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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"Good place to stay"
The rooms are small circular stone built which although well equipped (though again without a toilet door), do have a tendency to retain heat, even with the ceiling fan on. On the first night there we hardly spelt as it was so uncomfortably hot; opening the windows offsets much of the heat but it can be quite blowy.
The meals are taken in the main area which also houses a small swimming pool. The food was excellent and the service very good." See all these reviews: 12n in Namibia; 4n in South Africa
"Nice stay, but quite a drive to the park gate"
Some nice walks to be done from the lodge.
Really enjoyed the sunset horse ride - which was just fine for novices. Sundowners under a tree with a huge Sociable Weavers nest, and a peaceful plod back home enjoying the scenery and quiet." See all these reviews: 13n in Namibia
"Desert Homestead"
However, on the plus side the manager Andy is great and he makes sure all the guests are well looked after. The food is excellent.
We did the sundowner horse ride which was brilliant. We are experienced riders and there were also two beginners as well. They split up the group so we went with two different guides. The beginners walked to the sundowner spot and we went the long way round trotting and cantering most of the way. I would definitely recommend it for experienced riders.
We did a self drive trip to the dunes. We left the lodge just after 5 am and drove to the park gate. We drove to the parking area where we the shuttle to dead vlei and sossus vlei. We walked up the dunes at both places. Be aware that you are reliant on the shuttle. It was fine getting to dead vlei, then we had a short wait to go to on to sossus vlei but then we had to wait for almost an hour in the baking heat for a shuttle back to the parking area. Because of this I would recommend taking lots of water with you plus something to eat.
There are some very tame black backed jackals that hang out in the parking area scavenging for scraps. In terms of cost it is 80 rand to get into the park, plus 100 rand for the shuttle. This compares to 850 rand for the guided tour offered by the lodge. So it is quite a large difference in cost. If you have a 4x4 you can drive to dead vlei and sossus vlei yourself and not use the shuttle. However i would only recommend this if you are experienced driving on soft sand. We saw a number of vehicles that got stuck." See all these reviews: 8n in Namibia; 7n in South Africa
"Great trip to dunes but too hot at night"
Food was very good. Best was the trip to the dunes. Marco was good fun and very knowledgeable." See all these reviews: 13n in Namibia
"Desert Homestead review"
"Lovely Christmas Eve Meal"
The trip to Sossusvlei was well worth it and the scenery spectacular. Many photos were taken ! We took the shuttle jeep from the car park and climbed a dune and entered Dead Vlei ! The temperature was above 40 degrees. Very exhillerating climb/slide down the dune side to get into Dead Vlei. Nice sundowners back at the hotel !" See all these reviews: 15n in Namibia; 3n in South Africa
"Desert Homestead"
"Desert Homestead review"
We asked for a take away breakfast and left in time to be at the park gate when it opened. It is a long drive within the park to get to the end of the road where the shuttle takes you further and by the time we arrived at our hiking set off point the sun was quite high and it was already very warm (in the end of Nov). This is another situation where staying within the park would have allowed access to the dunes earlier in the morning and late in the evening(without a long drive back to Desert Homestead in the dark). The lodge was comfortable and staff very nice." See all these reviews: 13n in Namibia
"Desert Homestead review"
The horses were all in good condition and while my wife and I were beginners our children were still able to gallop across huge plains surrounded by fantastically coloured mountains. The three hour ride culminated at sunset with the children galloping in with a herd of Oryx! The camp was in an idyllic spot set up under a weavers nest and overlooking the plain and mountains. Food, BBQ and drinks awaited us and a moon free night sky of amazing brilliance completed a perfect day.
The next day my wife and got a lift back to the lodge allowing Megan and our daughters to whiz back in under half the time it took us to hack out. The lodge was attractive and the service and food good. The rooms were well appointed, but draughty in the gale that was blowing." See all these reviews: 13n in Namibia
"Beautifully designed fabulous place"
One of our favourite destinations." See all these reviews: 12n 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.
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.
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.
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.
