Kulala Desert Lodge

Overview of Kulala Desert Lodge

Namibia, Sossusvlei

Surrounded by red dunes, desolate mountains and gravel plains, Kulala Desert Lodge is set at the heart of the Namib Desert. The camp’s main buildings have been built in a North African-style and constructed entirely from clay bricks with a wrap-around verandah overlooking a waterhole and the surrounding desert scenery.

A guided excursion to the famous Sossusvlei sand dunes located nearby will give you a unique desert experience, while guided nature walks, game drives and quad bike trails around the lodge’s private reserve are also offered. Cool off in the afternoons in the plunge pool or watch animals such as oryx, bat-eared fox, aardwolf, ostrich and jackal drink from the waterhole in front of the main building. One morning you could choose to go on a hot-air balloon safari where you will be served with a champagne breakfast on landing.

Highlights & Activities

What's on offer whilst on this itinerary?
  • Astonishing Namib desert scenery
  • Private entrance to the legendary Sossusvlei
  • Bordering the Namib Naukluft Park
  • Amazing photographic opportunities
  • Game drives, nature walks & birding
  • Optional hot-air balloon safaris
  • Sleep-out in the 'star beds'

Dune walks & drives

Game drives

Guided walks

Hot air ballooning

Nature drives

Quad-biking

Rooms at Kulala Desert Lodge

Unwind and relax, in your own private luxury
  • Spacious thatched suites are simple but offer plenty of amenities and luxuries for a comfortable stay.

Standard Twin Room

Kulala Desert Lodge offers accommodation in 23 thatched and double canvas chalets with expanded roofs set on raised wooden platforms, designed and built to maintain a cool airflow through them. The configurations consist of three Doubles, 17 Twins and three Family Units.

All chalets have en suite bathroom facilities and private verandas with views of the surrounding dunes and mountains. For those who want a magical outdoor experience, bedrolls can be made up on your private rooftop so you can sleep out under the stars.

Other Room Types

Three of the Family Unit chalets at Kulala can accommodate a family of two adults and two children. Two of the chalets feature their own front door and en suite bathroom, the third chalet is comprised of two rooms under one roof, with a shared en suite bathroom.

General Facilities

Built from clay, thatch and canvas and with a distinctive North African feel, the main lodge has breathtaking views of the surrounding desert from the raised wrap-around veranda which has a seating area overlooking the waterhole and the alfresco dining area.

The cosy lounge area, featuring a built-in fireplace, plus the indoor dining room and bar all open onto the veranda while you’ll want to cool off in the lodge’s plunge pool on hot desert afternoons.

Bar

Plunge pool

Private veranda

Dining

A generous mid-morning brunch buffet is served at the lodge each day – those who have left the lodge early to visit the Sossusvlei dunes will enjoy their brunch under a camelthorn tree surrounded by nothing but desert.

A cold lunch is served at the lodge for those few who are still peckish come lunchtime. Following your afternoon activity, enjoy sundowner drinks while you watch wildlife at the waterhole before dining outdoors on the veranda under the stars or in the main dining area on chilly nights.

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Traveller Reviews

  • D
    Dustin
    traveler

    This was another highlight of the trip. Namibia and Kuala were beyond our wildest dreams. Full disclosure, when we first got there, we were all a bit reluctant and asking ourselves what we had done, but by the time we stopped that first afternoon on our nature drive for our sundowner drinks, we were all mind-blown. The desert was beautiful. It was so odd to us how something so vast and large could have things actually survive in it and that there were parts of the world that have completely been untouched by humans. We LOVED the desert and the Namibian people. Hiking Big Daddy and seeing the scenery was a highlight of the trip. We loved it. We also enjoyed sleeping outside on the roof while looking at the stars each night. The accommodations were pristine and the service was great (not as attentive as Simbavati, but no complaints at all. We kept telling ourselves…we are in the middle of the desert! How could anyone complain about the rooms, food, and having running water in the middle of the desert).

  • R&
    Robin & Gary Schiendelman
    traveler

    We were so surprised that we saw so many animals at our first stop in Sosussvlei. We didn’t expect to see any! We enjoyed climbing Big Daddy and walking through Deadvlei. Our final morning, we did a walk at Dune 1 that was amazing. Our guide pointed out all of the animal tracks from the night before and we could not believe how many animals, insects and reptiles make their home there. We did wish that we had spent an extra night so we could have done a balloon ride.

  • AS
    Anza Snyman
    employee

    “With the best location in the heart of the Namib Desert, Kulala Desert Lodge is the closest lodge to the red sand dunes of Sossusvlei. The chalets are suitable for honeymooners or families and offers beautiful views. For the more adventurous, there's an option to sleep out on your rooftop under the stars.”

  • PS
    Paul Skolnick
    traveler

    We liked Kulala lodge and its location was excellent. We did sign up for a balloon ride and this was a high point of the trip (literally).

  • SH
    Stephen Hopwood
    traveler

    The staff were amazing and nothing was too much trouble. We enjoyed sand dunes, petrified forest and Sesriem Canyon trips, plus quad biking.

  • LD
    Lauren de Waal
    traveler

    The trip was really amazing, I loved it. Some of my other favourite hotels were the Olive Grove Guest House in Windhoek. It was beautifully set up and the manager, Brian, really tries to make everyone feel welcome. I also loved Mapula Lodge, and Kulala Desert Lodge. Botswana and Namibia were very organised, and we both felt very safe venturing out and exploring in the countries.

  • VM
    Vincent Marlot
    traveler

    Kulala Desert Camp is a wonderful place. It has comfortable bungalows, very good food and very nice people. It is an easy destination for families with kids and was our top selection for food!!!

D
Dustin
traveler

This was another highlight of the trip. Namibia and Kuala were beyond our wildest dreams. Full disclosure, when we first got there, we were all a bit reluctant and asking ourselves what we had done, but by the time we stopped that first afternoon on our nature drive for our sundowner drinks, we were all mind-blown. The desert was beautiful. It was so odd to us how something so vast and large could have things actually survive in it and that there were parts of the world that have completely been untouched by humans. We LOVED the desert and the Namibian people. Hiking Big Daddy and seeing the scenery was a highlight of the trip. We loved it. We also enjoyed sleeping outside on the roof while looking at the stars each night. The accommodations were pristine and the service was great (not as attentive as Simbavati, but no complaints at all. We kept telling ourselves…we are in the middle of the desert! How could anyone complain about the rooms, food, and having running water in the middle of the desert).

R&
Robin & Gary Schiendelman
traveler

We were so surprised that we saw so many animals at our first stop in Sosussvlei. We didn’t expect to see any! We enjoyed climbing Big Daddy and walking through Deadvlei. Our final morning, we did a walk at Dune 1 that was amazing. Our guide pointed out all of the animal tracks from the night before and we could not believe how many animals, insects and reptiles make their home there. We did wish that we had spent an extra night so we could have done a balloon ride.

AS
Anza Snyman
employee

“With the best location in the heart of the Namib Desert, Kulala Desert Lodge is the closest lodge to the red sand dunes of Sossusvlei. The chalets are suitable for honeymooners or families and offers beautiful views. For the more adventurous, there's an option to sleep out on your rooftop under the stars.”

PS
Paul Skolnick
traveler

We liked Kulala lodge and its location was excellent. We did sign up for a balloon ride and this was a high point of the trip (literally).

SH
Stephen Hopwood
traveler

The staff were amazing and nothing was too much trouble. We enjoyed sand dunes, petrified forest and Sesriem Canyon trips, plus quad biking.