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Desert Homestead
Desert Homestead
Desert Homestead
Desert Homestead
Desert Homestead
Desert Homestead
Desert Homestead

Desert Homestead: Our full report

Just over 30km from Sesriem, Desert Homestead offers affordable accommodation in a lovely valley setting, ...

... with panoramic views of the Naukluft Mountains and rocky desert landscape. One of the better-value lodges in the area, it is both comfortable and unpretentious.

The lodge is made up of a long row of 20 large, thatched chalets – 19 twins and one for a family – connected by sandy pathways. On our last visit in May 2016, building was underway to add a further five twin chalets.
  • 19 twin chalets at Desert Homestead are built of brick with thatched roofs and concrete verandas. From a small veranda, glass patio doors lead into the bedroom, with views of the desert from the bed. Plain white cotton linen is softened by beige-coloured cushions, wooden headboards and bookshelves, and quirky metal sculptures of local wildlife. A long mirror above the desk reflects light into the room, and air-conditioning effectively cools the rooms, while think woolen blankets are provided for cooler nights. One of these chalets has a window seat in the bedroom that can be converted to a third bed for a younger child.

    The long, narrow bathrooms are pleasantly paneled with dark stone, and each have a shower, washbasin and flush toilet, with a selection of handcream and soap dispensers.
  • The family chalet has the same clean modern feel, but comes with one double and one twin bedroom separated by a shared bathroom. There is a lounge area off the master bedroom with leather armchairs and a coffee table, a great space to shelter from the sun in the middle of the day. Outside the shared patio with wooden table and chairs is an ideal spot for a sundowner.
The main lounge at Desert Homestead offers views of the surrounding desert through large glass windows and from the adjacent veranda. Comfortable sofas and colourful, overstuffed scatter cushions are enticing places to relax, and bar stools line the rustic wooden bar. Tea and coffee are on offer all day, with homemade cakes in the afternoon.

In balmy weather, homely meals are eaten on the wide veranda, with lanterns under the stars; on cold evenings, candle-lit dinners are served in the romantic indoor dining room, warmed by a fire.

Steps from the lounge and veranda area lead down to a small and sparkling pool, sheltered behind rocky outcrops and surrounded by sunloungers. Come here to cool off at the end of a hot day, while taking in the views.

The Desert Homestead offers a range of activities, with a particular focus on horseriding. The sunrise horseriding trip was great fun, even for a novice rider, with beautiful scenery and an informative guide. If horses are not your thing, consider sundowner drives, guided walks and excursions to Sossusvlei and the Naukluft Mountains. Desert Homestead can also book ballooning and scenic flights, as well as quadbiking. A short walking trail, taking roughly half-an hour, loops around the nearby hill and can be walked without a guide.


Our view

If you’re after a good-value, comfortable lodge from which to explore Sossusvlei, and don't mind being slightly further from Sesriem than other lodges, look no further than the friendly Desert Homestead.

Claire Scott

Claire Scott

Namibia expert

Geographics

Location
Namib-Naukluft National Park, Namibia
Ideal length of stay
2–3 nights
Directions
Desert Homestead is accessed from the C19, 9km north-west of the C19/D854 crossing.
Accessible by
Self-drive or Fly-and-Transfer

Food & drink

Usual board basis
Half Board
Food quality
The food at Desert Homestead has a home-cooked feel, and the menu is varied and appealing.

Breakfast is a choice of healthy muesli and yoghurt or a full English breakfast.

on our last visit we don not have a change to eat here however on a previous visit we enjoyed a three-course dinner. The food was delicious and well-presented, focusing on a variety of game meats with sauces cooked in a homely style. For dessert, chocolate mousse was a particular favourite.
Dining style
Individual Tables
Dining locations
Indoor and Outdoor Dining
Further dining info, including room service
No
Drinks included
Not included; to be paid for locally. We are told the borehole water is safe to drink but there is plenty of bottled water that can be purchased if preferred.

Special interests

Riding holidays
Desert Homestead is one of the best places for horseriding in Namibia, offering a wide range of guided riding within the Naukluft Mountains. With sunrise or sunset rides of one to two hours, or horse-trails for up to five nights, it is suitable for all experience levels.
See ideas for Riding holidays

Children

Attitude towards children
Children of all ages are welcome.
Property’s age restrictions
None
Special activities & services
None
Equipment
Cots can be provided on request.
Generally recommended for children
Yes
Notes
The pool is unfenced and there are steps around the lodge so children should be supervised at all times.

Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Desert Homestead

Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Desert Homestead have kindly recorded their wildlife sightings and shared them with us. The results are below. Click an animal to see more, and here to see more on our methodology.

Oryx

92% success

Zebra

40% success

Wildebeest

30% success

Giraffe

13% success

Brown Hyena

11% success

Aardvark

0% success

Cheetah

0% success

Leopard

0% success

Meerkat

0% success

Pangolin

0% success

Spotted Hyena

0% success

Communications

Power supply notes
Generator back up
Communications
There is a central phone in the main area which guests can use and pay for locally. There is good cellphone reception at the lodge. Free WiFi is available in the main areas, but we found this to be unreliable.
TV & radio
No
Water supply
Borehole
Water supply notes
All the bathrooms include flush toilets and hot and cold running water.

Health & safety

Malarial protection recommended
No
Medical care
The nearest doctor is in Windhoek or Swakopmund. In an emergency, patients would be flown to Windhoek.
Dangerous animals
Moderate Risk
Security measures
The lodge managers live on site, and each room has a foghorn to raise the alarm in case of emergency. Each of the chalets is lockable.
Fire safety
There is a fire extinguisher in each chalet.

Activities

  • 4WD Safari

    4WD Safari

  • Fly-camping

    Fly-camping

  • Helicopter

    Helicopter

  • Horse-riding

    Horse-riding

  • Hot air ballooning

    Hot air ballooning

  • Quad-biking

    Quad-biking

Extras

Disabled access
On Request
Laundry facilities
Laundry is available at a charge of N$50 (£2.50) per load (correct May 2016).
Money
Currency exchange is available.
Accepted payment on location
Cash payments may be made in Namibian dollars and South African rand; Visa and MasterCard payments are also accepted.

Room types at Desert Homestead

Desert Homestead has 20 thatched chalets...
...all arranged in a row.
Each room is decorated in whites and creams...
...with added finishing touches...
...locally sourced crafts...
...and soft fresh fabrics.
The beautiful views from the chalets...
...can be admired from the beds...
...as well as from the shady porch.
Each of the rooms...
...has an en-suite shower room.
1 of

Chalet

The chalets at Desert Homestead are built of brick with thatched roofs and concrete verandas.

Each chalet is painted white with white fabrics, and modern, dark wood furniture, including a cupboard and desk. From a small veranda, glass patio doors lead into the bedroom, with views of the desert from the bed. Plain white cotton linen is softened by beige-coloured cushions, while blue headboards and various decorative carvings add touches of colour. A long mirror above the desk adds light to the room.

The rooms are cooled by ceiling fans, although when we visited in April 2010 we found these ineffective when the mosquito net was down. The mosquito net was too small for the bed, too, but the manager assured us that new, well-fitting nets had been ordered.

The long, narrow bathroom has a shower, washbasin and flush toilet. A selection of handcream and soap dispensers is provided. The lack of lighting in the bathroom can make it seem quite dark, but the facilities are perfectly adequate – and there's even a large ladybird made of beads to show you which is the hot tap!

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