Best hotels in Namibia

This lodge, in the middle of the Namib Desert, quite literally in the middle of nowhere, has crafted itself as a stand-alone destination in Namibia. Guests travel the extra mile to get here because it is offers something special. During your stay you will find silence and serenity. The team arrange exquisite desert picnics, you can dine on fine food under a blanket of bright stars, quite literally on the edge of the desert (even your villa has a skylight above your bed so you can savour that phenomenal sight late at night) or recline at the sparkling swimming pool overlooking the breathtaking view.

Okonjima Plains Camp was built on the site of the owner's original farmhouse. After a dramatic face lift the 'Barn' doors, the nickname for the main area of the camp, were officially opened. It offers comfortable and stylish accommodation for guests visiting the AfriCat Foundation project. With 30 rooms, it's a larger camp than we would usually recommend, but if you are interested in big cats and seeing how the world's most successful research and rehabilitation project works in practice, a 2 night stay here is a must.

Etosha is one of Africa's great game parks but it can get busy and the facilities aren't what they could be. Ongava, which is a sizable private reserve on its southern border, capitalizes on its proximity and provides what the park cannot: exclusivity, luxury and flexibility, whilst maintaining an intimate camp feel. Ongava Tented Camp combines the best of Etosha with great service and the chance to benefit from a more personal guided experience in a less restrictive environment. Here you can combine comfortable accommodation with great game sightings and still experience Etosha Pan.

Okonjima Reserve serves as a convenient stop-over for families en-route to Etosha National Park as it sits halfway between there and Windhoek, Namibia's capital city. This private 55,000 acre reserve is home to top-quality luxury accommodation and the much reputed AfriCat Foundation. Here, you'll have the opportunity for up-close encounters with some of Africas most iconic felines in a relatively natural environment. For those interested in engaging with the important and difficult work of rehabilitation, this is one of the best places to do so. But besides all that, the Okonjima Villa is a stunning, four-bedroom, top-quality offering that comes complete with your own chef and private safari vehicle.

Just a short drive southeast of Anderson Gate, this newly minted lodge sits rather cleverly on a 5,000-hectare private reserve that shares a 10-kilometre border with famous Etosha National Park. The location is no accident – it's a masterstroke that allows you to dodge the crowds whilst still being on the doorstep of one of Africa's greatest wildlife spectacles. The approach via a curved timber walkway through grassland and twisted trees instantly sets the tone for what's to come. This isn't just another pretty lodge – it's a front-row seat to the African bush.

Camp Sossus is an exciting, semi-permanent tented camp offering an exotic desert retreat for avid campers. It promises a unique Namibian experience, and the chance to enjoy the Greater Sossusvlei-Namib area through the exclusive Neuhof Nature Reserve. The eight tents sit in a naturally formed amphitheatre in a granite outcrop in the heart of the region, perfectly sheltered from the desert winds, and nearly invisible in the beautiful landscape. Activities-wise, look forward to multi-day walks, nights sleeping beneath the stars, hot air balloon flights and helicopter or fixed wing scenic flights.