Starry skies and desert wildlife at Kwessi Dunes

At Kwessi Dunes, you can fall asleep beneath the African skies in our luxury stargazer rooms. We’re located on a 15,000-hectare private reserve in NamibRand, which has been certified as an International Dark Sky Reserve, so the views are incredible – ask our guides to point out the constellations using a state-of-the-art telescope. Our 12 canvas-and-thatch lodges also feature views of NamibRand’s desert and gravel plains, fairy circles and dunes – photographers love it.

Kwessi Dunes is part of NamibRand’s conservation story; the area was farmland until J.A. Bruckner transformed 200,000 hectares into a reserve, reintroducing native species that had been fiercely hunted and removing fences so animals could migrate freely again. When you stay at Kwessi Dunes, a percentage of your money goes towards conservation projects, reserve maintenance and anti-poaching efforts. The lodge is entirely solar-powered.

When you’re relaxing at Kwessi Dunes or on one of our nature drives, you’ll spot all kinds of desert wildlife, from oryx and mountain zebra to jackals, foxes and big cats. We have our own waterhole at camp, which attracts all sorts of animals. Guests love our bushmen walks, where you can venture into the desert with a local to look for smaller creatures such as spiders, geckos and sidewinder snakes – you get to learn about the whole ecosystem of the dunes.

When you’re not out on the reserve or visiting nearby Sossusvlei, you can relax at our pool or bar and gather around the firepit after dinner for drinks. We get fantastic feedback from guests about our staff, who welcome you like family with a traditional performance. Most of our staff come from the local area and know the landscape and animals intimately. I love to sit at the lodge and watch the dunes change colour throughout the day, and the stars come out at night.