The Namib National Park, which includes Sossusvlei and the famous red dunes, shares a border with the privately owned Kulala Wilderness Reserve. Lodges in the Kulala Wilderness Reserve offer guided tours into the dunes at Sossusvlei through a private gate. Because of this, you will probably be among the first to reach the dunes in time for sunrise.
If you prefer to drive yourself into the dunes, the main entrance to the park at Sesriem is only 15 kilometers away.
The Kulala Wilderness Reserve was created in 1996. After many years of recovery from subsistence farming—when goats were the most common animals—the reserve is now home to many desert animals.
It is now common to see oryx or gemsbok on game drives. These animals are often seen in the Sossusvlei area and are well known in Namibia.
The reserve is also home to smaller animals like springbok and ostriches. You may see them during your drives or even from the deck of your room or villa.
The rooms in the Kulala Wilderness Reserve give wide views of the desert. Whether you stay at Kulala Desert Lodge or Little Kulala Camp, you can enjoy the beauty of Sossusvlei from your lodge. However, it is the desert views—not the animals—that make Sossusvlei so special.
Kulala Desert Lodge
The simple thatch and canvas cabins at Kulala Desert Lodge give wide views of the desert. Each cabin has rooftop access for stargazing or for sleeping outside under the stars.
The chalets have everything you need, with comfortable beds and private bathrooms. The thick thatch helps keep the rooms cool.
