#Kulala desert Lodge

[radicaladventure]

Kulala Desert Lodge by Dan Gildor

Via Flickr

Heading back to Little Kulala Lodge from our "game drive" and first sundowner, the air was still full of the dust that had been whipped up by the afternoon dust storms.

[janientjie]

@africanmemoriesofjd • • • • • • Kulala Desert Lodge Who wants to have dinner at an place like this? Its so magical! 🥂✨🇳🇦❤️# seenamibia#tourismus_namibia #seenamibia #tourismus_namibia #namibia🇳🇦 #namibiatraveling #thisisnamibia #thenambiancollective #girlswhoclick#thenambiancollective #myNamibia #namibdesert #dunes #landscapephotography #womens_wildlife_photography #womens_naturephotography#namibdesert https://www.instagram.com/p/CHXA09vgjFf/?igshid=z4dnthsmvawv

[cento40battute]

Uno sguardo dall’alto sorvolando la natura selvaggia della Namibia

A bordo di confortevoli aerei da turismo scopriamo insieme la proposte di Gattinoni Travel Experience per passare una splendida vacanza ammirando dall’alto distese solitarie, imponenti dune rosse e animali in completa libertà.

Namibia. Terra dalle mille sfacettature

Una terra ricca di contrasti con leoni, ghepardi, elefanti, iene, struzzi e antilopi che popolano la savana, dove i panorami sono composti da bollenti dune del deserto, canyon, montagne aspre e insolite formazioni geologiche che dall’alto regalano uno sguardo verso l’infinito.

Questa è la Namibia che conserva un mondo costituito da affascinanti etnie e che riserva inaspettati incontri che sanno trasformare un semplice tour in un viaggio indimenticabile, ricco di emozioni.

Fly-In Safari Namibia, tour di 9 notti/10 giorni

Il tour “Fly-In safari in Namibia” che propone Gattinoni Travel Experience, ha una durata di 9 notti e 10 giorni

Vivrete l’incontro tra natura e cultura spostandosi da una località all’altra velocemente e in tutta comodità, sorvolando la Namibia in modo tale che il trasferimento stesso diventerà parte integrante del viaggio, regalandovi momenti che vi riempiranno il cuore.

Diventerete così, spettatori di paesaggi mozzafiato, partendo dalle dune rosse del Kalahari e ci si sposterà a quelle di Sossusvlei, considerate tra le più vecchie al mondo, per poi dirigersi a Swakopmund e al sito rupestre di Twyfelfontein nella regione del Damaraland, dove si andrà alla ricerca degli elefanti del deserto per poi ripartire in direzione del parco Etosha dimora di numerosi animali che popolano la savana, come i leoni e il raro rinoceronte nero.

Vi starete chiedendo: ma dove pernottiamo?  I pernottamenti, sono previsti in lodge e hotel eleganti e dal fascino senza tempo, ubicati in luoghi magici, nei pressi di riserve e parchi naturali o in posizione panoramica, dove potrete rilassarvi nel silenzio della natura, coccolati dal personale attento e accogliente.

Per le partenze fino al 31 marzo 2018 quote a partire da € 9590 a persona (Escluse festività natalizie). Mentre, per quanto riguarda il pernottamento alloggerete presso una delle seguenti strutture: Zebra Lodge, Kulala desert Lodge, Strand Hotel, Mowani Mountain Camp e Onguma The Fort Lodge.

  La quota comprende:

Volo di linea dall’Italia

Sistemazione nelle strutture indicate o di pari categoria

Trasporto con volo charter privato

Visite ed escursioni da programma con guida privata

Assicurazione medico-bagaglio

Assistenza in loco di personale parlante italiano

La Namibia vi aspetta

Barbara Corsalini

Programma dettagliato e consulenza per itinerari su misura, in esclusiva solo nelle agenzie di viaggio Gattinoni Mondo di Vacanze oppure visitando il sito www.gattinonimondodivacanze.it

  Namibia. Terra dalle mille sfacettature Uno sguardo dall’alto sorvolando la natura selvaggia della Namibia A bordo di confortevoli aerei da turismo scopriamo insieme la proposte di Gattinoni Travel Experience…

[emporiumbespoke]

Kulala Desert Lodge Executive Suite Sossusvlei

[archatlas]

Hey! Do you know of any hotels worth taking a look at in a desert/karoo landscape?

Here are some hotels worth taking a look atlocated in deserts around the world:

Amangiri Resort + Spa Marwan Al-Sayed, Wendell Burnette and Rick Joy

Longitude 131 Cox Richardson Architects

Tierra Atacama Hotel & Spa Matias Gonzalez + Rodrigo Searle

Little Kulala LodgeStauch & Partners Architects

ESO Hotel Cerro Paranal Auer+Weber

Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara

[mitchipedia]

African safari journal: Homeward bound

June 2019 Our final Africa safari stop was Little Kulala Desert Lodge, in Sossusvlei, the Namib-Naukluft Park, Namibia. We took another small charter flight, from Hoanib Valley Camp – or, rather the nearest airstrip from that camp, which was about two hours’s drive away from the camp itself. Sossusvlei Geluk Airstrip is the usual empty airstrip, just a cleared length of land with one or two sheds. As at our other camps, one of the staff picked us up in a Toyota truck converted for passengers, enclosed but not air conditioned. The weather was another scorcher of a day with bright sunlight, even though it is the African winter. We were accompanied by the pilot of the plane, Graham, who was staying at the lodge overnight. About 15 minutes in, Graham conversed with the driver of the truck, Alfred, in Afrikaans, and then Alfred turned the truck around. Graham confessed that he was supposed to start a beacon on the plane to let his company know he’d arrived safely, and he’d forgotten to do that. When we returned to the airfield, Graham did that thing and then we turned the truck around back toward the camp.

I have to confess, we were road-weary at that point and ready to come home, but we still had four more nights in Africa ahead of us plus 28 hours on planes and in airports. And now as I write this a week after our return, I miss being in Africa.

There were only two things you could do in Sossusvlei that appealed to us: Seeing and climbing the majestic dunes, and visiting the Seasrim Canyon. That’s meant a two-night stay would have been ideal; we stayed for three and so we had some time on our hands. And because of the heat, Kulala Desert Lodge was not the ideal place to sit around and rest. There are other things to do in the area, but they did not appeal to us: Ride e-bikes and fat bikes, or go on a wine tasting. You can also take a balloon ride, but that would have cost $1,000, which seemed like a lot for a short experience. I’ve ridden on hot air balloons twice, once with Julie, it’s wonderful but we weren’t interested this time around.

Aside: I wrote all my other journal entries in Africa, with unreliable or no Internet access. Now I’m home with our lovely, home WiFi. And I can just look things up if I don’t know what they are. The name of the lodge we stayed at? The name of the canyon? Pow! Type in a few characters in a browser and there’s your answer. [Update from 2020: I wrote this journal entry in July 2019, a few weeks after returning home, based on notes on the trip.]

The lodge is laid out similarly to the other places we stayed, with a main building in the center, done up like a giant hut, containing the dining room, bar, outdoor seating, and offices and reception desk. The entrance is in front of that building. Spread out on either side were 23 cabins for guests, which are actually big, furnished canvas tents on platforms, as with Xakanaxa and other places we stayed. The lodge calls the cabins “kulalas,” from an African word for sleep. Because of the number of cabins, service was more hotel-like and impersonal; we enjoyed the family feeling at the smaller lodges we stayed at, such as Xakanaxa and Hoanib Valley, and liked Kulala Lodge less.

The dining room has big plate glass windows overlooking the flat desert plain, which seems to stretch off for miles to the distant mountains. We’d been to several African deserts by then, as well as the Anza-Borrego Desert at home, and each one seemed more austere and barren than the last. The shrubs at Sossusvlei are sparse and many tens of yards apart. There are few other animals there, just some birds and lonely impala and kudu.

The big draw at Sossusvlei, though, are the dunes. They are just piles of loose sand, hundreds of feet high and miles long, marching across the desert. One of the highlights of the visit is climbing one of the biggest dunes, called “Big Daddy.” 130 meters high. It’s strenuous, like walking on the beach but also climbing. The sand fights you on every step. And you’re standing on a relatively narrow path, with a steep slope on either side. The path is wide enough that I was only worried a little bit about falling. I was worried a little more about just getting down. I’d been assured by both tourists and guides that getting down is easy and fun, but I was skeptical; I have a lousy sense of balance and anything involving anything like climbing is tricky for me.

Climbing up the dune you have a long string of hikers both in front of and behind you. It isn’t crowded, but if you’re like me and you move slowly, you’ll be passed a couple of times. Like I said, it’s not crowded, but I got to thinking about the famous photos of climbers lined up to ascend to the summit of Mount Everest, like people waiting to get on a bus.

Despite the crowds, tourism isn’t a problem for the dunes, because every night the wind blows and cleans up the footsteps and repairs the damage. The dunes are like new every morning. That’s the theory at least.

I got about two thirds of the way up the dune and decided I had gone far enough. I wasn’t tired, but I’d spent enough time on the climb and didn’t have anything to prove. Also, I didn’t want to keep the other people on our bus waiting. So I turned to my right and went down the steep slope.

And it really was fun going down. I fell twice, but backwards, on my butt, and the sand is so soft it didn’t hurt a bit and I just popped back up. Both my feet were sunk in sand halfway up to my knees, so walking was more like wading and slow going. After I got about two thirds of the way down, I found a rhythm and the rest of the way down was like gliding slowly. Delightful!

We don’t intend to return to Sossusvlei – we feel like we’ve seen and done everything we want to there – but if we somehow do find our way back I want to do that climb again, and this time go all the way up to the summit and do the walk down properly.

In addition to Big Daddy, the attraction next to the dune is Deadvlei, a white clay pan that’s so dry that nothing lives there. Some trees are still standing, 800 years after they died. We were instructed not to touch the trees, lest they shattered.

After lunch, we decided to skip the afternoon activities, and just sat around the cabin in the heat.

The next morning, we were up early, and off to the Seasrim Canyon, which is about 100 feet deep and the third biggest canyon in the world.

We had the guide to ourselves that morning – and the entire canyon, too. Our guide said most people do the dunes in the morning and the canyon in the afternoon, when it can be excuse-me-pardon-me crowded. But we did not see another soul on the climb down and nearly the whole climb up, with just a lot of magnificent geology to ourselves. By that time we were overwhelmed by magnificent nature and a little burned out on it, but we still had enough awe left in our souls to be stirred, at least a little bit.

In the afternoon I began to get cabin fever, and decided to go for a walk along the dry riverbed that the lodge is built alongside of. It was perfectly safe, and a lodge-approved activity. I walk for exercise in a park at home, and this was similar, only dryer, and hotter, and instead of being accompanied by our dog, I had a fly following me much of the way and trying to land on my face. Festus, our guide previously, said flies there don’t bite; they’re trying to drink water from our faces. That must have been one thirsty fly. Along the route, I realize I did not have any solo selfies from the trip, which is like a violation of international law, so I took a couple. The fly photobombed one of them, landing on my face. A flyless African selfie from that afternoon is now my default online profile pic.

The next morning, we began the long journey home, which took two or three days. The nine-hour time difference and 28+ hour flight time from Johannesburg to San Diego make it confusing as to how much time has actually elapsed. The first step was back to the airfield, where we waited a half-hour in the truck for the “ground pilot” – the airfield’s one employee - to show up and open the gate. We didn’t mind; by then we were used to how things are done in Africa. Prior to our trip, I’d talked to a colleague who’d lived six months in South Africa; she said be prepared for things that should be easy to be difficult, and things you’d expect to be difficult to be easy. That stuck with me in incidents such as the wait for the ground pilot to show up. The plane wasn’t going anywhere; we were the only passengers.

We flew a bit more than an hour to the Windhoek Airport, and were met at the gate by our old pal Antone, who had driven us from Windhoek to Okonjima a week or so earlier. He waited with us to check in, poor bastard – there was a very long line and he had somewhere else to be.

The flight to Johannesburg was a commercial flight, and getting on the plane was the end of our safari adventures, because one-hour commercial flight in Africa is not too different from one in the US or Europe.

We arrived in Johannesburg, breezed through customs, and checked into the City Lodge. We were scheduled to get up the next morning for an 8 am private, guided city tour, but neither of us were excited for that. When we’d had Internet access, I’d checked Yelp and TripAdvisor and Google for things to do in Johannesburg and didn’t come up with much of anything. The Apartheid Museum got rave reviews, but it sounded depressing to me. I wanted to see Soweto, which had been the only place Blacks were allowed to live during apartheid, but Julie wasn’t enthusiastic about that. So we put off the tour until 10:30 am so we could pack at leisure.

The driver picked us up in a town car with leather seats, a far cry from the open, battered trucks we’d been bouncing around in for weeks. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of South Africa, Johannesburg, and its history. The one other place we wanted to see, other than Soweto, was Maboneng, which travel guides billed as a bohemian shopping district.

The driver, whose name was Seabo, offered to take us to Soweto in the morning and then to a native African place for lunch. I said hell yeah, because I was always on the lookout for native foods – nearly all the foods we’d eaten on this trip were European, although nearly all of it was delicious – but Julie said no. I thought for a moment and realized that it was not a great idea to sample street food in an unknown cuisine a few hours prior to getting on a plane for a 28-hour flight. So I passed too. Instead, we went to Maboneng, and Seabo dropped us off for lunch and a bit of walking round.

Maboneng was disappointing. It was crowded and a little threatening, like much of the rest of Johannesburg we’d seen, with a few cheap-looking shops and stands set up selling crafts that looked no different than the kind of thing you’d find at the airport. There were also a few Ethiopian and other African restaurants and a coffee cafe, which would have been tempting to me on another day, but like I said I didn’t want to try any strange cuisines just before a long flight. So we ate at an Italian restaurant/sports bar that was actually very good, and friendly. When we got out the neighborhood looked friendlier too; I even spotted one man who looked local, dangling a big camera from his hand. People don’t dangle big cameras in a dangerous neighborhood. Not for long at least.

Seabo returned shortly after lunch and took us to Soweto.

Soweto, he explained, is home to 1.2 million people, which makes it a respectable city within the city. It has neighborhoods of great poverty – shantytowns and slums made of scrap metal – which, Seabo noted, are all that you see in photos and video of Soweto. There are also middle class homes, and even affluent residences. Even the affluent residences seemed cheek-by-jowl close to each other, and small to me, though Julie said she thought some of them were larger. They had high fences around them, suggesting a high crime rate. And you’d see poverty and affluence very close – a shed or just open air tables selling a hodgepodge of merchandise, just a few steps from a scavenged home. Hand-painted advertisements adorned walls, touting businesses; I noted a lot of building contractors. Businesses mingled with housing. If there were any zoning laws in Soweto, I didn’t see evidence of it.

I saw livestock grazing in empty lots, cattle and goats. In the middle of the city!

Seabo lived in Soweto; he seemed to like it.

Seabo offered to stop to let us out at Nelson Mandela’s and Desmond Tutu’s homes, he seemed disappointed when we didn’t get out. But that street was dense with panhandlers, buskers, and other street people, who seemed aggressive; not violent, but not inclined to take no for an answer. Julie and I were not in the mood to run that kind of gauntlet.

We arrived back at the hotel at 3:30 pm, said goodbye to Seabo – who really was a good guide; we were just bad tourists – and made our way to airline check-in.

All in all I was not impressed with Johannesburg. It seemed to me the kind of place you’d only ever go to if you for financial reasons. Maybe, like Seabo, you were a poor villager looking to make a living. Maybe you’re a millionaire looking to be a billionaire. Or maybe you’re just somebody in the middle.

And then we were on our way home. I barely slept on the 28+-hour flights, watched something like five movies, two seasons of The Good Place, then slept most of the next 24 hours when we arrived home. Several days later I drove a car for the first time in a month; I did not hit anyone or go off the road.

We talk a lot about going back. We went to Africa really on a whim; it felt like a fun adventure. And it was, and we’ve fallen in love with it. Maybe in three years, if we can afford it financially. I’d like to see gorillas and chimpanzees, visit the Olduvai Gorge where the first people on Earth lived millions of years ago, see Cape Town, spend a day each in Windhoek and Swakopmund, spend more time in Botswana, get Festus to guide us around. Africa is a big, beautiful continent with so much to do! 🌍📓

[youngbradford]

The Namib desert is dry, a place of death, brutal in heat, wind, and isolation. Being here has been a reminder that the places we can easily inhabit, the places many take for granted, we must protect with all our dollars, votes, and voices. This trip has made me awaken to our planet in ways I hope I don’t forget when home in comfort, removed from harshness and animal and beauty. (at Kulala Desert Lodge)

[bigyack-com]

andBeyond Unveils Treehouse Accommodations in South Africa

Talk about bragging rights. There’s a new place to stay in the South African bush, and it’s 39 feet up in the air. The latest from andBeyond—the high-end travel company with tour offerings in 13 countries in Africa, five in Asia and four in South America—has unveiled an unusual, private, treehouse-style accommodation complete with a stocked bar and a rooftop lounge for sundowners or snacks under the stars. andBeyond Ngala Treehouse is affiliated with andBeyond Ngala Safari Lodge and andBeyond Ngala Tented Camp, situated on the border of Kruger National Park. (Home to abundant wildlife, including the Big Five, the andBeyond Ngala Private Game Reserve shares an unfenced boundary with the famous park.)

There’s a wonderfully remote feeling to this solar-powered treehouse, located three miles away from the nearest lodge. Rising four levels above the ground, andBeyond Ngala Treehouse is equipped with an indoor bedroom, a full bathroom with an outdoor shower and rooftop deck with an outdoor bed and lounge area. The treehouse is surrounded by a thorn boma fence (there are lions roaming in the reserve, after all) and serviced by a dedicated treehouse attendant. Here’s how it works: Couples pack up their necessities for the night and are escorted on a game drive to the treehouse. Following an overnight in the bush, the guests return to their lodge—tall tales in hand.

First established in 1991, andBeyond owns and operates 29 lodges and camps in Africa and South America. The company is devoted to local communities and conservation, its impact measured at more than nine million acres of land and 1,240 miles of coastline.   

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[ianfaulkner1-blog]

By Roxanne Reid If you’re a safari lover (or even dying to embark on your first safari adventure) there’s no better time than your honeymoon. And there’s no need to rough it. Imagine candlelit dinners, romantic bath tubs, spectacular sunsets, amazing wildlife and fresh air. Here are some destinations to enjoy a safari honeymoon in Africa and find romantic breaks for nature lovers.

Maasai Mara, Kenya Inspired by the romance of Karen Blixen’s Out of Africa, Kenya is one of the best honeymoon destinations in Africa, offering romantic breaks for couples. Stay at Mara Plains Camp in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy bordering the Maasai Mara Reserve and feel the heartbeat of Africa. Soak in the freestanding copper bath, listen to the sound of wildebeest on the plains and hippo in the river, go for a picnic on the open plains, horse riding or game viewing with a guide. Come back to dinner set up on your private deck with paraffin lamps to provide old-fashioned romantic lighting. We met a honeymoon couple from Mexico when we stayed here and they loved their African safari honeymoon. 

Mara Plains Camp

Or travel back in time for your Kenya honeymoon to enjoy a colonial style safari at Cottar’s 1920s Camp on a private reserve bordering the Maasai Mara. There’s even a special honeymoon tent that will make you feel you’re on a Hollywood film set. Soak up the elegance of a romantic canvas bubble bath set up with a view over the surrounding bush, take a dip in the pool or enjoy a relaxing spa massage. A slightly more affordable African safari honeymoon – still with comfy accommodation, good food and twice-daily game drives – can be found at Governors’ Camp or Little Governors’ Camp. You might even get a wake-up call from elephants wandering nearby.

Things to do in the Maasai Mara include game drives, guided bush walks and cultural visits to a Maasai village. The pick of the bunch is a hot air balloon ride over the Maasai Mara. You’ll float silently over twisting rivers, grasslands and acacia trees, low enough to spot game like Thompson’s gazelle, zebra, wildebeest and maybe even lion or elephant. After landing, enjoy a slap-up bush breakfast with sparkling wine. A great add-on to a Maasai Mara safari is a few days on the Kenyan coast.

​Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania ​For your Tanzania honeymoon stay at Ngorogoro Crater Lodge, which has a superb outlook over the wildlife-filled caldera (crater) of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Although it’s inspired by the traditional Maasai home, touches like brocade sofas, Persian rugs, silver and crystal hint at something more like Versailles. Enjoy the view even when soaking in the tub, with a butler on hand to provide chilled sparkling wine, or enjoy a massage in your room. Of course, this level of sophistication doesn’t come cheap.

The Highlands

Or try the unique igloo-style suites of The Highlands, set on the edge of mountain forest on the Olmoti volcano to the north of the Ngorongoro Crater. Given that it’s often cold in the highlands, each suite has its own fireplace – perfect for romantic evenings with a glass of red wine. In warmer weather, sip gin in the spa bath on the deck and enjoy the view. Get your dinner brought to the deck if you don’t want to join the rest of the guests. Note that The Highlands is so remote that it’s about a three-hour drive from the closest airstrip, and a visit to see wildlife in the crater will take the whole day.

Things to do at Ngorongoro include game drives into the crater, a trip to Olduvai Gorge, walking safaris on a crater, or a cultural visit to a Maasai homestead. Extend your trip to include the Serengeti, home of big cats and the Great Wildebeest Migration, or to Zanzibar for some relaxation on the beaches and turquoise waters of Tanzania’s islands (see below).

Zanzibar, Tanzania If the idea of white beaches and aquamarine waters gives you a buzz, Zanzibar is the place to find them. Matemwe Lodge overlooks a coral-fringed lagoon where you can go snorkelling or diving. Or simply chill out in a hammock on your private veranda with a cocktail in hand as you gaze out to sea. The lodge has a pool and two of the chalets have a private plunge pool as well, making it a perfect choice for a Zanzibar honeymoon.​

Matemwe Lodge

Warere Beach Hotel is a  much more affordable option with a natural rock outcrop that creates a secluded beach, yet close to Nungwi village when you’re in the mood for some local vibe. ​Also, I know a couple who spent their honeymoon at Hideaway of Nungwi Resort and Spa and loved it. Relax by the pool, step from the hotel right onto a public beach, sip wine on your balcony with a view or enjoy a spa massage. An all-in package including flights can be surprisingly affordable.

Things to do in Zanzibar include lazing on the beach, snorkelling, diving on the reefs, kayaking, traditional sailing on a dhow and fishing. Combine your island break with a night or two at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Stone Town to appreciate historic old buildings and soak up the sights, sounds and aromas. You might also include a couple of days in Ngorongoro or Serengeti for the ideal beach-and-bush break (see above).

​ Sossusvlei, Namibia Sossusvlei’s sweeping red sand dunes and dry pans make it an unusual destination perfect for a Namibia honeymoon. Little Kulala Camp is as romantic a place as you could find, with its private plunge pool on your cabin’s deck, its sweeping views of the red sands and surrounding lilac mountains, its wonderful star bed on the roof of your unit (see the photo in the intro to this post). ​

Little Kulala Camp

With its pink theme, the Desert Grace is a more affordable but equally stylish stay near Sossusvlei. Sip a pink gin as you gaze at the endless desert scenery or take a dip in the private plunge pool on your deck. ​For something adventurous and even more affordable there’s Dune Star Camp where you can wheel your bed out onto the deck to spend the night under a canopy of stars. How romantic is that?

Things to do at Sossusvlei include climbing a sand dune, photographing the iconic Deadvlei with its dead camel thorn trees, enjoying a sunset drive among the dunes, and exploring the Sesriem Canyon. Pick of the activities is definitely a dreamy hot air balloon ride at dawn for some of the best views of this unique area; you may even see wildlife like springbok, oryx and ostrich. Finish off with a champagne brunch in the dunes.

​ Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe Victoria Falls makes a fabulous Zimbabwe honeymoon destination because there’s so much to do. Stay at Old Drift Lodge inside the Zambezi National Park, where your tented suite looks out over the Zambezi River. There’s a plunge pool on your deck and a freestanding outdoor bath that must be one of the most romantic in Africa. It’s a perfect setting for your Victoria Falls honeymoon. Indulge in a massage at the spa, enjoy a sunset river cruise or go on an early morning game drive for a chance to spot elephant, lion, buffalo and more.

Old Drift Lodge

If you prefer to stay in Victoria Falls town and want a touch of early 20th century elegance, try the colonial-style Victoria Falls Hotel. Enjoy high tea or gin and tonic on the terrace as you watch the plume of spray from the Falls. ​A good-value stay in town is Ilala Lodge, just an eight-minute walk from the Falls. Set in lush green gardens with courtyards, palm trees and burbling fountains as well as a pool, it’s a relaxing space away from the busyness of all the activities in town. Enjoy a spa massage and a romantic candlelight dinner under the stars

Things to do in Victoria Falls include feeling the spray from the Victoria Falls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River, bungy jumping from the bridge above the Falls and white-water rafting (only from August to January). Or take a spectacular helicopter ride over the Falls, which is an expensive but exhilarating experience you’ll never forget.

​​ Okavango Delta, Botswana Thinking of a Botswana honeymoon? The UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Okavango Delta is not a cheap destination, especially given that you usually have to fly into the camps on private concessions by small charter plane. But it offers a spectacular safari – one of the best in Africa. ​Find a superb Okavango Delta honeymoon at Vumbura Plains Camp. Revel in the understated elegance, a plunge pool on your deck, indoor and outdoor showers for that special connection with nature and each other. Sit in your private ‘sala’ overlooking the waterway to watch passing wildlife, enjoy a massage to work out any kinks from your early morning game drive or bush walk, or a have a private dinner on your deck under a star-filled sky. A romantic cherry on top is to float gently over this spectacular ecosystem in a hot air balloon.

Vumbura Plains

A bit lower in price (though it still helps if you’re paying in dollars or Euros in this high-value, low-impact destination) is Gunn’s Camp overlooking Chief’s Island. Take a dip in the pool, watch one of Botswana’s arresting sunsets, enjoy a private dinner on your balcony overlooking the Delta’s pristine waterways, step into the freestanding bath or take a romantic shower together in the great outdoors.

Things to do in the Okavango Delta include game drives, bush walks and lounging by the pool. Some camps will organise a romantic bush breakfast or Out-of-Africa lunch on an island. Two of the most magnificent activities here are to see the Delta from air as you fly in to camp and to drift silently along the waterways in a mokoro (traditional dugout canoe) to get close to water lilies and small creatures like birds and frogs, maybe even watch some elephants.

​ Kruger National Park, South Africa Kruger is South Africa’s flagship park, a place to see the Big Five as well as hippo, croc, cheetah, wild dog and sable antelope. There are scores of places to choose from for your Kruger National Park honeymoon. One of the most romantic has to be a Lion Sands Treehouse. Lion Sands Game Reserve is part of the greater Kruger conservation area, and you enjoy a one-night sleepover in the treehouse from your normal accommodation in the reserve. The best-priced of these options is River Lodge, though it’s still expensive – but this is your honeymoon, right? Your guide will take you to the treehouse for a sunset picnic and is always just a radio-call away. Sip a drink as you watch the sun set and the stars come out, listen to the sounds of the night and fall asleep under a canopy of stars.

Lion Sands Treehouse

A more affordable stay is at Hoyo Hoyo Safari Lodge on the Imbali Concession in the heart of Kruger. You’ll stay in a Tsonga-style thatched beehive hut among giant leadwood trees and can ask for a champagne breakfast or picnic, enjoy a massage in your suite, a candlelight soak in a huge oval bath or take a cooling dip in the pool after your bush walk or game drive. Kruger budget safari honeymoon tip If you’re looking for a do-it-yourself African honeymoon on a budget, Kruger offers a number of camps where you can self-drive and self-cater. Book a riverfront chalet at Olifants to enjoy some of the best views in the park; sneak to the restaurant if you don’t want to self-cater. The food isn't a patch on what you get at the other places I've mentioned, but it comes at a much lower price. Smaller and more private than Olifants are the bushveld camps. My favourite is Talamati in central Kruger, which has a hide at a waterhole just beyond the fence where I once spotted the Big Five and sable in one three-day stay. The self-drive game routes around the Talamati/Satara area are superb. (Note that there are no shops, restaurants or pools at the bushveld camps and so you need to be an adventurous type who gets a kick out of having to be self-sufficient.)

Things to do at Kruger include early morning and sunset game drives, guided bush walks, and the chance to cool off in a pool or take a snooze (or whatever!) in the middle of the day. A guided night drive is a great way to see a whole cast of different characters.

Obviously, the destinations and camps I’ve mentioned here aren’t the only places where you can find romantic getaways that are perfect for an African honeymoon. But they give an idea of the range and quality you can find on this wonderful continent. ​Cheers and congratulations! Like it? Pin this image! 

You may also enjoy Maliba Lodge, Lesotho - a romantic and honeymoon getaway Mpala Jena: superb addition to Zimbabwe safari lodges for a Victoria Falls safari Best African safari holidays: 7 parks everyone should visit Copyright © Roxanne Reid - No words or photographs on this site may be used without permission from roxannereid.co.za

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The amazing Little Kulala lodge in Namibia. We spent few nights here, including one on the roof of our desert cottage—specially prepared for a "night under the stars" experience. Did you see our write-up on the 12 Most Romantic Star Beds in Africa? Link in bio: @travelplusstyle. Hint: There are few experiences more romantic than a sleep out somewhere in the wilds of Africa, with absolutely nothing separating the safari-goer from the canopy of stars above. Little Kulala by @wearewilderness is where we had the fortune to spend a night under the stars. (at Little Kulala Lodge)

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Namibia: A 10 night itinerary

Namibia: A 10 night itinerary

Heading to Namibia? Here is a 10 night itinerary that hits some of the highlights:

Day One

Arrive Windhoek and pick up hire car at the airport

Drive to the Kalahari

Stay at the Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch

Day Two

Morning at Bagatelle

Drive to Fish River Canyon

Stay at the Canyon Lodge

Day Three

Explore Fish River Canyon

Stay at the Canyon Lodge

Day Four

Visit Ai Ais hot springs

Take a light…

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Namibia News: Wilderness Safaris Renovates Little Kulala

One of the most magical destinations in Namibia is Sossusvlei, where towering sand dunes burn a fiery red, and remarkable desert wildlife has adapted to life in the dry vleis (open plains) of the valley. In fact, Sossuvlei is home to the world’s oldest sand dunes—and the tallest one rises over 1,000 feet from the ground. Needless to say, this otherworldly place is a firm favorite for visitors and the country’s No. 1 tourist attraction. Catering to this crowd are high-end lodges like the newly renovated andBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge and Wilderness Safaris’ desert retreats. Of these, Wilderness Safaris recently closed Little Kulala Camp for a renovation, with an expected reopening date of June 2020.

Little Kulala got its start in 1996. The area was once used as farmland for subsistence goat farming, and Wilderness Safaris—which has won accolades for its conservation work—launched a successful rehabilitation program to restore the habitat and bring back the indigenous wildlife. The camp has delighted guests over the years for its immersive activities, architecture and location—situated in the Kulala Wilderness Reserve, the only private reserve with direct access to Sossusvlei’s dunes. The goal of the refurbishment is to maintain the same vibe and look, while focusing on the unique desert experience and new activities.

All 11 kulalas—the thatched accommodation units—will get a makeover, creating a better airflow and adding elevated walkways to make it easier to access the main area. What’s more, each kulala will offer a rooftop stargazing experience in an area of the world renowned for its clear night skies. Plus, there will be a new “sleep-out experience” on the bottom deck of each kulala.

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Other camp highlights include a new photo hub in the library showcasing the history of the Namib San Sea and facts about the region’s geology and conservation; an outdoor fire pit; and sunken wine cellar for tastings and private dining. New activities include sunrise breakfasts and self-guided walking trails in addition to the regular roster of activities like hot-air ballooning and safaris. 

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The post Namibia News: Wilderness Safaris Renovates Little Kulala appeared first on Actu Trends.

[tripstations]

6 of the best desert lodges in Namibia

Namibia is still relatively unknown outside of the core of Africa enthusiasts who travel to the continent on a regular basis, however this vast and beautiful land offers dramatic scenery, traditional cultures, and world-class wildlife viewing that is a match for anything found in better known destinations.

A particular highlight for visitors are the spectacular desert lodges that can be found throughout the country from the Southern Namib Desert and the famous red dunes of the Sossusvlei area, to the Kalahari and the far northern areas of the Skeleton Coast.

If you’re looking for an alternative African adventure across a remote and beautiful wilderness, Namibia is an unbeatable choice.  These are 6 of the very best desert lodges in this spectacular country.

Little Kulala

Little Kulala is a luxurious desert retreat situated in the private 37,000 hectare Kulala Wilderness Reserve – the gateway to Namibia’s Dune Sea with its towering dunes and clear starry skies. The camp takes its design inspiration from its surroundings, notably from the magnificent Dead Vlei in the middle of Sossusvlei. The overall mood and feel is cool, serene, organic and sheltering.

Little Kulala features an elegant main guest area which includes a library, wine cellar, craft boutique, lounge and dining areas. The interiors have been designed to provide an all-natural and unique experience in this most beautiful environment. The extensive use of neutral colours, gorgeous textures and natural light reproduce the soothing pastel tones of the desert. There is also a central shaded swimming pool. A water hole in front of the main lodge building provides the opportunity to see gemsbok (oryx), springbok, bat-eared fox, aardwolf, ostrich and jackals.

Activities at Little Kulala include morning guided drives to the spectacular towering dunes of Sossusvlei, through a private gate into the reserve. Guided drives and walks are also offered on the private Kulala Wilderness Reserve with incredible views, desert-adapted wildlife and plants, and the sunset/sundowner excusion is always very popular! Quad-biking can also be arranged as can a hot air balloon trip.

Each of the gest suites has exquisite fittings and fixtures, and a deck with a private plunge pool that offers spectacular desert views.  A staircase leading to the flat rooftop above the bathroom provides the ideal setting for star-gazing, and mattresses and duvets can be made up into a ‘skybed’ for an unforgettable night of sleeping out under the stars.

Sossusvlei Lodge

Situated right at the entrance gate to the famous Sossusvlei and Sesriem Canyon in the Namib Nauklauft Park, this is the perfect location from which to visit and explore the epic sand dunes sculpted by the wind.

Experience the desert beauty from a bird’s eye view in a hot air balloon or by aircraft. Take a guided drive through scenic natural beauty in a custom built and comfortable all-terrain vehicle or with a quad bike, or of course, you can drive yourself into the Park too.

A dip in the sparkling pool or an ice cold beer under the shady trees in the Acacia beer garden makes for the best relaxation after an eventful day. The al fresco terrace offers magnificent views of the floodlit waterhole where you can watch the passing parade of oryx, springbok, jackal, ground squirrel and hyena, whilst enjoying exquisite food and wine.

&Beyond Sossusvlei Private Desert Reserve

Nestled deep in the heart of Namibia’s ancient Namib Desert, the newly re-opened &Beyond Sossusvlei Private Desert Reserveoffers vast spaces, endless horizons and extraordinary clarity of light that makes this area one of Africa’s most compelling landscapes. A spectacular blend of glass, rock and steel pavilions with a bold geometric structure at its centre, the lodge extends over vast dunes and gravel planes, in perfect harmony with its elemental surrounds.

Overlooking the pristine natural terrain, the 10 suites offer the sophistication of simplicity, and the two-bedroomed Star Dune Suite is ideal for families or groups of friends. The guest area features floor to ceiling, frameless glass panels that fold away to reveal unobstructed desert vistas.

Guests can explore the desert by quadbikes or open 4×4 vehicles, and excursions to the famous Sossusvlei sand dunes, the highest in the world, and Sesriem Canyon will add to this unforgettable desert experience.

Wolwedans Dune Camp

Wolwedans nestles into the dunes and is set against a backdrop of extraordinary natural beauty. Located in the heart of NamibRand Nature Reserve, Dunes Lodge is the perfect base from which to explore vast stretches of awe-inspiring and undisturbed nature, and this is rightly considered one of the most iconic desert lodges in Namibia.

Wolwedans is not a one-night-stop which can be ticked off en-route to the next tourist hot-spot. It is a place to arrive, to be, to learn and unwind, whilst being looked after by a friendly and involved local team. Wolwedans provides an honest, relaxed and down-to-earth atmosphere, free of ‘wannabe’ fanciness and pretence.

Wolwedans provides the perfect base from which to explore vast stretches of undisturbed nature. The personal and informative scenic drives in open Landrovers reveal the wonders of the wilderness.

Scenic flights are another popular activity at Wolwedans. Commencing during the late afternoon, these flights give you a birds-eye view of the Diamond Coast and Sossusvlei and is a truly exhilarating and once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Mowani Mountain Camp

Between the Ugab and Huab Rivers in Southern Damaraland lies a vast and unspoilt wilderness. This area boasts magnificent desert scenery, fascinating geological formations, archaeological sites and a unique variety of desert fauna and flora. This is where you will find the Mowani Mountain Camp, nestled amongst the boulders of this beautiful area on a high spot commanding distant views over the landscape.

Adventures and activities available at Mowani include trips in a hot air balloon, hiking through the magnificent scenery, and early morning game drives to track the rare Desert Elephant with an experienced guide in an open Land Rover.

Guests can also visit the prolific site of Twyfelfontein. This wonderful archaeological site offers more than 2,500 engravings as well as various paintings, and is probably the finest example of rock engraving in southern Africa.

The luxury tented en-suite accommodation, each with its own private deck overlooking the desert landscape, is built unobtrusively, so as to ensure minimum impact on the natural environment.  The outdoor showers and baths have some of the most spectacular views in the country….

Hoanib Valley Camp

In a country jam-packed with vast, spectacularly beautiful landscapes, Kaokoland may just be the most incredible of them all. Deep in north-western Namibia, the area is a melee of towering mountains, sand dunes, and huge expanses of desert, scattered with unique wildlife and nomadic Himba settlements. It’s also one of Namibia’s most remote and wild environments, and one that not many will get the chance to discover in a lifetime…and that’s exactly why Hoanib Valley Camp was built.

A joint venture between the local communities and the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, the world’s only Africa-wide giraffe conservation organisation, Hoanib Valley Camp  is an elegant, intimate affair that immerses you into the wilds of the desert.

Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) are the longest running giraffe conservation charity in Africa and are the leaders in cutting edge giraffe research. In Hoanib, their research not only focusses on the desert-adapted giraffe in the area, but also helps to monitor elephant and general game. Very few people realise the giraffe are endangered and they are often over-shadowed by the larger species such as rhino and elephant. Through their genetic work, the GCF have discovered 4 distinct species of giraffe across Africa, instead of what was formally thought to be sub-species – crucial information concerning the future of giraffe populations across the continent. When in camp there are opportunities to meet the researchers and learn about the critical work going on in the area.

As well as game drives, guests can also experience cultural interactions with the local Herero and Himba people.

Paul Campbell is a Co-founder and Managing Director at Travel Butlers. Travel Butlers are specialists in tailor-made safari and beach holidays to Africa and the Indian Ocean.

If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

The post 6 of the best desert lodges in Namibia appeared first on Tripstations.

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Kulala Desert Lodge Executive Suite Sossusvlei

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How Namibia Changed Me

New Post has been published on https://tagasafarisafrica.com/africa-travel-news/life-in-africa/how-namibia-changed-me/

How Namibia Changed Me

Last year I had the opportunity to immerse myself in the bush for the first time when I visited Botswana. This year, my colleague and travel buddy Mary-Anne, decided to discover Namibia, with all its vast, isolated and endless landscapes.

Before landing in Windhoek, Mary-Anne couldn’t stop uttering, “Ohhh you are going to love Namibia.” The road trip from the airport was the best possible welcome, providing a sense of what was to come.

We flew to Kulala Desert Lodge in a Wilderness Air Caravan, where my fear of flying in small planes returned. The pilots, however, are most professional and assured me I was in good hands. The sight of the desert’s iconic inselbergs and red dunes seen from the air made me giddy with excitement. Sossusvlei loomed large, and I was in awe, (I had never seen dunes that high before). I realised that I didn’t need Mary-Anne to tell me how I much I would love this amazing country – I was already entranced. Our stay in camp was simply astonishing, from the exceptional service to informative drives with our guide. I was particularly fascinated by the fairy circles that are found here. To this day, the fairy circles – and their formation – remain a mystery.

The next morning was focused on tackling a walk up one of the most famous sand dunes in Sossusvlei. I had to prepare myself mentally for “Big Daddy” – the tallest dune in the area at 325 metres, mind you!

We passed Dune 45 (claimed to be the most photographed dune in Africa) and spotted some oryx crossing the desolate landscape, a great way to start an amazing morning. As we reached the starting point I heard our guide asking, “Who is ready to start climbing?”

With the words, “No mountain’s too high” ringing in my head, my mind told me I could conquer the dune. As I came closer, I quickly realised that it was going to be a tough workout. I opted for the dune overlooking Deadvlei (Big Daddy) and started walking slowly. The views from the top, ok halfway (I’d like to think I was halfway), were remarkable, and running down was exhilarating.

I was especially excited to take my own version of an image for the 2019 Wilderness Safaris Photographic Competition – inspired by an iconic shot of this same scene. I just loved the way the white clay and the dead camelthorn tree were depicted in the photograph, and had to try capture it for myself. Our afternoon was spent at Sesriem Canyon, where we saw a horned adder, which was camouflaged in the sand. Carved by the ephemeral Tshauchab River, Sesriem Canyon is some 30 metres deep, and roughly one kilometre long – and well worth a visit.

Our next stop was Serra Cafema, which was a truly humbling experience. I was able to witness the wonderful partnership that Wilderness Safaris has with neighbouring communities in Namibia. The opportunity to visit a nearby Himba community was one I have been looking forward to ever since I started working at Wilderness Safaris. Our guides Stanley and Ballack did a sterling job preparing us for the village visit, even teaching us to say hello (moro moro), and sharing interesting facts about the Himba’s nomadic lifestyle, traditions and culture.

I was especially captivated when the Himba ladies at the village enquired about our lives – this experience touched me, in that we weren’t just tourists coming to their little village, they too were interested in the people who had come to visit them. I learned a lot about the women’s use of ochre paste (otjize) in their hair, which they use as protection against the sun, and adorn themselves with intricate leather headwear. What an experience.

Hoanib Skeleton Coast was our last stop, and a location that is particularly breathtaking because you are in the middle of a remote desert – not a place you’d expect to see a herd of elephants drinking at a waterhole. And yet here they were! I wanted to say that the highlight of my trip was visiting the Skeleton Coast and seeing the shipwreck remains and noisy colonies of Cape fur seals. However, it was my interaction with Emsie, who is currently running a research project on brown hyaena that impacted me the most. After chatting to Emsie, I had a drastic change of perception for this species, and thoroughly enjoyed her very interesting and interactive presentation. The next day, I joined Emsie to see these remarkable, rare animals at one of the dens she is monitoring for her study. We quietly watched the three young hyaena cubs for some time, and I was in awe!

Surreal is the only word that comes to mind to adequately sum up his this life-changing experience.

Written by Wendy Ngcobo Post by Wilderness Safaris

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Honeymoon like Harry and Meghan in the surreal beauty of Namibia

Honeymoon like Harry and Meghan in the surreal beauty of Namibia

SINGAPORE: Up until Prince Harry and Meghan Markle revealed Namibia as their honeymoon destination, you probably didn’t see the appeal of the southern African country. Dry, dusty roads, and stark scrublands as far as the eye can see hardly sound alluring – much less, romantic. 

Kulala Desert Lodge 2

But the sense of the honeymoon being just you and your loved one in the vast wilderness, mere…