Naturally Namibia is a collection of independent thinking, character-filled properties with enviable locations. We had identified what we believed to be the best in the country back in 2003 and yet it took until now to find a coastal property that was a perfect fit for the collection. It wasn't that the vast array of properties scattered throughout Swakopmund were bad, they just failed to measure up to the company they would be keeping. If you have arrived after three days of trail walking in Etendeka with two decades of experience echoing in Dennis's stories, you would want to stay somewhere that became part of the overall memory of your journey, not just a stop over as you head South.

Villa Margherita is housed within a classic piece of colonial-era architecture. The antique building has seen scores of European settlers come and go at a time when Swakopmund was a port of arrival for farmers, miners, soldiers and dreamers. The coastal outpost has long since developed into a major tourist attraction with a protected marine habitat and surrounding desert to explore. As the town evolved, so this prominently located villa was brought back to life and turned into a highly individual retreat with bespoke room designs and an emphasis on individual service. The German history remains in the building, whilst the soul of the experience is now a mixture of modern Namibian and Italian. That means big welcoming smiles and warm service. The villa has a restaurant which serves authentic Italian cuisine and a wide selection of wines. However you fill your day in Swakopmund, you return to a home, not just a hotel. Another reason we fell for the charms of Villa Margherita is the entirely sensible profit share programme that the staff benefit from. A sense of ownership always makes a difference and it is a corner stone for Naturally Namibia.

Visit the Villa Margherita website.