After years of dreaming about Namibia’s uncooked and remoted magnificence, I lastly turned the dream into actuality, convincing my companion, JT, to affix me on an journey brimming with excessive contrasts. Our Namibia itinerary promised all of it: otherworldly landscapes, loads of dawn wake-ups and indulgent stays at luxurious lodges—balanced by lengthy, rugged drives on roads so bumpy that locals have coined them “the Namibian therapeutic massage.” Simply my form of journey.
The Street Much less Traveled
To drive or to not drive—that was the query earlier than touring to Namibia. However for us, the selection was clear. We craved the liberty of the open highway, whatever the potential challenges—flat tires and the necessity for emergency gas reserves, to call just a few. That stated, we have been caught off guard by simply how distant Namibia’s roads can really be. On one explicit five-hour stretch, not a single fuel station or relaxation cease appeared on the horizon. But, the power to cease at will and seize the gorgeous landscapes made each bumpy mile on these gravel roads greater than worthwhile.
Extra Than a Safari
The roads led us to our first cease: Gmundner Lodge, nestled deep within the coronary heart of the Namibian savannah. After an extended drive, we have been greeted with a particular contact—a welcome track, adopted by a glass of glowing rosé. In that second, I knew we have been precisely the place we have been meant to be.
Although thought of a more moderen safari lodge, Gmundner has redefined the all-inclusive expertise, kicking it up a notch. Every day brings a contemporary, farm-to-table menu, with three beautiful multi-course meals crafted from the best meats and greens sourced from their on-site farm. The meals? Completely divine. And relating to drinks, the choices are limitless—premium wines and top-shelf liquors complement each meal.
We felt a deep connection to the land right here. Our sundown sport drive, for example, was a magical expertise, capped off with a personal sundowner atop a hill, the place we have been handled to breathtaking views of the untouched Kalahari stretching out earlier than us. It felt just like the desert was ours, if just for a second.
You would possibly assume the spotlight of our keep right here have been these sweeping panoramic views of the Kalahari or the luxuriously spacious safari suite—full with not one, however two showers and two bathtubs. However ultimately, what really made the expertise unforgettable was one thing a lot less complicated: the folks. The employees radiates real pleasure, and their optimistic power infuses each nook of the property. From our information, who led us on an epic sport drive the place we encountered herds of zebra, ostriches and wildebeest, to the servers who felt like mates after simply two days, everybody went above and past to make us really feel at residence.
Out of Africa, Into One other World
The journey to our subsequent vacation spot was an journey in itself—except, in fact, you like the comfort of an airstrip. We opted for the scenic drive, which made the arrival at Zannier Sonop much more rewarding. Tucked deep within the distant Namib Desert, the retreat’s isolation solely provides to its attract. Luxurious safari tents, completely nestled amongst towering boulders, create an otherworldly escape—an grownup playground that feels blissfully removed from the attain of civilization. There’s merely no panorama like this on the earth.
Whether or not you’re looking for a digital detox, high quality time with a journey companion or just a uncommon escape, this place gives all of it—with unforgettable actions to match. One spotlight was a desert drive, capped with a sundowner at a secluded spot the place we encountered a noticed hyena. One other night, we watched the traditional movie Out of Africa projected below the celebrities by the gorgeous outside pool. And after we weren’t exploring, we indulged in deep tissue massages on the serene Sonop spa, leaving us in a state of pure rest.
Our safari tent, crammed with vintage treasures, made our keep much more magical. Every day, we opened it fully, creating no separation between us and the countless horizons that stretched earlier than us, inviting a complete immersion in nature. Oryx grazed gracefully close by—a real cherry on high. It was a uncommon deal with, one which’s laborious to return by today.
Each Mile Price Taking
After a grueling five-hour drive from Sonop, we lastly made it to Kolmanskop—a ghost city that feels just like the brink of the Earth itself. And in some ways, it would nicely be. As soon as a thriving diamond mining city and the richest on the earth, it now stands eerily half-buried in sand from the close by coastal dunes. For me, this place was a photographer’s dream, however its historical past—a few of the most fascinating within the nation—was what really left a long-lasting impression.
From right here, we continued our journey deeper into Namibia, heading towards its most iconic vacation spot: Sossusvlei. Nestled inside Namib-Naukluft Park, these towering sand dunes are believed to be among the many oldest on Earth. At its coronary heart lies Deadvlei, a surreal clay pan dotted with 900-year-old bushes that, astonishingly, have by no means totally decomposed. It’s a sight not like the rest on the earth. Watching the shifting mild and dancing shadows play throughout the dunes all through the day is a very mesmerizing expertise.
Subsequent, we ventured to Sandwich Harbor, one of many locations I used to be most excited to discover throughout our journey. This stretch of the Skeleton Coast is famend for its dramatic sand dunes that cascade straight into the ocean, creating movie-like landscapes. Guided excursions enable guests to drive alongside the dunes, a surreal expertise, particularly at sundown. As if the surroundings wasn’t magical sufficient, the realm is teeming with coastal wildlife. We have been fortunate sufficient to witness a rare second: a mom seal giving delivery proper on the seaside—a sight that felt nothing in need of miraculous.
A Good Brew
Our third cease introduced us to the breathtaking Zannier Omaanda. Whereas it’s a part of the identical Zannier household as Sonop, the 2 properties are solely distinct in design, setting and environment, making them an ideal pairing to showcase two contrasting sides of Namibia.
Right here, there’s a concentrate on wildlife and conservation work. Every day sport drives are an absolute should, providing the possibility to identify all the things from lions and elephants to rhinos, giraffes, springbok and warthogs. One unforgettable second got here when our information pulled up beside a grazing elephant and served us espresso proper there within the wild—an immediate spotlight of our journey.
We had a few of the finest meals in Namibia right here too—like slow-roasted hen, garlic and lemon shrimp and a banana cream crepe I’m nonetheless dreaming about. As for the design, the thatched-roof suites every function earthy tones, genuine African attraction and expansive image home windows, providing a peaceable vantage level to soak within the panorama. It was the right finale to our Namibian journey.
As my dream journey got here to an finish, I discovered myself already plotting a return. Namibia has a method of pulling you in, and leaving you craving extra—regardless of the bumpy roads that get you there.
