After years of dreaming about Namibia’s uncooked and remoted magnificence, I lastly turned the dream into actuality, convincing my associate, 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 sort of journey.
The Highway 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 a couple of. That mentioned, we had been caught off guard by simply how distant Namibia’s roads can actually be. On one explicit five-hour stretch, not a single gasoline station or relaxation cease appeared on the horizon. But, the flexibility to cease at will and seize the beautiful 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 a protracted drive, we had been greeted with a particular contact—a welcome tune, adopted by a glass of glowing rosé. In that second, I knew we had been precisely the place we had been meant to be.
Although thought-about a more recent 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 recreation drive, for example, was a magical expertise, capped off with a non-public sundowner atop a hill, the place we had 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 had 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 actually made the expertise unforgettable was one thing a lot less complicated: the individuals. The workers radiates real pleasure, and their constructive power infuses each nook of the property. From our information, who led us on an epic recreation drive the place we encountered herds of zebra, ostriches and wildebeest, to the servers who felt like buddies after simply two days, everybody went above and past to make us really feel at dwelling.
Out of Africa, Into One other World
The journey to our subsequent vacation spot was an journey in itself—except, in fact, you favor 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 planet.
Whether or not you’re in search of a digital detox, high quality time with a journey companion or just a uncommon escape, this place presents 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 basic movie Out of Africa projected underneath the celebs by the beautiful out of doors pool. And once 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 utterly, creating no separation between us and the infinite horizons that stretched earlier than us, inviting a complete immersion in nature. Oryx grazed gracefully close by—a real cherry on prime. It was a uncommon deal with, one which’s laborious to return by lately.
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 effectively be. As soon as a thriving diamond mining city and the richest on the planet, 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 actually left an enduring 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 timber that, astonishingly, have by no means absolutely decomposed. It’s a sight not like the rest on the planet. Watching the shifting mild and dancing shadows play throughout the dunes all through the day is a really 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 instantly 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 world is teeming with coastal wildlife. We had been fortunate sufficient to witness a unprecedented second: a mom seal giving start proper on the seashore—a sight that felt nothing wanting 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 totally distinct in design, setting and environment, making them an ideal pairing to showcase two contrasting sides of Namibia.
Right here, there’s a give attention to wildlife and conservation work. Every day recreation drives are an absolute should, providing the possibility to identify every thing 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 instantaneous spotlight of our journey.
We had a few of the finest meals in Namibia right here too—like slow-roasted rooster, garlic and lemon shrimp and a banana cream crepe I’m nonetheless dreaming about. As for the design, the thatched-roof suites every characteristic earthy tones, genuine African allure 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 manner of pulling you in, and leaving you craving extra—regardless of the bumpy roads that get you there.
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