NAMIBIA - Kulala Desert Lodge, Sossusvlei

Sossusvlei is situated within the Namib Desert, the oldest desert in the world. It is part of the Namib Naukluft National Park that stretches almost 250 miles south of Walvis Bay and is sandwiched between the west coast and the escarpment that runs parallel more than 60 miles inland. Its huge red dunes and flat valley floors have justifiably made this part of the Namib world famous. The huge clay pan of Sossusvlei is flanked by the red sand dunes that stand out starkly against the blue sky. These dunes have developed over millions of years with the wind continuously transforming the contours. They are known as the Sand Sea.

Sossusvlei translates into "the gathering place of water" in the local Nama language. The vlei (pan) only fills after rare, heavy rainfalls when it transforms into a spectacular turquoise lake. Strangely, in good years seasonal rains in the foothills of the Naukluft and Tsaris Mountains succeed in reaching the vleis. This creates temporary lakes that mirror the sand dunes surrounding them. The vleis have evocative names such as Hidden Vlei and Dead Vlei, while the dunes rise up to 984 feet above the valley floor with razor-sharp edges that stand out against the blue sky.

Kulala Desert Lodge is located within the arid Namib Desert on the 37,000 hectare private Kulala Wilderness Reserve, and is closest to the iconic red dunes of Sossusvlei.

ACCOMMODATION:

Kulala Desert Lodge has 15 thatched and canvas "kulalas" (meaning "to sleep" in the local Oshiwambo language) with en-suite bathrooms and verandas. Each room is built on a wooden platform to catch the cooling breezes and has a deck on the flat rooftop where guests have the opportunity to sleep under the amazing Namibia skies (bedrolls are provided).

The lodge's main area has a lounge, bar, dining area, plunge pool, and wrap-around veranda overlooking the waterhole in front of camp. Gemsbok, springbok, ostrich and jackal frequent the waterhole.

ACTIVITIES AND WILDLIFE:

Activities at Kulala Desert Lodge revolve around early morning guided nature drives to the dunes through the private gate on the Tsauchab River. Nature drives and walks are also offered through the private Kulala Wilderness Reserve. From Kulala Desert Lodge guests can witness the wonders of the sparsely distributed desert-adapted wildlife such as ostrich, springbok and gemsbok as they eke out an existence. Larger predators include spotted hyena and the occasional brown hyena, a mystical shaggy-coated scavenger. Smaller creatures such as bat-eared fox, black-backed jackal, porcupine, Cape fox and aardwolf can be seen at night in the cool desert air. One bird, the aptly named Dune Lark, has its entire global distribution limited to the area. Despite the lack of vegetation and low rainfall, a surprisingly diverse array of insects, reptiles and rodents make their home around Kulala Desert Lodge - surviving thanks in part to the coastal fog that creeps up off the sea each dawn and penetrates up to 30 miles inland. At dusk the call of barking geckoes resonate around you, and walks reveal the smaller creatures - the buck-spoor spider with its multi-entrance burrow or the ambush specialist ant-lion.