Refresh your spirit and soothe your senses at serene Sossusvlei Desert Lodge, nestled deep in the heart of Namibia's ancient but ever-changing Namib Desert - one of the oldest desrts in existence. Perched on the edge of a rocky escarpment, this secluded getaway blends into the stark beauty of shifting sands, towering dunes and stony outcrops.

The Lodge is situated in the unspoiled wilderness of the NamibRand Nature Reserve, near the spectacular dunes at Sossusvlei, among the highest in the world.

Take a breather from your hectic schedule and reconnect with yourself and with nature at the Sossusvlei Desert Lodge.

Sossusvlei Desert Lodge is luxurious without being pretentious; it's a place where you can put your feet up in pure comfort and privacy, while being surrounded by all the creature comforts you wish for.

With just ten villas constructed of stone and glass, guests can enjoy the solitary splendour of this remote landscape in privacy. Suites are air conditioned against the searing heat of day and cosy fireplaces ward off the chill of winter nights.

Lose yourself in the breathtaking beauty of the desert from the comfort of your private veranda or experience the unaccustomed luxury of an outdoor shower with a view. A glazed glass skylight above the king sized bed lets in the blazing beauty of a clear night sky crammed with stars and your own personal spotting scope reveals clear details of both stars and wildlife.

Guest areas flow into vast desert views, as the stone and glass structure of the Lodge melts into wraparound verandas. Cool water gushes from an underground spring into the refreshing Lodge pool.

All your meals and drinks are included during your stay at Sossusvlei Desert Lodge.

Mouth watering dinners are served by lantern light on the open dining deck or in a surprise location in the nearby dunes. There is also an extensive walk-in wine cellar.

Sossusvlei Desert Reserve is set in the far northern part of the NamibRand Nature Reserve in Namibia. Here you can see a vast area of over 180 000 hectares (444 800 acres) that lies between the endless dune fields of the Namib Desert and the jagged mountains of the escarpment. You'll experience sandy dunes and rocky outcrops, and guaranteed to view a variety of desert habitats.

While staying at the Lodge, you'll be surrounded by rocky outcrops that form the foothills of the Nubib Mountains, which are visible to the east. A variety of different rock types occur in the area, creating spectacular formations with different textures and colours as far as your eye can see. Vast plains and valley floors extend to the south of the Lodge, where caves and petrified dunes created from sandstone can be viewed. Further south lies vast stretches of distinctive red sand dunes, extending for thousands of square kilometres into the heart of the Namib. Whether rocky hillside, sandy plain, dry river bed or sand dune, you're bound to witness each of the habitats around the Lodge that form a home for characteristic plants and animals.

The majestic oryx (or gemsbok) is the iconic antelope of the Namib Desert. With its bold black and white facial markings, sweeping horns and ochre coat, this striking animal is an unforgettable sight against the breathtaking setting. Herds of up to thirty appear on the open plains or amongst the dunes. Uniquely adapted to their desert home, oryx are able to live without water by extracting sufficient moisture from their diet. Often spotted standing atop the highest dunes, the antelope maintain this photogenic pose in order to lose heat stored in their bodies in the slight breeze.

Another animal that has adapted to the harsh desert terrain is the Hartmann’s mountain zebra, which digs beneath the earth’s surface for its drinking water. The springbok, which gets its name from its habit of leaping off the ground with all four feet, is also characteristic of the arid Namib Desert. The world’s largest bird, the ostrich, does superbly in the arid habitat of the Namib, where it rarely seeks shade or water. Aardwolf, bat-eared and Cape fox, as well as porcupine spend a large portion of their lives underground, emerging at night, when temperatures have dropped.

Sossusvlei Desert Lodge offers a choice of adventures aimed at delighting and informing guests about the surrounding desert.

Twice-daily nature drives - track down unique desert-adapted wildlife in open vehicles, accompanied by an expert guide. Admire the fascinating and varied terrain, and learn more about the desert fauna and flora. Explore the mysterious fairy circles, where vegetation refuses to grow, and find out how the desert oryx can live without drinking water.

Dune walks - guests are free to explore the areas surrounding the Lodge on foot. Experience the tranquillity of the desert and marvel at the exceptional plant life, such as the quiver tree, with its attractive yellow flowers. Guided dune walks introduce guests to life below the sands, where many small animals spend the day in cooler burrows. Expeditions to the nearby San caves to view cave paintings can be arranged.

Quad biking - explore the desert on already established trails on a quad bike. These exciting expeditions, headed by an expert guide, add a thrill of adrenalin to desert exploration.

Gaze at the stars - each evening resident astronomers give fascinating presentation on the stars and constellations in the southern African sky at our specially designed observatory, complete with powerful telescope.

Picnic excursions - guided tours of the famous Sossusvlei sand dunes and the fascinating Sesriem Canyon, as well as other places of interest in the area, can be arranged at an additional cost.

WHAT YOU GET:

• Accommodation
• Three meals daily
• Soft drinks, house wines, local brand spirits and beers
• Teas and coffees
• Refreshments on game drives
• Scheduled safari activities within the NamibRand Nature Reserve
• Emergency medical evacuation insurance
• Laundry
• VAT
• Transfers to and from the airstrip (where applicable).

PLEASE DON'T FORGET:

• No single supplement is charged for the first two single rooms of a booking.
• Any additional rooms will be levied with a 50% supplement.
• All excursions in the NamibRand Nature Reserve, including all terrain vehicles, are included.
• Excursions to Sossusvlei via Sesriem Gate are an additional cost. These additional excursions into surrounding reserves are charged at NAD 700 per person per excursion for 2009 and NAD 770 per person per excursion for 2010.
• Conservancy & park entrance fees are not included in the above mentioned rates where applicable - these are charged per 24-hour period
• All pricing is indicative and subject to exchange rate fluctuations.