Elite Traveler HRS 2024

andBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge

RELAX In case being able to slowly glide through your own private pool while the Namibian wildlife saunters alongside you wasn’t relaxing enough, andBeyond Sossusvlei also has a calming wellness area. Located on thesecond fl oor of the main lodge, the space features a serene treatment room as well as a private spa bath. Treatments are focused on healing and renewal — the Healing Earth African Shea Butter Ritual is particularly absorbing with a serious full-body massage that eases any muscle aches. EXPLORE Daily drives to the nearby dunes come as standard (as do the indulgent cocktails and array of local snacks that greet you when you arrive), with your dedicated guide on hand to point out the area’s resilient wildlife and explain the region’s vast archaeological and history. Thrill-seekers can take to the dunes on quad bikes or make use of the lodge’s collection of e-bikes. Given the scarcity of natural predators in the reserve — the odd leopard has been spotted, but they are more scared of you than you are of them — it’s safe to explore. Guests can feel completely con fi dent hiking the hills that surround the lodge or running through the plains in front (but a guide will be more than willing to join if you prefer). Be sure to book a hot air balloon experience with the nearby Namib Sky; the chance to witness the sun break across the horizon as you soar thousands of feet above the ground is truly a once-in-a-lifetime adventure (and every bit worth the 4am wake-up call). By Kim Ayling From $1,134 per night. Contact andbeyondenquiries@ andbeyond.com, +27 11 809 4300, staybeyondgreen.com

ANDBEYOND SOSSUSVLEI DESERT LODGE NAMIBIA andBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge sits on a 31,420 acre private reserve which, except for the lodge and its outbuildings, is devoid of man-made structures. The lodge itself is an extension of the earth, with an immense, rusty-red iron structure jutting out from the ground. It is here that guests fi nd the heart of the hotel: a serene communal lounge and dining area built around a central bar, where the unfalteringly friendly team are always on hand to whip up a cocktail or an iced tea. Inviting sofas are perched both inside and out ( fl oor-to-ceiling glass doors blur the lines between the two), with a careful curation of local art dotted around the space. The watering hole beyond provides a constant source of entertainment, with ostrich, oryx, springbok and even the odd zebra all popping in to say hello throughout the day. The lodge is a member of Beyond Green, a collection of luxury resorts and hotels that have been hand selected for their industry-leading eco-conscious credentials. Membership is strict, with each inclusion subject to comprehensive vetting and re-inspections every two years. At andBeyond Sossusvlei, this eco-conscious attitude is not just a box-ticking exercise, but rather an ethos ingrained into every inch of its operation. Plenty of initiatives are in place, including on-site water

Each suite has a private pool

puri fi cation, which mitigates the equivalent of over 45,00 plastic bottles per year, smart use of hybrid-solar energy and local heritage preservation e ff orts. STAY andBeyond Sossusvlei is about as intimate as hotels come, with just 10 suites, including the two-bedroom Star Dune Suite. Sprawling out on either side of the main lodge, each suite is completely discreet and private, with a clever design ensuring that you can’t look out on any of your neighbors. The suites blend sleek minimal interiors with earthy, natural fi nishes. Each boasts a ginormous bed overlooking a sliding glass wall that frames the sand dunes beyond. The en-suite bathroom is equally as impressive with an enveloping rain shower in front of those massive windows. The pièce de résistance, however, are the private pools situated right in the wild desert landscape — don’t be surprised if you make eye contact with an oryx during your dip.