Sanctuary Retreats, Abercrombie & Kent’s luxury safari lodges, and river cruise boat brand has refurbished their Okahirongo Elephant Lodge in Namibia.

Surrounded by the vast wilderness of Kaokoland, has various activities for exploration, adventure, and discovery for its guests.

With just seven individual suites and a two-bedroom family suite, the lodge offers a welcome respite with smooth lines and calming design. Blending in perfectly against the surreal landscape of endless desert, with magnificent vistas of rocky outcrops, sand dunes, and mountain ranges.

Design

Each spacious suite has been designed as a retreat from the harsh desert environment, with calming tones throughout.

The family suite has two ensuite bedrooms, a private terrace, and an open lounge, perfect for a family or a group of friends.

The expansive social spaces offer panoramic views of the glistening turquoise infinity pool and the rising hills beyond. In the main lounge, ceramic amphorae, curios, and inspiring literature are displayed on chunky, recessed shelves on each side of an open fire.

Guests can unwind before heading to the dining room, which has been redesigned in sumptuous umber tones, complemented with distressed wooden furnishings and giant rattan lampshades. The open sides of the building bring the outside in, immersing guests in the otherworldly landscape.

Activities

From the serene base of Elephant lodge, personalised adventure and discovery await. Take a game drive with expert Himba guides to track desert elephants, lions, giraffes, and plentiful gemsbok, springbok, steenbok, kudu, and exotic bird species.

For those searching for history, take a trip to the majestic clay castles of the Hoarusib river valley. These towering natural wonders are thousands of years old and soar hundreds of metres high from various gorges along the riverbed – thanks to the isolated location, guests may have them all to themselves.

Guests can spot the Lone Men of Kaokoland while on scenic drives. These almost life-size rock sculptures blend seamlessly with their surroundings, adding to the extraordinary atmosphere. At the end of a day’s adventure, stop to sip a sundowner as the sun sets over the majestic dunes.