Little Kulala
Sossusvlei

This desert retreat is one of Namibia’s most luxurious and exclusive, and it is a supremely romantic base for those wishing to visit the world famous Sossusvlei dunes. With staggering 360-degree views of the wild Namib Desert, the camp sits on a 90,000-acre concession leased by Wilderness Safaris from the Namibian government. Here, in the middle of nowhere, you’ll find eleven immaculately styled “kulalas” (the word means ‘to sleep’), one of which is a family room, which all merge seamlessly with the breath-taking desert landscape.

Each thatched bungalow is connected by a sand path and comes with air-conditioning, a furnished outdoor deck with its own private plunge pool, as well as indoor and outdoor bathrooms, floor-to-ceiling glass walls and rooftop ‘skybeds’ allowing guests to sleep under the stars with zero light pollution. At the centre of the lodge is a beautifully decorated structure housing a lounge, indoor and outdoor dining areas, a library, craft boutique, wine cellar, bar and a swimming pool. The décor throughout is chic and modern using earthy tones, wood, wicker and canvas-upholstered furniture and bleached-white wood flooring.

The main attraction here, in terms of activities, are the early morning visits to the Sossusvlei sand dunes, which is a truly astonishing sight and one of the most alluring experiences in Namibia. Guests can also embark on wonderfully romantic balloon safaris to view the desert from above at first light, or visit Deadvlei at dawn – a gigantic salt pan framed by dunes lit up with shifting colours by the rising sun.

Game drives and nature walks are also highly recommended; experience the complete solitude and stirring beauty of the Namib Desert whilst learning about the fascinating desert-adapted wildlife such as ostrich and gemsbok, as well as larger predators such as the spotted hyena, the brown hyena and even cheetah. As the cool night falls smaller creatures like the bat-eared fox and aardwolf can be seen.

One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.
Henry Miller