Head to Namibia and you might go tenting, get eaten by mozzies, and choke again baked beans over a Cadac. However haven’t we earned a little bit of pampering? Ebook one in every of these high spots for final reminiscences and limitless brownie factors.
Phrases and photographs by Peter Frost
Platbakkies Visitor Farm
Truly, a Namibian desert pamper begins in South Africa. Up the N7 from Cape City, the draw of Namaqualand is powerful, and a diversion to Platbakkies Visitor Farm is an excellent concept. The farm keep on the Namaqualand/Bushmanland border is run by Dawie and Lizelle Burden and contains a complete farmhouse (as soon as the house of Dawie’s dad and mom) so privateness is assured. The tranquillity of Bushmanland, the design and a spotlight to element within the guesthouse, the heat of welcome. And it’s cool, actually – Platbakkies is at 1060 metres, so it doesn’t get ridiculously sizzling. In reality, the cooling Namaqua ‘air-con’ blowing from the West Coast makes it very nice. It’s the proper begin to a Namibian journey.
- Charges: R1 000 p n (single room)
- Location: Platbakkies, South Africa
- Web site: platbakkies.co.za
- Contact: +27 828087083
Fish River Lodge
Driving to the Fish River Lodge, on the Western fringe of the well-known canyon is to go away Earth and discover one other planet. Unbelievable, however nothing as spectacular because the lodge itself.
Learn: Fringe of Heaven
Operated by Journeys Namibia, it contains 19 chalets actually hanging off the sting of the canyon rim. Over on the jap edge, the favored Gondwana properties are far again from the rim – that is the one property the place visitors can go to sleep in stylish, up to date chalets and get up to unforgettable vistas on the foot of their mattress. North and south of the lodge are trails that comply with the canyon edge, which means each stroll gives up gorgeous outlooks. It’s additionally doable to do the paths by mountain bike or e book an tour down onto the canyon ground by safari automobile.
- Charges: R4 388 p n (single room at excessive season)
- Location: Fish River Lodge, Seeheim, Namibia
- Web site: fishriverlodge-namibia.com
- Contact: +264 61 228 104
Alte Villa, Lüderitz
Lüderitz, on the chilly Atlantic coast, is an odd little city, famed for Kolmanskop on its outskirts, the deserted mining city that after drew 1000’s of diamond prospectors. Lüderitz’s ‘gründerzeit’ structure, German colonial edifices that have been meant to trumpet the homeowners’ wealth and significance in the identical diamond rush, make for a delightfully quirky coastal enclave, buildings akin to Krabbenhöft & Lampe, the Felsenkirche and Hans Goerke’s nouveau riche diamond palace seemingly at odds with the distant location. Like a lot of the diamond palaces on the town, the delicate Alte Villa guesthouse was constructed to lend its 1909 diamond rush homeowners a sure cache – on this case, retailers from Hamburg. It’s been superbly restored and prolonged (the loft suite particularly, with its distinctive views over Robert Harbour) and the antiques are spot on for the interval. Better of all is the most important toilet this facet of the Kavango, although the bathtub could also be a luxurious too far; surrounded by sea, Lüderitz has no potable water of its personal.
- Charges: R1 384 p n (single room)
- Location: Klippen, Luderitz, Namibia
- Web site: altevilla.na
- Contact: +264 811 29 5259
Little Kulala, Sossusvlei
The dunes of Sossusvlei at dawn are one in every of life’s must-dos. Head by early and climb Huge Daddy, one of many world’s highest dunes earlier than it will get too sizzling, or simply wander throughout Deadvlei, marvelling on the historic, rock-hard clay patterns and well-known lifeless bushes.
Little Kulala, Wilderness’ unique Sesriem property, is on Sossusvlei’s doorstep, half retreat, half gateway to the dunes. Renovated simply earlier than Covid, it’s up to date however cosy, and properly built-in into the panorama. Large, spacious chalets set aside from one another provide views throughout the empty plains of the lodge’s reserve and there’s a superb spa besides. Tour the reserve by safari automobile, electrical bike, or on foot (day and evening), or take a hot-air balloon early one morning. However actually the lodge’s level of distinction is its employees, specialists on the realm’s historical past, geography, and tradition. The privilege of getting your individual strolling encyclopedia can’t be overstated – study all in regards to the deepest recesses of a sociable weaver nest, the geomorphology of the elephant pores and skin boulders, and the way the shepherd tree beats the drought.
The Strand Resort, Swakopmund
Swakopmund, or Swakop because it’s fondly referred to as by everybody, is a pleasant higgledy-piggledy disarrangement of architectural kinds, antiquey junk retailers, promenades, hidden courtyards, wonderful eating places, and the chilly Atlantic, which lends it a curiously European flavour. A lot of the time the chilly onshore affords the city a temperate, if not downright chilly ambiance. It’s well-liked with the Second-Life Refugees, German émigrés in vibrant headscarves tanning themselves paper bag brown in town’s central seaside.
Anchoring your complete city is The Strand Resort, outstanding on the Swakopmund mole, a promontory within the bay. It’s one thing of an establishment, the plain alternative for well-heeled travellers. And but it’s a nice shock, affected by neither the anonymity nor complacency that bedevils so many company motels. It’s a solidly wonderful proposition, the design and decor first-rate, high quality supplies used creatively. Suites all have wonderful views of the city or ocean and there are a very good many 5-star motels that might study from its breakfast area and providing.
- Charges: R5 850 p n (customary room)
- Location: Molen Weg, Swakopmund, Namibia
- Web site: strandhotelswakopmund.com
- Contact: +264 64 411 4000
The Stampriet Historic Guesthouse
The stretch to the South African border down the principle B1 bisects each Mariental and Grünau. Mariental’s star flip is the indefatigable Padlangs Padstal, a spot of music, alpacas, killer koeksisters, and a petting zoo. It’s additionally near the Stampriet Historic Guesthouse. Most individuals keep over at Gondwana’s excellent Canyon Lodge, however Stampriet has its personal charms. The guesthouse has big apiesdoring bushes, G&Ts on the even greater veranda, and an excellent, double-volume restaurant. Lamb chops with the whole lot. The rooms themselves are pretty easy motel-style models, strung out behind the outdated homestead, nestling within the fabulous gardens. Every has a stoep, very best for personal sundowners. Household and single models can be found.
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