Dune Lark Fly & Drive Safari: Day-by-day

Elegant is a simple, homely guesthouse that provides the ideal starting or finishing point for an epic Namibian road-trip. A simple, chic Windhoek guesthouse that’s the ideal place to relax at the beginning or end of your trip. Elegant by name, elegant by nature. It’s the watchword of this simple, contemporary pension in quiet residential neighbourhood Klein Windhoek. The guesthouse is close enough to the city centre (five minutes’ drive ish) to revel in the low-key buzz of Namibia’s capital, but far enough away to offer a slice of suburban cool (literally, thanks to plenty of shady spots).

Six low-slung white-and-brick rooms gathered around a courtyard are welcoming and comfortable, and the palm trees sticking out of the corrugated roof add a playful touch.

There’s an easy-breezy open-plan feel here, helped by the homely lounge (particularly inviting after a hot afternoon spent exploring Windhoek), pool surrounded by sun loungers, pot plants placed at jaunty angles around the property and groomed lawn complete with bistro furniture. The easy-going vibe makes it an ideal place to begin or end your Namibia trip.

"a great place to stay on our first night in Namibia"

Claire MfromToronto

Arrived 23 Sep 2023, 1 night

Although the breakfast here is excellent (think eggs and bacon on demand), make the pilgrimage to Joe’s Beerhouse down the road from the hotel for lunch or dinner. It’s a lively, beer bottle-decorated sprawl of tables and a local must-do. See our full report on Elegant Guesthouse

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

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.

"Another great place in a fantastic setting."

Mr & Mrs BfromWraysbury

Arrived 23 Sep 2024, 1 night

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

Ozondjou Trails may suggest walking, but the camp’s focus – on Namibia’s desert-adapted elephants – is far more complex. After just two nights spent here, you’ll leave with a clearer understanding of these extraordinary animals, and of the challenges they present to farmers trying to make a living in the surrounding villages.

Right from the start, you’ll be introduced to members of the community, both on a local farm and – in term time – at a nearby school. These are the families who live alongside the elephants and who are crucial to the animals’ survival.

The following day, you’ll link up with a team from the NGO Elephant Human Relations Aid (EHRA) while they’re out and about tracking and studying Damaraland’s elephants – from bulls on musth to matriarchal herds roaming the ephemeral riverbeds in search of food and water.

The chances are that you’ll spot plenty of other wildlife too. Oryx and kudu, ostrich and giraffe: they too are well adapted to life in this arid landscape.

"the highlight of our trip... "

Mr & Mrs NfromPortsmouth

Arrived 16 Sep 2022, 2 nights

The camp itself is simple, its tented rooms stripped back to the essentials, yet with comfortable beds, en-suite hot showers, and surprisingly delicious meals. With short walks, picnic lunches, sundowners and dinner under the stars, you’ll find yourself immersed not just in the culture but also in the landscape. It’s a memorable place. See our full report on Ozondjou Trails

Grootberg Lodge is located on a large private concession in the remote northwest of Namibia, part way between Damaraland and Etosha National Park. Perched on the edge of the Etendeka Plateau, Grootberg has some of the most spectacular views of any lodge in Namibia – and a range of activities from rhino-tracking to walks and interactions with the local communities.

"Amazing vista"

Mr & Mrs SfromE Sussex

Arrived 27 Sep 2024, 2 nights

After our most recent visit in 2018, once we had tackled the steep drive up to the top of the plateau, we were incredibly impressed. Grootberg has a very homely and welcoming vibe – partly due to the managers and partly due to the community involvement here. Its location is amazing and its generally excellent activities make it a very good choice in Damaraland See our full report on Grootberg Lodge

Situated between Damaraland and Namibia’s Etosha National Park, but somewhat off the obvious route, Hobatere Lodge was re-opened under community ownership in April 2015, having been closed for some years. The lodge is set on its own 88km² concession, and is approximately 18km from the Galton Gate into the west of the park.

"The best thing about Hobatere was its closeness to the west side of Etosha"

S & S fromAlaska

Arrived 5 Oct 2024, 2 nights

Hobatere may be slightly off the main tourist route, but it is well worth the effort to reach it, and we have really enjoyed our last few stays. Accommodation is comfortable, the food is good, and there's plenty of space, with a pool to relax by. It has been fantastic to see the game densities increase since the lodge’s re-opening. Game-viewing opportunities here are now back to a high level, making it an ideal place to stop between Damaraland and Etosha, or to base yourself to explore the western side of the park. See our full report on Hobatere Lodge

Boasting a superb location, its own floodlit waterhole and relatively good value, Halali ticks a lot of boxes. It’s also the smallest of Etosha’s original government restcamps, and quieter too – a big plus when watching animals is the focus of every visitor.

Unique among these restcamps is Halali’s dolomite kopje, which offers the opportunity for a short walk within the camp, something that’s all too rare in this iconic national park.

Dotted among the trees across the otherwise level site are chalets and rooms in various configurations. Functional but clean, all are geared to self-drivers and some come with cooking facilities. If that doesn’t fit into your holiday picture, there’s a restaurant on site too, and the large swimming pool is a strong attraction for families.

Of prime interest to most is Halali’s permanent waterhole, an inviting magnet for black rhino, elephant and plenty of plains game. With a natural setting on the edge of the camp, it’s a peaceful spot to while away an hour or two.

"long drive into Etosha. contrast of the accommodation & food with previous stops"

Mike & DawnfromBolton

Arrived 22 Sep 2024, 2 nights

To explore the national park, you’ll need to take to a vehicle – your own or on one of the camp’s game drives. After dark, though, a game drive is your only option, a great opportunity to seek out Etosha’s nocturnal creatures in near isolation. See our full report on Halali Camp

Underpinning almost every stay at Okonjima is the chance to track – and photograph – wildlife, and especially leopard. Even for the most casual visitor, the plains, rocks and riverine thickets of the huge Okonjima private reserve make an enticing setting for a game drive or a walk through the bush; for the keen photographer, it's close to leopard heaven.

To an extent, Plains Camp mirrors the size of the reserve in its sheer scale. Whether they're after a drink or a substantial meal, a curio or to book a game drive, guests gather in The Barn, a spacious yet contemporary take on a traditional farm building, complete with floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking the plains. Murals depict the cattle-farming origins of the camp, while an old farm dam is the influence behind the swimming pool.

Echoing the sense of space are the bedrooms, where splashes of colour and African artwork offset the light décor, and views from the beds could be an incentive for a lie-in.

"'leopard tracking' and 'night drive' excellent - the guide very knowledgeable."

K&RfromYorkshire

Arrived 23 Jun 2024, 2 nights

And in case you need a further incentive, a stay at Okonjima also contributes to the work of the AfriCat Foundation, which is committed to further wildlife conservation through education and research. See our full report on Okonjima Plains Camp