Ask any Namibian tour guide where his favourite place is and the answer will be Damaraland. Something to do with the wide open spaces, the isolation, and the tenuous balance of nature in a rugged and dramatic landscape; or it could be the Huab Lodge.

Built on the banks of the Huab River (which is almost always dry), luxury and simplicity combine at this small owner-managed lodge in a way that typifies the essence of hospitality and good living.

Slightly off the beaten track - even by Damaraland standards - the Huab Lodge has eight stone and thatch bungalows with tiled floors, textured fabrics and a secluded verandah with a view over the Huab River valley on the 8,000 hectare private nature reserve. The main lodge is an enormous open-sided thatch gazebo crammed with comfy chairs, a family dinner table, reference books and a cosy bar.

Here's a draw card, if you still need one, and the endless silence and wide open space is not enough? They have a hot spring and it looks divine. Under a thatched gazebo out in the open, it's the perfect spot to simply relax.