22 Best Hotels in Namibia

This gorgeous glass and natural stone lodge has a spectacular setting on the border of the NamibRand Nature Reserve–Africa's first International Dark Sky Reserve. Its ultra-luxurious desert suites, which face a vast golden-yellow plain ringed by dune peaks, each have a private veranda with sun loungers and couches and a large hydraloop plunge pool. Shower in your mega-size bathroom or outside in your own little walled garden. You can lie in bed and watch the stars through the skylight overhead or climb up to the observatory with its state-of-the-art telescope and resident astronomer (check ahead of time to make sure they're available). The food is as refreshing as the lodge, but if you don't feel like eating in the main dining area, you can make use of the butler hatch in your suite for in-room dining, accompanied by an extensive personal bar. 

Sitting on the banks of the Chobe River, right where it meets the mighty Zambezi River, this elegant lodge gives you a taste of effortless luxury. The stilted water villas stand either in or at the water’s edge giving them a somewhat surreal view over the river towards one of Southern Africa’s best wildlife-dense river systems, the Sedudu Island. The sophisticated rooms spare nothing when it comes to comfort and indulgence; there's even a telescope to aid in wildlife-watching. The infinity pool and deck at the main building offer uninterrupted views over the water towards the island, so you can view game all day long without leaving the comfort of your sun lounger. Candlelit dinners on the deck under the stars combine the flavors of Europe and Africa and their tapas-style lunches are a welcome break from buffets. Whether you come for the soothing sunsets and fancy rooms or just to see the herds of elephants that seem to visit all day long, this lodge could be one of your best experiences in Africa.

Constructed from natural materials in a low-impact manner (including being completely solar-powered), this luxe tented camp seamlessly blends into its surroundings atop a rocky outcrop that's reminiscent of the Masai Mara all while offering guests every creature comfort. This is the closest you'll get to a safari just 45 minutes from the international airport and an hour from central Windhoek. Sustainability and conservation are at the heart of this 123,552-acre nature reserve, which also prioritizes health and wellbeing through its retreats, and spa and wellness offerings. Habitas is the epitome of Namibia hospitality and five-star service, from the thoughtful lodge playlist you receive upon reservation to the genuine welcome at your "homecoming" ceremony, and everything else in between—we're warning you, you won’t want to leave.

If you're a fan of old-fashioned luxury, warm service, and accommodations that combine the authenticity of the bush with a stylish and comfortable interior, then this is an excellent option. Situated close to the Von Lindequist Gate on the eastern side of Etosha, the Outpost is perfectly placed to take advantage of the park's game-thick eastern section, especially if you opt for the fully inclusive rate that includes two game drives. The lodge has a comfortable rambling feel to it with a large farm-style main house. The spacious tents made from canvas and wood are delightfully well appointed on the inside, ensuring that after a day of game drives you'll be able to relax and recharge your batteries while sitting on your deck among the shady trees. 

Windhoek's premier boutique hotel, the Olive Exclusive, with its seven large suites each decorated thematically according to each of Namibia's regions, is an upmarket treat either before or after your safari. As each suite is equipped with all the mod-cons—laptops, Wi-Fi, espresso machines, minibars, and satellite TV—it's the right kind of place to manage your transition from the solitude of the bush to the connectivity of the city and vice versa. The decor strikes an elegant balance between chic and African without overdoing the latter (as many lodges do) and while the premium suites have their own plunge pools, guests can also use the communal pool. The Olive Exclusive restaurant, with its playful menu that features great Namibian produce, is an intimate spot worth visiting even if you aren't a guest at the hotel.

Located in the Ongava Game Reserve on the southern boundary of Etosha close to the Anderson Gate, this camp features a range of luxury accommodations, including the delightful Tented Camp. Each of the large, beautifully appointed tents has a spacious deck that faces into the bush ideal for wildlife watching. The restaurant, bar, and pool all overlook a busy waterhole where you'll spot a range of antelope by day, as well as owls and jackals by night. The all-inclusive rate includes two daily activities, including sunset drives to seek out white rhino and elephant.

This flagship lodge in the Onguma Game Reserve on the eastern border of Etosha National Park's Fischer Pan is the epitome of luxury and style, blending unique Moroccan-style fort architecture with subtle hints of color and raw African textures. The main lodge’s wide deck overlooks the stark expanse of the pan and a waterhole, which is visited by many animals that have wandered across from Etosha. You get a strong sense that you're at the edge of civilization here. The exquisitely appointed suites stretch to either side of the lodge with astonishing pan views, outdoor showers, and cool stone interiors. The staff are like a well-oiled machine and you feel as though you are a VIP. The Dream Cruiser Sleep Out experience—a custom-built Land Cruiser with a wooden deck, double bed, seating and dining area upstairs, and a full bathroom downstairs with hot running water and flush toilet—can be booked in conjunction with a stay at any of Onguma’s properties. 

Built from the old Lighthouse and Port Authority building, this completely unique lodge is as beautiful as it is stark. Positioned on the farthest point of Pelican Point, the remoteness of this lodge will give you your first taste of a Skeleton-Coast-type experience as the fog rolls in and isolates the property. A photographer's paradise, the flat colors of the surrounding beach, old ship artifacts, and rusting metal shapes will provide you with an endless canvas for images. The 10 comfortable suites, all with a view, are inspired by the textures of the beach and ocean, each with a unique location photograph as the focal point. Despite running on generator power, there is total silence and you will feel as though you can completely reset. Close proximity to the enormous seal colony allows you to walk around and view them at ease; or take a kayak trip with one of the guides to get some close-up photographs. There's a complimentary escort if you're in a 4x4; if you're driving a standard car, you'll have to make use of the transfer service and leave your car at the safe Protea Pelican Bay Hotel.

This exceptional camp close to the dry Huab River bed in central Damaraland is the ideal starting point for searching for desert-adapted elephants, with guides who are astute in accommodating photographers’ need to get the perfect shot. Located within the Torra Conservancy, encircled by ochre mountains and sand dunes, the views from the gorgeous, adobe-style, thatch units take in a landscape of craggy beauty formed by millions of years of unending geological movement. After a day in the desert, cool off in the swimming pool, read or watch the desert birds from a comfy chair on the deck, or relax with a drink in the spacious, airy lounge, where surreal views and unsurpassable service are the name of the game.

This intimate and luxurious lodge in the 66,718-acre private Kulala Wilderness Reserve faces the mesmerizing red dunes of Namib-Naukluft Park with the ever-shifting sands and has a waterhole that attracts all manner of game and birdlife. The recently renovated lodge is very tastefully decorated in colors, textures, and raw materials that pay homage to the landscape's uniqueness. Elevated wooden walkways radiate from the main lodge to the elegant, air-conditioned suites where every creature comfort is attended to—plunge pool alongside a shaded, king-size day bed that is made up and wheeled out under the stars at night; a rooftop sundowner deck; and an indoor and outdoor shower set in an indigenous garden. Rooms also boast art supplies, wellness and workout equipment, and a tablet device for star-watching that comes in handy if you opt to sleep beneath the Milky Way in summer. The impressive wine cellar hosts tasting evenings and private dinners. 

This astonishingly different and dramatically sited camp in the extreme northwest of Namibia on the Angolan border is probably the most remote camp in southern Africa and you are guaranteed to gasp with awe when you first catch sight of the camp from a high sand dune. Located along the Kunene River within the Marienfluss Conservancy, which is largely owned by the region's indigenous Himba people, this camp operates on a mutually beneficial public-private partnership that prioritizes these custodians of the land, and allows guests to respectfully engage with the local community during their visit. This award-winning model has been widely commended and serves as an example for other hospitality businesses to follow. Stay for three nights to make the most of the experience. Although tents (on raised platforms) are luxurious and have private bathrooms, don't come here if you aren't tough. The flight from Windhoek is long and may be bumpy, and the terrain harsh and demanding, but the experience is surreal. This is one-of-a-kind Africa.

There are just three thatched villas at this secluded, ultra-luxurious lodge within the Ongava Game Reserve, which borders Etosha. Each villa comes with its own private viewing deck and infinity plunge pool, as well as indoor and outdoor showers, and a bathtub with an unrivaled view over the reserve. Between game drives, relax in your private lounge decorated in shades of beige and turquoise. There's air conditioning in summer and for chilly winter nights, each villa has a fireplace. Daily activities include drives and bush walks in Ongava Game Reserve, as well as game drives into Etosha itself.

Situated in a tall shady forest, this lodge stands on its tiptoes high up off the ground overlooking the lush floodplain below. In order to preserve the natural pathways of the elephants that pass through the area regularly, wooden walkways weave through the tops of the trees connecting roomy luxury tents and the main lodge area. You don’t have to go far here to spot game, as sometimes it may be passing right underneath you while you laze the day away on your treetop deck. Special touches like a delivery of coffee and biscuits in the early morning and star-lit dinners or conversations around the bonfire at the main lodge and a hot bath awaiting your return from an evening game drive make this lodge feel all the more personal. The area has abundant birdlife and the boat cruise is well worth it.

This family-run, private lodge, with numerous accommodation options to suit various budgets, is located in the Okonjima Nature Reserve about halfway between Windhoek and Etosha, making it an excellent stopover point on your way to the park. It's also home to the environmental-award-winning AfriCat Foundation ( www.africat.org), which has focused on the conservation of Namibia’s wildlife through ongoing research and education efforts for over three decades. During a two-night stay, you have the chance to track leopards, rhinos, and pangolins, with a high probability of seeing wild and collared leopards (for research purposes) in their natural habitat. Nestled among the Omboroko Mountains, the lovely Okonjima Luxury Bush Camp has ample room to relax, whether it is in the communal lounge, by the inside fireplace or outside fire pit, or alongside the swimming pool. Each thatched room has a canvas wall that can be rolled up to look out onto the sweeping savannah, which can equally be taken in from the privacy of your own sala and lounge. The nearby Private Bush Suite is a two-bedroom standalone cottage that comes with a private chef—and a hefty price tag.

The best time of year to visit Serondela Lodge, on the floodplains of the Chobe River, is just after the rainy season, which ends in March. This is when the Zambezi Region erupts in bursts of green and swells with an abundance of wildlife. The lodge directly looks out onto Botswana’s Chobe National Park, a mere 200 m (656 feet) across the river, which makes for delightful game spotting (especially elephants) from the wooden deck. A lunch-time or sundowner river cruise is a must for bird watching and photography. The easiest way to reach the lodge is from Kasane in Botswana, and the complimentary 17 km (10½-mile) boat transfer doubles as a wonderful arrival activity.

If it's rhinos you're after, especially the rare black rhino, then this very remote tented camp in the heart of the private 1-million-acre Palmwag Reserve is a must. In addition to the rhinos, you might also see desert elephants, giraffes, zebras, and springboks. The camp collaborates with the Save the Rhino Trust, and one of the highlights of your stay will be tracking the rare black rhino in an open safari vehicle, with the very short final approach done on foot. It's an honor to encounter one of the continent's largest free-ranging populations of these critically endangered animals. Though the landscape is very barren and stark, you'll likely feel very close to the desert in your contemporary canvas and wooden suite with a spacious porch and indoor/outdoor showers. During a two-night stay, you will be treated to an unforgettable dinner experience by the exceptionally warm-hearted staff. 

Blending into the backdrop and set amid stony slopes, rugged boulders, the distant Etendeka Mountains, and the pink and russet sandstone cliffs of Twyfelfontein to the south (where you can visit some of the most famous San rock paintings and engravings in the world), this is classic Damaraland. The wood, canvas and thatch camp offers 360-degree views of this fascinating landscape and the chance to see the desert-adapted elephants. The sturdy en-suite units have indoor and outdoor showers. You can relax in the glistening pool after a day's activities, or climb up to the roof area of the main building to sip sundowners or watch the blazing stars. Birders will delight in seeing a few of the country’s endemic species, such as Rüpell's korhaan, Carp's tit, and Damara red-billed hornbill. 

This luxurious and completely solar-powered, low-impact camp is located in the remote, broad valley of the Hoanib River; with one foot in the dramatic Namibian Kaokoveld and the other in the Skeleton Coast National Park, the unique and exquisitely appointed tented rooms look out over scenery that's hard to find adjectives to describe. This part of the Skeleton Coast also lends itself to exploring the shipwrecks and Cape fur seal colonies along the otherwise deserted coastline, with the opportunity to spot desert-adapted elephants, lions and brown hyaenas. The large shaded deck of the rooms or the sparkling swimming pool are the perfect place to sit and stare out at the arresting scenery while escaping the heat of the day. The day-long coastal excursion (for guests staying three nights or longer) is the experience of a lifetime that includes a beach lunch and a (weather permitting) scenic flight back to camp.

In the heart of the Namib, set on a private wilderness reserve that borders the Namib-Naukluft Park with an exclusive-use entrance gate, this is the closest you could possibly stay to the famous red dunes of Sossusvlei (along with Little Kulala, on the same reserve). This proximity also offers a remarkable setting with superb mountain scenery and vast open plains, while the main lodge truly exudes this sense of place with the large tree trunks that act as pillars. The wrap-around wooden deck leads from the swimming pool to an extended veranda (for alfresco dining), fire pit, and indoor dining area, making it the perfect place to watch or photograph the magnificent desert sunset. The tented, double-layer canvas, thatch-roofed chalets (kulala) sit on a wooden platform overlooking the dry Tsauchab riverbed and desert landscape, and while they don't have air-conditioning, they are designed in such a way that allows for natural airflow and cooling. On summer nights, you can request a star bed rollout with your turndown service to sleep on the chalet roof, under the night sky. 

For seclusion and green, conscience-free travel in a ridiculously pretty setting, book Wolwedans Desert Lodge, which is set against an impressive sand dune and faces a mountain that glows in shades of pink as the sun sets. Take a game drive with the well-informed guides and learn about the unique desert fauna and flora of the NamibRand, from the heat-adapted oryx and tok-tok beetles to Pale Chanting Goshawks and the remarkable camelthorn tree. Progressive in their long-term approach to conservation and energy, Wolwedans operates entirely on renewable energy, eliminating the hum of diesel generators and preserving the profound stillness of the desert. 

This exclusive-use private villa, in the serene and secluded NamibRand Nature Reserve—which is Africa's first Dark Sky Reserve—gives its guests up-close access to the surrounding desert habitat. The reserve is a reflection of the diversity of the Namib Desert with its steep mountain ranges, vast savannas, glorious red sand dunes, and clay pans. Here you might possibly see the oryx, as well as more than 100 bird species including the rare dune lark, found nowhere else in the world. The reserve is sparsely developed and off-limits to large vehicles such as tour buses. What's more, a percentage of the sustainability fee (US$79 per person per night) goes directly to conserving the integrity of the reserve. The villa is made up of four en-suite doubles that share a library, kitchen, private chef, guide and numerous outdoor spaces from which to enjoy the views.

The concept of conservation and the genuine rehabilitation of the resident flora and fauna is at the forefront for Zannier Hotels, as is property design as evidenced by these airy and spacious thatched villas built to reflect Owambo architecture fused with five-star flare. Each villas has a double-sided fireplace, open-plan adjoining rooms, and a large bathroom with an indoor and outdoor shower. The lodge's expansive infinity pool, lounge area, and rustic bar make for a peaceful place to unwind surrounded by the savannah, even though it is only 50 minutes outside of Windhoek. Zannier partnered with the Naankuse Foundation to establish the 22,239-acre Zannier Reserve on a former cattle breeding farm, where it offers a true sanctuary and forever home to animals that have been injured or rescued from untoward tourism practices, as well as endangered species.