Reviews of Sossusvlei Desert Lodge

"Be warned that if you are asked to share a safari truck on the trip to the dunes, ensure that you all want to do the same activities. It can be a very long wait if others have climbed the dune and you haven't." See all these reviews: 20n in Namibia

"The location is spectacular and we much enjoyed the activities (in particular the sundowner in the dunes, the trip to Sossusvlei, and the hot air balloon flight!).

We will have wonderful memories!" See all these reviews: 14n in Namibia

"We loved every minute of our time here. The staff were always super-attentive and helpful. The food was always excellent and we could eat at any time we wished within reason. The rooms were well laid out and luxurious, in some areas however it was starting to look just tiny little bit tired around the reception lounge sofas and rugs. We left feedback to this effect. Nevertheless it was a fabulous venue and experience. A surprising amount of game seen on our drives, even though it was a desert location. Wonderful place to see!" See all these reviews: 12n in Botswana; 4n in Namibia; 1n in South Africa

"What a wonderful lodge this is with careful attention to detail,luxurious facilities and a very high ratio of staff to guests which makes for an unforgettable stay. Don't worry about the drive into the dune area, you won't really miss anything by arriving just after sunrise as the dunes cannot fail to impress at any time of the day or in any weather (we visited and walked up Big Daddy in a sandstorm).

The butler/dedicated waiter or waitress and the appointed driver for your stay is a very nice touch which we appreciated. The food is really excellent ,again,considering how remote this region is, but we thoroughly enjoyed high quality food and wine here.

Do go on the sundowner quad bike ride as it is fun, the scenery at sunset is unforgettable and the experience was very different and unforgettable as numbers are kept small." See all these reviews: 18n in Namibia

"We had a truly memorable stay during our honeymoon at the Sossusvlei Desert Lodge. Having never stayed in such an extravagant lodge, we did not know what to expect, but from the moment we arrived, we felt like absolute royalty while there. We were greeted by several staff members, with friendly smiles, a cool drink, and cold towels. From there, we handed over our vehicle keys to the incredible Paolo and staff for car/luggage assistance while we were whisked away to go over our stay with our very friendly host, Prinella.

Our guide, George, was tremendous. His knowledge of the area combined with his sense of humor made each activity very unique and fun. The activities were all great: from the trip to the Sossusvlei sand dunes to the game drive in the reserve. We also visited the observatory with the astronomer, Petra. We got very lucky with a new moon night so the sky visibility was absolutely amazing. She showed us so much and explained it all very well. This was definitely another highlight of our time there.

The rooms were impeccable, particularly because of the work of the housekeeper Hanzina, who also left little, creative notes for us along with treats each time we left and returned from an activity. The bed was very comfortable and the skylight was a nice touch, but we did not use it that much as it was difficult to close/open and it was a little bit dirty on the outside, obscuring the view. It's the desert, though, so we're not knocking them for this!

Although we missed one dinner due to a bout of heat exhaustion (drink lots and lots of water during activities!), the food was quite delicious throughout our stay. Our "butler", Frans, was a pleasure and always seemed to know what we were doing that day and made sure to ask about it.

The only sense of a negative encounter came at the very end of our stay and afterward, as we had a difficult time interacting with a staff member called Annah. She did not seem very happy when she was assisting us with checking out, then we happened to leave a couple items behind and she was very abrupt on the phone, not being particularly helpful or sympathetic to our situation. The lodge was able to assist us in getting our items returned all the way back to Seattle. Paolo and the others were great in helping us resolve an issue that was ultimately our mistake, but I did feel that this particular guest service experience was out of line from the rest of the stay and thus, warrants mentioning.

If you stay here, I guarantee you will not be disappointed! Everything while we were there was first class: the views, the room, the guides and activities, the food, and the service. It was a truly incredible stay." See all these reviews: 12n in Namibia

"excellent in every respect. rooms were the best we have stayed in anywhere
service was exceptional ...they made us feel special and went above and beyond was we expected
drives were first rate and had dinner under the stars in the desert one night...what more can you say
pool lovely
food ex" See all these reviews: 15n in Namibia

"Top lodge with stunning views and beautiful rooms. But the experience is also made by the people and the current team is excellent.

George as a guide is just a brilliant guy, but also Franz, the dining manager is a top guy, such as the entire motivated team.

Best service experience of all the lodges, we visited that week" See all these reviews: 6n in Namibia

"Our 3 nights here were absolutely fantastic - definitely the best accommodation of the whole trip.

Welcoming friendly staff and our safari guide was excellent.

The location is superb and we really enjoyed all the activities, especially the balloon trip!

The only negative was that there was no longer an astronomer in residence so we couldn't learn more about the amazing night sky!" See all these reviews: 14n in Namibia

"The nicest hotel I've ever been to. I loved everything about it.
The staff were delightful and the service felt personal. We were greeted back from every trip with cold flannels and home made lemonade.
The quad biking was a highlight, as were the dunes and Paul the astronomer.
Frans was exceptional. Peter, our guide was also lovely.
I really didn't want to leave.

Hot air ballooning
Rob was wonderful and gave us a fantastic morning.

The views were spectacular but I was a little disappointed not to be nearer to the dunes.

The breakfast afterwards was out of this world." See all these reviews: 13n in Namibia

"We have travelled with &Beyond many times and have always been thoroughly pleased with their planning, guiding, service, food, and accommodations. So, I knew that if we were ever to travel to Namibia, Sossusvlei Desert Lodge was a must. The scenery is breathtaking, the villas large and luxurious, the activities well planned and very enjoyable, the food mostly excellent, and the staff very personable and attentive. Some reviews mention the lodge's distance from the park gates as a disadvantage but in fact, we thought it was quite an advantage. Yes, we had to rise half an hour earlier on the days we went to Sossusvlei and did the balloon ride, but that was a small price to pay for the privacy, isolation, and fantastic vistas enjoyed from the lodge.

I mentioned that the food was mostly excellent: On one evening, one of the meal choices - there were always two options - wasn't very good. Every other meal we had was fresh, delicious, and of superb quality. But, that one meal was rather poor.

Sossusvlei Desert Lodge usually has a resident astronomer and we found his knowledge and enthusiasm infectious. There are very few places in the world where you can enjoy such excellent conditions for star gazing and having David as our teacher and guide made the experience even more amazing. An unexpected treat!

The manager, Paolo, mentioned that Sossusvlei Desert Lodge is up for refurbishing within the next year or so. That came as quite a surprise because the accommodations and public spaces are in very good condition. Not absolutely brand new but certainly not tired in any way whatsoever. That just goes to show you the high standards maintained by &Beyond.

We highly recommend that if you go to Namibia, you must go to Sossusvlei Desert Lodge!!" See all these reviews: 17n in Namibia