Last stop on my luxury safari road trip across Namibia was Sossusvlei. Not just the ultimate destination of my itinerary but also the ultimate choice for a desert break.
You might not realise it, but you undoubtedly have seen images of the famed (and huge) red sand dunes of Sossusvlei. Maybe you thought is was the Sahara, the American southwest or some other desert but it was this arid beautiful region of Namibia. A landscape photographer’s dream, the area didn’t teem with as much big game as other parts of the county. Still, spotting a sidewinder (with trained guide Forster at my side), eavesdropping on a pack of cape foxes with newborn cubs, being dazzled by a gazillion stars in one of the clearest, cleanest skies I’ve ever gazed upon – these were all experiences that made the end of my trip so extraordinarily memorable.
I stayed at Little Kulala, an otherworldly and eco-sensitive luxury lodge run by Wilderness Safaris. During the day Little Kulala looked to be the very definition of desert outpost. By night, it was a fairyland cluster of twinkling lights melding as much with the starry dome above as with the sandy ground below.
My thatched roof kulala (traditional – if modified for upscale comfort – Namibian house) featured a rooftop “skybed” for stargazing, a private plunge pool, indoor/outdoor shower and gorgeous unobstructed views of the desert, which seemed to change in colour every other time I looked at it.
Driving to/from the lodge was a chance to whisk through some of the most stunning stretch of scenery I’ve ever experienced and was perhaps the ultimate highlight of my trip.
Be sure to have a look at all my posts about my visit to Namibia. For details about this beautiful country go to namibiatourism.com.na.
