodge
Namib Naukluft Lodge offers clean, comfortable rooms with pretty views, although it's 60km from the Sesriem Gate into the Namib-Naukluft Park.
Sonop
Away from the hustle and bustle of the area immediately surrounding Sossussvlei, Sonop offers a luxurious stay in a remote part of the Namib Desert.
Namib Desert Lodge
Namib Desert Lodge is a good budget option in the Namib-Naukluft although, it is further from Sossusvlei than we'd typically suggest.
Le Mirage Lodge
Le Mirage Resort and Spa offers accommodation and a range of massage and beauty treatments in a Moroccan-style building in the desert.
Solitaire Country Lodge
Solitaire Country Lodge is a good stop-off on the way to Sossusvlei and can be used as a base to explore the Naukluft Mountains.
Desert Hills Camp
Conveniently located for the renowned dunes of Sossusvlei Desert Hills Glamping Camp offers a simple but comfortable tents in picturesque surroundings.
Desert Grace
A stylish offering giving access to the famous dunes in the Namib-Naukluft National Park as well as to activities on a private nature reserve.
Camp Sossus
Camp Sossus is a offers top notch guiding in a remote wilderness area of the Naukluft Mountains with easy access to the famous dunes of Sossusvlei.
The Nest
Designed to emulate the appearance of a sociable weaver nest the opulent Nest at Sossus is arguably the most exclusive private property in the Sossuvlei area.
