If you’ve been dreaming of exploring the African Bush, stargazing under the clearest skies, and dining on desert-inspired dishes, all from the comforts of your luxury lodge, now is the perfect time to plan a trip to andBeyond’s Sossusvlei Desert Lodge. Be among the first to stay in the completely rebuilt lodge when it opens on October 16, 2019.
Taking full advantage of nature’s abundance, the new buildings comprise a series of glass, rock, and steel pavilions with a color palette inspired by the shades of the mountainside – slate grey, stone, and sun-bleached timber. Contrasting the bright, clay-colored dunes, the lodge creates a calm escape from the harsh environment with chic, desert-inspired interiors.
You’ll find yourself immersed in landscape and skyscapes thanks to floor to ceiling glass walls and above-bed retractable skylights. Get swept away amid breathtaking views of the world’s oldest desert and the continent’s only Dark Sky Reserve (designated areas with extremely clear skies and minimal light pollution).
The lodge’s commitment to sustainable and solar power makes appearances throughout. In your 1400 square foot guest suite, you’ll find extras like solar-powered freezer drawers stocked with ice cream and Namibian craft beers, in-room fireplaces and artist easels, large private verandas with outdoor showers, fire pits and plunge pools.
If you’re bringing the family, opt for the new two-bedroom Star Dune Suite. With andBeyond’s WILDchild programs, there’s plenty of activities geared toward kids. The program offers guide-led fun and educational activities like sand dune surfing, beetle hunting, nature walks, and scorpion spotting.
The lodge offers a completely different safari experience to the rest of andBeyond’s portfolio in the Africa. Day trips include adventures to Deadvlei (a former oasis in the desert that has since dried up, leaving an eerie area of petrified trees) and the Sossusvlei dunes (with the highest dune coming in at 1,000 feet). You’ll be able to explore with non-guided walks, hot air balloon rides over the desert, and stargazing at night with the resident astronomer.
Dining
A gastronomical affair pleasing the most distinguished palates, guests dine in a new venue for each meal. From personalized dinners on the terrace or the rooftop underneath the stars to a surprising dune picnic in the nearby fairy circles each experience is a unique culinary event. A new interactive kitchen allows guests to create inspiring dishes with cooking lessons on curing game meat to making ice cream.
Wellness
Adhering to the commitment of conserving the lodge’s footprint, the new wellness center is built on the roof. The gym is strategically positioned to catch the desert sunrise for early-morning yoga flows or a pre-breakfast treadmill run. Rejuvenate your body and mind with the spa’s Healing Earth products, a range of eco-friendly spa amenities made with African ingredients, such as Kalahari melon, marula, and pinotage before retreating to a private spa bath.
You’ll find the new Sossusvlei Dessert Lodge to be one of the most luxurious safaris, encompassing not only first class acclamations surrounded by nature, but an adventure of a lifetime.