The incredible landscape of Sossusvlei dunes is an iconic sight in Namibia and one that’s visited by almost every traveler exploring this diverse country. Sossusvlei was the last stop on our Namibia itinerary, but instead of rushing back to Windhoek for our last few nights in Namibia, we decided to spend a day or two relaxing in style.
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We stayed at the Desert Grace Lodge, a Gondwana Collection hotel, located in the Namib Desert just an hour outside of Sossusvlei. The lodge is an oasis of comfort in the midst of the harsh desert and it was a perfect place to wrap up our time in Namibia.
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About the Desert Grace
The interiors of the Desert Grace Lodge reminded us more of a hotel in New York City than a lodge in the Namib Desert. But the floor to ceiling windows in the dining room and in our rooms served as a stark reminder of the harsh elements, as they showcased the beauty of the desert that lay outside.
There are 24 luxurious rooms at this Sossusvlei accommodation, a bar and restaurant, a few activities that kept us entertained during our stay.
The Rooms
Each room is its own individual unit that branches out from the main lodge following the natural lines of a dune.
All rooms at this Sossusveli accommodation feature luxurious beds, private bathrooms and have their own private porch and plunge pool. The stylish rooms at Desert Grace made this stay our favourite in all of Namibia.
All rooms face west, offering stunning sunset views over the Namib Desert. Plus, no one is permitted to walk on the west side of the buildings so each unit has optimal privacy.
Food & Drink
Like the units, the dining room and bar have expansive views of the Namib Desert and modern decor.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served at the Desert Grace Lodge restaurant and the bar is open well into the evening. They have a long list of beer and wine, which rival other Sossusvlei hotels, but their signature drink is the Pink Gin cocktail.
Activities
The Desert Grace Lodge offers unique activities and tours that other Sossusvlei hotels don’t so that you can enjoy the splendours of the desert. They have guided e-bikes tours in the morning and afternoon, which will take you 10 km into the desert in an environmentally friendly way. Or you can rent an e-bike to tour around the property on your own.
If you would prefer to explore on your own two feet, there are a number of trails that start from the lodge.
The sundowner drive was one of our favourites, as it offered an opportunity to learn more about the property and the sustainability efforts behind the lodge and allowed us to appreciate the beauty of the desert with a cocktail in hand. We always find sundowners in Africa to be a great way to chat with the local guides and learn more about their lives and to get insight into the lives of other members of the community.
The guided Scorpion Night Walk is another popular after-dinner activity that we enjoyed during our stay. We had no idea that it was so easy to spot scorpions with a simple black light! There were so many of them all around the bushes!
Since we had already seen the region’s biggest attraction, Sossusvlei, the day before we arrived at Desert Grace, we spent most of our time relaxing in our private pool. But those that choose to stay at Desert Grace and explore Sossusvlei on a day trip can join a guided tour with one of the resident guides.
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Sustainability
During our sundowner tour, we discovered that the entire structure of the Desert Grace Lodge was made with bags of Namib Desert sand rather than bricks. They provide natural sound barriers and thermal insulation, as well as prevent building materials from traveling long distances to the lodge. So impressive and definitely unique!
The lodge has a number of other sustainability features on-site, including its own water recycling plant and solar-powered electricity. The rooms feature other eco touches like the refillable shampoo and soap dispensers in the bathrooms and refillable water bottles to minimize the use of plastic.
The Bottom Line
The Desert Grace Lodge is a comfortable, modern and sustainable Sossusvlei accommodation option ideal for those looking to enjoy the desert in style.
We loved all the pink accents throughout the lodge and enjoyed winding down our days watching a sunset with a cocktail in hand. It was a perfect place to end our trip to Namibia!
Disclaimer: Big thanks to Gondwana Collection for hosting us at The Desert Grace during our time in Namibia. As always, all opinions expressed in this post are our own.
