16 Best Hotels in Namibia

At this family-friendly hotel within the 1901 Old Station Building, the huge, bustling lobby is a reminder of the building's previous incarnation as a railway station. Rooms, some of which look out onto the central courtyard, are comfortable, large, and kitted out with all the modern necessities. The hotel—owned by Legacy Hotels and Resorts—boasts numerous facilities and services, which make it ideal for traveling families; these include an adjacent cinema, casino, gym, child minding services; and the Victorian-style Platform One restaurant, which serves an a la carte menu and a buffet. The Whistle Stop Lounge and Bar is a popular stop, and the large pool, necklaced by a luscious garden, makes for an ideal place to relax on the loungers with a book or a bite and sundowner from the terrace menu.

Walking into Cornerstone one is struck by the lovely manicured garden and the pleasantly homey ambience. Rooms are not huge but are comfortable and have free Wi-Fi and small personal patios. The breakfast here is famously tasty, and the owners are incredibly helpful and friendly. Within walking distance from most of Swakop's main attractions, this place is very popular and often full. However, if you find this to be the case, inquire about the three self-catering apartments, also owned by the management.

As its name suggests, The Delight ticks all the boxes for a wonderful stay: modern decor, an excellent buffet breakfast, cheerful rooms, a funky bar, and a welcoming lounge. The interior is accentuated by bright bursts of color and photo-worthy elements, such as the lobby chandelier made of recycled plastic and upcycled driftwood, a large blue mural depicting the Namib Desert, and a giant map of Africa. The large seascape photo murals in the guest rooms provide a seaside feel and each room has a balcony or a patio (some of which look out onto the central courtyard). 

Located just 2 km (1 mile) from the busy Anderson Gate at Etosha National Park, this lodge is like a cool shady escape from the dusty roads and crowds of the park. The lodge with its three inviting swimming pools, open air restaurant, and bar, as well as spacious freestanding rooms, is built amid a leafy mopane forest. A combination of comfort, modern amenities, and attentive service makes this lodge a really good value-for-money choice. 

This hotel has one of the most spectacular views of the Walvis Bay Lagoon with its peaceful flamingos and idyllic sunsets. The hotel's fine dining restaurant and bar, which specializes in inventive cocktails, is also very popular with locals. They have thought of everything when it comes to standard hotel amenities. Touches of leather and marble with fluffy white bathrobes and crisp linen add a certain level of opulence to the suites. 

This old-world grand dame, which was established in 1905 a few years after the town was founded, gives guests a Belle Epoque–era feeling with its hushed solicitude, gleaming brass, and manicured garden. Standard rooms are comfortable and though some of their furnishings remain somewhat dated, the much larger suites are done up in historical decor which give them the kind of charm you'd expect of this very popular hotel. There are now also self-catering units available. Book a room that overlooks the central garden courtyard if possible. A warm atmosphere, central location, one of the town's best German-style restaurants (Hansa Hotel Main Restaurant), adjoining coffee shop (Bojos Café) and cozy bar complete the picture. Breakfast is great and it's well worth eating dinner here too.

These eco-friendly, solar-powered chalets with spacious wood decks balance atop grassy sand dunes that show off stunning sunset vistas. Usually taken as a one- or two-night "sleep out" option for those staying at Desert Grace, the chalets come with beds that can be rolled out onto the deck so that you can sleep under a canopy of stars. You'll have everything you need for a restful and extremely comfortable night (including lights, hot water, and lots of warm bedding), without having to rough it. The reception area has free Wi-Fi, a swimming pool, and a small shop that sells general items and souvenirs.

Resembling children's building blocks set down by a giant hand in the middle of nowhere, this earth-toned lodge sits in the midst of a wide plain of desert, backed by gorgeous granite hills. Awesome views go with the territory. You can choose to sit on your private veranda and watch the fiery desert sunset, sip a sundowner by the pool, or enjoy a meal in the open-air or indoor restaurant. The lodge will arrange outings and activities for you—don't miss out on an easy walk in the world's oldest desert.

On the edge of Nkasa Rupara National Park, this intimate, unfenced tented camp—which is part of the award-winning, joint-venture Wuparo conservancy program—offers the best of both worlds, namely river cruises and game drives through wetlands, woodlands, and grass plains. The unpretentious, double-story main lodge has a swimming pool, bar, and a lookout over a natural watering hole that connects to the Kwando-Linyanti river system after heavy rainfall. Bell frogs will sing you to sleep with their chorus that resembles the clinging of glass bells. The stilted, en suite tents are simple and may not meet travelers’ expectations when it comes to the price, but its eco-tourism model that minimizes guests’ carbon footprint and partners closely with local communities is impressive. Their nearby sister property (Jackalberry Tented Camp), also within a concession in the national park, is recommended for those looking for a slightly higher-end stay.

Located about a 10-minute drive north of the city center, this elegant guesthouse is incredibly popular for its stylish simplicity and great service. The aesthetic is minimalist chic, with polished concrete floors and a color scheme of sage and olive with well-placed details like beautiful handmade tiles and Moroccan-style lanterns. Attention to detail and thoughtful treats for guests are a specialty here (e.g., honeymooners can expect bubbly and flower petals). Families are also welcome; the humongous and super luxurious executive suite is an absolute stunner.

This centrally located establishment is right on the water's edge and along the palm-lined promenade, which means you can look out onto the Walvis Bay Lagoon from all of the rooms (but the junior suite) and the restaurant. There is a short pier just in front of the hotel, which makes for a great spot to watch or photograph the resident flamingos and pelicans.

This pleasant and affordable lodge about 25 km (15½ miles) south of Etosha's Anderson Gate makes a great base for exploring the park. Experienced guides take you on the lodge's all-day drive in an open game vehicle with a great picnic included (six people max per vehicle). Cheerful well-appointed double rooms are set among green lawns and old mopane and seringa trees. The restaurant serves excellent house-cooked food and specializes in fine South African wines. Kids under six stay free with their parents.

In a dramatic locale in Damaraland's Valley of the Ugab Terraces, this lodge is set against the backdrop of a mighty stone finger pointing toward the sky. Take the time to listen to the silence on one of their walking trails or as you lounge by either of the two swimming pools. The 360-degree views from the Sundowner Terrace are magnificent. Bungalows cling to the side of a rocky hill and are clean, comfortable and air-conditioned, but it's the remarkable views that you'll always remember, especially if you stay in the Heaven's Gate room. 

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. 

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.

From this delightful lodge, where personal attention and friendly service are outstanding (the lodge gets many repeat visitors), you can drive yourself to Sesriem and Sossusvlei (90 km/56 miles to the gate) or to Naukluft. The comfortable and unpretentious lodge has its own canyon—popular with geologists and archeologists—hiking trails, and perennial springs. All rooms have views of the swimming pool and bush beyond, and are tastefully furnished, making them a welcome refuge from the hot days.