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Elegant Desert Lodge

Elegant Desert Lodge: Our full report

The Elegant Desert Lodge (previously known as Betesda Lodge) is a modern and stylish lodge located at the ...

... foot of one of the modern mountains dotting the Namib Desert, about an hours drive from Sesriem, the entrance to the Namib-Naukluft National Park.

The lodge changed management and was completely refurbished in 2016, and when we last visited in May 2018 we thought the lodge was looking fantastic, combining the look of a classic safari camp with an elegant and stylish modern interior.

Elegant Desert Lodge has 25 guest rooms, four of which are family rooms sleeping up to four people. The rooms are built into a single line with one long terrace at the front and a veranda at the back, from which it’s sometimes possible to see antelope such as oryx wandering past. The spacious rooms have polished stone floors, which continue up the rear wall behind the bed. They are quite minimally furnished with a pale wooden bench and nightstands, and beds with white sheets and green rugs and cushions adding a splash of colour.

Communal facilities at Elegant Desert Lodge include the stone swimming pool that looks out across at the mountains, surrounded by shady sunloungers. A boma with a firepit is located nearby with ample seating, which makes for a splendid spot to watch the sunrise, or enjoy a drink with the sunset.

The Lodge’s main area is a large stone-and-thatch building surrounded by mullion windows, allowing in plenty of light and providing panoramic views of the desert landscape. The open-plan reception, dining area and bar are well furnished with havey natural-wood tables and white wooden chairs, with the modern and traditional styles elegantly blended.

Activities offered by Besteda Lodge include quad biking, hiking, sundowner drives to a nearby mountan and trips to Sossusvlei in an air conditioned 4x4. (NB: It's essential that you read the Quadbike warning in the 'Health & Safety' section below for our comments on insurance issues regarding this activity.) The lodge can also book scenic flights and hot air ballooning, as well as a tour of the Neuras Winery.


Our view

On our last visit we were delighted with the new look of this Lodge, and the management and refurbishments have brought Elegant Desert Lodge up to a much higher standard. This lodge now works very well for travelers looking for a stylish and comfortable property with easy access to the iconic dunes at Sossusvlei.

Elizabeth Chapman

Elizabeth Chapman

Namibia expert

Geographics

Location
Namib-Naukluft National Park, Namibia
Ideal length of stay
2-3 nights
Directions
Elegant Desert Lodge is located 5km along the D854 from the turnoff from the C19, 40km from Sesriem.
Accessible by
Self-drive or Fly-and-Transfer

Food & drink

Usual board basis
Bed & Breakfast
Dining style
Individual Tables
Dining locations
Indoor and Outdoor Dining

Children

Attitude towards children
Children are welcome at Elegant Desert Lodge.
Property’s age restrictions
There are no ages restrictions at Elegant Desert Lodge.
Notes
Children should be under parental supervision at all times.

Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Elegant Desert Lodge

Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Elegant Desert Lodge 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.

Meerkat

50% success

Oryx

50% success

Wildebeest

50% success

Aardvark

0% success

Brown Hyena

0% success

Cheetah

0% success

Giraffe

0% success

Leopard

0% success

Pangolin

0% success

Spotted Hyena

0% success

Zebra

0% success

Communications

Water supply
Borehole
Water supply notes
The water from the borehole is filtered and suitable for drinking, but bottled water is also readily available.

Health & safety

Malarial protection recommended
No
Medical care




Quadbike warning: quad-biking is sometimes available as an activity from Elegant Desert Lodge. As with any potentially dangerous activity, it's vital that you take responsibility for ensuring that you have adequate travel insurance prior to getting involved. Be aware that some insurances cover quad-bike activities only for bikes with lower engine ratings: check such clauses particularly carefully before you get on a bike.
Dangerous animals
Low Risk
Fire safety

Activities

  • 4WD Safari

    4WD Safari

  • Helicopter

    Helicopter

  • Hot air ballooning

    Hot air ballooning

  • Quad-biking

    Quad-biking

Extras

Disabled access
On Request

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