Reviews of Kulala Desert Lodge
(92%) From 312 travellersThey do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa.
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Scenic spot with good access to big dunes.
Interesting architecture in the desert. Good excursions to big dunes and elsewhere.
Read more about the whole safariKulala Desert Lodge review
Absolutely delightful, tremendously warm welcome again with a team who couldn't do enough.
Loved the trip to Sossevlei just disappointed by how many other people were there too.
Would happily have paid to get ahead of the rush and have the dunes to ourselves!!
fantastic place
we were met by friendly staff with a drink and cold wet towels and that really set the tone for our stay.
Magical experience when we were entertained by the staff singing and dancing for us after the dinner. Lovely setting in the middle of the desert.
The private entrance to the dunes with an excellent guide was great which was actually better than driving ourselves as we expected.
Lovely time at Kulala
Very nice rooms and great service. The view over the dunes was marvellous.
The access road was a bit longer than we expected.
We didn't go on any organized activities (quite expensive and not ideal with small children), but the lodge is conveniently located to visit the dunes yourself.
Kulala comfort in a lunar landscape
Lovely welcoming staff and nothing seemed too much trouble for them.
Food was good and plentiful. Excellent array of food for breakfast and good choice for evening meals. Tented accommodation was good and each unit sufficient distance apart to provide privacy. The option to sleep on the roof under the stars was interesting.
Took the trip to DeadVlei with Richel and was pleasantly surprised in not having to go back up the lodge's 14 km drive to get to the main road to drive to Seisreim but to take a short cut and arrive in the dunes a third of the way along the drive. Got to take some impressive shots of the sun rising and lighting up the dunes and then options to climb big daddy or just his arm. Despite this appearing busy still managed to get photos with no people in.
Used the pool and did a short walk from the lodge down the dry river bed. We did see a black backed jackal outside the accommodation one morning.
Kulala Desert Lodge
Another amazing setting in the dune corridor. The recently extended deck for meals is a delightful feature as unlit except for table lanterns and the remainder of the internal decor is very attractive.
Accommodation well appointed save for coffee and tea provided, but no kettle! Did not avail ourselves of the rooftop sleeping option - ladder a little tricky if needing a mid-night visit! Excellent pool.
Activities on offer early morning dune excursion (which we took) and hot air balloon rides (three operational). Our guide, Castro, was exceptional - knowledgeable and thoughtful to the extent we had some hangers on at some points! Meals again very good and service relaxed and friendly (see note re paperwork on Doro Nawas)
This Lodge now has wifi but of a fairly intermittent variety
Stunning Location and Great Service
Kulala was one of our favourite lodges of the whole trip and Sossuvlei and the dunes one of the overall highlights.
It was our first experience of the Wilderness Safaris experience, which we loved, with the highly individual service, superb locations and focus on conservation, culture and community. The rooms were comfortable but still close enough to a tent for you still to feel you were in the desert. All the staff were welcoming and appeared to enjoy being part of the team, creating a wonderful atmosphere. Our guide Stanley set the standard for the rest of the trip. All of us loved climbing Dune 45 and Big Daddy, especially our 9 year-old son, who set the pace at the front!
Among the many great experiences were the incredible stars at night, sleeping outside on the roof, going out at night to hunt for scorpions with Stanley and Alfred, the barbeque and singing on our second night, and great sundowners followed by drinks and hot towels on return.
Coming from Sri Lanka, where every verandah and balcony has a ceiling fan, we were surprised there were no fans in the main area, given how hot it must get in summer - as we were at many lodges. Better coffee could be another improvement for the future.
Dreamy...
We arrived to a very warm welcome. Two members of staff came out to meet us and said they'd been waiting for us all morning! They gave us a cold towel and a refreshing ginger drink.
The induction was detailed and helpful. The staff were amazing - extremely friendly and nice. They put on a little show one evening and also serenaded a guest who was celebrating his birthday. One of us had a bad stomach and the chef prepared some boiled vegetables to try to help.
The room was excellent and well equipped. Sleeping on the roof one night under the stars was a real highlight.
The main building was beautifully furnished and very comfortable with outstanding views.
Overall very hard to find fault with anything. Our stay here will long live in our memory.
Kulala Desert Lodge review
If you have your own car, don't bother with the excursions that they offer- including sossusvlei- you are much better doing this on your own.
Guides offered nothing, so in effect a glorified shared taxi.
otherwise, recommend sleeping out under the stars on the roof.
Kulala Desert Lodge review
In the middle of the Sossusvlei Desert, magnificent sand dunes everywhere.
The room was great with deck out the front to look over the plains. You could sleep on the roof outside, which one of us did, for a lovely experience of seeing the stars.
Very good service and friendly staff.
