Reviews of Dead Valley Lodge
Wildlife sightings and reviews
21 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Dead Valley Lodge and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa
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"Dead Valley Lodge review"
Rooms are on a single raised platform but the sleeping quarters and toilets are separated by an outside patio, making for an awkward and sometimes dark visit to the facilities in the middle of the night. Plus the bedroom has AC but not the toilet area.
Lodge staff was very friendly and did go out of their way to arrange a private guided tour for our group of six into the park on Day 2." See all these reviews: 15n in Namibia; 5n in South Africa
Oryx
2 sightings
"Dead Valley Lodge review"
Not sure about the waiting on staff wearing, in some cases, ripped jeans; I think they could have been provided with trousers." See all these reviews: 22n in Namibia
Oryx
10 sightings
"Dead Valley Lodge review"
Modern and open, the staff are very helpful, the rooms are stunning/excellent and the food well prepared and varied. Easy to organise a guided tour to Sossusvlei/Deadvlei which is recommended if you want to see the key sights and get the most from the park as some areas are only accessible by rugged 4x4 or park provided transportation.
Perfectly sized lodge with limited numbers - so no crowds" See all these reviews: 14n in Namibia; 6n in South Africa
Oryx
10 sightings
"Dead Valley Lodge review"
The main lodge building is of an exceptional and very appealing design. Dinners (BBQ and buffet) were very good, breakfasts and lunch quite good too. Staff were extremely friendly and pleasant. Our chalet was unusual in layout in that it’s in two parts, the main bedroom being separated from the bathroom so you have to go through a bit of open air (shielded from others’ views, though) to get there. But we found that an advantage rather. Also the fact that the fridge was outside in between the bedroom and the bathroom – which meant no audible humming at night!
There was mild air-con, which was nice during the heat of midday. Nights were cold, and there’s no heating, so our thermals paid off again. A special bonus were the very large wooden supports for luggage in our spacious bedroom tent, so much better than the usual small suitcase rests you typically get in hotels. So no need to put suitcases on the bed – a small point perhaps, but one we took special note of.
We didn’t do any activities offered by the lodge but instead drove to the dunes and Deadvlei, as well as to Sesriem Canyon, ourselves. The scenery is fantastic to behold – but we found it far too busy with tourists. In fact, Sossousvlei was the only place on this trip that felt like it suffered from too big crowds. That was quite a contrast to the vast emptiness we experienced almost everywhere else in Namibia." See all these reviews: 21n in Namibia
Oryx
Multiple sightings
"Dead Valley Lodge review"
Huge tents (18ft x 20) tastefully decorated and well thought out with all the facilities including kettle, climate control and fridges.
The separate bathrooms are a poor design for nighttime visits but to be honest it is a small price to pay for the fact their water is heated by an individual hot water system for each room so is available 24/7 !!
The lodge itself is brand new and looks like a showroom for Timothy Olton !! Open plan, Modern and fresh….. stunning.
The two front men - Richard and Julio couldn’t do enough for us - physically helped with car pressures, arranged washing with a housekeeper (they don’t offer this service) and were genuinely on hand to ensure your stay was a very enjoyable one.
Klaus (manager) was also always there and it shows.
The lodge was only half full so do hope they can keep up the quality when they are full but for a government run facility (within the park gates which was a requirement for us) this lodge was exceptional and we would certainly rank it within our top three amongst shipwreck lodge and Serra Cafema !!
Food was excellent ….. only dinner drinks service slightly slow on BBQ night but small Critism really" See all these reviews: 17n in Namibia
"Dead Valley Lodge review"
"Dead Valley Lodge review"
Anyway, I harp on about this, because there is indeed another lodge inside the second gate. It’s called Sossus Dune Lodge, where we stayed in 2018, and they can drive guests to Dead Vlei starting around 5 or 5:30 AM. Their food may not be as good as that provided by the Dead Valley Lodge, but the rooms are much nicer and provide the better views (in our opinion).
Another point I want to bring up is the way they handled the sundowner they offered us on the first evening after our arrival. Well, it consisted of a short drive to an unremarkable dune 5 minutes away, and they had the guts to charge NAD 700 per person for that endeavor. Compared to the NAD 980 p.p. they charged for the guided sunrise tour (which lasted for about 7 hours and included a lunch) this was outrageous.
Other than that our stay in Sossusvlei was really all we had hoped for. As spectacular as ever, and we’ve been here twice before. Bearing in mind what I said above, I would, however, recommend the Sossus Dune Lodge." See all these reviews: 19n in Namibia; 15n in Botswana
Oryx
5 sightings
"Dead Valley Lodge review"
Main building has expensive looking and dramatic design but unfortunately food does not live up to this. First night braai had salad cart for starters and meat cooked to order. 3/4 pieces of meat presented on a plate with nothing else. Hence back to salad cart. Second night dinner same choice of meat with overcooked vegetables." See all these reviews: 16n in Namibia
"Dead Valley Lodge review"
We were greeted upon arrival by staff wearing masks and check-in was quick and seamless. The staff were very friendly and helpful in arranging "to-go" packed lunches for our early morning drive into Sossusvlei. Dinner was a braai of salad and multiple game meats (oryx, zebra, blue wildebeest, etc.), served buffet-style in the main building. Masks were not worn by staff or guests at dinner, and tables were arranged very close together--which was the only time we felt possibly exposed to Covid during our stay.
We were most impressed with the tented rooms at Dead Valley, which are luxury by Namibia standards. They look very underwhelming from the outside, but they are well-appointed inside with separate bedroom/bathroom tents and a beautiful design that incorporates natural desert wood elements throughout the space. Wifi is available in both the rooms and main building (the fastest we encountered outside Swakopmund) but connectivity can be spotty at times, based on weather or approaching storms.
Overall we were impressed with Dead Valley, especially for its convenient location, well-appointed rooms, and wifi connection. Would absolutely recommend and stay again next time we are in the area!" See all these reviews: 13n in Namibia
Oryx
1 sighting
"Dead Valley Lodge review"
The next morning, we got up very early and went to Dune 45 and Sossusvlei. Our guide Julio was very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. We spent the whole morning and until lunch time together and the experience was definitely one of the highlights of our trip.
The food was excellent and so was the service. No attention was spared to make us feel welcome and the personnel were also family friendly. The lodge is managed in a sustainable way and as everywhere in Namibia attention to saving valuable resources, such as water are observed.
The lodge's location is excellent and so is the setting, individual lodges, amenities (swimming pool) and atmosphere.
Our overall experience was excellent and so we would gladly recommend it to other travelers." See all these reviews: 12n in Namibia
Oryx
3 sightings
Wildebeest
1 sighting
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Other lodges in Namib-Naukluft National Park
Alternative places to stay in this same area.
Kulala Desert Lodge
The comfortable Kulala Desert Lodge offers fantastic views of the Namib and a private gate to the Namib-Naukluft Park - a bonus on guided excursions.
Hoodia Desert Lodge
The owner-run Hoodia Desert Lodge offers a high standard of accommodation, delicious food and excellent service in a stunning, peaceful setting just 22km from Sesriem.
BullsPort Lodge & Farm
A traditional Namibian farm, BullsPort offers warm hospitality and a genuine rural experience, with excellent hiking and horseriding.
Sossus Dune Lodge
One of only two properties inside the Namib Naukluft Park, Sossus Dune Lodge has a superb location, for visiting the dunes.
Desert Homestead
With great-value accommodation in a lovely setting, Desert Homestead is a great base for exploring Sossusvlei.
Zebra River Lodge
Zebra River Lodge offers a range of hikes around the Tsaris Mountains from a comfortable and homely base.
Little Kulala
A high-end lodge with spectacular views, Little Kulala, makes a great base for visits to Sossusvlei or a balloon ride over the Desert.
Rostock Ritz
The igloo-style chalets at Rostock Ritz offer exceptional desert views and make a convenient stopover between Swakopmund & Sossusvlei.
Barkhan Dune Retreat
Barkhan Dune Retreat is a welcoming lodge close to the impressive Spreetshoogte Pass, majors on hiking and relaxation.
Sossusvlei Lodge
Sossusvlei Lodge is one of the larger options in this area. However, it occupies a convenient location next to the Sesriem gate into the Namib-Naukluft Park.
Namib Outpost
About 30km from the gate to Sossusveli, Namib Outpost is a great base for exploring the dunes and surrounding attractions.
Desert Camp
Desert Camp is an economical option for independent travellers who want to self-cater, and is well situated for access to Sossusvlei.
Desert Quiver Camp
Desert Quiver Camp is an economical option self-catering, well located for access to Sossusvlei.
Elegant Desert Lodge
Elegant Desert Lodge can be used as a base to visit Sossusvlei. It offers comfortable accommodation and facilities in the desert.
Corona Guest Farm
In central Namibia, north-east of the Namib-Naukluft, Corona Guest Farm offers a traditional farm stay and rugged hiking.
Namib Desert Lodge
Namib Desert Lodge is a good budget option in the Namib-Naukluft although, it is further from Sossusvlei than we'd typically suggest.
Sonop
Away from the hustle and bustle of the area immediately surrounding Sossussvlei, Sonop offers a luxurious stay in a remote part of the Namib Desert.
Camp Sossus
Camp Sossus is a offers top notch guiding in a remote wilderness area of the Naukluft Mountains with easy access to the famous dunes of Sossusvlei.
Desert Hills Camp
Conveniently located for the renowned dunes of Sossusvlei Desert Hills Glamping Camp offers a simple but comfortable tents in picturesque surroundings.
Le Mirage Lodge
Le Mirage Resort and Spa offers accommodation and a range of massage and beauty treatments in a Moroccan-style building in the desert.
Desert Grace
A stylish offering giving access to the famous dunes in the Namib-Naukluft National Park as well as to activities on a private nature reserve.
The Nest
Designed to emulate the appearance of a sociable weaver nest the opulent Nest at Sossus is arguably the most exclusive private property in the Sossuvlei area.
