Reviews of Kulala Desert Lodge
Wildlife sightings and reviews
362 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Kulala Desert Lodge and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa
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"Kulala Desert Lodge review"
[ Ed: In their general feedback, these travellers commented:
"I dislike response forms here I have to spoof the system by putting in a full stop if I do not wish to write something on a particular page." ]" See all these reviews: 18n in Namibia; 1n in Zambia
"great lodge in sossusvlei"
"Perfect Desert Location"
"A good lodge in a remote area"
"Kulala Desert Lodge review"
Edward the guide excellent." See all these reviews: 4n in Namibia
"One night not enough at Kulala Desert Lodge"
The accommodation at Kulala is in individual chalets which are large tents overlooking the river bed and the distant dunes with a more permanent section housing the bathroom. The evening meal was a buffet with a wide choice of meats and vegetables including an excellent ratatouille. The lodge was not full and we were a little worried as they wanted us to go out the next morning with a family who wanted to be out all day. We could not do that as we had to leave by about mid day for our next destination. However they quickly found another guide so we were able to set off at day brake with just the very knowledgeable guide and ourselves.
Although we had seen many photographs of the dunes the actual sight of them up close in the early morning takes one's breath away. This is a must see experience on any Namibian visit. Kulala's location with its own entrance means that you can get to Sossusvlei in advance of most other groups though we were a little delayed as we stopped to look at birds en route. Do not stay here though if you want to explore with your own vehicle. It is along way back to the entrance and then it is 60 km from the entrance to Sossusvlei itself. You won't be at the dunes at the best time of day. Better still to go with the tour from the lodge.
The only minus point is that we were booked in for only one night. With hindsight we should have stayed two days so that we could have spent more time exploring the area, as our morning was a bit rushed.
All in all a lovely spot to stay, with friendly staff and excellent food." See all these reviews: 18n in Namibia
"Kulala Desert Lodge review"
"A good place to see the dunes"
Having said that my guide was excellent." See all these reviews: 20n in Namibia
"Kulala Desert Lodge review"
Morning excursion to Sossusvlei:
Mervin was an exceptional guide. we loved the excursion and felt that it was one of the highlights of our trip to Namibia." See all these reviews: 9n in Namibia
"Kulala"
I was slightly flummoxed by not being given a key to the room, and felt untrusting when I asked for one. It is a reasonably large lodge with a lot of people staying for a night or two, and we didn't want to leave expensive camera equipment, ipads etc in temptation's way.
My husband and teenage sons went quadbiking with Llewelyn and had a great time. Otherwise we took our own trip into Sossusvlei ( which meant we couldn't use Kulala's gate) in the afternoon. It was v quiet (we had Deadvlei to ourselves), and we still saw the dramatic light on the dunes, but at the end of the day rather than the beginning.
The main lodge, bar, pool, dining area and terraces are excellent, and the food was fine. My only small criticism is that there was obviously a new manager, and there was a sense of the service being a little erratic, ie sometimes monosyllabic responses were given, at other times the staff were so chatty you felt overwhelmed! A member of staff noticed we had a flat tyre and helped to change it which was much appreciated." See all these reviews: 7n in Namibia
"In general, this feedback was really positive and we are delighted. However there were concerns about Kulala and we wanted to reassure your traveller that we have noted them.
When we opened the camp we started by issuing keys to the guests. Unfortunately we started losing keys frequently; we were replacing locks every day for a while. We now issue keys to guests upon request and we keep the keys in the managers office. There is also a safe provided in the rooms for valuables. It does need to be communicated effectively that there is the option for guests to have a key to their room if they require one, and we shall ensure this is being done. We are looking into this process and seeing where we can make improvements, although this method is working well and this is the first time we have seen negative feedback about this.
The camp has undergone a little period of unsettled management due to the re-opening of the lodge with many more guests to cater for. It has been a difficult transition for management and staff alike, but we are confident that things there are now running more smoothly and with the correct support from the operations team will continue to do so.
One of our Operations Team visited Kulala Desert Lodge last week [Ed: around 15-22 Sept 2012] and the managers all seemed very positive and met a lot of extremely happy guests."
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Other lodges in Namib-Naukluft National Park
Alternative places to stay in this same area.
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.
Dead Valley Lodge
Dead Valley Lodge is inside the Namib-Naukluft National Park, affording guests almost unprecedented access to the dunes.
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.
