Dune Lark Fly & Drive Safari: Day-by-day

Elegant is a simple, homely guesthouse that provides the ideal starting or finishing point for an epic Namibian road-trip. A simple, chic Windhoek guesthouse that’s the ideal place to relax at the beginning or end of your trip. Elegant by name, elegant by nature. It’s the watchword of this simple, contemporary pension in quiet residential neighbourhood Klein Windhoek. The guesthouse is close enough to the city centre (five minutes’ drive ish) to revel in the low-key buzz of Namibia’s capital, but far enough away to offer a slice of suburban cool (literally, thanks to plenty of shady spots).

Six low-slung white-and-brick rooms gathered around a courtyard are welcoming and comfortable, and the palm trees sticking out of the corrugated roof add a playful touch.

There’s an easy-breezy open-plan feel here, helped by the homely lounge (particularly inviting after a hot afternoon spent exploring Windhoek), pool surrounded by sun loungers, pot plants placed at jaunty angles around the property and groomed lawn complete with bistro furniture. The easy-going vibe makes it an ideal place to begin or end your Namibia trip.

"ideal for us as an overnight stopover"

Mrs JfromSomerset

Arrived 2 Sep 2018, 1 night

Although the breakfast here is excellent (think eggs and bacon on demand), make the pilgrimage to Joe’s Beerhouse down the road from the hotel for lunch or dinner. It’s a lively, beer bottle-decorated sprawl of tables and a local must-do. See our full report on Elegant Guesthouse

Named after a flowering cactus, Hoodia Desert Lodge, opened in 2008 and is owned and managed by Thomas and Henreza Becker. The lodge is set at the foot of the Namib-Naukluft Mountains overlooking the ephemeral Tsauchab River, and backed by plains that seem to go on forever. From here, it's an easy 22km drive to Sesriem, the gateway into Sossusvlei.

"Beautiful décor. Little stay in paradise. Fantastic food. Great desert tour."

Ms S.fromSurrey

Arrived 14 Nov 2019, 2 nights

Hoodia Desert Lodge's friendly staff offer attentive service and delicious food in a beautiful setting. The atmosphere of the lodge is tranquil, and it feels quite luxurious without being stuffy. So although it's not the closest lodge to the dunes, travellers looking for these particular attributes should find it an excellent and stylish base from which to explore the Sossusvlei area. See our full report on Hoodia Desert Lodge

Nestled at the foot of a granite kopje, Ai Aiba Lodge – sometimes marketed as 'Ai Aiba – The Rock Painting Lodge' – enjoys views of Namibia's Erongo Mountains. The lodge is in an area with a large concentration of Bushman rock art, some of it up to 2,000 years old and much of it in good condition.

"Ai Aiba was an overnight stay for us in a pleasant setting."

Mrs & Mr RfromAustralia

Arrived 24 Jul 2018, 1 night

We are tremendously excited to see Ai Aiba Lodge back on the map. This is another option in a less-visited area of Namibia with some superb examples of rock art and we cannot wait to visit again. We will keep this page up-to-date with any new information we receive and look forward to giving our full report once we have visited. See our full report on Ai Aiba Lodge

Opened in September 2016 Ozondjou Trails is a tented camp, overlooking Namibia’s Ugab River. Ozondjou is derived from a Herero word meaning elephant, which is an apt name for a property located close to the Elephant Human Relations Aid (EHRA) base camp. Staying here not only affords a good chance of spotting the areas desert-adapted pachyderms but also benefits them by supporting both EHRA projects and local farmers.

"Ozondjou Trails is in a stunning location on a spectacular rock outcrop ..."

Mr & Mrs JfromHanwell

Arrived 22 May 2019, 2 nights

We are excited to see a new camp in a popular area. Ozondjou Trails promises to be a versatile tented camp in an interesting location and we have high hopes for it! We’ll post more details here when we have them, but meanwhile ask us for the latest information. See our full report on Ozondjou Trails

Grootberg Lodge is located on a large private concession in the remote northwest of Namibia, part way between Damaraland and Etosha National Park. Perched on the edge of the Etendeka Plateau, Grootberg probably has the most spectacular views of any lodge in Namibia – and a range of activities from rhino-tracking to walks and interactions with the local communities.

"stunning views over Great Canyon-like valley, staff were absolutely lovely"

Mr LeenPfromLewes

Arrived 13 Oct 2019, 2 nights

After our most recent visit in 2018, once we had tackled the steep drive up to the top of the plateau, we were incredibly impressed. Grootberg has a very homely and welcoming vibe – partly due to the managers and partly due to the community involvement here. Its location is amazing and its generally excellent activities make it a very good choice in Damaraland See our full report on Grootberg Lodge

Situated between Damaraland and Namibia’s Etosha National Park, but somewhat off the obvious route, Hobatere Lodge was re-opened under community ownership in April 2015, having been closed for some years. The lodge is set on its own 88km2 concession, and is approximately 18km from the Galton Gate into the west of the park.

"waterhole with loads of wildlife ... lionesses with cubs, great staff"

Mr LeenPfromLewes

Arrived 7 Oct 2019, 2 nights

Hobatere may be slightly off the main tourist route, but it is well worth the effort to reach it, and we have really enjoyed our last few stays. Accommodation is comfortable, the food is good, and there's plenty of space, with a pool to relax by. It has been fantastic to see the game densities increase since the lodge’s re-opening. Game-viewing opportunities here are now back to a high level, making it an ideal place to stop between Damaraland and Etosha, or to base yourself to explore the western side of the park. See our full report on Hobatere Lodge

Strategically located alongside the middle of Etosha Pan in Etosha National Park, Halali is one of five government-run camps and lodges inside the park. It stands beside one of the very few hills in Etosha, with its own floodlit waterhole, and is the smallest and quietest of the original restcamps – although it's much larger than most camps in Namibia.

"better than we expected... the wildlife was abundant."

Mr & Mrs BfromWitney

Arrived 23 Oct 2019, 4 nights

As a large restcamp, Halali offers a very different experience from the smaller, private lodges. Don't expect much personal attention here, and the staff are not always as helpful as they might be. Despite this, Halali's amazing location right in the middle of the park, along with its floodlit waterhole, make it a popular and good-value choice. See our full report on Halali Camp

Set amidst plains and rolling hills in a 220km2 private reserve just south of Otjiwarongo, Okonjima Plains Camp opened in 2014. It is the most affordable of the places to stay on the Okonjima Nature Reserve, whose raison d'etre is the AfriCat Foundation, set up to conserve and protect Namibia's threatened cheetah, leopard and other wild carnivores. A stay here gives you the opportunity to learn about these animals and to see them up close.

The Okonjima Nature Reserve no longer acts as a release site for former captive cheetahs, therefore cheetah tracking is no longer offered as an activity. Please see the activities section below, for more information on this as well as the other activities on offer.

"We really enjoyed staying here. "

Dr CB & Dr MBfromTring

Arrived 14 Sep 2019, 1 night

Despite its increased size and change in design, Okonjima Plains Camp has retained a relaxed, informal and friendly atmosphere. It is an ideal base for those wanting to visit the Africat Foundation, and stay in tasteful accommodation with all the amenities and facilities that go with a good-quality lodge but without a very high price tag. It also offers great photographic opportunities for the big cats (plus some smaller creatures too!). See our full report on Okonjima Plains Camp