Mushara Lodge

Set 8 kilometres from the Von Lindequist Gate of Etosha National Park, Mushara Lodge occupies land where Purple Pod Terminalia trees grow across the grounds and the surrounding bush. Fourteen thatched chalets — ten doubles, one family house, one triple, and two singles — form a horseshoe around the pool. Each chalet holds air-conditioning, mosquito netting, a mini-bar, and an en-suite bathroom with shower. The family house contains two bedrooms with separate bathrooms and accommodates four. A thatched central area houses a library, a bar with wine cellar, a lounge with fireplace for winter evenings, and a dining room where consultant chef Rhona Strauss trains kitchen staff on vegetarian and gluten-free menus. The décor mixes traditional African works with modern paintings and older originals. Guides lead game drives into Etosha each morning, leaving from the gate nine minutes away. The park covers 22,270 square kilometres and shelters more than 300 bird species, dozens of mammal species, and a 4,731-square-kilometre salt pan at its centre. Two spa treatment rooms opened in March 2025 at the lodge, offering deep-tissue and aromatherapy massage with baobab, marula, and Kalahari melon oils. The spa can be booked at reception.