Reviews of Kulala Desert Lodge
Wildlife sightings and reviews
365 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Kulala Desert Lodge and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa
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"View from Kulala to Dune no. 1"
The food on the first night was great, however, on the second night both presentation and quality of food were seriously below par. The rooms can get really cold, there is no air-conditioning or heating, which we liked as we wanted to minimize our environmental impact. They supply hot water bottles in the evening, which was a really nice touch.
We expected a lot from this lodge and it came up to par, however, the bathrooms would benefit from a whitewash." See all these reviews: 17n in Namibia
"Fiftieth Birthday to Remember at Kulala"
To celebrate the birthday, we enjoyed a sunrise trip into Sossusvlei and lovely afternoon nature drive with a "sundowner". The highlight of the holiday happened that evening when the lodge staff surprised us by bringing in a birthday cake during dinner. The staff sang a beautiful rendition of "happy birthday" and started dancing. The performance was wonderful, and we were very touched by the very kind and thoughtful gesture. The singing and dancing continued as guests joined in. It was a wonderful surprise, and a very memorable day.
Excursions from Kulala Desert Lodge
We had an enjoyable excursion into Sossusvlei. The scenery is beautiful. We have done this trip before, however on this occasion we experienced the delightful view of water in the vlei and increased vegetation and wildlife. On our previous trips it has been completely dry. The walk to Dead Vlei is worthwhile for the amazing scenery.
On our last visit the lodge used an open sided vehicle. The vehicles have been replaced by glass sided vehicles. This is good from the perspective of keeping the biting cold and wind out during the early morning, but it does rattle a bit!" See all these reviews: 15n in Namibia
"Kulala Desert Lodge review"
The trip to the dunes was well worthwhile and the climb up the dune was harder than expected. We did have a problem when the electrics in our chalet blew the fuses but the staff were really good in fixing things. We took the trip to Sesriem Canyon - something we could have done in our own vehicle. This was a little of an anti-climax after Fish River." See all these reviews: 19n in Namibia
"Kulala Desert Lodge review"
Nevertheless, this is a minor quibble as it is a great place to stay especially as they have their own gate to the park!" See all these reviews: 25n in Namibia
"Kulala Desert Lodge review"
"Amazing desert location"
The dune drive with the walk to Deadvlei was also brilliant, and our guide Willem was very knowledgeable. We also enjoyed a walk by ourselves along the dry riverbed by the lodge.
The trip to Sesriem Canyon was pleasant but no more than you could do if you drove yourself on the way past.
The view over the dunes from the room was spectacular, and the corn crickets made novel companions to watch it with! Meals were nice, with extremely large portions. The staff were friendly, and we particularly enjoyed the singing and dancing one evening." See all these reviews: 16n in Namibia
"Kulala Desert Lodge review"
Given the completely unbiased advice of staff we made our own trip to Sossusvlei which was within easy travelling distance. However we took advantage of a fantastic dunebuggy trip which included watching the sunset from a hilltop on the estate." See all these reviews: 14n in Namibia
"Set in the Desert with Dune Views"
. They seemed to make sure that George carried your bags and a tip was definitely seemed expected
.There was no written list of expeditions which we found difficult to take in as there were several and expensive. 900 dollars for the Dunes.We decided to take a walk instead and this ended in rather a farce as the manager grew anxious when we didnt return within anhour and sent out a search party. He was very overweight and running through the desert was not good for him im afraid
Food and room very good,individual balconies nice.
.I would have preferred to stay at Sesriem with hindsight although sunset over the dunes was beautiful" See all these reviews: 14n in Namibia
"A Mixed Experience"
The scenery is spectacular and it's worth the fairly high cost to join their tour to Sossusvlei as they have a private gate which saves over an hour travelling compared to using your own vehicle. It would also be easy to miss Dead Vlei (far more impressive than the more famous Sossusvlei) without a guide.
Food was only average - we were there on a Sunday night with only a few other guests and the normal buffet was changed to a set meal which was by far the worst meal of the whole trip. Chef's night off?
Quad bikes are great fun and we were looked after from a safety point of view and didn't feel we had to go any faster than we wanted to." See all these reviews: 19n in Namibia
"Kulala Desert Lodge review"
At Kulala Desert Lodge we did use the pool which was more attractively situated (and in fact we had more time because prevented by wind from going into Sossusvlei until the afternoon).
We enjoyed the musical entertainment after dinner here. Helpful and friendly staff and managers." 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.
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.
Desert Homestead
With great-value accommodation in a lovely setting, Desert Homestead is a great base for exploring Sossusvlei.
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.
Elegant Desert Lodge
Elegant Desert Lodge can be used as a base to visit Sossusvlei. It offers comfortable accommodation and facilities in the desert.
Corona Guest Farm
In central Namibia, north-east of the Namib-Naukluft, Corona Guest Farm offers a traditional farm stay and rugged hiking.
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.
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.
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.
Desert Hills Camp
Conveniently located for the renowned dunes of Sossusvlei Desert Hills Glamping Camp offers a simple but comfortable tents in picturesque surroundings.
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.
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.
