Not a render. The absence of city lights allow you to take in the night sky as God intended millions of years ago

It’s getting harder and harder to surprise the editorial team at LUXUO. We have explored the remote islands of the Mergui archipelago, contemplated the circle of life in the savannahs of Africa and even discovered the ultimate stay at the constantly shifting sheet ice of the North Pole. Today, we take you to exotic Namibia and the soon to be re-opened Sossusvlei Desert Lodge for the definitive adventure tourist experience.

Nestled deep in the heart of the world’s most ancient desert, the sands of Namib are an arid expanse (the world’s driest with only 2mm to 20mm rainfall per annum) and a complete escape from the rest of civilisation with only one point of exquisite habitability and hospitality – andBeyond’s Sossusvlei Desert Lodge.

andBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge: The ultimate adventure tourist stay in Exotic Namibia

Surrounded by the mountains and sand dunes of the NamibRand Nature Reserve, Sossusvlei Desert Lodge is an upmarket all-inclusive escape, a 30-minute drive from a private airstrip and 375 km (about a 4-5 hour drive) from Hosea Kutako International Airport.

“Experience 55-million-years of unchanging desert. It is the story of mankind.” – LUXUO

&Beyond (andBeyond) began in 1991 with a humble pledge to Africa: “Care of the Land, Wildlife & People”. Since then, that ethos has extended to three continents and over 2000 &Beyonders with lofty ambitions of leaving the world a better place by delivering an extraordinary guest experience, and thus imprinting on them to importance of keeping the planet perpetual.

A spectacular masterpiece of glass, rock and steel pavilions, the remoteness and inhospitability  of Namib have made the Sossusvlei Desert Lodge an oasis of life and exploration. An old favourite recently renovated and refurbished, the lodge sits in the largest private nature reserve in Southern Africa, spanning 215 000 hectares (530 000 acres) of unspoiled desert wilderness with some of the highest, most breathtaking dunes in the world.

Closed for refurbishment in 2018, andBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge is slated to reopen on 16 October, a mere two weeks from now. 10 freestanding, solar powered suites make your stay in Namibia, ultra-exclusive. Designed to reflect its corporate philosophy of sustainability, a sophisticated water‑reuse system recycles up to 100,000 litres of grey water each month. The guest area features floor to ceiling, frameless glass panels that fold away to reveal unobstructed desert vistas.

All that contemplation about the meaning of life and our place in the vastness of the cosmos under the glittering night sky away from citylights is bound to entice you to share your deep-seated thoughts at an inviting central-island bar and comfortable sitting room for convivial conversation. There’s also an impressive walk-in wine cellar to find some needed varietal accompaniment to your meal – either chef created or interactive, allowing guests to create their own dishes. A range of singular interior and exterior dining spaces ensures guests never dine in the same place twice – but truth be told, with the wilderness at your doorstep, meals aren’t really going to be your focus at Sossusvlei Desert Lodge.

Amenties and Activies of Sossusvlei Lodge

With an all-inclusive stay of this nature, a great gym is par course but a wellness centre with its own skylight for early evening stargazing so you can take in the night sky during a soak or steam is simply divine. The Sossusvlei skies, one of the world’s few Dark Sky Reserves, are a wonder-world of constellations. Every evening, guests are invited to celebrate these magnificent skies with a resident astronomer at the on-site, world-class observatory. Furthermore, as the sun begins to set, wildlife is drawn to a nearby waterhole, a double bonus to sundowner time in the desert.

Cradled against the ancient mountains, desert adventures abound here, and small-group, personalised guest activities are on offer: Unforgettable dune dining, guided nature walks to see San rock painitngs; Scenic nature drives in open 4 x 4 safari vehicles, 4-wheel all terrain quad bike excursions; Early morning scenic hot air ballooning flights and of course, the forementioned stargazing.