Chongololo Self-drive Safari: Day-by-day

Mirroring the surrounding trees, the soft palette that defines the Olive Grove oozes tranquillity and relaxation. From the moment you arrive, whether off a long flight or after a busy safari, the old house exudes a warm welcome, matched by a friendly yet professional team of staff.

Much is made of natural materials, from stone floors and walls to neutral-coloured cement bathrooms, creating a contemporary yet stylish feel that is hard to resist. Beautifully furnished rooms with soft lighting add to the mood, with hot-water bottles to offset winter chills – and a cool plunge pool for warmer months. Wrought-iron tables and chairs add a gentle Mediterranean touch, enhanced by Moroccan lanterns and mosaic detail.

"...rooms were spacious, well-appointed and comfortable..."

Mr & Mrs RfromSyderstone

Arrived 12 Aug 2024, 1 night

Even the setting, in a quiet residential street, feels far from the bustle of the small capital, yet just a five-minute drive brings you to the heart of the city. But think first before you head out to dine. The à la carte restaurant here is open for lunch and dinner (as well as an excellent breakfast), with an open-plan kitchen that encourages you to feast on culinary delights with your eyes as well as your tastebuds. With the bonus of a small wellness centre, this is truly a place to savour. See our full report on Olive Grove

Namibia is a land of mirages and at first sight BüllsPort Lodge & Farm could be one. It shimmers into view in a huge, empty landscape beneath the Namib Naukluft Mountains, a haven for cattle, game, thoroughbred horses and travellers. Managing this remarkable menagerie are farmer Ernst Sauber and his wife Johanna, who have created 14 comfortable and stylish guest rooms in outbuildings to help them through recurring droughts.

There are more luxurious and expensive lodges, but this is a genuine farmstay for visitors wishing to experience rural Namibian life. Ernst has created hiking and biking trails in and around the mountains and takes guests on drives around the farm, while Johanna lives her dream of breeding the finest bloodline horses in the country and schooling them for lessons, day rides and two-day safaris.

Blink and you’d miss a rustic primary school a few miles away for children from farms in the area, but the Saubers support it and visits can be arranged to hear the school choir and chat with staff. Such experiences linger in the memory.

"We enjoyed this stop very much - could interact and get to know the owner ..."

Mr & Mrs LfromGloucester

Arrived 29 Sep 2024, 2 nights

As does dinner with the farmer and his wife by candlelight, beneath a huge umbrella-thorn tree, with kudu and mountain zebra on the menu. See our full report on BullsPort Lodge and Farm

What an experience! Although not really a 'lodge' or a 'camp' – Tok Tokkie Trails run a two-night/three-day walking trail in the NamibRand Nature Reserve. Visitors stay on the Tok Tokkie trail in the reserve for three days, whilst they explore the unique desert landscape on a guided walking trail.

"n many ways the highlight of our amazing trip...fantastic guide and host."

Mr & Mrs NfromCheshire

Arrived 6 May 2024, 2 nights

Tok Tokkie Trails offers an experience rather than just a place to stay. We thought it was excellent, very close to nature, with knowledgeable and affable guides. Sleeping out under the stars isn't for everyone – but if you like the idea, then these trips are magical! See our full report on Tok Tokkie Trails

Dwarfed by the majesty of the Namib-Naukluft Mountains, Hoodia Desert Lodge is both welcoming and stylish. It’s a winning combination at this owner-managed lodge, where Thomas and Henreza Becker are often on hand to greet their guests with a cool drink after a dusty journey through the desert.

Freshening up is next on the agenda, perhaps in the small pool sculpted into natural rock, perhaps in the privacy of your spacious air-conditioned chalet, where a powerful shower awaits. Or take indulgence to another level and luxuriate in the decadence of your own open-air bath.

Then relax on your shaded veranda and take in the views – whether of the ephemeral Tsauchab River or across the plains to the mountains.

If the setting is special, so is the restaurant, where delicious traditional and international cuisine is accompanied by a selection of South African wines, matched by attentive service. Tables are set around a large fireplace, which in summer morphs into a barbecue, while centre stage are the views, best seen from the outside terrace which doubles as a good spot for birdwatching, and a superb sundowner spot.

"Great! Everything was perfect. Great food, great rooms, great staff!"

MDBfromAlaska

Arrived 3 Oct 2024, 2 nights

Explore the immediate surroundings on foot, but to make the most of the iconic desert surroundings, look at the full-day excursion. With excellent interpretive guides and a superb picnic lunch, it’s a real highlight of your Namib experience. See our full report on Hoodia Desert Lodge

Most frequently accessed by road on a self-drive itinerary, Rostock Ritz is around 240km from Windhoek or Swakopmund, and 120km from Sesriem. This quirkily designed lodge offers simple accommodation in an attractive setting with sweeping views of expansive gravel plains and the Rostock Mountains.

"it was a shame we weren't staying there longer."

JDfromHarrogate

Arrived 11 Nov 2023, 1 night

Whether you decide to stop for lunch or stay the night, Rostock Ritz Desert Lodge is a convenient place to break the journey between Swakopmund and Sesriem. It offers the opportunity to relax surrounded by superb scenery, with unique accommodation and friendly service. A stay at Rostock would also fit very well into a relatively slow trip around Namibia, with an accent on walking. See our full report on Rostock Ritz

At last, travellers can explore the majesty of the Spitzkoppe massif from a comfortable, attractive lodge in a dramatic setting. Strung out among the boulders at the foot of the mountain, Spitzkoppen Lodge is almost dwarfed by the surrounding grandeur.

Granite boulders smoothed over millennia gleam red in the evening sun, their nooks and crannies populated by busy rock hyrax. Deep in those crevices are hidden galleries of San rock art, hinting at the history of these ancient hills. And high above looms the lofty pinnacle that is Spitzkoppe itself.

Sensibly, the brains behind the lodge have kept their touch light, letting the setting speak for itself. High walkways weave over and around the rocks between the chalets and the hub of the lodge, with mountain views or hidden crannies at almost every turn.

Light floods into the rooms and the central area from giant picture windows, with natural wood and soft fabrics adding to the sense of space. And the pool – set into a natural depression with magnificent views from the surrounding rocks – simply adds to the drama.

"Definitely one of the highlights of our 5 week trip."

Mr & Mrs M fromHagley

Arrived 28 May 2024, 2 nights

Head out across the plains from your chalet and explore the private reserve in solitude, or join a guided walk or drive, perhaps taking in the Zebra Pool or a magnificent rock arch. Then return to herald the sunset, drink in hand, and reflect on the wonders of nature. See our full report on Spitzkoppen Lodge

Situated in the heart of southern Damaraland, between Namibia's Ugab and the Huab rivers, the smart Mowani Mountain Camp commands a stunning location. Perched high on a rocky outcrop, the camp is nestled amongst large granite boulders and has superb views across gravel plains to the mountains beyond.

"A fabulous location - food was phenomenal - desert elephant excursion wonderful"

K&RfromYorkshire

Arrived 16 Jun 2024, 2 nights

Mowani Mountain Camp's innovative, integrated design and comfortable rooms, along with its spectacular views, makes it a lovely base for a couple of nights in this area. Most visitors drive themselves here, giving them the flexibility to either drive around in their own vehicle, or be driven on a 4WD excursion by one of the camp's guides See our full report on Mowani Mountain Camp

Trekking on foot though the hills of the Grootberg Massive promises travellers a unique perspective on one of Namibia’s most remote and untouched wilderness areas. An expert guide will be on hand throughout the 3-4 day walking trail to point out the flora, fauna and geology of this harsh but surprisingly verdant and undeniably breathtaking landscape.

"Fantastic scenery and enjoyable walking"

Mr & Mrs PfromReading

Arrived 16 Sep 2024, 2 nights

Whether you're seeking solitude, stunning landscapes, or an authentic Namibian wilderness experience, the Etendeka Walking Trail promises to deliver a truly unforgettable adventure. The hiking can be a real challenge but quality guiding in the untouched Namibian wilderness promises to make the challenge worth it.We can't wait to give the trail a go ourselves. See our full report on Etendeka Walking Trail

Stunning views over the plains of its own private reserve set the scene at the smart Ongava Lodge. And if the view is superb, so is the wildlife – perhaps to be expected in such close proximity to Etosha National Park.

With plains game aplenty on the reserve, predators are rarely far behind, but pride of place goes to both black and white rhino. Spotting these primeval giants from a game-drive 4WD is exciting in itself, but to approach white rhino on foot is an opportunity not to be missed.

Back at the lodge, every area maximises the views – and the wildlife. In the spacious, air-conditioned chalets, floor-to-ceiling glass doors open onto a veranda that overlooks the plains. At the hub of the camp, an attractive dining terrace looks down onto a floodlit waterhole. And a strategically placed hide allows you to get even closer to the animals.

"Amazing hotel and amazing drives"

R&EfromLondon

Arrived 24 Sep 2024, 2 nights

In this exclusive setting, comfort is the watchword. Wander down to the pool for a cooling afternoon dip, or freshen up before dinner in your open-air shower. Then order a drink at the bar, and take in the Namibian night sky from the terrace. Or, come the cooler evenings, cosy down around a wood fire with a book from the library. And if you’re lucky enough to spot rhino at the waterhole, that’s a further bonus. See our full report on Ongava Lodge

Mundulea is unique: personal, quirky and very intimate, it offers the chance to explore Namibia’s natural world on foot. For those who seek not merely to see, but to understand, Mundulea should be top of the list.

The reserve was created through the dedication and passion of owners Bruno and Kate Nebe, who set about re-wilding this area of the Otavi Mountains at the turn of the millennium. One of Namibia’s top guides, with an encyclopedic knowledge and seemingly infinite curiosity, Bruno has re-introduced most of the wildlife that is naturally found in the region, protecting Namibian rarities such as black-faced impala and the heavily endangered pangolin.

Visitors at Mundulea explore on the animals’ terms, for this is no ordinary safari. Yes, there are hides, strategically placed so you can sit and watch animals as they come to drink, but for the most part you will be out there on foot, glimpsing giraffes through the trees, coming across zebra in a clearing, or perhaps listening to the stampeding hooves of eland at dusk.

"a highlight of our trip!...one of the most talented trackers I have ever met"

Mr & Ms HfromSaint Louis

Arrived 19 Mar 2024, 3 nights

There are forests to negotiate, hills to climb, and even caves – though only the very brave will do more than look into these! Then return to the simple yet comfortable camp for good home cooking over an open fire, a spot of R&R – and some superb birdwatching. See our full report on Mundulea Reserve

To stay at Ai Aiba is to be immersed in an extraordinary gallery of ancient rock art. It's no accident that the place is also known as The Rock Painting Lodge, for here – amidst the rugged terrain of the remote Erongo Mountains – the San people were recording their way of life in art more than 2,000 years ago.

It’s fitting, then, that Ai Aiba is a simple lodge, its deeply thatched roofs and small windows keeping the extremes of weather at bay.

That’s not to say it goes without creature comforts: air conditioning in the 20 en-suite rooms is welcome in the summer heat, while enjoying a coffee in your own living area or veranda is the perfect way to unwind in privacy.

The main area is comfortable, too, with tables laid for good, home-cooked meals, a warming fire for winter evenings and a bar on hand for cooling drinks.

But it’s the great outdoors that is at the heart of the lodge’s appeal. Even without leaving the grounds you can bask by the palm-shaded pool or settle down in the peace of the lush gardens.

"one of our favourite lodges - warthogs grazing on the grass - sundowner perfect!"

Mr & Mrs H fromVictoria

Arrived 12 Sep 2024, 2 nights

Explore on foot, with or without a guide; you just choose the distance. Or venture further by 4WD and discover more of Erongo’s secrets. And to learn more, take in a visit to one of Namibia’s “living museums”, where San people depict their traditional way of life. See our full report on Ai Aiba Lodge