The Experience Climb the 300-metre red dunes at Sossusvlei and gaze upon oceans of sand. Hike through a canyon carved by water over the millennia. Float above the world’s oldest desert in a hot air balloon, and see it come alive on nature walks, drives, e-bikes, or low-impact quad bikes. Spot desert-adapted wildlife such as ostriches, springbok, gemsbok, brown hyaenas, black-backed jackals, bat-eared foxes, perhaps an aardwolf, or the endemic dune lark. At dusk hear the call of barking geckos; at night go with a guide on a scorpion safari. Stargaze in one of the darkest places on Earth, and sleep out under the stars, contemplating space.   The Place Little Kulala’s home is the 27 000-hectare Kulala Wilderness Reserve, a pristine wilderness sited in Namibia’s Namib, nicknamed ‘The Living Desert’. A welcome oasis, the camp lies along the dry Auab riverbed. You can’t get much closer to the renowned dunes of Sossusvlei and the haunting panoramas of Dead Vlei, accessible through an exclusive-use gate.   The Camp Kulala entices with its adventures, its landscapes, its peace. Totally solar-powered, it has modern lines opening out to the desert. Its 11 climate-controlled suites – each with its own plunge pool – honour the local geology, reflecting the surrounding grey and pink limestone in colour and texture. Each suite’s rooftop invites private sundowners and suppers, and a roll-out bed on a shaded sala is perfect for an afternoon siesta or starry sleep-out.  

The Experience Spot desert-adapted elephants and other wildlife on nature walks and drives, learning their survival skills in this arid place. Search for smaller desert dwellers; follow a guide on a scorpion night walk with UV spotlighting. Travel to Tywfelfontein to view astounding San rock art dating back 6000 years. Visit farmers from the local Torra Conservancy and hear how human-wildlife conflict has shifted to conservation. Cool off in the pool; enjoy a spectacular breakfast stop in the wilds; relish a fireside boma evening of cultural cuisine, song and dance, and incomparable stargazing. The Place Damaraland Camp is situated in the Huab River Valley, one of Namibia’s most dramatic wilderness areas: stark plains and ancient mountains turning from rust to purple as the sun sets – a harsh land full of geological wonders and fascinating desert-adapted wildlife. The Camp Simply beautiful, relaxed, and open to the desert, Damaraland Camp has been a model for community-based conservation initiatives since 1996 – an award-winning partnership between Wilderness Safaris and the Torra Conservancy. Displaced in the early twentieth century from the local area and relocated back to their homeland from South Africa in 1973, today the Torra community farmers thrive, largely through our partnership. The camp is comprised of ten elevated, spacious, adobe-style thatched rooms (including a family unit), each with a large deck where you can contemplate the desert. Off the main area are a pool, open campfire, and outdoor boma – canopied with countless stars in crystal-clear night skies. *Available from Damaraland Camp, guests will be able to take part in the once-in-a-lifetime rhino tracking experience also offered from Desert Rhino Camp.  

The Experience Tune in, tune out in one of the most untouched places on Earth, along a rushing river amidst an ochre desert – one of the world’s oldest. Respectfully engage with a community of Himba, Namibia’s last semi-nomads still living traditionally, and local custodians. Hear their stories and share yours. When water levels permit, boat on the Kunene, with Angola’s craggy mountains in the distance and plenty of Nile crocs on the banks and in the water. Explore the dunes on foot and in game vehicles, perhaps spotting oryxes, springbok, Hartmann’s Mountain zebras, or tiny desert chameleons. Along specially allocated, low-impact pathways, quad bike across the untamed, lunar landscape. The Place Serra Cafema’s home is in Namibia’s Kaokoveld, more specifically in the 300 000-hectare Marienfluss Conservancy, owned primarily by the Himba, and a model of ecotourism. The Camp Set under verdant trees on the banks of the Kunene River, Serra Cafema is one of the most remote camps in southern Africa. Guests can truly disconnect, unwinding to the sound of rushing water, and beyond, to the desert’s silence. The eight chalets and the common areas are set on elevated decks and crafted in wood, canvas, and thatch, at one with the environment, paying homage to Himba culture.

• Wave a fond farewell as your getaway comes to an end.