Naukluft - Wulwedans Lodge

The Dunes Lodge is perched on top of a dunes plateau some eight kilometers north of the Dune Camp and overlooks panoramic vistas in all directions, capturing the desert in a most memorable way.

The building style is a combination of wooden structures, large canvas blinds and windows that open up to the desert beyond. The lodge reflects the ambience of a tented camp, but provides the comfort and protection of a permanent building. Each of the nine spacious Chalets with en-suite bathrooms leads onto a private veranda and vast stretches of untouched sand. Sleeping with your canvas blinds open is as good as sleeping under the stars.

The main complex - which has completely been rebuilt during 2003 - consists of two lounges, a number of sundowner decks, a fireplace, a tea deck, a library, the wine cellar and two dining rooms. All communal areas of the lodge open out onto verandahs with superb views. A swimming pool will be added during 2004 and it is this variety of recreational areas, which make a visit both relaxing and exciting and calls for a 3 night stay.

A special attraction of the lodge is the 'Mountain View Suite'; providing living space in abundance, the Suite is ideally suited for those who want to stay over for several days, seeking private seclusion in total comfort and style.

Located some 60 km's south of Sossusvlei, NamibRand is synonymous with some of Africa's most breathtaking locations. The special attraction of this private reserve is the diversity of desert landscapes in one cohesive area. A quote by well-respected travel writer Amy Schoemann says it all:

"Imagine the flamboyant magnificence of the Sossusvlei dunes, the mystique and subtle beauty of the Skeleton Coast and the legendary red sands of the Kalahari synthesised into one multifaceted desert reserve and you have NamibRand, a privately owned conservation area of over 180.000 hectares. Add to it inselbergs that look like beehives dripping with chocolate sauce, vast fields of mysterious fairy circles, an intriguing history and a species-rich flora and fauna (including Namibia's only true endemic, the Dune Lark) and you might have an inkling of what makes this reserve so unusual. "*

Virtually all facets of the Namib are represented here, creating a living tapestry of colours and shapes that make it a visual utopia for artists and photographers. Game species found in the reserve include Gemsbok, Mountain and Plains Zebra, Springbok, Red Hartebeest, Bat-eared Fox, Spotted Hyena, Cape Fox and African Wildcats. The more rocky areas are inhabited by Kudu, Klipspringer, Baboon and Leopard, while the dunes harbour a rich and diverse micro-fauna. Over a hundred species of birds have been recorded.

The main objective of NamibRand Nature Reserve is the conservation of this beautiful land on a self-sustainable basis. Conservation comes first and hence, right from the outset, the number of guests this wilderness paradise can and should accommodate has been restricted. Despite the tremendous potential for ongoing tourist developments, it was decided that every bed, in theory, must be surrounded by 1500 hectares of wilderness - now and forever. Lodges and Camps are limited to 20 beds in one location and strict self-imposed rules govern the park. NamibRand is a sanctuary free of tour buses and self-driving 4x4 rowdies who too often leave their mark on the wild. This defines its exclusivity and makes it the pristine destination it is today.

Inviting (true) nature lovers to share in this dream contributes to the aims of NamibRand, as every visitor pays a fixed daily fee, which is directly channeled into the conservation of NamibRand Nature Reserve.

* extract from an article published in Travel Africa Magazine, London, issue 23, 2003