The Ancient Greeks wrote about it. Coldplay sang about it. And when aurora borealis made a surprise European appearance in May, millions of people posted about it. We’re talking, of course, about a sky full of stars – which are in no short supply when you travel to Namibia.
The country’s dry climate, wide, open landscapes, and minimal light pollution mean that the stars seem to shine much brighter here. Couple that with a handful of luxury resorts offering spectacular stargazing experiences and you’ve got all the ingredients for a stellar holiday. Here are our top picks.
Kwessi Dunes, NamibRand Nature Reserve
You’ll find this luxury lodge swathed in the sands of NamibRand Nature Reserve – a designated dark skies area in Namibia’s southwest. There are just 12 canvas-and-thatch chalets nestled amongst the dunes, each with a separate star gazing bedroom that’s completely open to the sky – giving you front-row seats to the celestial theatre above. But if you look out rather than up, you’ll see nothing but the ambling amber dunes of the Namib Desert, which the hotel will help you explore on foot, by quad bike, or even via hot air balloon.
Kwessi Dunes, NamibRand Nature Reserve
Sonop, Namib Desert
It’s hard to spot Sonop at first. The 1920s-style camp is poised atop a pile of boulders in the Namib Desert’s southernmost corner, where it practically blends into the terracotta sands and rugged rocks. Inside, though, is little short of luxurious: canvas ceilings swoop over antique-laden rooms with four-poster beds carved from precious woods, and the infinity pool – stretching out towards the horizon – is one of the world’s best. And to see the stars? Settle in behind one of the state-of-the-art telescopes and direct your attention to the heavens.
Sonop, Namib Desert
Little Kulala, Kulala Wilderness Reserve
To talk about Little Kulala, we first need to talk about big Kulala – the 27,000-hectare Kulala Wilderness Reserve whose peachy sands stretch like a sea across Namibia’s southwest. It’s a place of hiking and e-biking; of silence and solitude; and of sparkling skies that glimmer into life every evening. And you can witness the shimmering show first-hand from one of Little Kulala’s rollout beds, which are positioned on your (luxuriously appointed) suite’s open-air deck – you can, quite literally, sleep under the stars.
Little Kulala, Kulala Wilderness Reserve
Shipwreck Lodge, The Skeleton Coast
Shipwreck Lodge is cast adrift in the middle of The Skeleton Coast. And if that sounds like something out of a fantasy novel, that’s because the architect behind the lodge, Nina Maritz, was inspired by John H. Marsh’s The Skeleton Coast. Her honey-coloured cabins rise from the barren (yet beautiful) landscape like ships atop waves, each equipped with writing desks should inspiration strike. And there’s plenty to write home about – from the windswept, wild terrain to the kaleidoscope of stars that check in once the sun checks out.
Shipwreck Lodge, The Skeleton Coast
Doro Nawas, Damaraland
With its globular, Mars-red boulders and soundwave-shaped slopes, Damaraland is one of those places that feels properly otherworldly – its remoteness certainly makes you feel like you’ve landed on another planet. Thankfully, Doro Nawas will make you feel right at home, with 15 canvas-and-thatch rooms, a relaxing pool area, and even a small curio shop. Being in such a setting, spending time looking up and out is your top priority – which you can do in supreme comfort, thanks to beds built on wheels that can be rolled onto the deck.
Doro Nawas, Damaraland
Onguma Camp Kala, Etosha National Park
Looking and listening are the two major commodities at this four-room camp, which is gathered around a wildlife-packed waterhole. Its stilted, thatch-topped suites give you a giraffe’s eye view of the action – which you can also take in from your private plunge pool or wood-heated hot tub. Still, it’s stars you’re here to see, and the camp’s Dream Cruiser ensures you do so in total tranquillity. It’s a custom-built Land Rover with a double bedroom on the roof (and a bathroom below), parked in a private portion of the park – here, it’s just you, the stars, and the occasional rustle of wildlife.
