Best hotels in Namibia

Travel to Namibia’s arid northern wilderness and you'll find vast gravel plains interrupted by occasional rocky ridges, stretches of mopane trees and lots of game around Etosha's permanent waterholes. Safarihoek Lodges lies in a private reserve on the southern edge of the national park, in the Etosha Heights Private Reserve. It’s a large, modern lodge that overlooks a huge waterhole, has far-reaching views and offers an exciting range of game-viewing activities. Lion and elephant are the stars of the landscape, and if rhinos are on your must-see list, you’ll more than likely be happy here!

If you're looking for vast landscapes and wide open vistas, Namib Dune Star Camp is the ideal outdoor retreat. Situated in the Namib Desert, the best part of this camp's intimate and eco-friendly cabins is the beds, which are bedecked with warm, comfy gear, and fitted with wheels so that they can be pushed out onto the open-air deck for the night. Enjoy pre-dinner sundowner drinks as the sun paints the dunes gold, and later retreat to your bed for a night under the stars. The next morning, awake to a flask of tea and rusks, followed by a sunrise stroll across the dunes.

This eight day riding adventure from Twyfelfontein to Cape Cross, taking you through otherworldly terrain and landscapes is undoubtedly a trip of a lifetime. As if through a prehistoric age, the ride takes you across a magnificent wilderness with possible encounters with elephant, rhino, oryx and springbok and magnificent backdrops such as the Brandberg (burning mountain), rolling dunes and the remains of a collapsed volcano. Starting at Twyfelfontein the adventure begins at once, with a trip to the nearby San Rock Engravings, a World Heritage sight, and concludes with an excursion to the Cape Fur Seal colony at Cape Cross.

River Crossing Lodge is a mere five-minute drive from the city of Windhoek, yet its setting within the Moltkeblick Private Reserve gives it a remote feel. From its vantage point on a rocky ridge of hills, the night lights of Windhoek are visible from one side, with far-reaching views over the rugged mountains and landscapes of the edge of the Namib Desert out in front. Twenty guest chalets offer comfortable accommodation, with a spacious main lodge reminiscent of an original German farmstead on the outside, and a stylish modern interior. A variety of safari activities are offered.

Namibia's landscape is not all dunes and desert. Venture north to the western fringes of the Kalahari Desert, and you'll find something completely different – a dense swathe of green scrubland and, rising above it, the Waterberg Plateau. At the base of this flat-topped mesa (it's 50 kilometres long and 16 wide) is Waterberg Wilderness Lodge, a charmingly renovated old farmstead in the eponymous 35-square-kilometre private reserve. Since 2000, the reserve's owners have dropped the internal fencing and started restoring the indigenous flora and fauna. Expect great views and hikes, endemic flora, giraffe, antelopes galore, and even white rhino.

Divava Okavango Resort and Spa is perched on the edge of the Okavango River, just a mile downstream from Popa Falls in Namibia's Caprivi Strip. A relatively large, mid-range lodge, it offers comfortable accommodation, superb food and good access to the region's wildlife. The river takes centre stage, but there are also two nearby national parks that complete the experience. The lodge atmosphere straddles that of a hotel and a bush lodge, leaning slightly more toward the commercial than the camp feel. The result is probably fitting considering its location: a blend of wilderness with surrounding communities and infrastructure nearby.

Unfortunately this lodge is no longer operating and has been replaced by Onguma Camp Kala Looking for a really private wilderness adventure in northern Namibia? Onguma Tree Tops may be just the ticket. Raised on stilts among the trees that give it its name, the camp has a real bush atmosphere. It's the perfect getaway for a group of friends or family (there are just four tents). Onguma Tree Tops lies in the private Onguma Reserve on the eastern edge of Etosha National Park, so there's lots to explore and see. The service is attentive without being uncomfortably looming and the overall experience is convivial and – well, wild!

Grootberg Lodge lies in (and is owned by) the communal #Khoadi//Hoas conservancy in Namibia's stark north-west. Perched atop one of the flat-topped mountains that characterise the landscape, the lodge's exterior appears rugged and wild, but its interior is luxurious, with every creature comfort catered for stylishly. From all points the views across the valley to the horizon are mesmerising – with black eagles soaring near the cliffs. The lodge is the first of its kind in Namibia, and plays a primary role in the environmental, tourist and financial development of its owners. Here you'll also find the world's largest population of black rhino.

Lianshulu Lodge is a rustic bush camp on the banks of Namibia’s Kwando River, in the far northern Caprivi Strip wilderness region. Eleven timber and thatch bungalows offer comfortable accommodation in a tranquil and secluded setting, with wonderful views of the river flowing past, and Botswana on the other side. This is a good choice for those who enjoy water-based game viewing, as boat cruises are the main focus. Lianshulu falls within Mudumu National Park, and is one of Namibia’s birding hotspots, with a variety of wildlife to be seen along the river and in the surrounding reserve.

Mushara Outpost is the sophisticated sibling of the Mushara Collection. It caters well for adults, and children over 12 years, who are looking for a stylish camp on the owner's private reserve close to the National Park's entrance gate. At the camp's heart is a characterful farmhouse with a modern twist; high ceilings, corrugated iron roof and a wraparound verandah. Contemporary and quirky interiors; it would make a stunning backdrop for a 'Homes and Gardens' shoot. Accommodation is in eight tented rooms with air con and private verandahs. There's a main lap pool, and a hide overlooking the waterhole.