Skeleton Coast Shipwreck Lodge

The largest ‘cabin’ is the central restaurant and living area, a relaxed and atmospheric meeting point that’s plush and cosy. In the sitting room, velvet armchairs and glitzy cushions are positioned next to a wood-burning stove – a welcome sight after a morning or afternoon exploring the dunes – and there are lots of books and board games if you fancy cosying up, away from the weather. The restaurant, with its enamel dishes and silver candlesticks, is reminiscent of an old ship’s dining room, and the artworks on the sliding doors are all originals, created exclusively for the lodge by local Namibian artists.

The lodge has 10 shipwreck-style rooms, all scattered along the coastal dunes. From the outside, they are simple timber structures but enter through the glass doors and you’ll find a soothing, blue-green colour palette and plenty of mod-cons. The large beds (either doubles or twins, depending on your preference) are draped in faux furs and plenty of blankets, and landscape windows offer stunning views of the ocean from between your toes. Bathrooms come complete with twin sinks, showers with porthole windows and plenty of hot water.

The Skeleton Coast certainly offers no shortage of activities! Head out in a 4x4 to the Möwe Bay seal colony with stops at the Suiderkus and Karimona shipwrecks and the remains of the Westies diamond mine along the way. Alternatively, explore the interior dunes and dry riverbeds, renowned for their dramatic scenic beauty, and try and spot the ever-famous desert elephants, lion and brown hyena. The Clay Castles – extraordinary cliff-like structures carved by the Hoarusib River in full flow – are also well worth a visit, and the lodge has recently introduced quad biking and sandboarding.