Namibia - Land of big skies and red dunes plus our top 5 pick of lodges

Natural wonders such as that mighty Fish River Canyon and the wildlife paradise of Etosha National Park mesmerize, but it’s the picture of the desolate desert where mighty slabs of rock rise out of earth’s sand that remains in your mind long after visiting there. Amber red sand dunes in the world’s oldest desert meet the crashing waves of the wild Atlantic Ocean. German legacy is evident in the cuisine and art nouveau architecture, and in festivals such as Windhoek’s very own Oktoberfest. Namibia is also headquarters of top class outdoor adventure activities west of the Victoria Falls. Whether you’re a dreamer floating over the Skeleton Coast in a hot-air balloon or love getting active in a truly remote wilderness, Namibia will stay with you long after the desert sun sets beneath a scorching horizon.

Mushara Bush Camp

Located just outside the Etosha National Park in Northern Namibia.  The main feature in the centre of the park is an extraordinary and immensely big dry salt pan. The pan’s shimmering white crust of salt crystals extends as far as the eye can see. Water normally filters up after the rains, attracting a wide variety of plains game in large numbers - oryx, wildebeest, kudu, zebra, giraffe, impala, springbok and eland together with herds of elephant.  Lion is the dominant predator here and ever-present on the fringes.

 

Serra Cafema

Disguised by Albida trees within the Hartmann Valley by the Kunene River’s raging rapids, surrounded by the timeless Namib Desert - Serra Cafema is one of the most remote and mystical camps in Africa. Metamorphic mountains are carved by raging rivers, early morning mists smother the valley with a haunting ambience - an almost eerie silence broken only by the unique desert wildlife. With access to the local Himba people, who are some of the few remaining truly nomadic people in Southern Africa, Serra Cafema provides an utterly surreal experience. In this isolated area, the Himba people continue their traditional semi-nomadic way of life. Quad-biking and guided drives take you across rolling golden sand dunes, with sightings of mountain zebra, ostrich and springbok just a few.

Onguma Tented Camp 

On the eastern side of Etosha, the country’s finest national park, Onguma overlooks an active waterhole and game can be seen from the private deck or shower of each of its seven luxury tents. Well located for day trips into the park, the camp is surrounded by more than 34,000 hectares of savannah, bushveld and dry pan, so it is well worth spending a day on safari in the immediate area.

Okonjima and the Africat Foundation

Accommodation at Okonjima is variable to suit all tastes and budgets… from a basic and comfortable Plains Camp to the plush Grand African Villa which is a sole-use property perfect for small groups and families. The lodge also offers game drives into the private reserve, nature and bushman trails on foot as well as excellent bird watching. The photography opportunities here are endless.  Naturally big cats are the main attraction for Okonjima and as Namibia has over 20% of the world's cheetah population – the largest concentration in the world.  Okonjima is one of the best places to see not only cheetahs in the wild but one appreciates the success of the foundation. Over 1080 big cats have been saved since 1993 – of which 86% have been released back into the wild!

 

Wolwedans Dune Camp 

Space is the first thing you notice here, almost a lunar landscape, red and cream sand dunes of breath-taking proportions, shifting throughout the day as the temperature changes. In the heart of the NamibRand private nature reserve, this camp sits right on the edge of an 800ft-high dune that towers majestically above it. Just 12 paying guests are accommodated in open tents erected on wooden platforms, each with a spacious deck for sleep-outs under the stars. Scenic drives take in the fascinating geological formations, as well as the hardy flora and fauna.