With all the mod-cons of a city hotel and surrounded by silence, solitude and the pristine beauty of the Kalahari, Africa Safari Lodge is the fresh start, the blank canvas, the breath of fresh air that sets the mood for your Namibian safari in about two seconds flat.

Quite what part of an African safari this new lodge aims to capture, with its sharp pitched roofs, bold minimalism, manicured lawns and urban décor is a bit of a mystery but the end result is all that matters: spacious and very comfortable accommodation with friendly and helpful staff beneath the big blue sky of the Kalahari.

Africa Safari Lodge is in a huge nature reserve and the highlight here is a guided safari outing in an open vehicle snaking through the bush in seek of white rhino, sable, white-faced springbok, wildebeest, nyala - animals rarely found anywhere else in the world, let alone Namibia. Oryx, impala, zebra, giraffe and several antelope species also thrive in this beautiful landscape as do a multitude of birds, 230 of them by most counts including such specials as ostrich, Ludwig's and Rüppell's bustards and the delightful rosy-faced lovebird.

About three hours drive south of Windhoek en route to Sossusvlei, Africa Safari Lodge is well situated for early morning arrivals giving you the opportunity to hit the road as soon as you land in Namibia and be out in the bush long before sunset.