Bushman's Desert Camp & Self Catering

Arriving at Farm Cha-re means turning off the C14 at a signpost hung with old shoes, then following the track two kilometres in. The land was once run for Karakul sheep, given up when the ground proved too hard for grazing, and turned instead into a base for exploring the Namib. Guests come here on the way to or from Sossusvlei, 113 kilometres south, using the camp as a stop among dunes, plains, canyons and sandstone hills. Twelve en-suite self-catering rooms open onto private verandas with sliding doors and barbecue points, each fitted with a gas burner, kettle and pots for cooking, plus a solar-heated shower and a shaded carport. Larger campsites suit those who prefer a tent, with cooking areas and washrooms of their own; a handful of separate bush sites offer more distance from neighbours. There is no Wi-Fi, though a mobile signal reaches the reception area. A shared pool and a small bar sit between the two accommodation types. Guides here have led walks and tours in the surrounding desert since 1996, covering dune ecology, the region's plants and animals, and Bushman heritage. A waterhole nearby draws oryx, Hartmann's mountain zebra and, in the mornings, flocks of Namaqua sandgrouse. The stars at night are plain and close. It is a working stop in open country, not a resort.