Kulala Adventurer Camp

The stripped-bare landscapes are echoed by the minimalism in camp – there's little to its communal areas besides a few open-sided tents set atop low wooden platforms. You'll find a simple undercover sitting area with tables and chairs for mealtimes, though not much in the way of a lounge. In the evenings, tables are typically set out under the stars on the pan fronting the camp, and here candles, hurricane lanterns and a campfire are all you'll need for atmosphere.

Five dome tents are tucked against the foot of a rocky outcrop with views across the flat pan. They're covered with a double canvas overhang to deflect some of the intense desert rays. In front of each is a private porch with canvas chairs; through a zip-door is a small room with two camp beds made up with pure cotton linens, plush pillows and duvets. At the rear, an en-suite bathroom has a solar-heated shower, basin and a flush toilet.

The landscapes of Namib-Naukluft are bizarre and beautiful, dramatic and spare, and Kulala's activities hinge on its most iconic viewpoints. But there are lesser-known excursions worth the trek, like to the improbable Sesriem Canyon where you can walk in the shadowy loom of towering sedimentary walls. Also, a surprising variety of incredibly adapted wildlife exist here: springbok, gemsbok, ostrich, bat-eared fox and, though rare, aardwolf. Love a hot-air balloon ride? This is one of the best places to hover.