Sossusvlei

Kulala Desert Lodge

Q: How much does it cost to stay at Kulala Desert Lodge?

Stays at Kulala Desert Lodge start from around US$470 per person per night as part of a tailor-made trip. The exact price depends on your travel dates, room type and the shape of the rest of your itinerary. A Timbuktu travel specialist can give you an accurate quote for your dates.

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Kulala Desert Lodge

About Kulala Desert Lodge

Dramatic desert views and romantic, barely believable starlit nights.

Kulala Desert Lodge, like its sister Little Kulala, lies on the 210-square-kilometre private Kulala Wilderness Reserve in southern Namibia. The lodge's prime attraction is its proximity, and private entrance, to the Namib-Naukluft National Park, but its vast views are headline-worthy too – from the Namib-Naukluft dune sea in the west to the mountains in the east. Tear yourself away from the scenery to appreciate Kulala's eco-credentials, a subject the owners take very seriously, from the reusable water bottles you're given to the tips on saving water. The lodge is winsome and comfortable and, of course, there's that desert to explore.

Sossusvlei , Namibia

From $470 per person/per night

Safari

23 Rooms

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Property details

The property

The principal focus of the lodge is to make the most of the view, and to sit comfortably within it. The owners have clearly succeeded. Two adjoining thatched roofs, peaked to resemble dunes, cover the central area. To one side is the kitchen and restaurant, which spills on to a lovely veranda on which dinner is served. To the other is the bar and lounge, with an open fireplace for chilly winter evenings (mid June to August). Outside is a pool where cooling off after an adventure is mandatory.

The rooms

There are 23 chalets or 'kulalas', from the local Oshiwambo word meaning ‘to sleep’. Each is made of canvas, wood and thatch, raised slightly off the ground to allow a through-flow of air. This, along with a ceiling fan, helps to keep the rooms cool in summer (no aircon here, this is an eco-lodge!). Inside are comfortable beds, luscious white linen and bold throws and an en-suite bathroom. Each chalet also has a roof terrace for sleeping out under the stars (not for cold winter nights) and a private deck.

Activities

Take an early-morning excursion (the best time to see the light on the dunes) to Sossusvlei, accessed via a private gate that is shared only with its sister Little Kulala Lodge. Climb 325-metre Big Daddy, Sossusvlei's tallest dune. It's a longer trip to dramatic Sesriem Canyon, but worth it for the memories and photographs. Take a shorter drive in Kulala Private Reserve, go on a guided walking trail, or get a bird's-eye view from a hot-air balloon (an extra but very worth it charge).

Why we love it

Gazing over the towering dunes in tranquil silence at dawn. Kulala has a private entrance to the Namib-Naukluft National Park, so you'll always beat the crowds - and the heat.

Insiders Tip

Floating over the desert in a hot air balloon does cost extra, but it's worth every penny.

Something to think about

Each chalet has a fabulous roof terrace where you can sleep under a blanket of stars, but from mid-June to August, be warned that the desert gets chilly and this might not be on the cards.

Positive Impact

The impact of your stay

Kulala Desert Lodge is owned by Wilderness safaris which aims to double its conservation impact by 2030, protecting 6 million acres of land. Their framework focuses on Educate, Empower, and Protect pillars, building a conservation economy, nurturing future leaders, and preserving unfenced wilderness. Through immersive hospitality experiences and partnerships with nonprofits like Children in the Wilderness and the Wilderness Trust, they engage guests in conservation efforts and address diverse threats to wilderness, wildlife, and communities.

Trips

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Design a Custom Trip

Plan your stay

How to book Kulala Desert Lodge

How do I book Kulala Desert Lodge?

Kulala Desert Lodge can be booked with Timbuktu as part of a tailor-made Namibia trip, rather than as a standalone room reservation. Start online, customising one of our recommended Namibia trips featuring Kulala Desert Lodge or get advice and suggestions from one of our Namibia specialists who will design the trip around your dates, check availability and handle every booking for you.

How much does it cost to stay at Kulala Desert Lodge?

Stays at Kulala Desert Lodge start from around $470 per person per night as part of a tailor-made trip. The exact price depends on your travel dates, room type and the shape of the rest of your itinerary. A Timbuktu travel specialist can give you an accurate quote for your dates.

Namibia

Sossusvlei

A photographer’s dream, the iconic red dunes are one of the most strikingly handsome sights on earth.