Best hotels in Namibia

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.

Northern Namibia’s newest retreat, Hoanib Valley is a stylish, six-bedroom tented camp in the heart of the remote and rugged Kaokoland. In an era of "conservation-focused" camps, Hoanib Valley actually does what it says on the tin, and the venture is a joint partnership between the local communities and the resident Giraffe Conservation Project. As well as learning about the protection of the stately, sadly endangered, giraffe in the region, you’ll be able to drive through herds of desert-adapted elephant, track rhino, and visit the fascinating Himba and Herero peoples who call this harsh environment home.

Okonjima Reserve, home the Okonjima Bush Suite, sits between Namibia's world-famous, Etosha National Park, and the county's capital, Windhoek. This 55,000 acre reserve is probably best known and loved for the AfriCat Foundation, a non-profit organization that does crucial rehabilitation work with endangered African carnivores - most notably, cheetah and leopard. A stay here affords you the unique chance to get up-close to some of Africa's most iconic creatures. But besides the opportunity to take part in AfriCat's research and rehabilitation efforts, this is an exclusive, sumptuous, five-star experience that comes complete with your own private vehicle and guide along with personal chef and host.

Intrepid and fully immersed in nature, Etendeka Walking Trail takes you into the wild spaces of Damaraland, with the Grootberg Massif as your ever-present guide. The expert team knows every crag, animal and plant in the 500 km2 Etendeka Concession - and they'll passionately share their knowledge with you on this three-day trek. Set off from Palmwag Lodge leaving your main luggage to be delivered to your next stop, a camp overlooking a lively waterhole. Day two is the most strenuous, where you'll walk a distance of 15 - 20 kilometres - but at the end you'll be rewarded with a night atop the beautifully-named Crystal Mountain. Just imagine the stargazing...