Galton 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.

Galton House is named after the famous explorer Sir Francis Galton, and has a relaxed style which creates a very welcoming atmosphere. A mere 10 minute drive from the centre of town and perched on the edge of Windhoek's northernmost affluent suburb of Eros, guests staying here will be ensured of peace and tranquillity.

The 9 guest rooms all have internet connectivity and satellite television. The main guest areas consist of a a large lounge, and indoor and outdoor dining areas. The decor is a combination of modern minimalistic and understated chic, and impressive wildlife photography adorns the walls. There is also a swimming pool.

Kalahari Anib Lodge

Western Kalahari: 1 Night

On the Eastern fringes of Namibia, the red sands of the Kalahari beckon. Here, nestled amongst the burnished sands, you will find Kalahari Anib Lodge.

Easily accessible by sedan car and 30 km from Mariental, the lodge is a good overnight stop if travelling between Windhoek and the south or continuing to the Kgalagadi, and is a relaxed and down-to-earth way to get a taste of the Kalahari.

There's nothing like feeling the good earth underfoot, so after your drive to get here, go and stretch your legs on the trails around the lodge, keeping eyes open for springbok, zebra and wildebeest and take the chance to breathe in the character and energy of this distinctive area, feeling closer to the land.

Make sure you get back in time to explore the Gondwana Kalahari Park on a sunset drive and celebrate life atop a red Kalahari dune. Drink in the beauty of the Kalahari where gemsbok flourish and sociable weavers build gargantuan nests atop camelthorn trees. This is one of the best times to experience the Kalahari colours, when the sun dips and lights up the sand to a fiery deep red colour.

Electric fat-bikes can also be hired to explore the desert on marked routes, armed with a trail map.

The main lodge area has a swimming pool, a bar and a restaurant.

The 47 rooms overlook either the Kalahari savanna or the pool area. There are also 5 family rooms, which have 2 separate bedrooms and a shared bathroom.

Fish River Lodge

The Fish River Canyon: 2 Nights

The Fish River Canyon is situated between the Namib and Kalahari deserts, and the only roads to it are across vast areas of flat and barren landscapes, sparsely populated with desert plants, quiver trees and cacti. At 160 km in length, up to 27 km wide in places, and a depth reaching up to 550m, it is certainly hugely imposing and one of Southern Africa's most stunning natural features. The whole place feels magical and unvisited, despite being a major tourist attraction, and it is very likely that you will have one of the spectacular viewing points to yourself.

The most popular viewing times are sunrise or sunset, mainly because the canyon walls glow a beautiful warm colour with the reflected light, and also because this avoids having to be out in the intense midday sun. The main viewing point is at the northern end of the canyon, and the view across the canyon from here is probably the most photographed shot. Hiker's View Point, just a short drive away, is the start of the 85 km Fish River hiking trail. As well as being another spectacular view of the canyon, it also offers a fantastic perspective of just how steep the Canyon walls really are.

At the southern end of the Fish River Canyon is the Ai-Ais Hot Springs resort. 'Ai-Ais' in Nama means 'burning water', and this is an extremely apt name, as the thermal water can reach temperatures of up to 65 degrees C.

Fish River Lodge is the only lodge perched directly on the rim of the Fish River Canyon, offering guests breathtaking views of the canyon from sunrise to sunset. Twenty spacious chalets are positioned along the rim with sufficient distance from each other to ensure privacy and quiet at all times. An outdoor shower offers a chance to cool down under the stars on warm nights, and there is also an outside bed for guests wanting to sleep under the skies.

The lodge has been carefully designed to echo the rugged terrain as well as the colours and textures of the landscape. There is a blend of classical and contemporary furnishings and many of the accessories have been made by the local San and Nama communities whose ancestors once roamed the terrain - authenticity, comfort and simplicity are key to the lodge's unique ambiance. Good home-cooked food with stylish touches is served on handcrafted tables from reclaimed wood next to crackling fires in winter or outside on the deck in summer. The lodge offers a variety of activities, including a full day Canyon Day Drive into the depths of the canyon, self-guided canyon rim walks, scenic sundowner drives, or a full/half day guided hike down in the canyon.

Klein-Aus Vista Desert Horse Inn

The Southern Namib: 2 Nights

The Southern Namib, with its solitude, its wide open spaces, rugged landscapes and stunning desert sunsets is certainly one of Namibia's gems.

Aus is the gateway to the Southern Namib Naukluft Park, and the legendary wild horses that roam the desert, sharing the arid landscape with gemsbok and springbok.

Luderitz is a small coastal town with an eclectic selection of colourful Bavarian/German colonial style architecture, surrounded on one side by the South Atlantic Ocean, and on the other side by the sand dunes of the Namib Desert. The Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias was the first European to set eyes on Luderitz, when he sought shelter in the bay during a storm on Christmas Day 1487. Upon his return from the Cape of Good Hope in July 1488, he erected a stone cross at what is now known as Dias Point.  Although the original cross is no longer there, a replica marble cross has been erected in its place.

Namibia's most visited ghost town, Kolmanskop, lies 10 km inland from Luderitz. The desert sand has blown in and around the deserted buildings, burying some almost completely in sand. Others are still half visible, their doors hanging open as the sand slowly engulfs more rooms.

Situated 2 km west of Aus on the B4, and 115 km from Luderitz, Klein-Aus Vista is the perfect base from which to explore the fascinating Southern Namib.

The attractive and airy rooms are built in a style indicative of the late century farmhouse and painted a deep, rich sienna that glows alluringly in the late afternoon sunshine. Guests can relax with a sundowner on the wooden veranda overlooking the farm, before enjoying a delicious meal in the restaurant. Outside the sky will be alight with streaks of sunset colour until the twinkling stars and moon appear. And with them lie the promise of a good nights sleep and the anticipation of a new day.

Guests can also enjoy exclusive sundowner trips out to view the Namib horses, or there are several hiking trails which are well marked and take you through the wildly romantic scenery of the Aus Mountains. Here you will discover old WWI ramparts, an old Hudson motorcar riddled with bullet holes from an almost-forgotten shoot-out with diamond smugglers, viewpoints with extraordinary vistas, springbok on the plains and, if lucky, klipspringer poised on the rocky slopes.

Desert Homestead Outpost

Sossusvlei and the Namib Desert: 2 Nights

Deep in a 7,000 hectare private nature reserve, Desert Homestead Outpost offers relaxed hospitality with a natural atmosphere. Enjoy the impressive panoramic view from your room or from the main house with its restaurant, lounge and pool area, picturesquely situated at the foot of a mountain. On the wide open plains there are often cheetahs roaming the endless grasslands. The lodge is approximately a 30 km drive to Sesriem, the entrance to the Sossusvlei dunes.

Guests are welcome to take advantage of all activities offered here, which include guided excursions to Sossusvlei and sundowner drives on the reserve.

There is also the half-day Namib Mountain Trail guided hike for experienced hikers, which takes you over mountains and through the plains. Starting in the early morning at the property's sister lodge, Desert Homestead Lodge, the walk goes through breathtaking landscape and ends at the Outpost, where a cold drink and the pool are waiting.

For the more adventurous, head out on horseback through the private reserve and spend the night in the desert. Riding takes place at a comfortable pace so that everyone feels comfortable. Slower riders can hang back while more experienced riders go for long stretched out gallops over grassy plains. Late afternoon, you arrive at your camp, where refreshments are served as you watch the sunset over the majestic mountains. It is then time to relax and enjoy the Namibian night skies while dinner is prepared on the campfire in true Namibian style, before retiring to the comfortable tent or even a stretcher outside, for those who prefer to sleep out in nature under the starry skies. The next morning, you ride back to the lodge.

All 12 tented guest houses offer private shaded sun decks, mosquito nets and air conditioning.

There is also a Family House which stands apart from the guest houses, and offers a genuine experience of the quietness and vastness of the Namib desert. The modern and refined interior completes the appealing appearance. Enjoy a spectacular view over the Namib panorama lined by its mountains and the red dunes of the Sossusvlei either from the seats in the windowsill of the large living room window, from the four-poster bed in the bedroom or your preferred shady spot on the terrace.

The Superior Room is also set further away from the main accommodation area, and has a large living space offering outstanding views of the Namib from the huge seat window, or from the 2.80 meter wide sky bed in the bedroom. Your shaded terrace is protected from glances and accessible by a separate door offering breathtaking views of the landscape or the starry sky.

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: 2 Nights

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.

Onguma Bush Camp

Etosha National Park: 2 Nights

Onguma Bush Camp is situated in the private Onguma Game Reserve, which adjoins the Eastern boundary of the iconic Etosha National Park. The reserve covers an area of over 34,000 hectares and incorporates savannah, bushveld, omuramba and dry pan. Age-old and well-worn migration routes are now used by elephant and buffalo who wander through Onguma’s 3 dry riverbeds.

More than 300 bird species can be viewed at Onguma. The reserve boasts the biggest breeding colony of white-backed vultures in Namibia. During the summer months Onguma becomes a bird-watchers paradise with thousands of species migrating to wetlands created by the seasonal rains and river systems.

After enjoying a game drive into Etosha National Park in the morning, you have several options to choose from when you return to camp - a sunset nature drive on the Onguma Reserve, or a night drive after dinner in search of Onguma's nocturnal creatures. You can also join a bush walk with a guide to learn more about the intricacies of the bush 'up close' or visit the Onguma water-level hide, which offers a great opportunity to calmly sit and enjoy nature unobserved.

Onguma Bush Camp offers different styles of en-suite accommodation, according to your requirements. There are 18 rooms in total to choose from, including comfortable Standard/Loft Rooms, circular thatched Rondavels, Family Rooms, Deluxe Waterhole or Poolside Rooms, or the beautiful Settler's Room, which has a private lounge area.

The main guest areas consist of a pool, a lounge and a dining area which all have views of a stunning waterhole that affords great opportunities to see nature at play around the clock. You don’t even have to leave the camp to see game - they come to you!

Okonjima Plains Camp

Okonjima Nature Reserve: 2 Nights

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.