Bateleur Fly-in Safari: Day-by-day

Mirroring the surrounding trees, the soft palette that defines the Olive Grove oozes tranquillity and relaxation. From the moment you arrive, whether off a long flight or after a busy safari, the old house exudes a warm welcome, matched by a friendly yet professional team of staff.

Much is made of natural materials, from stone floors and walls to neutral-coloured cement bathrooms, creating a contemporary yet stylish feel that is hard to resist. Beautifully furnished rooms with soft lighting add to the mood, with hot-water bottles to offset winter chills – and a cool plunge pool for warmer months. Wrought-iron tables and chairs add a gentle Mediterranean touch, enhanced by Moroccan lanterns and mosaic detail.

"Food was pleasant and service excellent."

Mrs C.fromDubai

Arrived 10 Jul 2024, 1 night

Even the setting, in a quiet residential street, feels far from the bustle of the small capital, yet just a five-minute drive brings you to the heart of the city. But think first before you head out to dine. The à la carte restaurant here is open for lunch and dinner (as well as an excellent breakfast), with an open-plan kitchen that encourages you to feast on culinary delights with your eyes as well as your tastebuds. With the bonus of a small wellness centre, this is truly a place to savour. See our full report on Olive Grove

The stylish Little Kulala is the most luxurious of the accommodation options on the 210km² private Kulala Wilderness Reserve, with its own access gate to the Namib-Naukluft National Park – and Sossusvlei. Gravel plains and low rolling sand dunes stretch out in front of the lodge, with the iconic dunes of the Namib Desert in the distance and the Naukluft Mountains to the rear providing a dramatic backdrop.

"Wonderful from start to finish"

Mr D & Ms GfromLondon

Arrived 17 May 2023, 2 nights

While Little Kulala isn’t looking as smart as it did when it was built, we’re pleased to note that plans are in place to update it during 2017. That said, its design is still original and interesting, and its stylish interiors are pleasing to the eye. It's a very comfortable lodge and, with a private entrance into the Namib-Naukluft, a very convenient base from which to explore the area – if you can tear yourself away from the creature comforts, that is! See our full report on Little Kulala

To stay at Damaraland Camp is to experience the hospitality of the local community in a truly beautiful setting. Building on a ground-breaking partnership between Wilderness Safaris and the Torra Conservancy, the camp is now run almost entirely by members of the community. Since its foundation in 1996, it has remained true to its original eco-friendly ethos – and is instrumental in supporting both education and conservation in the surrounding area.

But this is no simple bushcamp. Airy, split-level chalets of canvas and wood nestle into the hillside, their thatched roofs blending with the rolling grassland, their patios offering scenic views along the valley.

Uncluttered furnishings and a muted décor run through the chalets to the stone-built living area and outside, where comfortable sofas take in the view, and parasols shade an inviting pool. On a warm night, stroll to the “boma” for a convivial dinner beneath a star-studded sky. And when it’s cooler, there’s always a campfire to ward off the chill.

"Damaraland is a special place."

Mr & Mrs AfromKent

Arrived 3 Sep 2023, 3 nights

While most visitors come for the desert-adapted elephant, and perhaps the rock art at Twyfelfontein, do make time for a guided walk above the camp. See our full report on Damaraland Camp

At the heart of the small Ongava Tented Camp, a tree-shaded waterhole draws the eye. Easily visible from the main area and the pool, as well as from some of the spacious tents, it attracts all manner of wildlife.

Zebra tend to congregate year round, lions might laze around the edge, and it’s not unknown for rhinos to stop by for a drink. There’s even a night-vision camera set up here, so you can see at breakfast time who popped in for a visit after dark!

With such animal appeal on your doorstep, it would be easy to think you need go no further than this relaxed camp, but that would be a mistake. Sharing a boundary with Namibia’s flagship Etosha National Park, the private Ongava Game Reserve boasts very similar wildlife, but here the opportunities are so much greater.

While game drives into the park are restricted to daylight hours, those on the reserve can continue after sunset. Guided walks, too, are possible at Ongava, perhaps even – if you’re very lucky – to watch rhino.

"Easily the best location we stayed for wildlife and experience."

Mr & Mrs PaulfromSurrey

Arrived 28 Oct 2023, 3 nights

Back at camp, continue your immersion in the bush with an outdoor shower before retiring after dinner for a nightcap by the fire – with a view of the waterhole, of course. Who knows what might turn up before you head to your chalet – and a comfy bed? See our full report on Ongava Tented Camp