Sossusvlei, Namibia
Kwessi Dunes
An exclusive luxury desert retreat within Namibia’s vast NamibRand Nature Reserve, Kwessi Dune’s chalets come with open-air star-gazer rooms. The heavenly views upwards are matched by the stunning desert vistas.
An exclusive luxury desert retreat within Namibia’s vast NamibRand Nature Reserve, Kwessi Dune’s chalets come with open-air star-gazer rooms. The heavenly views upwards are matched by the stunning desert vistas.
An exclusive luxury desert retreat within Namibia’s vast NamibRand Nature Reserve, Kwessi Dune’s chalets come with open-air star-gazer rooms. The heavenly views upwards are matched by the stunning desert vistas.
An exclusive luxury desert retreat within Namibia’s vast NamibRand Nature Reserve, Kwessi Dune’s chalets come with open-air star-gazer rooms. The heavenly views upwards are matched by the stunning desert vistas.
Location
Located within a 15,000-hectare private concession within the wider 200,000 hectares of the NamibRand Nature Reserve, Kwessi Dunes enjoys splendid isolation on the extreme eastern edge of Namibia’s great sea of sand. West from here, it’s a 50-kilometre slog over the dunes to the South Atlantic Ocean. To reach Kwessi Dunes, it’s a five-hour drive from Windhoek, or you could opt for the convenience of a fly-in to the nearby airstrip. Once here, Sossusvlei is an easy day trip.
Accommodation
In the southern shadow of a sinuous ridge of dunes extending from Namibia’s vast tract of sand are 12 cool and comfortable chalets. In keeping with their intrepid situation, they’re appropriately pioneering, with canvas walls and thatched roofs giving guests that sense of adventure. New to NamibRand’s exclusive and small accommodation options in the 2020s, however, they’re not lacking in modern luxury touches, which include strong air conditioning and opulent ensuite bathrooms.
While the four-poster bed may have its attractions, we would encourage you to make use of the rooftop alternative: a sky bed for falling asleep beneath the millions of stars visible in this zone of dark skies.
Centrally located in the line of chalets is the main lodge, home to dining and lounging areas, a library, and a decked veranda looking over the spectacle of the desert plain. Local wildlife is drawn to the adjacent waterhole, so expect to see desert oryx and ostriches. You’ll want to indulge in the cooling waters of the swimming pool after a day of exploration and then swap stories with fellow travellers around the campfire into the evening.
Centrally located in the line of chalets is the main lodge, home to dining and lounging areas, a library, and a decked veranda looking over the spectacle of the desert plain. Local wildlife is drawn to the adjacent waterhole, so expect to see desert oryx and ostriches. You’ll want to indulge in the cooling waters of the swimming pool after a day of exploration and then swap stories with fellow travellers around the campfire into the evening.
Experiences
While the attraction of staying at Kwessi Dunes may be partly for its proximity to Sossusvlei and the surrounding epic landscapes, there’s no doubt that wildlife and stargazing opportunities are equally attractive reasons.
- Desert wildlife is far more diverse than you may imagine. One recent guest listed the species they saw in one day as ‘giraffe, hares, oryx, black-eared jackal, ground squirrel, springbok, ostriches and 35 other species of bird’.
- Take a day or half-day excursion to Sossusvlei and the eerie petrified forests of Deadvlei.
- While walking and 4x4s are the main options for safaris here, you may want to enjoy a horseback version for a completely different perspective.
- This is a prime location for an aerial adventure. Helicopter, fixed-wing or balloon options are easy to arrange.
- There are thousands of hectares of dunes to explore on quadbikes. The instructors will teach you how to navigate the enormous sea of sand.
- This place is deep in the hear of the Africa’s first designated International Dark Sky Reserve meaning it’s one of the least light-polluted areas in the world. Enjoy the stars!
Why Travel with Journeysmiths
We are a boutique travel specialist. For over 30 years we have been creating luxury tailor-made safaris to the timeless savannahs of Africa. Your time is precious and with a world to see, we understand the importance of getting it absolutely right for you, every time.We are a boutique travel specialist. For over 30 years we have been creating luxury tailor-made safaris to the timeless savannahs of Africa. Your time is precious and with a world to see, we understand the importance of getting it absolutely right for you, every time.