Wilderness Little Kulala

OVERVIEW:

Wilderness Little Kulala enjoys the finest location of any of the camps in the region – it’s set in a wide valley, with the magnificent dunes of Sossusvlei in the distance. It is the only camp with private access to the dunes, which means you beat the crowds and are always the first to arrive in the morning. The camp is super-luxurious and recently refurbished – a stay here with the desert shimmering before you is unlike any other experience we know in Africa. This is not the big game safari that most African lodges offer, although there is game (some fascinating, specially adapted desert species come right to the lodge’s watering hole) and plenty to see and do. However, there are vast open skies at zero light pollution, making for immense stargazing – the vault of heaven is yours to enjoy, especially from your suite’s stargazing bed! And the dunes… here you’ll see some of the largest in the world, with towering peaks that can be as tall as skyscrapers.

It’s a landscape to marvel at – and Wilderness Little Kulala, in its own private reserve, enjoys unmatched access to these spectacular sights. The lodge itself is beautiful, elegant, designed with colours in harmony with the rocks that make up this lunar-scape. If you’ve ever wanted to go hot air ballooning, this is a great place to do it, enjoying sunrise views across the desert. The superb dining is at individual tables at Kulala, for while most safari lodges have communal dining as an occasion to recount tales, this is a place to explore, absorb, and wonder at it all – no words are needed. The Namibian desert will leave you calmer, refreshed, and with visual memories to last a lifetime!

WILDERNESS LITTE KULALA LOCATION & ACCESS:

Wilderness Little Kulala is located in the Sossusvlei area of south-west Namibia and situated along the dry Auab riverbed in the private, 37,000-acre Kulala Wilderness Reserve. It has the only private entrance into Sossusvlei, so its guests have the advantage of avoiding the crowds that enter through the park’s main entrance. The lodge has views as far as the eye can see across the Namib desert, with the famous giant dunes as its backdrop. This is one of the most stunning views from any camp in Africa. The property also overlooks its own watering hole, which, as you can imagine in this arid land, draws in plenty of local wildlife, such as springbok, gemsbok (oryx), bat-eared foxes, black-backed jackals, and ostrich.

On a trip to Namibia, it is usual to combine a trip to Sossusvlei with one of the other northern parks where you can see desert elephant and more big game predators – somewhere like Hoanib. And Serra Cafema offers incredible remoteness, cultural experiences, and stunning scenery!

Wilderness Little Kulala is accessed by scheduled light aircraft into the local airstrip, usually from Windhoek, and then from here it’s a short drive to camp, unless you encounter something fascinating while driving in! It is also possible to drive in from Windhoek – please chat with one of our consultants if this is something you’d prefer to do.

ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT WILDERNESS LITTLE KULALA:

The 11 rooms here are extremely luxurious, with each suite having its own plunge pool, large wrap-around decking area, and place to sleep out beneath the stars! The star-beds are truly magical. The interior décor mirrors that of the surrounding land, using neutral, earthy colors and inspired by the grey-and-pink limestone that is famous in this part of Namibia. The beds are wonderfully comfortable, the bathrooms super-elegant with twin washbasins and a large shower. There is climate control to protect you from the desert heat in the middle of the day, and all suites have fantastic views of the desert and Sossusvlei’s dunes beyond.

The main lodge is rustic in style, with a thatched roof, gnarled wooden beams, and open sides to make the most of the views. There is a lounge, library, fantastic inside and outside dining areas, and a shaded swimming pool. Simple, yet supremely elegant, Wilderness Little Kulala blends effortlessly with its desert surroundings. There is no phone reception in this unspoilt wilderness, but Wi-Fi is available in the rooms, although speeds can be slow and intermittent. It’s a wonderful chance to let go of your handsets and enjoy the peace of desert life!

ACTIVITIES AT WILDERNESS LITTLE KULALA:

Activities include trips into Sossusvlei and up the huge dunes. You can enjoy a guided quad bike excursion and go mountain biking, while the Wilderness reserve offers game drives as well as a number of superb walking areas. However, travelers should be reminded that this is far from a big game area, so drives tend to be about the minutiae of desert life as opposed to Africa’s big game. This is why we recommend that you combine Wilderness Little Kulala and the dunes with another big game destination within your itinerary.

• Expertly guided game drives

  - There are two game sessions per day, during the morning and the late afternoon. Among the highlights here are specially adapted desert wildlife such as ostrich, gemsbok (oryx), springbok, bat-eared fox, black-backed jackal, aardwolf, and Namibia’s endemic dune lark. Guided drives to the Sossusvlei dunes are through a private gate, available only to Wilderness Little Kulala. You can also travel with your guides on quad bikes, which is another fun way to see the reserve.

• Walking safaris and guided hikes

  - You can also head out into the bush with a guide. As well as enjoying animal tracking and the area’s birdlife, you can take a closer look at the reserve’s insects and desert plant life. Different levels and distances are possible, depending on the ages of your group. If you fancy something a little more substantial, there are some beautiful hikes on the Black Mountain Trail or you can take a trip to Sesriem Canyon. The choice of stunning landscapes is incredible! Please note, classic walking safari has an age limit of 12 years.

• Hot air balloon rides

  - It’s pretty special to take to the skies and witness sunrise over the desert! This is one of the best places in the world to go ballooning. The rides take place in the morning and need to be pre-booked at extra cost. Please chat with one of our specialists about how to incorporate this activity efficiently into your safari stay.

• Helicopter flights

  - This is another spectacular way of seeing the breadth of the Namibian desert from the sky. It’s not quite as peaceful as a ride in the balloon, but you certainly cover more terrain, and can stop off at remarkable places for picnics. Flights come at extra cost and need to be pre-booked.

*This property is unfenced and located in a wildlife area, so large and potentially dangerous animals do pass through. If you opt to stay here, always be alert when walking around the camp and request for a member of staff to escort you if you have any concerns. Any guest is escorted after dark as a matter of course.