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Luxury in Namibia
Luxury in Namibia

Luxury safaris in Namibia

Luxurious holidays in Namibia

Wide-open spaces, seemingly endless wilderness and a sense of solitude almost guaranteed: Namibia has it all. Add in top lodges that offer the ultimate escape from everyday life and you have the perfect destination for a luxurious safari.

What’s more, with Namibia's currency tied to the historically weak South African rand, luxury here is more economical than almost anywhere else in Africa.

While the country retains its appeal as a destination for relatively inexpensive self-drive trips, the number of high-end, luxurious properties is increasing – and a handful of these can compete with the most comfortable and opulent lodges in Africa. Think spa treatments, extensive winelists, top-quality food, attentive service and a wealth of activities.

That said, this kind of super-luxury is still relatively new in Namibia, and some properties may lack the assured finesse of their counterparts in Botswana, South Africa or Kenya. Yet where they score hands down is in the richness of a uniquely Namibian experience, be it cruising on the Kunene River, seeking out whale bones on the Skeleton Coast, visiting a traditional Himba village or climbing the dunes of the Namib Desert.

Comfort comes in all sorts of guises, but for those who equate luxury with exclusivity and unique experiences, Namibia comes into its own.

Okonjima Bush Camp

Okonjima Bush Camp's interior encompasses lovely African artefacts and carvings, while the en-suite bathrooms feature stylish stone washbasins and large walk-in showers. Highly attentive service and delicious food enhance its reputation as a comfortable and luxurious safari lodge.

Sossusvlei Desert Lodge

A personalised welcome pack and a complementary bottle of sparkling wine await you on arrival at Sossusvlei Desert Lodge – a perfect introduction to a luxury safari holiday. Small things such as a painting kit in your room show the lodge’s remarkable attention to detail.

Mowani Mountain Camp

A decent pool with miraculous panoramic views is one of Mowani Mountain Camp’s outstanding features. If you’re after a luxurious safari holiday, Mowani with its design in an African theme and soft furnishings in a bright colour scheme won’t disappoint you.

Little Ongava

Little Ongava cares for only six guests at a time, offering very personal service combined with classic luxury. Expect large suites with private plunge pools, day beds and open fireplaces; this tiny lodge is strong on creature-comforts.

Olive Exclusive

The seven stunning suites at Olive Exclusive are all individually themed and beautifully designed. Impressive photographs of African culture and wildlife embellish the walls whilst light floods through the spacious suites. This place is a rarity in Africa: a truly luxurious boutique hotel!

Strand Hotel

Any list of luxury hotels in Swakopmund would be short, but most would start with ‘The Strand’. This ocean-front hotel has the best location in town, plus smart, very comfortable rooms; a very good seafood restaurant; and a rooftop spa complete with garden and outdoor therapy suite.


Sossusvlei Desert Lodge

A personalised welcome pack and a complementary bottle of sparkling wine await you on arrival at Sossusvlei Desert Lodge – a perfect introduction to a luxury safari holiday. Small things such as a painting kit in your room show the lodge’s remarkable attention to detail.

Damaraland Camp

Started in 1996, Damaraland Camp was Namibia’s original ‘Luxury Safari Camp’. Since then it’s been reinvented on a much grander scale. Large, well-furnished chalets have high thatched roofs whilst expansive communal areas include lounges inside and out, and an inviting swimming pool.

Serra Cafema

Nestled in a thin strip of luxuriant palm-forest, Serra Cafema stands beside a linear oasis: one of the country’s two permanent rivers through the desert. This is Namibia at its most remote, yet with beautiful suites where velvety bedspreads and sumptuous leather armchairs exude luxury.

Olive Exclusive

The seven stunning suites at Olive Exclusive are all individually themed and beautifully designed. Impressive photographs of African culture and wildlife embellish the walls whilst light floods through the spacious suites. This place is a rarity in Africa: a truly luxurious boutique hotel!

Omaanda

Omanda's warm hospitality, excellent food and extra touches such as the heated swimming pool or spa treatments make it one of the most easily accessible and most rewarding places to paper yourself with some luxury on your Namibian safari.


Okonjima Bush Camp

Okonjima Bush Camp's interior encompasses lovely African artefacts and carvings, while the en-suite bathrooms feature stylish stone washbasins and large walk-in showers. Highly attentive service and delicious food enhance its reputation as a comfortable and luxurious safari lodge.

Wolwedans Desert Lodge

The food at Wolwedans Desert Lodge is outstanding and can be enjoyed at charming indoor and outdoor dining areas with lovely views on the surroundings. A pool with shady sun loungers and a comfy outside lounge are terrific locations to enjoy a luxurious safari experience.

Mowani Mountain Camp

A decent pool with miraculous panoramic views is one of Mowani Mountain Camp’s outstanding features. If you’re after a luxurious safari holiday, Mowani with its design in an African theme and soft furnishings in a bright colour scheme won’t disappoint you.

Onguma Tented Camp

Combining luxury with traditional style, Onguma Tented Camp lies on the eastern side of Namibia’s Etosha National Park. Whether you're keeping a look out for passing animals from your private veranda or relaxing in the roll-top bath, the watchword here is comfort.

Strand Hotel

Any list of luxury hotels in Swakopmund would be short, but most would start with ‘The Strand’. This ocean-front hotel has the best location in town, plus smart, very comfortable rooms; a very good seafood restaurant; and a rooftop spa complete with garden and outdoor therapy suite.

Otjimbondona

Otjimbondona has clearly been built with a high attention to detail and the lodge exudes class. Vast villas, flexible activities and a relaxing atmosphere are the lodge’s hallmarks and with only four villas, your luxury escape in Namibia is sure to be exclusive too.


Serra Cafema

Nestled in a thin strip of luxuriant palm-forest, Serra Cafema stands beside a linear oasis: one of the country’s two permanent rivers through the desert. This is Namibia at its most remote, yet with beautiful suites where velvety bedspreads and sumptuous leather armchairs exude luxury.

Hoanib Skeleton Camp

Whilst Hoanib Camp was designed around its ‘guest experience’, significant luxury was included as well. Consider the ‘quilted’ canvas which insulates the rooms from the desert’s extremes; a cooling pool for the hotter months; and vast windows through which to view the desert.


Little Kulala

A comfortable rooftop terrace with a daybed is not only perfect to soak up the sun during the day but also a great option to sleep under the stars. Little Kulala is a smart and luxurious lodge offering delicious dining and a range of fine wines from their own wine cellar.

Damaraland Camp

Started in 1996, Damaraland Camp was Namibia’s original ‘Luxury Safari Camp’. Since then it’s been reinvented on a much grander scale. Large, well-furnished chalets have high thatched roofs whilst expansive communal areas include lounges inside and out, and an inviting swimming pool.


Weinberg Hotel

On a private estate in an upmarket suburb of Windhoek, The Weinberg offers comfortable and stylish rooms, five on-site restaurants and a state-of-the-art spa. For a spot of luxury in the Namibian capital, it's a strong contender.


Olive Exclusive

The seven stunning suites at Olive Exclusive are all individually themed and beautifully designed. Impressive photographs of African culture and wildlife embellish the walls whilst light floods through the spacious suites. This place is a rarity in Africa: a truly luxurious boutique hotel!

Strand Hotel

Any list of luxury hotels in Swakopmund would be short, but most would start with ‘The Strand’. This ocean-front hotel has the best location in town, plus smart, very comfortable rooms; a very good seafood restaurant; and a rooftop spa complete with garden and outdoor therapy suite.

Omaanda

Omanda's warm hospitality, excellent food and extra touches such as the heated swimming pool or spa treatments make it one of the most easily accessible and most rewarding places to paper yourself with some luxury on your Namibian safari.


Olive Exclusive

The seven stunning suites at Olive Exclusive are all individually themed and beautifully designed. Impressive photographs of African culture and wildlife embellish the walls whilst light floods through the spacious suites. This place is a rarity in Africa: a truly luxurious boutique hotel!


Weinberg Hotel

On a private estate in an upmarket suburb of Windhoek, The Weinberg offers comfortable and stylish rooms, five on-site restaurants and a state-of-the-art spa. For a spot of luxury in the Namibian capital, it's a strong contender.


Mowani Mountain Camp

A decent pool with miraculous panoramic views is one of Mowani Mountain Camp’s outstanding features. If you’re after a luxurious safari holiday, Mowani with its design in an African theme and soft furnishings in a bright colour scheme won’t disappoint you.

Luxury elsewhere in Africa

Our top ideas and inspiration for Luxury in other countries.


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Malawi

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Where to see wildlife species in Africa

Maximise the chances of seeing your favourite African animals based on traveller sightings reports from the field.


Oryx

Oryx

Oryx sp.

Oryx are impressive antelopes, with a powerful physique and elegant markings set off by rapier-like horns. They cut a distinctive dash in some of Africa’s harshest landscapes.

70% SUCCESS

1,272 sightings from 1,823 observations

Where to see oryx in Africa

Cheetah

Cheetah

Acinonyx jubatus

The cheetah is the fastest land animal and the only cat that hunts by pure speed. Found largely in open grasslands, its slim, elegant form is today an increasingly rare sight.

33% SUCCESS

1,008 sightings from 3,047 observations

Where to see cheetah in Africa

Black Rhino

Black Rhino

Diceros bicornis

The black rhino is the smaller and rarer of Africa’s two rhino species but has the more fearsome reputation. Shy and heavily persecuted, it tends to stick to cover.

31% SUCCESS

607 sightings from 1,963 observations

Where to see black rhino in Africa

White Rhino

White Rhino

Ceratotherium simum

The white rhino is the largest and most numerous of the world’s five rhinoceros species. They are larger, easier to see and generally more approachable than the black rhino.

44% SUCCESS

476 sightings from 1,083 observations

Where to see white rhino in Africa

Elephant

Elephant

Loxodonta africana

By far the biggest of the so-called Big Five – indeed, the largest land animal on the planet – the elephant shapes the very landscape it inhabits and is a defining presence on any safari.

91% SUCCESS

3,504 sightings from 3,850 observations

Where to see elephant in Africa

Lion

Lion

Panthera leo

Lions are at the top of the food chain and also most safari wish-lists, but with their numbers falling fast, any encounter with these majestic apex predators always feels like a privilege.

82% SUCCESS

2,934 sightings from 3,600 observations

Where to see lion in Africa

Meerkat

Meerkat

Suricata suricatta

These highly sociable little mammals have an endearing appearance and comical antics. Found in the drier areas of Southern Africa, close encounters are a sought-after experience.

22% SUCCESS

85 sightings from 395 observations

Where to see meerkat in Africa

Buffalo

Buffalo

Syncerus caffer

One of the ‘Big Five’, buffalo earned a fearsome reputation in hunters’ tales. By contrast, big herds of these sociable bovids are placid, but mount formidable defences against predators.

83% SUCCESS

2,472 sightings from 2,982 observations

Where to see buffalo in Africa

Giraffe

Giraffe

Giraffa camelopardalis

The world’s tallest land mammal, giraffes are herbivores which have evolved many unique adaptations. Their iconic outlines tower above the bush in many of Africa’s wildlife areas.

86% SUCCESS

3,374 sightings from 3,911 observations

Where to see giraffe in Africa

Hippo

Hippo

Hippopotamus amphibius

The territorial calls of the hippo create a signature soundtrack to Africa’s rivers & wetlands. Despite an endearing smile, this aquatic herbivore has a notoriously aggressive disposition.

89% SUCCESS

2,562 sightings from 2,875 observations

Where to see hippo in Africa

Spotted Hyena

Spotted Hyena

Crocuta crocuta

The spotted hyena may be thought of as ‘ugly’ and ‘cowardly’. In fact, this versatile and intelligent carnivore is one of Africa’s most fascinating and warrants attention on any safari.

55% SUCCESS

2,098 sightings from 3,799 observations

Where to see spotted hyena in Africa

Brown Hyena

Brown Hyena

Parahyaena brunnea

This largely solitary scavenger is one of the more elusive and little-known of Africa’s carnivores. Shaggier than its spotted cousin, it occurs only in the arid southwest of the continent.

17% SUCCESS

239 sightings from 1,448 observations

Where to see brown hyena in Africa

Leopard

Leopard

Panthera pardus

The most numerous of Africa’s big cats, leopard occur across many habitats, from wild tracts to populated areas. Their grace and their elusive nature make them a unique safari drawcard.

47% SUCCESS

1,875 sightings from 3,986 observations

Where to see leopard in Africa

Wild dog

Wild dog

Lycaon pictus

African wild dogs are among the continent’s most compelling animals. Much misunderstood, these rare, tie-dyed canids are amazingly efficient hunters with a fascinating social life.

31% SUCCESS

840 sightings from 2,672 observations

Where to see wild dog in Africa

Wildebeest

Wildebeest

Connochaetes sp.

Superficially bovine in appearance, wildebeests are known for their spectacular migrations sometimes in huge numbers. These resilient animals are some of Africa’s most successful herbivores.

68% SUCCESS

2,383 sightings from 3,524 observations

Where to see wildebeest in Africa

Pangolin

Pangolin

Smutsia sp.

Pangolins appear to be more pine cone than animal in their unique armoury of scales. These nocturnal, ant-eating oddities are not only highly elusive but also increasingly rare.

2% SUCCESS

52 sightings from 3,201 observations

Where to see pangolin in Africa

Aardvark

Aardvark

Orycteropus afer

The aardvark is one of Africa’s most bizarre and enigmatic animals. A shy, nocturnal termite-eater, signs of its presence may be scattered about the bush whilst sightings remain elusive.

2% SUCCESS

67 sightings from 3,205 observations

Where to see aardvark in Africa

Eland

Eland

Taurotragus oryx

Africa’s largest antelope, eland are culturally important from prehistoric rock art to modern game farms. Though widespread, they are also shy so sightings are uncommon and often fleeting.

49% SUCCESS

1,405 sightings from 2,877 observations

Where to see eland in Africa

Zebra

Zebra

Equus sp.

The zebra is a quintessential African animal: the horse in stripy pyjamas at the end of every child’s A–Z. There are three species, of which the plains zebra is much the most common.

84% SUCCESS

3,684 sightings from 4,366 observations

Where to see zebra in Africa

Roan antelope

Roan antelope

Hippotragus equinus

Africa’s second largest antelope and one of its most handsome, with a powerful build and distinctive markings, roan are wary of people, but renowned for their bravery against predators.

23% SUCCESS

457 sightings from 1,958 observations

Where to see roan antelope in Africa

Sable antelope

Sable antelope

Hippotragus niger

Perhaps Africa’s most beautiful antelope, sable are renowned for their combative nature, even holding off lions. Shy and restricted in range, sightings of sable are always special.

22% SUCCESS

436 sightings from 1,952 observations

Where to see sable antelope in Africa

Sitatunga

Sitatunga

Tragelaphus spekii

The sitatunga is the most aquatic of Africa’s antelopes and specially adapted to its swampy habitats. Though widespread across Africa, only a handful of places offer reliable sightings.

19% SUCCESS

60 sightings from 316 observations

Where to see sitatunga in Africa

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