Our purpose is the Pursuit of Happiness, and Wolwedans exists to inspire a new way.
The NamibRand is famed for its red dunes, endless yellow plains, impressive mountain ranges, magnificent landscape and fascinating eco-system. Located only 60 kilometres from the coast, summer evenings are cooled by refreshing west winds, while winter mornings make for exceptional photography with layers of fog in the desert.
Warmth and personalised service – and a commitment to care for guest and nature alike – are Wolwedans hallmarks.
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The Wolwedans Experience
Wolwedans is a collection of camps and villas located in the heart of the 220,000-hectare NamibRand Nature Reserve in southern Namibia. The reserve is one of Africa’s largest private nature reserves and was established to protect the unique ecology and wildlife of the south-west Namib Desert.
The NamibRand is known for its extraordinary desert scenery, where red dunes, rolling grass plains, mountain ranges and vast desert valleys create some of Namibia’s most iconic landscapes. It is also an International Dark Sky Reserve, making Wolwedans one of the best places in Africa for stargazing.
The Wolwedans Collection comprises Desert Lodge, Dune Camp, Mountain View Suite, Plains Camp and Boulders Camp. Across the collection, guests can choose between classic tented lodge accommodation, intimate camps and exclusive-use private villas.
Sustainability is central to the Wolwedans experience. Through the Wolwedans Foundation, the Desert Academy, the AridEden Project and community-focused initiatives reaching into Maltahöhe, each stay contributes to conservation, education, skills development and more resilient local communities. Wolwedans forms part of the Naturally Namibia collection.
Dune Camp
Positioned on the edge of a 250-metre high dune, Dune Camp has the most extraordinary views across the NamibRand Reserve. With a unique charm, it appeals to those looking for a down to earth but stylish experience.
The Camp
The lounge and dining area are situated across a network of interconnected decks, guaranteeing panoramic vistas of the mountains and boundless landscape beyond. The tented and wooden structures are ideally tailored for the desert environment, with canvas sides that can be opened to capture the cool breeze in summer, and rolled down in winter to keep you warm.
Amenities
The 6 tented rooms and 1 family suite are pitched on wooden platforms and are comfortable and spacious, including an indoor and outdoor bathroom. A generous deck outside the room allows for safe sleep-outs under the stars, and each has a “Wolwedans Chiller”, a small water-filled silo to cool off in.
Location
Plains Camp
Plains Camp is the most exclusive villa at Wolwedans. Located in the centre of a vast valley and surrounded by plains as far as the eye can see, it is your home-from-home at Wolwedans. Here, nothing is demanded of you but to relax and gaze at the ever-changing colours of the desert.
The Villa
An exclusive-use villa in the heart of the reserve, Plains Camp is the perfect getaway for families and friends seeking uncompromising privacy and solitude. The unique structure is built from timber and canvas, creating a home that blends effortlessly into the surrounding desert plains with a seamless flow between indoor and outdoor spaces.
Amenities
There are four spacious en-suite rooms (two master rooms and two luxury rooms), all with private ’Wolwedans Chillers’, plus a sala room. There is a spacious deck, swimming pool, and a central lounge area with a study, living room, dining area and a fully equipped kitchen. A private guide and vehicle as well as a villa manager and a private chef complete the experience.
Location
Desert Lodge
Desert Lodge is positioned in one of the most enviable locations that the NamibRand has to offer and has a stunning outlook over orange-hued dunes and craggy mountains. This magnificent vista is at the heart of the lodge, and all the rooms and guest areas are perfectly positioned to make the most of the incredible surroundings.
The Camp
The lodge reflects the ambience of a tented camp, but provides the comfort and protection of a permanent building. From the spacious main areas to the tented rooms, there are plenty of spaces to connect with fellow guests, enjoy some quiet time, or to simply relax and sink into the ‘Wolwedans Way.’
Amenities
The lodge offers 10 tented bungalows, consisting of seven individual rooms and three spacious family suites. All have private verandahs. The main area consists of several decks atop the sand. There are two lounges, a number of sundowner decks, a tea deck, a library, a wine cellar and two dining rooms.
Location
Boulders Camp
Boulders Camp is located around the base of a massive outcrop of granite rocks in the NamibRand plains. This tiny camp is two hours south of the other camps and as far off the beaten track as you can get. This is the place for adventure and to enjoy being completely removed from everyday life.
The Camp
Built around the base of an enormous outcrop of granite rocks, and with mountains towering behind, Boulders looks out over endless landscapes of gravel plains, dotted with the tops of submerged mountains. All the spaces are orientated to enjoy the endless views.
Amenities
The five bedrooms open up on three sides, allowing in the cooling afternoon breeze. Each has a separate spacious bathroom as well as a sala for afternoon siestas. Suites 2 & 3, and 4 & 5 respectively share a plunge pool, while suite 1 has its own private plunge pool. The main area consists of a dining and lounge tent, a breakfast deck, library, pool and an open fireplace.
Location
The Mountain View Suite
The Mountain View Suite is built over 200 square metres of deck above the dunes. It is exclusive, romantic and utterly gorgeous, with ample space to relax while staring down the valley to the distant mountains – one of the most magnificent views in the reserve.
The Suite
The Suite is located within walking distance from Desert Lodge, but feels as if you are in your own private universe. Keeping in line with the traditional Wolwedans style, the ambience is that of simple elegance embraced by a natural, comfortable charm.
Amenities
The suite offers one en-suite bedroom, a private lounge, dining area and fire-pit, plus an outside bathroom, a sleep-out deck and a plunge pool. The main veranda has a ”star-gaze” bed, which makes for a wonderful sleep-out venue during summer. The suite comes with its own chef, guide and vehicle.
Sustainability is not a side of Wolwedans; it is our heart and soul and who we are.
The NamibRand is a 220 000-hectare private reserve and considered one of the most photographic destinations on the continent. Located in southern Namibia, it is a private nature reserve established to help protect and conserve the unique ecology and wildlife of the south-west Namib Desert.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Wolwedans Collection and which camps does it include?
Wolwedans is located within the NamibRand Nature Reserve in southern Namibia, approximately 60 kilometres south of Sesriem. The collection includes Desert Lodge, Dune Camp, Mountain View Suite, Plains Camp and Boulders Camp.
- Desert Lodge offers 10 tented rooms, including family accommodation.
- Dune Camp has six tents and one family suite.
- Mountain View Suite is a private one-bedroom retreat for two adults.
- Plains Camp is an exclusive-use villa with 4 suites for families or private groups.
- Boulders Camp offers five tented suites in a remote section of the reserve.
What is the difference between the Wolwedans accommodation options?
Desert Lodge offers a classic Wolwedans experience with spacious tented rooms, sweeping views and elegant lodge facilities. Dune Camp is more intimate and has a relaxed, down-to-earth desert camp atmosphere, with a family suite available.
Mountain View Suite is the most romantic and private option, designed for two adults. Plains Camp is an exclusive-use villa with a private guide, chef and team, ideal for families or small groups. Boulders Camp is the most remote option, set among granite boulders and dramatic desert scenery.
What makes the NamibRand Nature Reserve so special?
Rather than focusing on dense wildlife concentrations, the NamibRand experience is about space, silence, light, landscape and desert-adapted life. Wildlife includes oryx, springbok, Hartmann’s mountain zebra, ostrich and smaller desert species, while the night skies are among the clearest and darkest in Africa.
Why do travellers choose Wolwedans?
The experience is centred around meaningful encounters with nature, exceptional hospitality and a deep appreciation for the desert environment, making it one of Namibia’s most distinctive destinations.
What activities are offered at Wolwedans?
Guests can also take part in the Heart & Home backstage tour, which introduces the Wolwedans village, garden, sustainability projects and the work of the Wolwedans Foundation.
How many nights should guests stay at Wolwedans?
For guests combining camps, four nights works particularly well, especially when including the more remote Boulders Camp.
What sustainability work does Wolwedans support?
Every stay contributes through a sustainability levy, which includes the NamibRand Nature Reserve park fee, with the balance supporting the Wolwedans Foundation and its sustainability initiatives. These include conservation support, the Desert Academy hospitality training programme, skills development and projects connected to the wider Maltahöhe community.
How does Wolwedans support the local community?
Wolwedans supports community development through training, employment, education and practical sustainability projects. The Desert Academy provides hospitality training and creates opportunities for young Namibians, while the AridEden Project gives structure to Wolwedans’ wider work around conservation, community and sustainable tourism.
Community initiatives also extend beyond the reserve, including projects connected to Maltahöhe, such as waste and recycling initiatives linked to Rural Revive.
Is Wolwedans suitable for families?
Family-friendly experiences can include scenic drives, sandboarding, guided walks, treasure hunts, horse riding and desert sleepouts, depending on age, season and the chosen camp.
Where does Wolwedans fit into a Namibia itinerary?
It is especially suited to travellers who want to experience the Namib Desert beyond Sossusvlei, with more time for landscape, silence, stargazing, sustainability and a deeper connection to place.