Little Kulala

Little Kulala, a luxurious desert retreat, is situated in the private 37 000-hectare Kulala Wilderness Reserve - the gateway to Namibia's Sand Sea with its towering red dunes and clear starry skies.

The 11 climate-controlled, thatched "kulalas" (the word means 'to sleep') merge impeccably into the timeless desert landscape, with exquisite fittings and fixtures, innovative bleached decks each with a private plunge pool. Each kulala has a rooftop 'skybed' for romantic stargazing, with both indoor and outdoor showers.

Desert-adapted wildlife such as ostrich, springbok and gemsbok eke out an existence and are sparsely distributed here. Smaller creatures such as bat-eared fox and aardwolf can be seen at night in the cool desert air, and one bird, the aptly named dune lark, has its entire global distribution limited to the area, so dependent is it on the area's characteristic sands.

Early morning guided game drives to the spectacular towering dunes of Sossusvlei are through a private gate into the reserve. Sossusvlei is situated within the Namib Desert, the oldest desert in the world, which itself is part of the Namib Naukluft National Park that stretches 400km south of Walvis Bay and is sandwiched between the west coast and the escarpment that runs parallel more than 100km inland. Its huge red dunes and flat valley floors make up the archetypical view of the Namib that is world famous.

Guided drives and walks are also offered on the private Kulala Wilderness Reserve with incredible views, desert-adapted wildlife and plants. A balloon safari at extra cost offers a unique experience soaring silently above the desert before landing for a champagne breakfast.