PEACEFUL DESERT SOLITUDE AND UNMATCHED STAR GAZING

Wed Aug 20 2025 04:35:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by q c

Andbeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge (SDL) exceeded our expectations. We knew this was a luxury lodge in the middle of the Namibian desert, but we did not expect the level of service that was given. To achieve a high standard of service in such a harsh and unforgiving environment is quite a feat, and the staff are outstanding. Our first inkling of Andbeyond's standard of care was when our travel advisor Seranne emailed us to enquire about our interests; she made our travel arrangements once we arrived in Namibia and patiently answered all our questions. Elina, our butler, discreetly anticipated our requests and made us feel at home. Our room was beautifully appointed and meticulously kept (nod to Selma and Abisai) and our laundry spotless (thanks Agnes). There was a generously stocked bar in the room with prettily crafted ice cubes and home made ice cream in the fridge. A big thank you Sabina, Esther, Shalongo, Maria, Jo and all the staff behind the scenes who made our stay so comfortable. We looked forward to our meals in the main lodge - kudos to Chef Chris and his team for serving consistently delicious food. There was an impressive array of alcohol sourced locally (liquors) and from South Africa (wines) which we enjoyed. The local lamb and tomahawk steak are highly recommended. This is a place where we could relax in the stillness and austere beauty of the desert landscape. We climbed a sand dune with our cheerful and knowledgeable guide Sam, followed by a delightful picnic lunch! We also had a 45 minute helicopter ride with pilot Joe - this is highly recommended for a bird's eye view of the surreal terrain. The activity that we enjoyed the most was the stargazing every night (8-10pm) in the Observatory, led by resident astronomer Bruce Parker. The NamibRand Nature Reserve is Africa's first Dark Sky Reserve, which means that it is one of the best places on earth to stargaze. The night sky is awesome and Bruce showed us celestial bodies that we would never have seen in our lifetime without his guidance. After our stay we decided to take a drive by 4x4 on gravel roads from Sossusvlei back to Windhoek across the Spreetshoogte Mountain Pass. The drive took 5-6 hours but it was well worth the effort to see the animals along the way (oryx, springbok, impala, desert squirrel, jackal, warthog, baboons) and the dramatic views from the mountain pass. Do inform the driver beforehand though because it is not open to all vehicles due to the steep gradient. This is a stunning lodge. It took us over 30 hours to arrive but it was definitely worth the time and effort.

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Sun Jun 01 2025 18:41:23 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by KennethPages

This was the second part of our African trip celebrating our good friend’s 40th birthday. The lodge is absolutely lovely thanks to a fairly recent renovation. I especially liked that our room and the other couple’s room were connected via a community living room. It made a nice place for us to convene and hangout together. Staff here were excellent and the logistics of getting us from point A to point B were all handled seamlessly by andbeyond. The highlight was climbing the dunes that are near there. Our friend Drew made it all the way to the top, Ryne made it 2/3rds and Lindsey and I opted for the flatter portion to meet or spouses on the other end. I think another highlight was stargazing. There is an astronomer on sight named Allister who is your guide to observe various celestial bodies. I’ve never seen stars like this before. There are lots of other activities like biking and ATV ride. Our guide Michael was great and a very open and friendly person. Every suite has a plunge pool. The3 food was excellent and we were even able to get the chef to make us hamburgers and fries one day - delicious!

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Fri Feb 07 2025 11:45:16 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by newyorker1976

My spouse and I stayed here for three nights in the hot Namibian summer. It was a fantastic experience, and I can't think of a single flaw. There is no denying the sheer physical beauty of the place. All of the villas are the same size and each features a gorgeous pool overlooking breathtaking scenery and a watering hole that is frequented by oryxes, ostriches and springboks. There are indoor and outdoor showers, a comfortable bed and sitting areas, and a skylight that lets you look at the stars. Every single staffer was friendly and professional and made us feel at home. We were welcomed by Jo, whose bubbly personality and sense of humor kept us laughing throughout our stay. When we mentioned that we wanted to purchase the Oryx salt used by the lodge but that the gift shop had run out of it, she gave us two bottles as a surprise gift when we left. Our guide, named Thank-you (yes, that's actually his name), was wonderful as well. After an ATV excursion, after which my spouse realized he had dropped his sunglasses somewhere along the route, Thank-you retraced our tracks and somehow managed to find them in the desert. Meanwhile, the chef, Labeus, prepared dishes that impressed even jaded New Yorkers like ourselves. Standouts included the duck breast, kingklip and prawn curry, and eland antelope filet. And our butler Elina kept our freezer stocked with sorbets, kept bringing us cocktails at our pool and taught us phrases in the Oshivambo language. All activities were included in our rate, and we greatly enjoyed the excursion to Deadvlei. Amazingly, halfway during the long drive back to the lodge, Thank-you stopped for a lodge staffer, who was waiting on the side of the road to give us ice cream for the rest of our journey. Other activities included an exhilarating helicopter ride with Duan, which gave us great views of the world's tallest sand dunes. The massage therapist at the spa was also phenomenal. We didn't want to leave the lodge, but when we did, for our 5-hour drive to the south, the staff surprised us with a packed lunch, which included delicious chicken wraps, biltong, pistachios and dried fruit. Overall, the property's name is apt, because the folks who work there truly go above "AND BEYOND." And I wouldn't hesitate for a second to recommend this property to any discerning traveler in search of adventure, luxury and true hospitality.

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Sun Jan 12 2025 09:31:38 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by luxuryandtravel

What can i say about this luxury lodge. It is just beyond luxury. The rooms are very large with an open private pool and beautiful landscape view. The food at the lodge is very delicious and the staff are all very helpfull and very polite. One of the best stays in my life.

Wed Nov 20 2024 11:54:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by Claire F

This place is out of this world- being able to stay here is truely a once in a lifetime experience. The rooms and the lodge are perfect and breath taking- nothing is too much trouble and the food is exceptional. The team at the lodge are what truely make this place - everyone is so warm, kind and friendly and in every way we had the best time ever. Thank you so so so much xxx