Kwessi Dune

Highlights

• Twelve air-conditioned thatch-and-canvas chalets, each with a private open-roof star gazer room
• Set in the 200,000-hectare NamibRand Nature Reserve, an International Dark Sky Reserve
• Adventure-led activities including hot-air ballooning, horse riding, quad biking and guided desert walks
• Day trips to the Sossusvlei dunes and Deadvlei from camp
• Complimentary Sossusvlei excursion when staying three nights or more

You Should Know

• Children of all ages are welcome
• Children aged 6-18 receive 50% off the adult sharing rate when sharing with an adult
• Children aged 9 and younger require a privately booked vehicle
• Disabled access available on request
• Hot-air ballooning, horse riding, e-bike excursions and scenic flights are charged separately

The Details

Location

The NamibRand Nature Reserve lies in the Namib Desert close to the iconic Sossusvlei sand dunes, covering more than 494,000 acres of private wilderness. Mauve mountains rise behind rolling red dunes and pale grassland plains scattered with fairy circles. Strict rules cap the number of lodges and rooms permitted on the reserve, keeping the experience genuinely exclusive.

Reaching camp from Windhoek takes roughly four to five hours by road or one hour by light aircraft.

Accommodation

Twelve chalets are spread along the reserve, ten twin or double and two family units. Each has striped canvas walls, high thatched roofs and an en-suite bathroom with indoor and outdoor showers, plus a shaded outdoor veranda. Air-conditioning runs throughout, useful in the height of summer.

Every chalet has its own separate star gazer room, fully open to the sky, so guests can fall asleep beneath the Milky Way without leaving their bed. The lodge is entirely solar powered, with Wi-Fi, complimentary laundry and battery charging available.

Dining

The main area opens onto desert vistas through floor-to-ceiling glass, with a well-stocked bar, library and several lounge and dining settings. Mornings start at the camp fire with coffee, while lunches and dinners move between indoor tables and the poolside terrace depending on the heat.

Activities

Rather than chasing big game, days here are about the landscape. Guided nature drives and walks introduce the desert-adapted gemsbok, springbok, kudu, bat-eared fox, aardwolf and African wild cat that live on the reserve. Burchell's zebra are often seen against the red sand, and leopard and cheetah are present in small numbers.

Beyond drives, guests can try guided quad biking through ancient riverbeds, horse riding across the plains, night drives, sleep-outs in the star gazer rooms, hot-air balloon flights at dawn and scenic helicopter flights. Stargazing is a signature experience, NamibRand being one of the darkest accessible places on earth.

Price Includes

• Accommodation in an air-conditioned chalet
• All meals and selected beverages
• Daily scheduled activities including nature drives and walks
• Return airstrip transfers
• Guiding and park entry fees