Kulala Desert Lodge
CEDARBERG RATING
Premier
PRICING FROM
₤ 243 (Pps)
Overview
- Comfortable lodge in Kulala private game reserve
- Sunrise visit to Sossusvlei dunes is a highlight
- Closest of the four camps to the private Sossusvlei entrance
- Choice of meal basis for greater flexibility
Kulala Desert Lodge is a lovely lodge of 23 thatch and canvas ‘kulalas’ (rooms), with a unique private entrance to the Namib Naukluft Park, making it the closest lodge to the majestic red dunes of Sossusvlei dunes. The 27,000ha Kulala Game Reserve is one vast mass of haunting wilderness with vast open plains, dunes and rocky outcrops. On the edge of the oldest desert in the world, game is sparse but the fascinating thing is that anything can survive here at all! Yet they can - with springbok, gemsbok, ostrich, bat-eared fox, black-backed jackal and aardwolf all seen on a regular basis.
The design and decor at Kulala Desert Lodge are both imaginative and sensitive to the fragile ecosystem of the area. Eco-friendly adobe walls give a Moroccan ambience to the lodge and provide a cool refuge from the Namibian heat. Enjoy delicious cuisine, served al fresco on the wraparound veranda overlooking the waterhole and dry riverbed where the wildlife comes to drink. Or cool off in the pool and relax in the sun or shade of the pool terrace.
Accommodation
Each of the en suite 'kulalas' has cool clay walls and thick thatch to keep the cool air in and the warm air out. Outside there's a private veranda for viewing the stunning Namib sunsets. Each is built on a wooden platform to catch the cooling breezes and above is a delightful flat rooftop sleeping area where you can sleep out under the stars of the desert sky if you wish. Recommended!
Kulala Desert Lodge is 30km south of Sesriem but their unique private entrance to the Park is the closest to Sossusvlei and is used for their 4x4 guided dune excursions. (Note that this gate can only be used for their excursions and not by their self-drive guests.) This ensures that you get the best light for those inevitable, and irresistible, photographs of the dunes at sunrise. Later you enjoy wonderful desert breakfasts under shady acacia trees surrounded by the towering dunes.
Kulala Desert Lodge can be booked on a Fully Inclusive basis or DBB basis where all activities are booked as extras. The Fully Inclusive package includes the Sossusvlei excursion, visit to Sesriem canyon, guided electric ''fat bikes'' excursions, afternoon nature walks and afternoon sundowner drives to view the desert's fascinating flora and fauna. Hot air ballooning is also on offer as an optional extra.
Kulala Desert Lodge is a child-friendly camp with two family tents, consisting of two tents sharing a common deck, each with own en-suite bathroom.
At A Glance
Swimming pool
Rural location
Beautiful Landscapes
Star gazing
Walking Trail
In Pictures
Kulala Desert Lodge on the map
Rooms
Standard Tent(s)
There are 23 thatched and canvas tents, each built on a raised wooden platform, with a rooftop area for sleep-outs under the stars.
Family Unit(s)
There are two family units with two three quarter beds in each bedroom (consists of two bedrooms, with their own bathroom and entrance, connected by a deck).
My family holiday to Namibia
My 12 day trip to Namibia in January was an unbelievable experience for all my family. We drove all the way through the country from the south (Fish River Canyon) to the north (Etosha National Park) with my two boys in our double cab 4x4. This is the ideal vehicle for travelling with children – especially because of the distances.
The following are some highlights.
We visited the Fish River Canyon at 9:00am in the morning and were the only people at the second largest canyon in the world - unbelievable!! Here we stayed at Canon Lodge with rooms built into the boulders.
The towering dunes of Sossusvlei and climbing “Big Daddy” were also an experience that we will never forget. The children charge ahead whilst the adults puffed along behind! Sossusvlei is a paradise for the keen photographer as I took hundreds of photos of the towering dunes. Our stay at the Wilderness Safaris properties (Kulala Desert Lodge & Little Kulala) was exceptional and to be recommended.
Swakopmund was the next highlight and definitely the children’s favourite town as we all did the quad biking in the dunes, tried our hand at sandboarding and even went fishing at Henties Bay (about one hour north of Swakopmund). We stayed at the Hansa Hotel which is centrally located and near all the sites to visit.
Next we headed to Etosha National Park and had a fantastic stay at Ongava Lodge, situated just outside the southern boundary of Etosha, and at Onguma Bush Lodge on the eastern side. They have an active floodlit waterhole where we saw lion, giraffe, zebra, springbok and various other antelope. Etosha National Park itself was the best overall game experience I have ever had in a national park as there was such a variety of wildlife at every waterhole – just as those classic Etosha pictures would suggest!
We drove from Etosha to Windhoek for the last days of our trip and stayed at The Windhoek Country Club Resort which was also very popular with the kids. This is the most resort-like place on our stay as they have an outdoor water play area, an 18 hole golf course (which allows children to play) and lots of space to run around.
