Sossus Dune Lodge

The sand dunes of Sossusvlei along with the clay pan and dead acacia trees of Deadvlei make up one of the top sites to see in Namibia. They're both located next to each other inside the Namib-Naukluft National Park. The park gates are open from sunrise to sunset, but Sossusvlei/Deadvlei are about a 1hr drive from the gate. If you want to catch the sunrise there (and trust me, you do), the only way to do it is to stay inside the park. There are only two options - a campsite, and the Sossus Dune Lodge.

The Sossus Dune Lodge, is definitely the luxurious option. I felt like I was on a solo honeymoon. Didn't hurt that it's probably the single nicest place I've ever stayed, with the exception to the lack of air conditioning. When it's the hottest time of day in Summer, and it's 45C (113F), and all you have is one simple floor standing fan, it can be a bit brutal, but yet, it's still totally worth staying here for early/late access to the park. The food however, was nothing special and if you can find somewhere else to eat in your schedule that's not too far away, it's probably worth going out for that. Most likely this will be for lunch as it's kinda difficult to drive at night in Namibia due to the presence of wildlife.

Another thing I'd like to point out is that, the night sky from here is truly amazing. The beauty was unbelievable, and you can enjoy it from your private patio in your chalet. Truly a memorable experience!

The chalets of the Sossus Dune Lodge at sunset.