Category: Lodges

Are you thinking about traveling into the Kalahari desert region? This is a sandy savanna that is semi-arid, located in southern Africa. It extends for many miles, covering parts of Namibia and Botswana. At an elevation of over 3000 feet, it is a wonderful place to visit if you would like to experience a mild desert terrain. When most people travel to this area, they are booking a trip to Namibia. It is a very popular location, popularized by the scenic landscapes and tourist attractions. To find the best luxury african safari lodges in the Kalahari desert, this is how you can get excellent deals on luxury accommodations for your stay.

How To Find The Best Lodges In Namibia

To find the best lodges that are currently available, there are two ways to accomplish this. First of all, if you have a travel agent that you have been working with for many years, they should be able to add one of the best lodges to your itinerary. The other possibility and the one that most people use is to search on the web using websites like Expedia and others. These travel websites will make sure that you get the best possible deals, and you will know what people are saying about each one of these locations. There are several that are considered to be the best in this desert region of South Africa.

Popular Luxury Lodges In Namibia

A very popular destination is the Kalahari Anib Lodge, Mariental. It is a two-star hotel, one that is located in the Kalahari desert. Mariental is a city with about 10,000 people. It is located in the South Central portion of Namibia.

There is a railway line that comes through, and once you are in the city, there are many different things you can do. According to reviews, it provides excellent accommodations, breakfast, and many places that you can dine throughout the day. It is in a great location, consisting of 52 guestrooms, and a restaurant and bar lounge. There are two outdoor pools, and every room is going to have air conditioning, a prerequisite of any hotel or lodge that you will stay at while you are in Namibia. Another one that is very popular is the African Safari Lodge which is also in Mariental. This is rated between a three and four-star lodge. Although the accommodations are wonderful, as well as the food, the main complaint is the Wi-Fi. If that is not a problem for you, the rooms that you will have, and all of the amenities, will overshadow problems connecting with the web.

Other Places You Can Stay In The Kalahari Desert

A couple other places that are highly recommended include the Kalahari Farmhouse in Strampriet and the Harnas Wildlife Foundation in Gobabis. Each of these is smaller locations, providing between 11 and 14 guestrooms, respectively. They will have restaurants, bar lounges, outdoor pools, laundry service and air conditioning. The lodge with the most positive feedback, as well as the most expensive, is the Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch in Mariental. It is very close to the nearest major airport in Windhoek, Namibia. It is a very rural location, and it has a multitude of positive reviews about this lodge which charges over $200 per night.

These are just a few ideas to consider if you are going to travel to Namibia soon. It’s one of those beautiful locations that you must visit at least once. Whether you take the time to visit Northwestern Namibia and see Etosha National Park, or the beautiful salt and clay red sand dunes of Sossusvlei, you will be completely satisfied with your trip. Best of all, you will stay at one of the best lodges that are in Namibia, putting you in close proximity to all of these wonderful activities and more.

The desolation of the Sahara has been the subject of books and films for generations – however, it still attracts those who want to explore one of the last great wilderness areas of the world. And why should people want to visit the Sahara?

For many authors and explorers, the simple answer was similar to that which was given by an explorer when asked why people should attempt to climb the highest mountains in the world. His response was ‘because they are there’.

The Sahara is similar – it’s simply there. It’s a vast unforgiving landscape of searing heat and freezing nighttime cold – however, it is also one of the fascinating places on the face of the planet.

This is the largest desert on the face of the planet. To give the novice desert traveler an idea of the scale of this sea of sand it is roughly the size of the continental U.S. This is a really a sea of dunes and misery for those who venture into it completely unprepared.

However, for those in search of adventure and willing to pay the price there are tour operators in a number of countries who will arrange to have the visitor encounter the desert on a personal level which will also include an immersion into the cultures of those who call this unforgiving environment their home.

Although some parts of this vast expanse of sand are still dangerous for those visiting its dunes there are still countries where Sahara Safaris are a way of life and will delight those who visit them.

For instance, countries such as Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt all have highly experienced safari guides who will make any visit to this fascinating part of the world full of memories that will last a lifetime.

For those in search of the authentic Sahara experience there are numerous towns in these countries which serve as bases for those who want to get literally on the camel’s back and experience the Sahara as the locals have done when traveling then trade routes or when European travelers wanted to explore the local culture – or sometimes often take a side between the warring tribes of Bedouins who could make or break an Empire on these hostile sands.

These safari operators will take those who are interested out onto the sands and introduce them to a way of life that many have thought was lost forever.

However, there are also those safari operators who will take into account the ideas of the modern visitor to these forbidding sands. For these visitors, a luxury four-wheel drive vehicle is the travel mode of choice.

It will get the same job done as a camel, but with considerably more comfort thrown into the bargain.

However – whatever the choice it all comes down to those who want to experience the real desert or the comfort of towns along the way. For those who would brave the desert sands a soft sand bed will be their place to put their head down in the evening. For those who would have the town experience be part of their Sahara exploration, there may not be a wondrous 5-star hotel at the end of a day’s exploration – but there should at least be a bed and some restaurant quality food – albeit in the style of the local chef or family.

The best times to enjoy travel to the Sahara are between April and May during what is called the cooler season. No sane person would want to be out on the dunes during the hot season which runs from June to May. That season is one where those who venture out into the desert often never return.

The Sahara can be completely unforgiving of those who venture on to its hot sands without a guide who has an intimate knowledge of its shifting sands and temperament. However, for those who are adventurous or who want to explore one of the last great wilderness areas of the world the Sahara can bring incredibly great reward as far as the wildlife and culture that can be found here.