The Elegant Guest House

Windhoek: 1 Night

The capital of Namibia, Windhoek is set amongst green hills in the centre of the country. It is a relatively small city, and has a very relaxed feel to it, with little of the angst associated with the other major cities in Southern Africa.  It is also one of the cleanest cities in Southern Africa.

The city has a colonial legacy that is reflected in its many German eateries and shops, and also in the widespread use of the German language.

Windhoek has an interesting mix of historical architecture and modern buildings, many of which are worth a look, including the Alte Feste old fort, the 1896 Christuskirche Christ Church, and the more contemporary Supreme Court.

Just outside of Windhoek (25 km away) you will find the Daan Viljoen Nature Reserve, which is a pleasent place to spend a few hours if you want to get away from the city and into the bush. One of the great attractions here is that you can walk around the reserve, following the guided trails, as the reserve is only home to non-dangerous wildlife, including blue wildebeest, zebra, kudu, baboons, gemsbok, eland and springbok, plus over 200 species of birdlife.

The Elegant Guest House is located in a tranquil suburb close to restaurants and the city centre. The guest house consists of just 17 en-suite double rooms set against a backdrop of mature blue gum trees and a crystal clear pool. The rooms are light, stylish and imbued with contemporary, angular good looks.

Breakfast is a continental style buffet, served in the comfortable lounge and restaurant area.

During your time here, indulge in the contemporary flair and stylish surroundings, while the friendly staff will endeavor to make your stay as comfortable as possible and to provide you with personalised service. A fusion of Namibian chic with modern creature comforts has resulted in a truly unique Namibian guest house.

Desert Homestead

Sossusvlei and the Namib Desert: 2 Nights

The Desert Homestead Lodge lies 30 km southeast of Sesriem, the entrance to the Namib-Naukluft National Park and home of the famous Sossusvlei sand dunes.

The wide grassy valley in which the lodge is situated is sheltered by the Nubib, Tsaris and Naukluft Mountains with views reaching the distant dunes of the Namib Desert in the west.

Due to its location, the lodge is the perfect starting point for tours to the Namib-Naukluft National Park, Sossusvlei and the Sesriem Canyon.

In addition, it is also well known for its horse riding safaris through the desert, which are suitable for experienced riders as well as beginners. These guided rides are offered twice a day in the early morning and close to sunset.

In this exquisite location, the lodge offers simple but stylish accommodation in thatched chalets. The 20 thatched en-suite chalets are all luxuriously decorated in pale linens, each with their own verandah under a canopy with views extending to the Rotterkaum Mountains.

The Desert Homestead will ensure you an unrivalled respite from the desert extremes. Tranquil surroundings, alfresco dining, delectably fresh farm cuisine, refreshing dips in the pool, and stunning sunsets and sunrises are the basic pleasures at this lodge.

Swakopmund Guest House

Swakopmund: 2 Nights

Surrounded on 3 sides by the Namib desert, and on the 4th by the Atlantic Ocean, Swakopmund is an interesting blend of African and German heritage, and one of the most friendly towns in Southern Africa. Many of the locals are of German descent, and together with its beautifully preserved German colonial architecture, the availability of German style beer, and the precise orderly manner which is evident everywhere, you would be forgiven for thinking you were in a small town in Germany, and not on the edge of the Namib Desert.

Probably the most popular single activity is quad-biking over the large red sand dunes that start from the edge of the town, or try sandboarding down the dunes as an alternative. The Cape Cross Seal Reserve is a 125 km drive north of Swakopmund, and home to breeding colonies of thousands of Cape fur seals. 

Several operators also offer scenic flights. The 2 most popular options are to take a flight north up the coastline, over the Skeleton Coast and back round, or to  fly across the desert to the Sossusvlei Dunes and back to Swakopmund along the coastline, taking-in a number of shipwrecks.

Situated in the town centre, a mere 5 minute walk from the beach and main shopping area, Swakopmund Guest House offers 8 standard rooms, 8 luxury rooms and one family suite for guests wanting to indulge in a comfortable stay close to the ocean. The luxury rooms are more spacious than the standard rooms, and most can be converted into family rooms sleeping 2 adults and 2 children under 12. The family suite has 2 bedrooms which share a bathroom and a living space and asmall kitchenette.

Wallpaper portraying a peaceful view of the ocean adds to the clean and neat atmosphere of the guest house. The en-suite bathrooms with soft cream walls are decorated with beach pebbles that give them a unique atmosphere.

The guest house is run with an eco-friendly approach, making use of solar power.

Camp Kipwe

Damaraland: 1 Night

Huddled in the rocks, with sweeping views across the Aba Huab valley, Camp Kipwe is full of surprises, starting when you first arrive. It appears as if rocks have tumbled down the hill to reveal this gem of a camp.

Guests staying here can enjoy guided nature walks around the Twyfelfontein Conservancy, as well as trips to see the Bushman etchings and the mysterious Organ Pipes and Burnt Mountain. For a very special experience, an Elephant Nature Drive is a must-do - explore the terrain in search of these elusive desert-dwelling elephants who have adapted to the dry and sandy conditions of northern Namibia. You may also be lucky and find a desert black rhino too!

In between activities, relax around the pool which is built into the rocks, enjoy a drink at the bar, or make yourself comfy in the lounge/dining room areas and enjoy the scenery. At sunset, make your way to the viewpoint and have a sundowner drink while taking in the 360 degrees of breathtaking views.

The rainy season here is from October/November through to March, but as this area receives minimal rainfall at best, the rain seldom last for more than an hour or 2 at most.

The Kipwe Suite is an air-conditioned, luxury elevated thatched suite that has a private lounge equipped with a satellite television and minibar with drinks included. The large double room with kingsize bed opens up onto an en-suite open air bathroom with a beautiful bath area.

Okaukuejo Rest Camp

Etosha National Park: 2 Nights

Etosha National Park offers some of the world’s finest wildlife viewing. Tucked away in the north of Namibia and stretching across 22,000 square kilometres of unrivalled remote landscape, Etosha is home to 114 different species of mammal, including 4 of the famous Big 5 - lion, leopard, elephant and rhino (both black and white). It also boasts over 400 species of bird and 110 species of reptile. You’ll also find 3 rare antelope species amongst its hills and valleys - the lovely black-faced impala, the graceful roan antelope and the dinky Damara dik-dik, Southern Africa’s tiniest antelope, which stands only 40cm tall to the shoulder as a fully grown adult.

Okaukuejo Rest Camp is situated within the Park, approximately 17 km from the southern Andersson Gate entrance.

The main attraction of the camp is that it overlooks a permanent waterhole which is floodlit at night. Here a wide diversity of wildlife congregate and interact - from lion to rhino to elephant and antelope. The spectacle starts at dawn, with animals coming in large numbers to quench their thirst. The activity continues throughout the day until late at night. In the early evenings, it is not uncommon to have black rhino, elephant and lion all drinking at the same time.

Accommodation is provided to suit every need - double storey 2 bedroom premier waterhole chalets with balconies overlooking the waterhole, standard waterhole chalets (situated close to the waterhole), bush chalets, double rooms and family chalets.

Other facilities include a restaurant, bar, shop and swimming pool. There is also a petrol station.

Mushara Bush Camp

Etosha National Park: 1 Night

The Mushara Bush Camp is situated a mere 10 km from the Von Lindequist gate of the world famous Etosha National Park.

Etosha National Park is one of Southern Africa's finest and most important game reserves, which was declared a National Park in 1907. The park covers an area of 22,270 square kilometres and is home to 114 mammal species, 340 bird species, 110 reptile species, 16 amphibian species and one species of fish.

Guided game drives into the Park are offered as an additional activity in the morning and the afternoon.

The main Bush Camp House is thatched and has a true bush camp feel to it. In the early evenings, a camp fire is lit and guests can exchange stories of the day's wildlife sightings.

Dinner, lunch and breakfast are served on the thatched verandah with the bush being a mere step away.

The Mushara Bush Camp offers a down-to-earth tented bush camp experience, and can accommodate up to 32 guests as well as 8 children in 16 custom made en-suite tents (4 which have a double sleeper couch for children), which are built from a combination of canvas, wood and local limestone.

With their own private verandah and roof to floor windows, these tents are spacious and airy.

The large bathroom has an oversized window and shower looking into the surrounding bush, and the brushed cement floors and stone walls keep the tents cool from the afternoon sun.

Okonjima Plains Camp

Okonjima Nature Reserve: 1 Night

Situated halfway between Windhoek and the Etosha National Park, Okonjima is the home of the AfriCat Foundation.

Since being founded in 1991, AfriCat’s mission has been to make significant contributions to conservation, while trying to ensure the survival of Namibia’s predators in their natural habitat. It undertakes research, community support and environmental education projects, as well as conservation work to rehabilitate carnivores such as cheetah and hyena.

A highlight for anyone visiting Okonjima is to learn about their big-cat passion. Leopards roam freely and hunt within the 22,000 hectare reserve, and an opportunity to see them on game drives led by experienced guides is why guests travel continents to stay here. You may also spot other rare and endangered species such as rhino and pangolin. Guests can also get involved in collecting and collating data, and assisting with actual research being conducted by AfriCat.

Okonjima Plains Camp offers a choice of en-suite accommodation depending on your budget - choose from Garden Rooms, Standard Rooms or the spacious View Rooms.  The Standard and View Rooms also offer views across the Okonjima grassy plains, and also each have a verandah.

Guests can enjoy relaxing around the swimming pool, or sitting around the open fire in the evening before dinner is served in the pleasant dining area.  At the nocturnal hide, guests can view after-dinner nightlife, such as porcupine, honey badgers and caracal, amongst others.