Andbeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge
Ultimate Luxury on the Edge of the Namib Desert
Andbeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge Is A Very Luxurious And Sophisticated Lodge On The Edge Of The Namib Desert.
Located in the north-east corner of the exclusive NamibRand Nature Reserve, bordering the Namib Naukluft National Park in southern Namibia, AndBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge is a long-established top end luxury offering. This really is as comfortable and sophisticated as it gets in Namibia, and the surrounding desert offers a variety of experiences, including access to Sossusvlei and the magical red dunes of the Namib Desert. In between activities, the style and comfort of the lodge lends itself to some exclusive relaxation – this a great place to unwind and have some quiet time too.
Rooms
The lodge accommodates around 24 guests in 11 spacious, glass fronted, air-conditioned suites with contemporary minimalist interiors. Each suites comprises a sleeping and lounge area (with fireplace), separate en suite facilities (with indoor and outdoor showers) and a furnished patio with a private plunge pool. Above the bed is a retractable skylight, offering you views of the star-lit night sky! One of the suites is the two bedroomed Star Dune Suite – an ideal choice for families or friends travelling together and comprises two full sized suites adjoining via enclosed passages to a central living and dining area with sunken terrace and fire pit. Each suite also has a pair of Swarovski Optik binoculars for guests to use during their stay, together with a music system and personalised bar.
Central Areas
The glass-panelled central areas have a bold design and are two story comprising a lounge, island bar, wine cellar and interactive kitchen. Meals may be served both indoors and where possible ‘al fresco’ on the wide terrace which has sweeping views over the desert plains in front of camp, towards the red dunes of the Namib Desert in the distance. There is also a swimming pool, gym, wellness space and observatory.
Facilities
Wi-Fi – Yes
Power for Charging – Yes
Swimming – Yes
Area
AndBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge is located in its own private sanctuary in the northern reaches of the NamibRand Nature Reserve, which borders the vast Namib Naukluft National Park. NamibRand is a stunning reserve, with a landscape of rocky mountains, open gravel plains, vegetated dune ridges and magnificent sand dunes. There is plenty of game to see, including oryx, giraffe, Hartmann’s mountain zebra, springbok, klipspringer, ostrich, bat-eared foxes and even the very occasional African wild cat, caracal or leopard.
To the north but within striking distance by road is one of Namibia’s greatest highlights. Sossusvlei is a huge dried up clay pan formed at the end of the Tsauchab River where huge dunes (up to 1,000 ft) stopped its progress toward the sea. Often it is possible to see springbok and gemsbok (oryx) as they wander through the surrounding area searching for food. Nearby are Hidden Vlei and Dead Vlei. If you’re feeling fit, climb the dunes for a spectacular view of the surrounding area.
The Sesriem Canyon is one of the most amazing features of this desert. Here, the Tsauchab River has carved a gorge (up to 100 ft deep) into the gravel’s deposited around 16 million years ago. The canyon dates back to about 3 million years ago, when continental uplift caused the incision of most of the westward flowing rivers in Namibia. The canyon is about a kilometre long and becomes shallower as it makes its way towards Sossusvlei.
Activities
Activities include morning, afternoon or night nature drives allow you to discover the four habitat types found on the reserve and how wildlife adapts to desert conditions. A morning excursion outside the reserve to the Namib Naukluft National Park includes a visit to Sossusvlei, a walk to Deadvlei, and the option to climb the dunes.
It is also possible to explore on the reserve on foot, by e-bike or by quad bike. Guided walks can be flexible in duration and often include a visit to heritage San rock art sites, whilst e-biking trails can be guided or self-guided. Quad biking is possible on the sand dunes along the edge of the Namib Desert. For those interested in the geology of the area, the Desert Rock Experience is a fascinating exploration by vehicle and foot. Each evening stargazing is possible at the observatory with the resident astronomer (subject to the astronomer being in residence). Extra activities that can be booked locally (or in advance which is recommended) include hot air balloon flights over the reserve and scenic helicopter flights over the dunes to the Skeleton Coast.
Seasons
Although you can visit Namibia year-round, the best time to travel is late April to early November.
andBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge accepts children of all ages, though most activities are restricted to eight years and older and so the lodge will naturally appeal to families with children of that age and older. Suites can accommodation triples and the two bedroomed suite is fabulous for families wanting plenty of space. For those who are travelling with younger children, andBeyond’s WILDChild Programme includes special kid-friendly activities such as painting with red dune sand and other arts and crafts and story-telling. Child-minding can also be arranged at extra cost. For those travelling with older, active children, the lodge offers a diverse range of activities to explore, learn and have fun in a spectacular and fascinating landscape. Note quad bikes can only be used by guests aged 16 years and over.
Care of the Land, Wildlife and People are the core tenets of andBeyond’s impact model. The company has been pioneering in sustainable conservation through responsible tourism since the early 1990s. They protect wildlife and wilderness in the areas in which they operate through cutting edge research and partnerships with conservation organisations. In collaboration with their non-profit partner Wild Impact, &Beyond works with communities local to where camps operate, supporting projects to improve healthcare, education, water access and the development of local enterprise in the area, thus firmly linking conservation with socio-economic benefits.
andBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge uses innovative technology to harness the natural environment – each suite produces enough solar energy to power the air conditioning, electricity, water treatment and recycling systems. The lodge also uses state-of-the-art water-saving solutions and water harvesting mechanisms.
andBeyond has collaborated with the Namib Desert Environmental Education Trust to provide students with hands-on environmental education. Through their guest initiative, the lodge has supported a feeding programme for hundreds of school children at a local primary school; while partnership with Wild Impact’s Community Leaders Education Fund has led to establishing a tertiary bursary programme.
