NamibRand Nature Reserve Namib Desert, Namibia
Opened
1995
Price
$$$$
Rated for
Local Design LuxeOutside the door
The house
WolwedansOff-grid desert camps
Solar-powered tented camps sit scattered across private red dunes, funding conservation and leaving no permanent footprint on the desert.
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Guided desert drives explore fairy circle valleys and track endemic dunes wildlife.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler and AFAR.
Spectacularly modest at first sight, it looks less like an oligarch’s getaway than a bunch of shacks cobbled together by a Burning Man devotee.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
In the NamibRand Nature Reserve, surrounded by red sand dunes with nothing else for miles.
1 of 4
The rooms
Private decks hold deep water chillers for cooling off, and canvas walls roll up to catch the desert breeze.
The plunge pools
Bring a swimsuit.
Circular plunge pools set into the platforms look straight across golden desert grasses toward distant mountain ridges.
Massages
Therapists deliver massages and body treatments outdoors on private tent decks overlooking the desert plains.
Restaurant
Desert Lodge
Dinners are shared at long tables beneath woven lamps, and bottles come straight from the walk-in cellar.
Visitors seeking the NamibRand Nature Reserve stargazing experience should check out the Wolwedans camps and lodges, where travelers can book a sustainably focused overnight stay in the starry-skied desert.
Restaurant
Mountain View Suite
A dedicated chef prepares dinner on the private deck, served beside an open fire pit facing the dunes.
At the table
The circular Silo Bar serves sundowners around an open fire pit, and breakfast tables look across the plains.
How it began
Albi Brückner took down miles of sheep fencing across damaged farmland, opening four simple tents in 1995 to fund the wildlife reserve.
Namib Desert
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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.