Access
- There are scheduled daily charter flights to the lodge’s private airstrip
- For those interested in self-driving, the lodge is a 400-kilometre / 248-mile drive from Windhoek and a 380-kilometre / 236-mile drive from Swakopmund on good quality gravel roads. It is advisable to use a 4×4 vehicle during the rainy season, from November to May.
Windhoek to &Beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge – Tar and gravel roads
- Leave Windhoek on the main tar road heading south to Rehoboth, Mariental, Keetmanshoop
and South Africa. It is called Auas Road in Windhoek before becoming the B1 as you leave
town - There is usually a police roadblock a short distance outside of Windhoek. Be sure that you
are wearing your safety belt and have your driver’s licence at the ready - After about 85 km you will reach Rehoboth. Drive through the town, staying on the main
road. There are fuel stations in Rehoboth, which are signposted on the main road. It is
advisable to refuel, as the next fuel station is at Sesriem, as you enter the Sossusvlei
region - Leave Rehoboth on the B1, heading south, and carry on until you see the turnoff onto the
C24 on your right-hand side. It is signposted Klein Aub. The tar road becomes a wide gravel
road here - After about 60 km you will pass the tiny town of Kobos
- After approximately another 40 km you will pass another small town called Klein Aub
- After Klein Aub, continue on to Rietoog, approximately another 30 km further
- Drive through Rietoog and, soon after leaving town, turn right onto the D1206. Continue on
until you reach a T-junction where the road intersects with the C14. You will see the bulk
of the Naukluft Mountains in front of you as you approach this junction - Turn left onto the C14, passing Bullsport Guest Farm. Very soon you will see a right turn
onto the D854, with signs for the Naukluft National Park. At this junction, you will also see a
sign saying “This Zebra Bites” - Turn onto the D854 and follow it for approximately 70 km. This stretch has many run-off
gullies, so please drive very carefully - Remain on the D854 until you reach a T-junction where it intersects with the C19. Turn left
and drive for roughly 6 km. Please be careful on this section and watch out for two large
dips, which are sometimes covered in soft sand and may not be visible until you crest the
edge of the dip - You will see the turn-off onto the D845 on your right (not to be confused with the D854,
which you were on previously). Take this road and carry on for approximately 13 km, taking
care on the sandy stretches - Turn left onto the C27 and continue for approximately 8 km. You will cross into the
NamibRand Nature Reserve, which will be signposted. A few kilometres further on you will
see the stone-walled entrance to &Beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge on your right-hand side
Swakopmund to &Beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge – Tar and gravel roads
- Departing Swakopmund, head to Nathaniel Maxuilili Street. When you reach Nathaniel
Maxuilili Street, head south and exit Swakopmund along Nathaniel Maxuilili, which becomes
the B2 road - Follow the signboards towards Walvis Bay, and proceed for about 30km, until you reach a
traffic circle at the entrance of Walvis Bay. This is a short but very scenic drive between
the dunes of the Namib and the waves of the Atlantic - Departing Walvis Bay, take the C14 route through the Namib Naukluft Park. Although a
long drive, the diversity of desert landscape is incredible - Approximately 55 kilometres out from Walvis Bay you will encounter the Vogelfederberg, a
massive granite dome. Please note that a permit is required if you leave the main road to
visit Vogelfederberg (obtainable at the Namibia Wildlife Resorts Office in Swakopmund) - Continuing along route C14, you will travel across the plains for a further 90 kilometres
before descending into the Kuiseb Canyon. The road twists and turns with sharp bends and
blind corners. Please keep to the left of the road and reduce your speed. Be careful of
corrugated corners. At the centre of this labyrinth of hills you will reach the Kuiseb River - Climbing out of the Kuiseb Canyon, continue across the desert before descending into the
Gaub Canyon – the Gaub is a tributary to the Kuiseb. Once out of the Gaub, the road leads
between dunes and mountains and across plains to reach the quaint settlement of Solitaire.
Petrol is available at Solitaire and it is advisable to top up your tank - From Solitaire, take the C19 route south for approximately 70 kilometres and then turn off
at Sesriem/Sossusvlei, which passes through parts of the Namib Naukluft Park – be on the
lookout for springbok, oryx and ostrich along the way - Turning onto route C27, which is signposted to Sesriem/Sossusvlei, continue for a further 12
kilometres until you see the entrance gate to Sesriem/Sossusvlei. Here the road swings left
and follows the fence of the park south. &Beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge is located
approximately 40 kilometres south of the Sesriem/Sossusvlei gate - Continue following route C27. At one point you will have to turn right to keep on the C27 –
please be careful here as it is easy to continue onto route D845 and you will miss the
turning point to the lodge. After turning right on the C27, carry on for roughly 9 kilometres
until you reach the entrance to the lodge, situated on the right-hand side of the road - After turning into the entrance, drive 1 kilometre before reaching the lodge
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