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The Dunes Lodge is perched on top of a dune plateau, overlooking panoramic vistas in all directions and capturing the beauty of the desert in a most memorable way. Building style is a combination of wooden structures and canvas blinds, opening 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 sports a private verandah, which connects you to vast stretches of untouched sand. Sleeping with your canvas blinds open is just like 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. The lodge also has a swimming pool, which is suspended above the sand. All communal areas of the lodge open out onto decks with superb views.
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All tented rooms are open to the beautiful desert vistas and have been built to maximise the views from all corners of the room. Each has a private verandah, connecting you to the swathes of untouched sand beyond. In fact, we highly recommend sleeping with your canvas blinds open to feel the soft evening breeze and marvel at the vast star-studded sky.
There are 7 Tented chalets, linked by a walkway and set atop a dune plateau, featuring elevated decks and sleeping two adults in a king-size bed. Each en-suite bathroom includes a double vanity, shower, and toilet.
Room Facilities
Balcony / Deck, Outside Shower, Plunge Pool, Verandah
3 tented chalets with an elevated deck on top of a dune plateau, each sleeps 2 adults and 2 children. The en-suite bathroom offers a double vanity, shower & toilet facilities.
Room Facilities
Balcony / Deck, Outside Shower, Plunge Pool
Property Facilities
Bar, Internet Access (Complimentary), Library, Restaurant
Room Facilities
Lounge Area, Plunge Pool, Shower, Verandah
Available Services
Credit Card Facilities
Activities on Site
Bird Watching, Cycling, Game Drives, Game Viewing, Game Walks, Horse Riding, Sleep Outs, Walks (Guided), Walks (Self Guided)
Activities Nearby
Bird Watching, Cultural Tours, Game Drives, Game Walks, Horse-back Safaris, Hot Air Ballooning
Experience the thrill of a hot air balloon flight with an early morning adventure.
Begin your day with a pre-dawn wake-up, followed by a 1 to 1.5-hour drive to the balloon launch site. Once there, you'll have the opportunity to soar above the stunning landscape, taking in breathtaking views that are truly unforgettable. End this extraordinary experience with a champagne breakfast at the landing spot.
This unique activity requires advance booking, with reservations needed at least one day before your planned flight. Prepare for an extraordinary journey that offers a fresh perspective on the landscape and a truly transformative start to your day, one that will stay with you long after the journey ends.
Duration: Full morning
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Indulge in a range of luxurious wellness and massage treatments designed to rejuvenate both body and mind, all within the comfort of your room.
Whether you’re looking for a soothing massage, invigorating body treatments, or holistic therapies, our expertly tailored services are crafted to provide the ultimate relaxation and renewal. For a complete list of available treatments and pricing, please consult the spa menu. All services are available for booking onsite upon arrival.
ADDITIONAL CHARGES APPLY
From breakfast in the dunes, lunch in the gardens or the 'hard rock' café, to dinner under the stars - a range of unforgettable meal options are available.
Garden Lunch
Duration: Variable
Enjoy a healthy lunch in the Wolwedans vegetable garden. Normally done after a Heart & Home tour, garden lunches can also be booked as a stand-alone activity, in case you don’t join a Heart & Home, or following a scenic morning drive or horse ride. Either way, you should not miss a lunch in the garden.
Lunch at the Hard Rock Café
Duration: Variable
Head out further into the dunes for a full day drive with picnic lunch between boulders at our take on a 'hard rock café'.
ADDITIONAL CHARGES APPLY
Dune Breakfast
Kickstart the day with a one-of-a-kind breakfast tucked between Namibian dunes. Whether a short walk from camp or paired with a sunrise drive, this experience offers an unforgettable start to your day in one of the most awe-inspiring landscapes on Earth.
ADDITIONAL CHARGES APPLY
Dinner Under the Stars
End your day with a memorable dinner beneath the stars. Savor exquisite cuisine during this
Private dinner set in a secret location at the heart of the desert.
ADDITIONAL CHARGES APPLY
Experience the magic of Namibia’s wilderness like never before with Wolwedans’ exclusive Desert Sleepout. Savor the sunset, marvel at the sunrise, and gaze upon skies brimming with stars. This unique adventure in the heart of the Namib Desert invites you to leave the ordinary behind and immerse yourself in the vastness above and beyond.
This is a private activity with a dedicated guide who will be nearby throughout the night, to ensure your comfort and safety, while respecting your privacy. This is a seasonally available from September – May for stays of 3 nights or more, and not available from Boulders Camp.
Dinner hamper in the dunes
The Namib Desert sets the stage for an extraordinary dining location. Enjoy your sleep out with a simple dinner hamper under the vast African sky and wake up to a sunrise coffee with the dunes as your backdrop.
Morning coffee in the dunes
Head out into the dunes after dinner in camp for a once-in-a-lifetime sleeping experience. End your sleep-out with a morning coffee in the remote dunes.
Desert Sleepout requires a minimum 3-night stay, is available from September – May (June-Aug have very low night temperatures) and needs to be pre-booked at reservations level.
For fitness enthusiasts, an exhilarating E-Bike adventure awaits, led by our friendly and knowledgeable guides. This experience takes you deep into the dunes and across the expansive plains of the desert, providing a unique perspective that’s typically only accessible by 4x4 vehicles.
Whatever your level, our E-Bike guides ensure you get the most out of this high-energy excursion, blending fitness with exploration for an unforgettable desert adventure.
Morning or Evening Ride (Included)
Duration 1.5-2 hours
Pedal through the shifting sands and have the opportunity to connect with the desert's beauty. Morning rides can be combined with a Village Tour with a lunch or end back in camp where you dip into your private chiller. Evening rides end with sundowners in the dunes.
Full Day Ride (Extra cost)
Duration 4-6 hours
Experienced riders are invited to take part on a full day of riding across the dunes. Along the journey, pause for a picnic in a secluded spot. The excitement of conquering the challenging landscape on two wheels, is matched only by the breathtaking views you'll encounter along the way. This is better suited to our cooler winter months (June – August)
For riders of all kinds, a range of riding experiences is available. Depending on the rider's experience level, the rides can include a mix of galloping, trotting, or walking through the dunes and expansive plains. Whether seasoned or new to horseback riding, these guided rides are designed to suit individual abilities while offering an unforgettable journey through the terrain.
Morning Ride
Duration 2 hours
Set off on a morning horseback ride through the desert, departing from the village and ideal for young adventurers. This gentle ride offers a unique way to explore the landscape and is the perfect precursor to a relaxing lunch in the village garden.
Sunset Ride
Duration 2-3 hours
Take a leisurely 2.5-hour horseback ride through the desert at sunset, exploring the vast landscape as the colors of the sky shift with the fading light. Along the way, stop for sundowners, enjoying a refreshing drink while soaking in the untamed beauty of the desert.
Full Day Ride
Duration 6 hours
Experienced riders seeking a deeper connection with nature may opt for a full-day horseback ride through the desert landscape. From the horseback vantage point, you'll experience the enduring beauty of the desert. Along the journey, pause for a picnic in a secluded spot.
We invite you to contribute to the Wolwedans Foundation through leaving your mark in the desert. The full amount collected goes to the Wolwedans Foundation and each adoption supports a different project being run by the Foundation.
Adopt & Plant a Tree:
Contribute to the restoration of the local ecosystem and help combat desertification by planting a tree in this vital conservation effort. Proceeds go into the Wolwedans Horticulture Project. The tree planting takes about 15 minutes. Your tree has your name on a plaque and we hope you visit us again to see how it has grown.
Adopt a Fairy Circle:
Help preserve one of Namibia's most intriguing natural phenomena by adopting a fairy circle. This project supports the conservation arm of the NamibRand Nature Reserve.
Adopt a SiloTile:
A new initiative with the addition of the silo bar at Dune Camp. Each tile on the silo contributes to our trash to treasure project. All proceeds go towards the waste & recycling plant in Maltahohe, which is part of Rural Revive. Waste is something each of us contribute to on a daily basis, yet few of us think about the impact. In a pristine environment like the NamibRand, creative waste management is a top priority.
The Wolwedans Village is our base camp of operations. Meet the team and learn about the community-driven initiatives, including the sustainability projects that make Wolwedans a renowned leader in sustainable tourism. This tour offers a thought-provoking look into the way of life at Wolwedans, and an insight into the Wolwedans Foundation's AridEden mission.
The AridEden Project, encapsulating the Wolwedans Vision 2030 and beyond, is a strategy that integrates our 5Cs sustainability commitment (Commerce, Conservation, Community, Culture, Consciousness). This approach balances people, planet, and profit, with a focus on empowering our team, fostering well-being, and driving consciousness about sustainable solutions.
Village Introduction:
A 1-hour Wolwedans Backstage tour ending in the garden.
Village Immersion:
A 2-3 hour more in-depth experience concludes with lunch in the gardens.
Family Treasure Hunt:
A 1-hour fun and interactive way to explore the behind-the-scenes of a desert camp. Kids might search for a carrot in the garden, or crush a can in the recycling zone - learning while playing.
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Join an immersive Bushman walk, guided by an experienced Bushman, as you traverse the Namib sand dunes.
This excursion offers a unique opportunity to explore the desert landscape on foot and delve into its intricate details. As you journey through the dunes, you'll interpret the "morning newspaper" left by small critters overnight, gaining insights into their nocturnal activities. You'll also track the fascinating toktokkie beetle, a remarkable creature vital to the ecosystem, and might even be lucky enough to spot the Dancing White Lady spider as it darts across the sand.
This walk provides a fresh perspective on the natural world, shifting from passive observation to active participation. It highlights the tiny, yet significant, life forms often overlooked from the comfort of a vehicle.
It’s possible to combine your bushman walk with the Heart and Home village tour and lunch in the gardens.
"The Bushmen read the desert like a book, every track a story, every breeze a whisper of life."
Duration: 2-3 hours
Disconnect to Reconnect, this signature Wolwedans experience includes 30–45 minutes in peaceful silence. For those seeking a moment of personal reflection in the quiet, we offer the opportunity to leave your phone behind and sit in solitude in a remote spot within the dunes, fully embracing the stillness and beauty of the desert.
Recognized by Quiet Parks International, Wolwedans has an exceptionally quiet environment, where only sounds of nature abound. Quiet Parks International is an organization that works to protect natural quiet spaces, helping to preserve the few places in the world where the peace of nature is still intact, free from man-made noise.
As a recognized quiet place, this rare access to silence, allows you to tune into the subtle sounds of nature, experiencing a profound sense of quiet in mind, body, and soul.
For those wishing to connect with the ancient landscape on a deeper level, this experience can be arranged during a sunrise or sundowner drive.
"Silence is not the absence of something but the presence of everything." – Gordon Hempton, acoustic ecologist.
Duration: 30-45 minutes
Opt for a sunrise or sunset drive with coffee or sundowners in the dunes, or immerse yourself in the vast desert landscape with full-day or half-day options.
Sunrise Drive
Duration: 1.5 hours
Before breakfast start your day with a sunrise drive across the dunes. Savor a hot cup of coffee or tea with home-baked rusks and biscuits as you take in the raw beauty of the landscape. After the sunrise, return to camp or combine with Dune Breakfast.
Morning or Afternoon Drive
Duration: 2-3 hours
Morning Drive: Head out after breakfast and return to camp for lunch. Combines well with an in-room massage.
Afternoon Drive: Head out after afternoon tea to watch the shadows growing over the landscape, ending with sundowners.
Sundowner Drive
Duration: 1.5 hours
A shorter a drive to a prime sundowner spot. Spot oryx and other wildlife preparing for nightfall, set against the stunning Namibian sky, before enjoying a perfectly prepared G&T as you watch the sun dip below the dramatic desert expanse.
Full-Day Drive
Duration: 6 hours
This signature Wolwedans experience promises to be an immersive exploration of the region's most remote and awe-inspiring corners. Enjoy a picnic lunch at our own ‘Hard Rock Café’, an unforgettable setting in the shade of towering boulders.
Duration: Two options are available for Bushman walks at Wolwedans:
Bushman Walk
Duration
Morning walks
09h00 -11h00 AM
Afternoon walks
17h00 – 18h00 PM (ending with a Sundowner)
Fitness Level: Intermediate, walking required.
Description: Khoisan men, from the south of Namibia lead the bushman walk through the desert. They lead the walk through areas surrounding the sites and focus primarily on micro-fauna and flora. Activities from the previous night, like tracks and trails are sought out and small desert creatures are located, identified and explained to guests. This activity is the most popular at Wolwedans.
Duration: Four options are available for nature / scenic drives at Wolwedans:
Nature Drive
Duration
Sunrise drive
06h30 - 07h00 AM incl. coffee / tea
Morning drive (after breakfast)
09h00 – 12h00 AM followed by lunch at camp/lodge
Day drive
08h30 – 17h00 PM incl. bush picnic
Afternoon drive
16h00 PM – sunset incl. a sundowner
Fitness Level: None required. This activity takes place in an open air game-viewer. Disembarking the vehicle does require some effort. There is no wheelchair access.
Description: The drives are either southbound or northbound. The NamibRand Nature Reserve is home to various game, but not the Big 5. Many desert-adapted animals are found on the nature reserve. Nature drives can be done privately, at an additional cost. Keep an eye out for the Plains Zebra, Springbok, Hartebeest, Oryx, Bat-eared Fox, Lappet faced Vultures and sand grouse.
Duration: 17h00 – 17h30 PM incl. sundowner
Fitness Level: None required. This activity takes place in an open air game-viewer. Disembarking the vehicle does require some effort. There is no wheelchair access.
Description: A Sundowner drive is a short drive (30-40 minutes), with a short stop-over at a stunning location, whereby guests are spoilt by witnessing an incomparable Namibian sunset over the dunes (with their drink of choice in hand ).
The horseback riding offered at Wolwedans can be tailored to suit each guests’ riding ability. Our horses range from gentle souls to more lively rides – dependant on each guests’ level of experience.
Riding Capability:
Guests should be very considerate at selecting their horse riding ability.
Beginner (D): - Never ridden before or have and is a nervous rider.
Novice (C): - Comfortable at walk and trot on quiet horse. Has been on a horse before.
Intermediate (B): - Able to walk, trot and canter on well-mannered horse.
Advanced (A): - Comfortable on any horse, at any pace.
Duration: 1 - 1.5 hours
Fitness Level: Intermediate. This activity is guided. Previous riding experience is not necessary. All horse rides are for beginners, except for the day ride.
Description: Wolwedans horse guides will take guests on a 1 - 1.5 hr complimentary horse-ride, on our in-house horses.
Guests have the option of either: a morning ride - or an afternoon ride.
Should guests wish to have a longer horse-ride, additional costs will apply.
Should guests wish to have additional horse rides throughout their stay, additional costs will apply.
Duration: 2 – 3 hours
Fitness Level: Intermediate. This activity can be guided or unguided.
Description: Fat e-Bikes is a term coined by the makers of these exciting new devices. The name refers to the size of their tyres, which are wider than the standard mountain or racing bicycle. These solar-powered, 500W electric motor assisted bikes are designed for the red sand dunes of the Namib and vast flat Chateau plains. They provide the cyclist with a dual powered experience that engages them physically, while also providing an extra push for up to 40km per charge, creating a truly exciting gliding effect and sand surfing-like experience.
Fat e-bikes make no noise and cause no damage to the natural environment, emit no poisonous exhaust fumes, have a zero-accident rate and leave such little track evidence that any traces are simply blown away by the next sand gust. As quad-bikes are completely off-limits in the NamibRand Private Nature Reserve, these super-charged fat e-bikes are the next best thing for nature lovers hoping to explore the desert environment up close. Bike tours on the reserve can accommodate large groups as well as couples and children. They also come with a 3-inch LCD colour display that provides interesting facts on your speed and distance while you’re gliding in the sand.
Availability: Strictly on a first come, first served basis. Guests are encouraged to book upon check-in at their lodge or camp.
Duration: 1.5 - 2 hrs
Fitness Level: Intermediate, walking required. Some walking over dunes and down semi-steep slopes.
Description: From the basin to the shower, it’s easy to forget that there is a complex water system helping to provide the convenience of running water in the middle of the desert. The Wolwedans Water-Walk is a zero-carbon, zero-impact activity that takes visitors on a guided, or self-guided walk along the
water network, all the way to the state-of-the-art water pump room at our base village. It’s a journey of discovery and is designed to get guests active and learning, and encourage them to not only appreciate the miracle of the water supply, but also conserve it.
The Water Walk will answer all of these questions whilst providing guests with an invigorating dune walk. Guests are provided with a map and received at base camp with a refreshing glass of Wolwedans made ice-tea, home made from the pure-filtered water of the Namib Desert.
Duration: 1.5 – 2 hours
Fitness Level: Intermediate, some walking required.
Description: The Wolwedans Village Tour is an informative back-of-house walk that takes guests through our elaborate base operations. Guests are taken on a walk that visits the pump house, the solar panel field, the motor-vehicle workshop and the battery centre. Then past the stables and to the organic garden. Finally, it meanders past the pigsty, carpenter workshop, student and staff accommodation and ends at the trainees’ classroom opposite the base kitchen where all meals are prepared. The tour encourages guests to get a hands on experience of our operations, gives them the opportunity to ask questions and encourages a transparency of our back of house. This activity is highly rated by guests and agents alike.
Cost: None – Donations are welcome.
Availability: This activity is available all year round.
Duration: 1-2 hours
Fitness Level: None
Description: The first activity to really bring one back in touch - is aptly named “Solitude”. Solitude is a zero-impact, low-carbon activity, which takes visitors to some of the quietest places on the reserve and creates a solitary experience – to think, observe, meditate and rejuvenate.
Solitude is a meditative experience, giving guests the opportunity to experience the tranquillity and deep serenity of the desert silence. Guests are accompanied with refreshments and writing material. The guides leave the guests seated in a
comfortable chair with the desert silence as their friend. Guests may also choose to listen to the incredible piano fractals produced through the Stranger project, which visited Wolwedans’ Chateau Plains, by way of the CUBE project in 2018.
Cost: None
From breakfast in the dunes, lunch in the gardens or the 'hard rock' café, to dinner under the stars - a range of unforgettable meal options are available.
Garden Lunch
Duration: Variable
Enjoy a healthy lunch in the Wolwedans vegetable garden. Normally done after a Heart & Home tour, garden lunches can also be booked as a stand-alone activity, in case you don’t join a Heart & Home, or following a scenic morning drive or horse ride. Either way, you should not miss a lunch in the garden.
Lunch at the Hard Rock Café
Duration: Variable
Head out further into the dunes for a full day drive with picnic lunch between boulders at our take on a 'hard rock café'.
ADDITIONAL CHARGES APPLY
Dune Breakfast
Kickstart the day with a one-of-a-kind breakfast tucked between Namibian dunes. Whether a short walk from camp or paired with a sunrise drive, this experience offers an unforgettable start to your day in one of the most awe-inspiring landscapes on Earth.
ADDITIONAL CHARGES APPLY
Dinner Under the Stars
End your day with a memorable dinner beneath the stars. Savor exquisite cuisine during this
Private dinner set in a secret location at the heart of the desert.
ADDITIONAL CHARGES APPLY
Desert Lodge main area is where guests gather for a coffee in the lounge, dinner on the deck, a wine at the bar or sundowners at the fire pit.
