Camps and Lodges

Kwessi Dunes

A place where time stands still and space is never-ending.

Location

NamibRand Nature Reserve

No. of rooms

12 Rooms

Price Range

NAD 9,995 — NAD 18,495 per night

Dates Open

Year Round

Check availability

Check availability online. Should you need more rooms than are showing available, contact your Africa Safari travel specialist or reservations@naturalselection.travel, so that we can look at provisional bookings (marked as PROV) and see if we can juggle things around.

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Kwessi Dunes

Open space, silence & a sky full of stars

Kwessi Dunes is a Sossusvlei safari camp located deep in Namibia’s striking NamibRand Nature Reserve, a vast desert wilderness of over 200,000 hectares. With its rolling desert plains and backdrop of craggy mountains and iconic red dunes, this is a place where time seems to stand still and the space is never-ending. Here, it’s not about chasing big game but rather soaking up the beauty of the colourful landscape, admiring the antelope that scatter the sand, and gazing at the stars that light up the night sky.

Thatch-and-canvas chalets

Click to enlarge

Making A Difference

Simply by visiting an area like the NamibRand Nature Reserve our guests are encouraging its continued protection through tourism revenue. In addition your stay supports local schools and an award winning conservation education programme.

NamibRand Nature Reserve

The NamibRand Nature Reserve, located in Namib Desert near the iconic Sossusvlei sand dunes, spans over 200,000 hectares of pristine desert wilderness. Photographs may show the craggy, mauve mountains, the famous red dunes and the enormous swathes of desert, but nothing prepares for you the moment you see it for yourself. The space is humbling and the sense of peace is almost spiritual, it’s one of the most striking, stirring places out there.

To get to this special place from Windhoek you can either take a 4 to 5 hour drive or a 1 hour flight in a light aircraft.

Open Year Round

Kwessi Dunes is open all year round. The hyper-arid desert terrain is amazing in all seasons (and the air-conditioned rooms will always keep you cool), but the winter and summer months offer different experiences in terms of activities and weather. April to October is Namibia’s dry, winter season.

Temperatures are pleasant during the day but it can get cold in the early mornings and evenings. This is the time of year to witness the desert in its iconic, dry state and capture those iconic photo opportunities. In summer (November to March), temperatures rise and thunderstorms add drama to the landscape. It’s also an excellent time to spot some of the migratory birds that arrive in the desert.

Signature Experiences

Nature Walks

Stargazing

Guided Quad Biking

Sleepout

Hot Air Ballooning

Amenities

Swimming Pool

Air-Conditioning

Spa & Wellness Treatments

Family Room

Outside Dining

A peaceful and serene retreat, with so much adventure and beauty to discover

Why you'll Love It

Breathtaking desert scenery

The diverse landscape of rich, red dunes, elusive fairy circles, unravelling plains and craggy mountains must be seen to be believed.

Air-conditioned bedrooms

For some respite from the dune heat, each chalet has been installed with air-conditioning to make sure even the summer months are a pleasurable experience.

Separate ‘star gazer’ room

NamibRand is celebrated for its exceptional darkness. Experience out of this word star gazing from your open roof ‘star gazer’ room.

A private and exclusive reserve

This is a private experience in an exclusive reserve. Throughout your stay your only encounters will be the wildlife, open spaces and the billions of stars above you.

Adventure Filled Activities

Break away from traditional game drives to try horse riding, quad biking, nature walks, hot air ballooning or climbing the highest dunes in the world.

Wild Shots Outreach

We work with Wild Shots Outreach an initiative that engages with unemployed youth from disadvantaged communities to develop self-confidence, self-esteem, life skills and photographic skills. Every year they do workshops at some of our camps where they are taught about conservation and nature through photography, culminating in a game drive in our wildlife reserves and concessions.

A Private Experience in an Exclusive Reserve

Accommodations

At Kwessi Dunes, you’ll find 12 cool and comfortable (and air-conditioned) chalets all with striped canvas walls, high thatched roofs and ensuite bathroom with both indoor and outdoor showers and a shaded, outdoor veranda. Each bedroom has a separate ‘star gazer’ room, completely open to the sky, and the perfect spot from which to watch the celestial theatre show above. Views from the rooms, the main area and the swimming pool are of the vast, desert vistas and when you can bear to tear your eyes away, enjoy quad biking, scenic drives and walks, hot air ballooning, helicopter flights, horse riding and day trips to Sossusvlei.

The view from the lodge is spectacular and the glass windows and doors at the main area look out onto the undulating sand that only ends when it meets the mountains, far in the distance. Inside, there’s a well-stocked bar, library area and several seating and dining areas. When the sun rises in the morning, head to the camp fire for a morning cuppa, whilst in the heat of the day, the swimming pool is the only place to be.

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At a Glance

12 chalets: 10 twin/double, 2 family
Ensuite bathrooms with indoor & outdoor showers
Separate open-air ‘star gazer’ room in each chalet
Air-conditioning throughout
Swimming pool at main area
Spa treatments available. At an additional cost
Entirely solar powered
Wi-Fi available: Yes
Hairdryers: On request
Battery charging facilities: Yes
Complimentary laundry service
Child policy: We welcome children of all ages
Disabled access: Please enquire with reservations

Amazing Encounters

Wildlife

You might not find the Big Five wandering around the harsh desert of the NamibRand, but the dunes are home to a variety of wildlife that has adapted in many fascinating ways in order to survive. Take, for example, the gemsbok with their white bellies that reflect the heat of the sand and their sophisticated vascular system that cools the blood around the brain. Or the bat-eared fox – those giant ears aren’t just for comic value but help to amplify the sound of their predators approaching.

What you’ll undoubtedly see most of are antelope. From gemsbok to springbok, kudu to steenbok, they can be found in most corners of the reserve, silhouetted against the red sand. You may also spot Burchell’s zebra amid the dunes as well as the more unusual black-backed jackals, aardwolves and African wild cats, which can be surprisingly easy to find compared to other reserves on the continent. Leopard and cheetah are rare but there are small numbers of both.

Experiences

What to see and do

Get access to a range of experiences that can be enjoyed during your stay