Kulala Desert Lodge is a characterful desert property that has been constructed in a traditional African style, with clay buildings, wood and wicker furniture and high thatched ceilings. The main area includes a cozy lounge with an open fireplace, a dining area that extends outdoors, a plunge pool surrounded by shaded seating and sun loungers and a wraparound veranda overlooking the riverbed, where you can sit out and take in the wonderful views over the Namib Desert.
Days are spent exploring the area’s desert-adapted wildlife and the dramatic landscape of the Sossusvlei dunes, while back at the lodge you can dine alfresco in the fading light before sleeping on your rooftop to appreciate the star-filled night sky.
OUR OPINION:
We think this desert dwelling has a truly unique character. As the closest lodge to Sossusvlei, you’re in the perfect position to get an early start and take advantage of the morning light in the dunes.
Speak to someone
who's been there
who's been there
Start planning your tailor-made trip by contacting one of our Namibia specialists
- 617-223-4320
- Make an inquiry
Photos of Kulala Desert Lodge
Standard tent, Kulala Desert Lodge, Namibia
Kulala Desert Lodge, Sossusvlei
Family tent, Kulala Desert Lodge, Namibia
Pool area, Kulala Desert, Namibia
Kulala Desert Lodge, Namibia
Kulala Desert Lodge, Namibia
Kulala Desert Lodge, Namibia
Lounge area, Kulala Desert Lodge, Namibia
Family tent, Kulala Desert Lodge, Namibia
Kulala Desert Lodge , Sossusvlei
Kulala Desert Lodge, Sossusvlei
Kulala Desert Lodge, Sossusvlei
Rooms
Accommodation is in individual thatch and canvas units, which are built on raised wooden platforms to optimize on the views and the cooling breezes. Each features an en suite bathroom, a veranda with sweeping views over the desert and a private rooftop terrace where you can choose to sleep beneath the stars. The rooms are simply but comfortably furnished with large double beds, wicker seats and traditional-style lanterns, which provide an authentic desert camp atmosphere. They also feature lots of windows to ensure plenty of natural light and ventilation.
Location
The lodge is situated within the 270 square kilometer Kulala Wilderness Reserve in the arid Namib Desert. With a private entrance to Namib Naukluft National Park, it offers the closest accommodation to the rolling red dunes of Sossusvlei. A variety of desert-adapted wildlife can be found within the reserve, including ostrich, springbok, black-backed jackal, hyena, gemsbok, porcupine and bat-eared foxes, as well as diverse birdlife and reptile species.
Food and drink
The restaurant at the lodge serves tasty international cuisine, which can be eaten alfresco while looking out over the surrounding landscape. At sunset, enjoy a scenic sundowner as the desert changes color in front of you. This can be done at the lodge itself or as part of a nature drive in a more remote spot out in the reserve.
Families
There are several family rooms available at the lodge, which can accommodate up to two adults and two children.
Facilities and activities
The lodge has a pool in which to cool off during hot afternoons, as well as a lounge area where you can relax with a good book. The waterhole in front of the lodge attracts wildlife such as oryx, ostrich and jackal, providing excellent photo opportunities. Activities available include day and night game drives, guided nature walks, eco-sensitive quad biking, horse riding safaris and hot air balloon rides.
Local excursions
Sesriem Canyon is well worth a visit during your stay. Formed over millions of years, it’s around three kilometers long, offering breathtaking views and walking trails. Your stay also wouldn’t be complete without visiting Sossusvlei, a huge clay pan surrounded by sand dunes. Those who are more active can climb the area’s highest dune, 325 meter Big Daddy, to enjoy wonderful views across the desert from the top, with the ascent taking around an hour and a half. You may also wish to visit Deadvlei, another salt pan where skeletons of trees form an eerie presence.
Tour ideas in Sossusvlei & Sesriem
Our itineraries are there to spark ideas for how you could include a stay at Kulala Desert Lodge as part of your trip. Treat them simply as suggestions, because every aspect of the trip we create for you will be yours to define.
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![Flying over the Great Dune Sea on a Skeleton Coast Safari]()
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![Skeleton Coast scenic flight]()
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![Examining a Quivertree]()
Desert & delta: Namibia self-drive & Botswana safari
Namibia, Botswana and South AfricaView this tour -
![Sossusvlei, Namibia]()
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![The ghost town at Kolmanskop]()
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![Dead Vlei]()
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![Damaraland]()
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![Rhino in Etosha]()
Alternative places to stay nearby
Where possible, we like to offer a range of accommodation for each stop of your trip, chosen by our specialists as some of their favorite places to stay. To help you make the right choice, we give each property a rating based on its facilities and service, but we also look for hotels with distinct character or a location that can't be bettered.
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![Desert Homestead, Sossusvlei]()
Desert Homestead Lodge
Sossusvlei & Sesriem -
![Accommodation at Desert Quiver Camp]()
Desert Quiver Camp
Sossusvlei & Sesriem -
![Hoodia Lodge, Sossusvlei]()
Hoodia Desert Lodge
Sossusvlei & Sesriem -
![Family Kulala room, Little Kulala]()
Little Kulala
Sossusvlei & Sesriem
Experiences while staying here
The following activities are designed to give you the most authentic experiences of the area where you're staying. We work with local guides, who use their knowledge and often a resident's eye to show you the main sights and more out-of-the-way attractions. Our specialists can also suggest outdoor pursuits and activities, such as cooking classes, that will introduce you to the traditions of the area's inhabitants.
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Sossusvlei dune excursion ![Dead Vlei]()
Sossusvlei dune excursion
Sossusvlei dune excursion
Enjoy the amazing scenery of Sossusvlei, and maybe take a short walk to Deadvlei, a bizarre collection of ancient camelthorn trees, or climb the nearby dunes.
View details -
Sunset horse riding ![Sunset ride from Desert Homestead]()
Sunset horse riding
Sunset horse riding
Riders wind their way across the grassy plains and through ancient water courses and eventually up a steep mountain track, where a friendly barman with a selection of cocktails awaits them.
View details
Sossusvlei & Sesriem and nearby places
- Southern Namibia 34 kilometers away
- The NamibRand Nature Reserve 60 kilometers away
- The Naukluft Mountains 74 kilometers away
- Walvis Bay 222 kilometers away
- Lüderitz 233 kilometers away
- Aus 236 kilometers away
- Swakopmund and Pelican Point 247 kilometers away
- Windhoek 267 kilometers away
- The Central Highlands 295 kilometers away
- Erongo Mountains 328 kilometers away