Best hotels in Namibia

If you’re looking for a great base to explore the wonder that is Etosha National Park, then look no further. This lodge is situated on a ridge with sweeping views of Namibia’s bushveld, only ten kilometres from the Park's central entrance, Anderson Gate. This family-friendly lodge ticks all the boxes for a safari rest camp. It has value for money, it’s modern, the food is good, there’s excellent service, the rooms are clean, there’s great facilities and it’s very easy on the eye.

Perched atop a dolomite hill in the vast Etosha Heights Private Reserve, Etosha Mountain Lodge has been perfecting the art of the uncrowded safari for over 15 years. Sharing a 65-kilometre boundary with the legendary Etosha National Park, the 60,000-hectare reserve offers all the wildlife you'd expect - just without the tourists. Nine classic Namibian chalets look out over endless plains where both black and white rhino roam freely, whilst elephants frequently amble right past the swimming pool. With dedicated guides, night drives, rhino tracking on foot and a waterhole with front-row seats to the bush theatrics, this is a totally authentic Etosha experience.

Just 15 minutes from Etosha's eastern gate, this laid-back camp is tucked into a dry riverbed in Onguma Reserve's tamboti forest. The property strikes a balance between traditional safari charm and modern comfort – think thatched bungalows with air-con, a swimming pool for afternoon dips, and a very impressive wine cellar. The open-sided main area overlooks an active waterhole where wildlife congregates, particularly in drier months. With its own 34,000-hectare private reserve to explore alongside easy access to Etosha, it's a practical base that doesn't try too hard to impress.

Picture Wes Anderson directing a film in the Namib and you're halfway to understanding The Desert Grace. The 24 bungalows sit somewhere between Solitaire and Sesriem in the heart of Namibia's enormous Namib Desert, all blush-pink accents and mid-century charm. Built entirely from sandbags filled with Namib sand (yes, really), each room has its own plunge pool for desert-gazing, and there are two family tents if you're coming with the kids. Activities-wise, choose between dawn excursions to Sossusvlei's towering red dunes, morning and afternoon game drives, and a selection of walking safaris - or simply nurse a signature pink gin on your private terrace...

Forget everything you know about safari camps - Camp Doros strips things back to what really matters. An intimate six-tent retreat in Namibia's Damaraland, it exists for one glorious purpose: getting you in the vicinity of desert-adapted black rhino alongside the expert rangers. Perched above a usually-dry riverbed, it proudly boasts Namibia's smallest environmental footprint whilst delivering big on personalised service. Days revolve around rhino tracking adventures, nature walks through ancient landscapes, and evenings spent stargazing around the campfire. It's deliberately unpretentious, utterly sustainable, and completely unforgettable - exactly what Ultimate Safaris intended when they opened this conservation-focused gem.