Open-air desert outpost
Elevated hardwood platforms sit open to the Kalahari savannah, where cooling breezes drift through thatch-roofed pavilions far off the grid.
What it’s good at
Notable
Open-sided elevated hardwood pavilions designed by Alwyn Petersen let cooling Kalahari breezes flow past mosquito-draped canopy beds.
Notable
Heated plunge pools, stargazing sleepout decks, French-influenced safari dining, and dedicated private guides across seven desert suites.
Notable
Bush walks guided by local San Bushmen offer immersion into indigenous Kalahari tracking and survival lore.
What they say
Also in Wallpaper*.
An absence of walls encourages cooling breezes to sail through the suites, while free-standing bathtubs and showers offer respite from the thick heat.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Set on an isolated wooded island in the western Kalahari, surrounded by endless sand savannah and wildlife tracks.
The rooms
Two-storey open-sided pavilions feature mosquito-draped canopy beds, freestanding bathtubs, and upper thatched decks arranged for sleeping beneath the stars.
The lap pool
Bring a swimsuit.
The 25-metre lap pool stretches toward an active waterhole where desert elephants often gather to drink.
The gym and tennis court
A clay tennis court made from termite mounds sits alongside an open-air fitness pavilion facing the bush.
The spa deck
Massage tables sit on open-sided timber decks, where therapists use botanical oils from South African brand Africology.
Main Restaurant & Lounge
French-influenced safari dishes draw on seasonal vegetables and herbs harvested from the lodge's organic kitchen garden.
At the table
Afternoon tea is served under thatched eaves, and candlelit tables are set along the pool deck at night.
How it began
French conservationists Raphaël and Marjan del Sarte built the off-grid solar camp in 2016 to fund desert predator reintroduction.
Good to know
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The Lodge at Feline Fields
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.