Sossusvlei Lodge

Location spectacular - dinner great (chefs put out a wonderful buffet). Help with luggage, etc. Very courteous staff.... also, wilderness. Many oryxes walking around at night! Tad scary, but added to atmosphere.

Weak wi-fi, except at bar/pool, but they already warned us about that, and TBH, in the middle of Namib desert, one shouldn't expect that. I don't think that's a minus, but it will of course be great if down the road wi-fi gets stronger. Seems weak all through Namibia (Walvis Bay for instance). But that is not a negative.

Easy access to park, guided tour was great, rooms awesome, good main course vegetarian/pescatarian options, wonderful almond tart and star gazing

Desserts hit and miss, boring breakfast, not oo much else to do at the lodge itself

Location and staff

Nothing to mention

- Excellent location, just a 5-minute walk from the park entrance. * Staying this close to the gate commands a significant price premium, which can be worthwhile if you want to enter the park early (self drive).

* We paid roughly double what we would have paid at lodges just 10–15 minutes further away. Unfortunately, the organised dune drives departed relatively late, so we still arrived at the gate after other vehicles and had to queue to enter the park. In our case, the premium for the location did not provide any real advantage. * The lodge caters to large tour groups and lacks character and a personal atmosphere. * The chalets are functional but uninspiring, with a design that feels more like a countryside resort in Europe than an African safari lodge. * The large dining area is dominated by all-you-can-eat buffet service for busloads of tourists, making the experience feel quite commercial. * The pathways between the chalets are brightly lit throughout the night, preventing you from enjoying the spectacular desert night sky and stargazing.