16 Best Hotels in Namibia

This gorgeous glass and natural stone lodge has a spectacular setting on the border of the NamibRand Nature Reserve–Africa's first International Dark Sky Reserve. Its ultra-luxurious desert villas, which face a vast golden-yellow plain ringed by dune peaks, each have a private patio with sun loungers and couches and a large hydraloop swimming pool. Shower in your mega-size bathroom or outside in your own little walled garden. You can lie in bed and watch the stars through the skylight overhead or climb up to the observatory with its state-of-the-art telescope and resident astronomer. The food is as refreshing as the lodge, but if you don't feel like eating in the main dining area, you can make use of the butler hatch in your suite for in-room dining, accompanied by an extensive bar. Recent lodge renovations included the addition of a gym and spa facilities.

This exceptional camp on the Huab River in central Damaraland is the ideal starting point for searching for desert-adapted elephants, with guides who are astute in accommodating photographers’ need to get the perfect shot. Located within the Torra Conservancy, encircled by ochre mountains and sand dunes, the views from the gorgeous, adobe-style, thatch units take in a landscape of craggy beauty formed by millions of years of unending geological movement. After a day in the desert, cool off in the swimming pool, read or watch the desert birds from one of the hanging cocoon chairs, or relax with a drink in the spacious, airy lounge, where surreal views and unsurpassable service are the name of the game.

If it's rhinos you're after, especially the rare black rhino, then this very remote tented camp in the heart of the private 1-million-acre Palmwag Reserve is a must. Because there are freshwater springs everywhere, you'll see not only the desert-adapted black rhino, but plenty of other game, too, including desert elephants, giraffes, zebras, kudu, and possibly lions, leopards, and cheetahs. The camp collaborates with the Save the Rhino Trust, and one of the highlights of your stay will be tracking the rare black rhino in an open safari vehicle, with the very short final approach done on foot. It's an honor to encounter one of the continent's largest free-ranging populations of these critically endangered animals. Though the landscape is very barren and stark, you'll likely feel very close to the desert in your spacious A-frame canvas and wooden tent with front porch and en-suite bathroom. During a two-night stay, you will be treated to an unforgettable dinner experience by the exceptionally warm-hearted staff. 

Blending into the backdrop and set amid stony slopes, rugged boulders, the distant Entendeka Mountains, and the pink and russet sandstone cliffs of Twyfelfontein to the south (where you can visit some of the most famous San rock paintings and engravings in the world), this is classic Damaraland. The wood, canvas and thatch camp offers 360-degree views of this fascinating landscape and the chance to see the desert-adapted elephants. The sturdy en-suite units have indoor and outdoor showers. You can relax in the rim-flow style pool after a day's activities, or climb up to the roof area of the main building to sip sundowners or watch the blazing stars. Birders will delight in seeing a few of the country’s endemic species, such as Rüpell's korhaan, Carp's tit, and Damara hornbill. 

Constructed from natural materials in a low-impact manner (including being completely solar powered), this luxe tented camp seamlessly blends into its surroundings atop a rocky outcrop that's reminiscent of the Masai Mara all while offering guests every creature comfort. This is the closest you'll get to a safari just 45 minutes from the international airport. Sustainability and conservation are at the heart of this 123,552-acre nature reserve, which also prioritizes health and wellbeing through its retreats, and spa and wellness offerings. Habitas is the epitome of Namibia hospitality and five-star service, from the thoughtful lodge playlist you receive upon reservation to the genuine welcome at your "homecoming" ceremony, and everything else in between—we're warning you, you won’t want to leave. 

In the heart of the Namib, set on a private wilderness reserve that borders the Namib-Naukluft Park with an exclusive-use entrance gate, this is the closest you could possibly stay to the famous red dunes of Sossusvlei (along with Wilderness Safaris's adjoining property on the same reserve). This proximity also offers a remarkable setting with superb mountain scenery and vast open plains, while the main lodge truly exudes this sense of place with the large tree trunks that act as pillars. The wrap-around wooden deck leads from the swimming pool to an extended verandah (for alfresco dining), fire pit, and indoor dining area, making it the perfect place to watch or photograph the magnificent desert sunset. The tented, double-layer canvas, thatch-roofed chalets (kulala) sit on a wooden platform overlooking the dry Tsauchab riverbed and desert landscape, and while they don't have air-conditioning, they are designed in such a way that allows for natural airflow and cooling. On summer nights, you can request a star bed rollout with your turndown service to sleep under the night sky. 

You might be lucky enough to encounter wildlife in and around this unfenced, thatched lodge that’s located under huge jackalberry and mangosteen trees in a private concession within Mudumu National Park. As you sip on a G&T from the lodge’s elevated wooden deck, you can watch hippos wallow amid water lilies and crocs float along the backwaters of the Kwando River. Even if you don’t partake in the daily water cruises and game drives, the owner-run lodge is a peaceful place to relax and offers superb birding with more than 400 species. The chalets are spacious brick and thatch en-suite units that are suitably comfortable but somewhat dated, especially when compared to newer lodges; it can be booked on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis.

This intimate and luxurious lodge in the 66,718-acre private Kulala Wilderness Reserve faces the mesmerizing red dunes of Namib-Naukluft Park with the ever-shifting sands and a waterhole that attracts all manner of game and birdlife. The recently renovated lodge is very tastefully decorated in colors, textures, and raw materials that pay homage to the landscape's uniqueness. Elevated wooden walkways radiate from the main lodge to the elegant, air-conditioned suites where every creature comfort is attended to—think a plunge pool alongside a shaded, king-size day bed; a rooftop sundowner deck where personalized dinners can be served; and an indoor and outdoor shower set in an indigenous garden. Rooms also boast art supplies, wellness and workout equipment, and a tablet device for star-watching that comes in handy if you opt to sleep beneath the Milky Way in summer. The impressive wine cellar hosts tasting evenings and private dinners. 

This family-run, private lodge, with numerous accommodation options to suit various budgets, is located in the Okonjima Nature Reserve about halfway between Windhoek and Etosha making it an excellent stopover point on your way to the park. It's also home to the environmental-award-winning AfriCat Foundation ( www.africat.org), which has focused on the conservation of Namibia’s wildlife through ongoing research and education efforts for over three decades. During a two-night stay, you have the chance to track leopards, rhinos, and pangolins on foot, with a high probability of seeing wild and collared leopards (for research purposes) in their natural habitat. Nestled among the Omboroko Mountains, the lovely but rather busy Okonjima Luxury Bush Camp has ample room to relax, whether it is in the communal lounge, by the inside fireplace or outside fire pit, or alongside the swimming pool. Each thatched room has a canvas wall that can be rolled up to look out onto the sweeping savannah, which can equally be taken in from the privacy of your own sala and lounge. The bird baths stationed at each room make it a delight for birders, as there are hundreds of bird species in this region. 

Located in the Onguma Game Reserve on the southern boundary of Etosha close to the Anderson Gate, each thatched unit at this lodge features its own plunge pool, sala (a covered open-air pavilion), outdoor shower and bath with magnificent views, and wooden decks that cling to the side of a steep, rocky outcrop. Some units overlook a couple of busy waterholes. The stunning main area has stone floors and sweeping thatch roofs, as well as myriad spots from which to gaze at the never-ending plains beyond. Take a guided walk and sneak up on some zebras and wildebeests, go rhino tracking, or sit in a hide at the waterhole just before sunset and listen to the soft twittering calls of hundreds of sand grouse as they come to drink. Lions often stray in from Etosha and join the evening party.

This flagship lodge in the Onguma Game Reserve on the eastern border of Etosha National Park's Fischer Pan is the epitome of luxury and style blending unique Moroccan-style fort architecture with subtle hints of color and raw African textures. The main lodge’s wide deck overlooks the stark expanse of the pan and a waterhole, which is visited by many animals that have wandered across from Etosha. You get a strong sense that you're at the edge of civilization here. The 13 exquisitely appointed suites stretch to either side of the lodge with equally astonishing pan views, outdoor showers, and cool stone interiors. The staff are like a well-oiled machine and you feel as though you are a VIP. Its newest offering, the Dream Cruiser Sleep Out experience—a custom-built Land Cruiser with a wooden deck, double bed, seating and dining area upstairs, and a full bathroom downstairs with hot running water and flush toilet—can be booked in conjunction with a stay at any of Onguma’s other properties. 

This astonishingly different and dramatically sited camp in the extreme northwest of Namibia on the Angolan border is the most remote camp in southern Africa and you are guaranteed to gasp with awe when you first catch sight of the camp from a high sand dune. Located along the Kunene River within the Marienfluss Conservancy, which is largely owned by the region's indigenous Himba people, this camp operates on a mutually beneficial public-private partnership that prioritizes these custodians of the land, and allows guests to respectfully engage with the local community during their visit. This award-winning model has been widely commended and serves as an example for other hospitality businesses to follow. Stay for three nights to make the most of the experience. Although tents (on raised platforms) are luxurious and have private bathrooms, don't come here if you aren't tough. The flight from Windhoek is long and may be bumpy, and the terrain harsh and demanding, but the experience is surreal. This is one-of-a-kind Africa.

If you're a fan of old-fashioned luxury, warm service, and accommodations that combine the authenticity of the bush with a stylish and comfortable interior, then this is an excellent option. Situated close to the Von Lindequist Gate on the eastern side of Etosha, the Outpost is perfectly placed to take advantage of the park's game-thick eastern section, especially if you opt for the fully inclusive rate that includes two game drives. The lodge has a comfortable rambling feel to it with a large farm-style main house. The eight luxury tents made from canvas and wood are delightfully well-appointed on the inside, ensuring that after a day of game drives you'll be able to relax and recharge your batteries while sitting on your deck among the shady trees. 

For seclusion and green, conscience-free travel in a ridiculously pretty setting, book Wolwedans Desert Lodge (previously Dune Camp), which is set against an 820-foot-high sand dune that faces a mountain that turns different shades of pink in the setting sun. Take a game drive with the well-informed guides and learn about the unique desert fauna and flora of the NamibRand, from the heat-adapted oryx and tok-tok beetles to Pale Chanting Goshawks and the remarkable camelthorn tree. Progressive in their long-term approach to conservation and energy, the Wolwedans group recycles, grows as much of their own produce as possible, and runs their camps on a solar-hybrid system, which saves you from having to hear a diesel generator all night. The camp recently underwent a major renovation and is now the brand's hospitality training facility, which forms part of the Wolwedans Desert Academy. Meals are prepared by alumni of Wolwedans' excellent Institute of Culinary Education. 

This exclusive-use private villa, in the serene and secluded NamibRand Nature Reserve—which is Africa's first Dark Sky Reserve—gives its guests up-close access to the surrounding desert habitat. The reserve is a reflection of the diversity of the Namib Desert with its steep mountain ranges, vast savannas, glorious red sand dunes, and clay pans. Here you might possibly see the oryx, as well as more than 100 bird species including the rare dune lark. The reserve is sparsely developed and off-limits to large vehicles such as tour buses. What's more, a percentage of the sustainability fee (US$65 per person per night) goes directly to conserving the integrity of the reserve. The villa is made up of four en-suite doubles that share a library, kitchen, private chef, guide and numerous outdoor spaces from which to enjoy the views.

The concept of conservation and the genuine rehabilitation of the resident flora and fauna is at the forefront for Zannier Hotels, as is property design as evidenced by these airy and spacious thatched villas built to reflect Owambo architecture fused with five-star flare. Each villa has a double-sided fireplace, open-plan adjoining rooms, and a large bathroom with an indoor and outdoor shower. The lodge's expansive infinity pool, lounge area, and rustic bar make for a peaceful place to unwind surrounded by the savannah, even though it is only 30 minutes outside of Windhoek. Zannier partnered with the Naankuse Foundation to establish the 22,239-acre Zannier Reserve on a former cattle breeding farm, where it offers a true sanctuary and forever home to animals that have been injured or rescued from untoward tourism practices, as well as endangered species.