Auob Country Lodge

The lodge sits along the banks of the dry Auob River in southern Namibia's Kalahari, near Gochas. Twenty-five rooms ring a converted farmhouse and central pool; the farmhouse holds the kitchen, restaurant, bar, and reception. Twenty twin rooms accommodate friends or individual travellers in two three-quarter beds each; four family rooms sleep four or five in separate or shared configurations; one double room offers a king bed, sitting nook, and vanity corner. All have en-suite bathrooms, air-conditioning, ceiling fans, and mosquito nets. Seventeen grassed campsites lie within walking distance on the riverbank, each with a fire pit and electrical outlet; communal ablution blocks serve two showers and two toilets per block.

Guided game drives cross the reserve in open vehicles for two to three hours at sunrise or late afternoon, with frequent stops to view Kalahari wildlife. Sundowner drives close with a refreshment as the sun sets behind red dunes. Three hiking trails — six kilometres, eight kilometres, and a half-day route — offer guided or self-guided walks through dune and desert-adapted habitat. Electric-bike tours led by local guides cover terrain without effort, tracking oryx, springbok, and meerkats. Dinner on the dunes follows a sundowner game drive: a three-course meal is served on the sand under stars. The Lapa hosts barbecues at long tables. A buffet breakfast is served from the farm-style kitchen; lunch runs à la carte or as a three-course menu with advance notice. Borehole water is potable. The lodge is malaria-free and reachable by sedan in four and a half hours from Windhoek.