Luxury Namibia Safaris

For some time Namibia has been the spiritual home of that great African adventure – a desert road trip. In the past, such trips have been associated with a more “rough and ready” style of accommodation, often rooftop camping or simple roadhouses, without the luxury properties that are found across the rest of the continent. That has all changed in recent years, with an increasing proliferation of luxury lodges, camps and hotels found across the country. Whilst a road trip is still very much at the heart of any great Namibia experience, we add little touches to make it all the more luxurious, with state of the art 4x4 vehicles, cool boxes in the vehicle for food and drinks as well as full driving directions and maps, to help minimise the stress of getting from place to place. Undoubtedly Namibia offers a truly incredible travel experience, with some of the most beautiful landscapes you could wish to see anywhere on earth, surprisingly abundant wildlife and a wonderful array of incredible places to stay.

Amazing places to stay

Across the country there are now a number of incredible lodges and hotels, all of which tick all of the boxes when it comes to being genuinely luxurious places to stay. Private plunge pools, amazing spas, superb cuisine and even carefully curated wine cellars are now commonplace in Namibia. Properties are sited to take in the amazing views for which the country is known, often overlooking waterholes which attract game from miles around in the harsh desert environment. Bedrooms are wonderfully stylish and designed to remain cool during the day but cosy and warm during the cold desert nights. Cuisine takes a nod from neighbouring South Africa (along with wine collections) so experienced Africa travellers will enjoy the familiarity of their previous trips in this regard. With special activities offered at certain lodges, including stargazing, visits to research centres and wildlife lectures, there is plenty on offer to elevate the level of any stay to the truly extraordinary.

Unique wildlife

Given that it is a desert country, Namibia could be disregarded as somewhere that doesn’t offer good wildlife viewing, but nothing could be further from the truth. The mystical deserts are home to a huge array of animal life, with some of the more celebrated species such as rhino, elephant, lion, leopard, hyena and giraffe seen on a regular basis. Indeed, many lodges offer dedicated trips to see these amazing animals, including lodges in the wilderness of Damaraland that are run in conjunction with the Save the Rhino Foundation and include time with their rangers tracking these incredible creatures. Equally, the stunning Etosha National Park is a great spot for seeing lion and leopard, as well as the elusive but beautiful cheetah, with highly trained guides there to help guests spot and learn more about these beautiful predators. Further off the beaten track, guests can spot shaggy brown hyena, stately oryx and dainty springbok thriving in what appears to be a desolate and waterless desert.

Get off the beaten track

As the definition of luxury travel changes over time, Namibia is ideally placed to be able to offer true off the beaten track and unique experiences which cannot be replicated anywhere else in Africa. The remote and beautiful Skeleton Coast remains one of the most inaccessible places on earth, but is enduringly popular with visitors to Namibia for the unique experiences that it is able to offer. Spotting lion, brown hyena and sometimes elephant walking along windswept beaches is an experience not to be missed, as is seeing the other-worldly geological formations that characterise the area. With just three camps found in the whole region, you truly have this area to yourself when visiting – a true indicator of a luxury experience. Likewise, the desert surrounding the Kunene River is an incredible wilderness to explore and gaze out to Angola beyond the river with access limited to the hardiest of drivers and those who choose to fly up there.

When to travel

Traditionally Namibia is most popular between April and November each year, when the cooler, drier conditions make driving and exploration easier. However, the hotter and wetter summer months can be a very rewarding time of year to travel, especially if you want to enjoy the amazing landscapes swathed in lush, green vegetation, which only happens a brief period each year. Lodges remain open throughout the year and the summer months are slightly cheaper, so if you are looking for luxury for less, but without compromising on the experience then it is well worth exploring booking a trip around the turn of the year.