Etosha Region

Along with good wine and cheese, some things get better with age – and Etosha Mountain Lodge is one of them. Located in the exclusive Etosha Heights Private Reserve on the southwest border of Etosha National Park, the lodge has been going strong for over 10 years. At the lodge, you can expect nine, classically-Namibian chalets, all with 180-degree, camera-loving panoramas of the wilderness, a beautiful main ‘lapa’ area, and a cool swimming pool for the hot African days.

The activities certainly don’t disappoint either. Think morning and  afternoon game drives in the private reserve, a former hunting concession and one which we are pleased to be rehabilitating into a  photographic safari area. Go out in search of big cats and watch for signs of elephant on the horizon; watch all the action at the waterhole in front of camp; hop on a night drive with some of the best guides out  there; and, of course, track endangered rhino, the icons of the area.

Located on the Etosha Heights Private Reserve, it’s a traditional Namibian farmhouse and can be booked on an exclusive-use basis. Expect three, ensuite bedrooms and a fully-equipped kitchen, dining room and sitting area inside. Outside, there’s a large veranda with a braai and plenty of outdoor seating, a fire pit and a second thatched braai area, as well as a swimming pool, all amidst the luscious green gardens.

But perhaps the biggest luxury on offer at Safari House is freedom. With a private guide, vehicle and a chef all to yourself, it’s a safari that’s 100% on your terms whether you want to look for big game early in the morning, or have a leisurely start to the  day. Flexibility is key here and the house is a perfect spot for  families, groups of friends and adventurers looking for their very own, day-to-day itinerary.

In the middle of northern Namibia’s arid, captivating savannah, bordering the world-famous Etosha National Park, is Safarihoek Lodge.  Perched on top of a hill, overlooking the plains below, Safarihoek is a  stylish sort of place, and you’ll find cool, thatched chalets all with  private decks, a double-storey photography hide, and a swimming pool with 180-degree vistas of the brilliant savannah.

But if there’s one thing about Safarihoek, it’s the location.  Everywhere you turn, the rugged Namibian savannah stretches into the  distance, with only a spangly tree here, and a spiky bush there. The  wildlife roams freely across the never-ending space, unhindered and  unobstructed. This is a place of silence and solitude, and a rare  opportunity to be at one with nature and the animals that thrive here.