Ai Aiba, The Rock Painting Lodge is a modern African style lodge on the 200,000 hectare Erongo Mountain Nature Conservancy.

This comfortable lodge has 20 rooms in blocks of two with thatched roofs, private patios and en suite bathrooms with showers. Refurbed, the decor went from gaudy African in style to classic and contemporary. It's distinct and refined in light grays and neutrals with raw wood accents. It's really quite nice. A large pool is the focal point of the living area, itself an enormous open-fronted thatch building that houses the restaurant and bar. The view of the mountains from here is worth several gin and tonics.

A feature of the area, and indeed the lodge's own slogan, is the numerous ancient rock art sites, 120 to be exact, that add to the atmosphere of timeless serenity at Ai Aiba Lodge. Guided tours, day trips and walking trails make the most of these fascinating petroglyphs.

The setting is dramatic against an outcrop of granite boulders, the surrounds are serene and the mood is laid back and family-friendly. Go explore the Erongo Mountains, then simply relax and as night sets in, enjoy delicious dinner served with an excellent selection of wines. A fine place to stay in these parts, especially if you're interested in the history of the prehistoric rock formations and Bushman rock paintings.