Sure Travel Journey Vol 4.2 Autumn 2018 | Page 30

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S T O R Y
DISCOVER THE NAMIB RAND
© &BEYOND
&Beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge
This is the lodge for travellers serious
about stars. Fashioned from glass and
stone, each of the 10 spacious luxury
suites boasts a skylight above the bed for
gazing up at heavenly bodies. However,
the lodge also boasts its own on-site
observatory, equipped with a powerful
computer-assisted 12-inch telescope.
Resident astronomers offer daily guided
stargazing sessions either before or after
dinner, ensuring guests discover some
of the lesser-known constellations in the
southern skies. During the day quad-bike
excursions and nature drives keep guests
busy, while guided walks to nearby San
rock art are another highlight. Its position
in the north of the NamibRand also
makes it ideal for day visits to the dunes
of Sossusvlei.
bags portaged between overnight stops,
so you’ll only need to walk with a day-bag
containing lunch and water.
Wolwedans
This collection of luxury lodges is one
of the most famous in Namibia, with a
selection of lodges to suit a variety of
styles and budgets. The icon is Dunes
Lodge, where opulent suites of wood and
canvas are perched atop the ochre sand
dunes of the central NamibRand. You’ll be
hard pressed to find a more remarkable
setting in Namibia. Dune Camp offers a
more down-to-earth alternative, while
remote Boulders Safari Camp offers
an intimate (just five suites) upscale
experience in a far-flung corner of the
reserve. Highly trained local guides offer
guided stargazing sessions at each lodge.
PLANNER
Q TRAVEL
GETTING THERE: SA Express flies
daily between Johannesburg and Walvis
Bay, and six days a week between Cape
Town and Walvis Bay. Both BA Comair
and SAA operate four daily flights
between Johannesburg and Windhoek.
It’s around a five- to six-hour drive
on good gravel roads to NamibRand.
Charter flights are also available.
WHEN TO GO: Winter (April to
September) offers the best chance of
clear skies.
VISAS: South Africans don’t require a
visa for holiday travel to Namibia.
TokTokkie Trails
For a more rustic experience these
guided multi-day walking trails offer a
close-up view of the NamibRand. During
the day well-trained guides bring the
unique desert ecosystem to life, while
nights are spent sleeping out in the
open – stargazing is guaranteed! The
slackpacking trails are fully catered, with
CURRENCY: The Namibian dollar (N$)
is pegged to the South African rand on
a 1:1 exchange. The rand is also legal
tender in Namibia.
© KUMSRI/SHUTTERSTOCK
From top: The seamless luxury of &Beyond
in Sossusvlei. Views comes standard.
BOOK IT: Contact your nearest Sure
Travel agent, or visit www.suretravel.
co.za / call 0861 47 48 49.
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