Sossus Dune Lodge

Thanks to staying here, I got to Deadvlei first and left last. The lodge has a board and staff explain when to leave in the morning and return at night so you don't break the park rules. It's inside the gate, which is its biggest advantage if you want extra time at Sossusvlei and Deadvlei. It's also the only place that lets you self-drive directly into the park. Some lodges claim to offer access but don't let you drive yourself. The staff were welcoming and the food wasn't bad. But it's very hot during the day, and I was surprised the price didn't include air conditioning. It was still hot at night and I couldn't sleep well. I also got bitten by mosquitoes and bugs. If you don't need to arrive early or stay late, there's no need to stay here.

The room, food and staff were all mediocre. What you're paying a high price for is being inside the Park and getting early and late access. For us, that made the cost well worth it.

It's a beautiful setting, and the rooms are very well designed. The staff were friendly. But it gets terribly hot inside during the day, with no air-conditioning and not even thick curtains to block the sun coming straight in.

The location was great, the staff friendly, and the food okay, but the place itself didn't seem well maintained. The rooms were dirty, towels were in poor shape, and the bed sheets were stained and dusty. There were holes in the mosquito nets too. This was the most expensive lodge we stayed in and, unfortunately, the worst. It felt far too overpriced compared with other lodges. Like the other NWR lodges we stayed at, I can't recommend it. Save your money and stay at the Sesriem Campsite instead. It's great.