AndBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge

Located in Namibia, Southern Africa

Surrounded by the mountains and sand dunes of the Namib Desert, Sossusvlei Desert Lodge is an escape to the world as it should be. Sheer silence, total tranquillity and romantic luxury. From stargazing to intimate picnics in the desert, this is an extraordinary desert wilderness.

Nestled deep in the heart of Namibia's ancient Namib Desert in Southern Africa, the lodge is a secluded and serene oasis that overlooks awe-inspiring dunes and stony outcrops. A world of vast spaces, endless horizons and rugged mountain heights, the utter tranquillity and extraordinary clarity of light make this area one of Africa’s most compelling landscapes.

In this spectacularly beautiful location, spacious and serene suites envelope guests in pure indulgence, complete with an outdoor shower and a dramatic skylight over the bed for late night star gazing.

If you're up for something more active, quad biking adventures, hikes and walks will let you explore the surrounding scenery and satisfy your sense of adventure.

Guest areas flow into vast desert views, as the stone and glass structure of the Lodge melts into wraparound verandas. Cool water gushes from an underground spring into the refreshing lodge pool, while an extensive walk-in wine cellar provides refreshment of a different sort. Mouth watering dinners are served by lantern light on the open dining veranda or in a surprise location in the nearby dunes. When night falls, our resident astronomer reveals the mysteries of the stars in our state of the art observatory.

Elements of bone, slate and stone create a dramatic, yet entirely natural, look, while rough timberwork, twiggy chandeliers and wooden sculptures call to mind the craggy mountains. Massive windows in the split-level bedroom and sitting room, as well as the ensuite bathroom, open onto the wide plains where you can’t help but lose yourself in the breathtaking beauty of the desert from the comfort of your private veranda. The dusky pink colours of the natural rose quartz that Namibia is known for provide a fresh contrast to the creams and greys of the interiors.

Cradled against ancient mountains, looking out onto a broad rocky plain that rises towards distant dunes of fiery sand, &Beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge boasts a location that is at once dramatic and serene. Fantastically formed rock formations vie for attention with massive sand dunes as the shifting rays of the sun bring the landscape to life. With just ten villas constructed of stone and glass, guests can enjoy the solitary splendour of this remote landscape in privacy. Suites are air conditioned against the searing heat of day and cosy fireplaces ward off the chill of winter nights.

A Day at Sossusvlei Desert Lodge

Morning Nature Drive

Explore the NamibRand Nature Reserve on a scenic nature drive, which concentrates on unique desert-adapted plants and wildlife, as well as the starkly beautiful desert landscapes.

Breakfast

Return to the lodge for a delicious breakfast, with platters of fruit and cheese followed by a selection of hot breakfast dishes. Choose from eggs, oats, waffles or a number of other options.

Lunch

If you wish, you can walk off your breakfast on a short walk near the lodge. It is safe for you to walk alone, but you can ask your guide to accompany you on a longer walk to a cave with San Bushman paintings, sharing his invaluable insight into the smaller animals and vegetation of the area en route. Return to the lodge in time for lunch, served on the wraparound verandas.

Afternoon Tea

Cool off with a refreshing dip in the pool or indulge in a siesta before afternoon tea.

Quad bike trail

If you're feeling adventurous enough, venture out on a quad bike trail, led by an experienced guide. Well established trails lead over the dunes and rocky outcrops.

Dinner

A mouthwatering dinner awaits back at the lodge or in a dramatic desert location. After dinner, a resident astronomer unlocks the secrets of the southern skies at the lodge's observatory. End your night looking up into African stars through the skylight positioned above your king sized bed.

Wildlife at Sossussvlei

The majestic oryx (or gemsbok) is the iconic antelope of the Namib Desert. With its bold black and white facial markings, sweeping horns and ochre coat, this striking animal is an unforgettable sight against the breathtaking setting. Herds of up to thirty appear on the open plains or amongst the dunes. Uniquely adapted to their desert home, oryx are able to live without water by extracting sufficient moisture from their diet.

Often spotted standing atop the highest dunes, the antelope maintain this photogenic pose in order to lose heat stored in their bodies in the slight breeze. Another animal that has adapted to the harsh desert terrain is the Hartmann’s mountain zebra, which digs beneath the earth’s surface for its drinking water. The springbok, which gets its name from its habit of leaping off the ground with all four feet, is also characteristic of the arid Namib Desert.

Offering an experience that encompasses both sandy dunes and rocky outcrops, guests to the NamibRand are guaranteed to view a variety of desert habitats. The harsh environmental conditions that exist here have led to the evolution of numerous plant and animal species that are specially adapted to survive in the desert.

&Beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge is set in the far northern part of the NamibRand Nature Reserve, a vast area of over 440 000 acres that lies between the endless dune fields of the Namib Desert and the jagged mountains of the escarpment. Offering an experience that encompasses both sandy dunes and rocky outcrops, guests to the NamibRand are guaranteed to view a variety of desert habitats. The harsh environmental conditions that exist here have led to the evolution of numerous plant and animal species that are specially adapted to survive in the desert.

The world’s largest bird, the ostrich, does superbly in the arid habitat of the Namib, where it rarely seeks shade or water. Aardwolf, bat-eared and Cape fox, as well as porcupine spend a large portion of their lives underground, emerging at night, when temperatures have dropped.

Activities at Sossusvlei Desert Lodge

Sossusvlei Hot Air Ballooning

As the sun’s first rays peek over scarlet sand dunes, the hot air balloon drifts slowly upward revealing the undulating landscapes of Sossusvlei. This soul-satisfying journey offers excellent photographic opportunities and lifelong memories!

Quad Biking

Set out on a quad bike trail through the dunes, led by an experienced guide. Enjoy the solitude and majesty of the desert as the trail winds over the dunes and rocky outcrops. As the day winds to a close, stop to enjoy a chilled sundowner as a dazzle of stars slowly comes to full, blazing life in the velvety night sky.

Desert Activities

Scenic drives in open 4x4x safari vehicles on the NamibRand Nature Reserve. Closed air conditioned vehcile excurisons to Sossusvlei and the Sesrien Canyon (at an additional cost). Guided nature walks and marked hiking trails. Stargazing from the lodge's sophisticated observatory and hot air ballooning and scenic flights over the desert (at an additional cost) are all examples of some of the activities available.

Scenic drives

Set off on a scenic drive to the fascinating petrified dunes, a frozen landscape of endless undulating waves or choose to explore the massive boulders of Bushman’s Koppies, haphazardly strewn one on top of the other like a giant’s building blocks. Stop to admire the thousand hues of a desert sunset before returning to the lodge in the evening. Scenic drives offer an opportunity to encounter a variety of desert-adapted animals such as gemsbok, zebra, springbok, bat-eared fox, aardwolf, caracal and jackal.

Stargazing

The lodge’s observatory provides the ideal place to gaze in awe at the wonders of the clear desert sky, with the resident astronomer on hand to point out the brightest and most beautiful constellations.

Children

Children are welcome at &Beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge.

Should parents wish to share a room with younger children, the lodge is able to accommodate a limited number of triple rooms, where an additional bed is set up in the parents’ room for children 16 years or younger. Children aged six to 11 can participate in most lodge activities at the lodge manager’s discretion, although quad bike (ATV) excursions are limited to those over the age of 16. While children younger than six cannot participate in scheduled lodge activities, childminders can be arranged during activities and at meal times at an additional cost.

&Beyond's WILDChild Programme

Designed especially for children visiting &Beyond’s lodges, WILDchild is a filled with fun, interactive activities that offer opportunities to learn and discover new experiences and cultures. On arrival at &Beyond Sossusvlei Derert Lodge, each child will receive a WILDchild branded bag containing a logbook, crayons, pencils and a pawprint tattoo. There is a personalised welcome note for every child, with those under three getting an African-themed soft toy as well.

Rates

Please contact us for our latest rates and availability.

Included

Accommodation
Three meals daily
Soft drinks
House wines
Local brand spirits and beers
Teas and coffees
Refreshments on game drives
Laundry
Safari activities
Guided nature walks
Quad bike excursions in the NamibRand Reserve (subject to availability)
Emergency medical evacuation insurance
VAT
Transfers to and from the lodge airstrip
1 excursion to Sossusvlei

Excluded

Telephone calls
Safari shop purchases
Gratuities
All items of a personal nature
Champagne
Cognacs
Fine wines
Premium brand spirits and cigars
Government bed levy and landing fees
Administration fee

Rate Conditions

All rates are inclusive of VAT and in Namibian Dollars (NAD).
Accommodation rates are per person per night sharing.
Single Supplement: A single supplement of 50% applies from the first single room.
Children under the age of 16 sharing with 1 or 2 adult are charged 50% of the adult rate. This is subject to the availability of triple rooms.
All pricing is indicative and subject to exchange rate fluctuations.
AndBeyond Trading Terms apply