Sossusvlei Lodge

Sossusvlei Lodge Amenities and Facilities

Swimming Pool

A chlorinated freshwater swimming pool is available for use by guests 24 hours a day. Pool towels are available on request from Reception (guests are requested not to use room towels at the pool).

Bar

The bar is open from 08:00 until late for soft drinks and alcoholic beverages. A wide variety of mineral waters and cocktails are stocked to quench a 'desert thirst', as well as an extensive range of Southern Africa's finest wines. Well-known Namibian and German beers and schnapps are also available. The service area includes the bar itself and the area around the adjacent swimming pool.

Curio Shop

The Curio or Souvenir shop is located at the base of the observation tower adjacent to Reception and is open from 08:00 until 17:00 daily.

The shop stocks informative books about the area, its peoples and animals, postcards, African art jewellery (including Bushmen signs and paw prints), Sossusvlei Lodge clothing and caps, films, camera batteries, sunglasses, sunscreen, among other interesting items.

Items purchased may be charged to the guest's room account or may be paid for in cash or by credit card (Diners Club, American Express, Mastercard, and Visa accepted).

Courtesy Beverage Bar

Warm beverages and cold water are available at no cost to Lodge guests in the Reception area 24 hours a day. A wide range of teas, coffee, freshly brewed filter coffee, and sweeteners can be found here.

Guest Telephone Facility

Guests may make telephone calls from the reception area. Place your call with the reception clerk, and once contact has been established, it will be put through to an accessible telephone for your convenience.

Calls are timed, and payment may be made in cash or charged to the guest's room account. There is also full mobile phone coverage and the availability to purchase airtime at reception.

Airstrip Transfers

A "Welcome" reception at the Sossusvlei Lodge airstrip with drinks and wet clothes to freshen up before proceeding to the Lodge. Special settings by arrangement for unique occasions and product launches.

What To Do at Sossusvlei Lodge

The Sossusvlei Lodge Adventure Centre

The Sossusvlei Lodge Adventure Centre provides various planned activities of discovery into the Sossusvlei area while understanding and respecting the needs of guests for an independent and private style of travel. Experience the desert beauty from a bird's eye view in a hot air balloon or by aircraft. Take a guided drive through scenic natural beauty in a custom-built and comfortable all-terrain vehicle.

Sossusvlei Excursions

An early start from the Lodge to enter the Namib-Naukluft Park at sunrise, while the temperature is still mild and when the dune contrasts are at their best. You will travel in one of our all-terrain URI Game Viewing vehicles, custom-built in Namibia for the Lodge, with your own specially trained guide who will share all his knowledge of the area, the animals, the plant life and much more with you.

Regular stops are made on the ±60 kilometre drive down to the Vlei to gain information or take in the vistas. At Dune 45, the more energetic have the opportunity to climb to the upper ridge of the world's most photographed dune. Further along, a gradual 2.6 kilometre round-trip walk up to Dead Vlei is a must for the healthy visitors. Spend time in Sossusvlei before returning to the Lodge approximately 5½ hours later in time for luncheon. Refreshments are provided on the trip.

Nature Drives

Guided nature drives in our comfortable all-terrain URI Gameviewer vehicles on the 44,000-hectare expanse that makes up our private reserve. You will experience a relaxing drive through pristine nature where Oryx and springbok wander freely on the property. Spectacular photographs present themselves at every turn during this excursion of approximately 4½ hours. Refreshments are provided.

Sundowners

Depart from the Lodge in the late afternoon on a leisurely drive out onto the Lodge's private reserve. Watch the shadows lengthen as your guide takes you out to a panoramic location where sundowner drinks will be served as you relax and watch the spectacular sunset. The inner tranquillity that a desert sunset imparts while you sit amongst nature is really something special.

Guided Sunset Walks

The guided sunset walk starts at the parking area of Elim dune. The southern part of the dune is climbed, and the dune valley is then followed for approximately 1.5km. The dune is then crossed again in a northerly direction, and the walk continues on to the quiver tree sundowner spot at the mountain range to the north.

The desert sunset is awaited and enjoyed over a sundowner drink while taking in the beauty of the dunes and desert plains. After sunset, guests are driven back to the Lodge. The sunset walk covers ±10km. A shorter 5 to 7 km route is currently being investigated.

Hot Air Balloon Flights

"Up, up and away" as you sail silently over the reddish dune sea of the Namib. Add an exhilarating dimension to your visit to the desert. A daily activity for individuals or groups, weather permitting, run by Namib Sky Adventure Safaris. There are three balloons available accommodating a maximum of thirty passengers.

Eco-Quad Biking

A wonderful and different way to view the local surroundings. Exhilarating yet eco-friendly, the fixed quad biking trails have been meticulously laid out on the Lodge's private reserve so as not to interfere with the indigenous plant and animal life. Visitors follow the guide and may not deviate off the trails.

The Quad Bike Breakfast Run

This activity is for those who want to experience something different and is specifically geared towards those who still want to travel to their next destination the same day.

Currently, the sun rises at ±06:00; therefore, this trip starts at 05:45. It follows the shortest route on easy terrain to the Tsauchab River and arrives at the destination in time to watch the sunrise. Once there, your guide unpacks the picnic basket and sets a 'table' (of petrified mud which resembles a flat table top and even offers 'seats' too).

This breakfast location is stunning, with a 360° view of the rising sun over the mountains, on the dunes, on the golden grass plains, and on the mountains—simply breathtaking! On completion of the breakfast, bikers follow a slightly different direct route back to the Lodge over easy terrain.

Desert Scenic Flights

Desert Air has a well-maintained 6-seater Cessna 210 light aircraft permanently based on the Lodge's property along with an experienced pilot who also doubles as a trained "aerial" desert guide.

A number of routes are available on request and include 40-minute trips to Sossusvlei and longer round-trip flights down to the coast.

The latter excursion provides wonderful aerial photographs of the desert with its 'sea of dunes' as well as unforgettable views of the numerous shipwrecks along the so-called "Skeleton Coast" of Namibia.