Sable Self-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.

"Nice welcome, and good advice on restaurants."

M&JfromOxfordshire

Arrived 18 Jul 2024, 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

Relax in luxury and be lulled to sleep among the tree tops at Onguma Camp Kala. And in case that’s not adventurous enough, your bedroom can be left entirely open to one side, with the sights and the sounds of the bush all around.

Watch the comings and goings at the floodlit waterhole from your balcony, or even from the open-air shower: at Camp Kala, the antelope, giraffe, zebra and more that come to drink are rarely out of your sight – and nor is the occasional predator.

In the hub of the camp you’ll find a comfortable lounge with a warming stove and a help-yourself bar. Chat with the chefs in the open-plan kitchen while they prepare your meal, or head for the cosy firepit where guests – never more than eight – gather to discuss the day’s adventures (though still with a watchful eye on the waterhole, of course).

"fabulous stay could lounge on the deck all day watching animals at the waterhole"

Mr & Mrs BWfromThe Sands

Arrived 4 Aug 2019, 2 nights

So come for the wildlife – both in the private Onguma Reserve and in Namibia’s renowned magnet for wildlife, Etosha National Park. Come for the intimacy and the shared experience. But above all, come for the feel of the bush and a real sense of the wilderness. See our full report on Onguma Camp Kala

Opened in 2010, River Dance Lodge is built high in the riverine forest that lines northern Namibia’s Kavango River. This small, owner-run property has strong community links, with many of the staff hired from local villages. Guests at River Dance are invited to soak up the view, relax on the river and learn more about the Caprivi’s prolific birdlife.

"Excellent"

Boghall birderfromRoslin

Arrived 15 Nov 2022, 2 nights

With views of the river, a tranquil setting and excellent birdlife, River Dance is a great spot for birding, fishing or simply taking in the setting. On our last visit we so enjoyed the ambience and food that we wished we could have stayed longer. The only down side seems to be the lack of proximity to the Caprivi’s national parks. That said, as a place to kick back and relax River Dance would be hard to beat. See our full report on River Dance Lodge

Floating down the narrow, lily-strewn channels that surround Nxamaseri offers a truly tranquil perspective on the Okavango. As your boat glides up to Nxamaseri's wooden jetty, the lodge's island location comes into its own. Cast away for the duration of your stay, you'll be welcomed and looked after by staff drawn largely from the local community.

Spacious chalets of wood and canvas nestle into the thick riverine vegetation, most high enough to look over the water from their wooden decks and semi-open bedrooms – and deliciously cool even in the heat of the day.

Sharing that perspective are a comfortable lounge with handcrafted furniture, a solid communal dining table, and a firepit where guests gather to discuss the day's adventures.

Nxamaseri was founded as a fishing lodge, and remains a superb spot for both experienced anglers and those just wanting to have a go – in the expert hands of guides who have grown up around these waters.

Come, too, for the birds – the resident waterbirds, the occasional rarity such as the slaty egret or African skimmer, and those that flock here on migration, including the spectacular carmine bee-eater.

"The food, service and room were excellent...would love to return Nxamaseri!!"

Ms J.fromNorthallerton

Arrived 29 Jun 2023, 2 nights

But most of all, come for the setting – both the river itself, and the nearby Tsodilo Hills, whose ancient rock art reflects a culture whose influence continues down the years. See our full report on Nxamaseri Lodge

Surrounded by trees in the beautiful and peaceful Wuparo Conservancy, the small Nkasa Lupala Tented Lodge was opened in 2011. The lodge is built on the banks of a channel of the Kwando–Linyanti river system, only a short drive from the Namibia’s Nkasa Rupara (formerly Mamili) National Park and is a perfect base from which to explore this little-visited corner of the Zambezi Region (widely known as the Caprivi Strip).

"highlight is its location - over looking a water hole frequented by elephants."

JonathanfromNewcastle

Arrived 21 Jul 2024, 2 nights

Remote Nkasa Lupala is a lovely choice for exploring Nkasa Rupara National Park, and its open location should attract those with a sense of adventure. Food, service and comfort are all of a high standard, and the remote location gives a real sense of being in the wilderness. See our full report on Nkasa Lupala Tented Lodge

A riot of lush foliage frames the entrance to the Chobe River Lodge, hinting at the far-from-corporate guesthouse within. Indeed, this attractive thatched building has more in common with a safari lodge than with Kasane’s large hotels. Quietly secluded within beautiful gardens, it’s an uncomplicated set up matched by personal service and a friendly touch that is often missing from the larger establishments.

For starters, guests dine together at one big communal table, overlooking lawns that lead down to the Chobe River. And these, in turn, are beloved of the local hippos, who sometimes turn up to graze at nightfall.

Then at the heart of the lodge, a proper pool takes up one side of the the lofty lounge area, open to the sky, and lined by welcoming sunloungers. And the verandah, invites guests to settle down with a pair of binoculars and watch the river.

And so to the rooms: comfortable beds, unfussy décor, tiled floors, en-suite bathrooms, individual verandas. The feel is homely yet uncluttered.

"We would have stayed longerif we had known & would recommend it to anyone..."

Dr M & Mr DfromYorkshire

Arrived 6 May 2022, 1 night

It all adds up to a welcoming place to while away the time between activities: game drives into Chobe National Park are operated by the lodge itself, as are boat cruises from its own jetty. See our full report on Chobe River Lodge

Not just the most famous name in town, this grand old lady of yesteryear is still up there with the best. Let’s start with the setting. Looking proudly down on the bridge that spans the Zambezi River gorge, the Victoria Falls Hotel remains the closest hotel in town to the waterfall. Just a 15-minute stroll from the extensive lawns and you’re gazing at one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Then there’s the sheer glamour of the place. Oozing Edwardian style, it is now fitted out in contemporary comfort to marry the charm of the old world with the efficiency of the new.

Not least among its attractions is the imposing Livingstone Room. While jackets and ties are no longer de rigueur, dinner here remains a gloriously formal occasion with a top-notch menu, along with dancing accompanied by a live pianist.

Of course, you could work up an appetite on the tennis court or in the pool, but a relaxing spa treatment seems rather more appropriate before high tea, or perhaps cocktails on the terrace.

"The grounds of the hotel are very beautiful"

C&AfromMunich

Arrived 28 Jan 2024, 2 nights

Combine this with committed, service-orientated staff, and it’s no wonder that the hotel remains the place to stay in Victoria Falls. See our full report on Victoria Falls Hotel