Ugab Terrace Lodge is slap bang in the middle of Damaraland and about half way between Swakopmund and Etosha National Park making for a perfect addition to your self-drive tour of Namibia.
Perched on the edge of a ridge, 16 massive chalets look out in all directions across the vast valley floor dotted with mesas, hills, riverbeds and framed by mountain ranges in one direction and by the Ugab Terraces in the other direction.
The chalets have bright, African décor and en suite bathroom with wood-fired boilers and flushing toilets. Being so remote, the camp produces its own electricity so an absence of creature comforts - like hair dryers, TVs, and air con - might make you think twice especially if you are travelling in the peak of summer. But the back-to-basics experience is well worth it and of course, there's always that view, that swimming pool, and a pretty decent restaurant to make up for it.
And to top it all off, the service is reliably friendly, efficient and personal. What more could you ask for?
Activities available directly from the lodge include several well-marked and very scenic walking trails; a terrifying but must-do zip line that claims to be one of the world's longest; guided nature trails; guided nature drives to Vingerklip Rock with a lunch in the bush; and some serious stargazing with a powerful telescope and zero light pollution.
