Little Kulala, Sossusvlei

At Little Kulala, we discovered luxurious cottages built in a style that fuses organic, earthly architecture with unassuming cool chic—in the middle of a Martian-like, arid landscape. Arrival at this utterly serene place is an experience almost surreal.

The lodge is located on a plain adjacent to the rusty sand dunes of Sossusvlei. The lodge is not close enough to overlook them, though, and this seems to be deliberate—as if not to risk overwhelming the cottages by the sight of the desert at its most dramatic.

However, the architect Andy Chase did draw inspiration from the surrounding scenery.

Dunes

The Little Kulala Lodge is well placed for easy access to the world-famous Sossusvlei dunes. Thousands of years old, these massive dunes rise to more than three hundred meters above the plains.

The most popular spot is hidden between the dunes. Deadvlei: a white, sun-baked pan dotted with the dead, black trees. Surrounded by the rusty-red mountains of sand, the place is full of astonishing color contrasts. An ethereally beautiful sight.

Deadvlei–inspired

The most visually distinctive feature of the Little Kulala architecture references Deadvlei pan directly, in the full-size trees used as structural elements of the lodge, even “growing” through its thatched roofs.

It makes Little Kulala feel very organic, complementing the lodge’s location, right by a “grove” of dry trees.

Deadvlei also provides inspiration in the palette. The lodge’s design uses bleached bone, mud, and hints of silver and pale green. Furniture and textures draw from the tactile qualities of the surrounding desert.

Sense of space

Materials used in the décor refer to the distinctive beauty of the outside—ever-present thanks to the glass walls, both in the lounge and guest cottages.

Pebble-like coffee tables, felt cloth floor cushions, and curvaceous mohair-covered loungers accompany hand-dyed linens, raffia mats, rough-hewn wood, knotted leather, and sandstone.

The large windows, tall roofs, organic shapes, and modern lighting all create an effortless sense of space and light.

Under the Namibian stars

We checked-in to one of the eleven modern climate-controlled cottages to find that it was as carefully designed as the rest of the lodge. It was eminently stylish, with chic wooden floors, wall-high windows, comfy rugs and seating, with a bleached-by-the-sun deck and a private plunge pool.

But the cottage’s most exquisite fixture was the rooftop platform, which one evening was turned for us into an under-the-stars “bedroom”. The night-sky sights, at least to us, the city-dwellers, were too awe-inspiring not to stay awake, counting the falling stars and whispering to each other long into the night.

Days and nights

We could be excused if we succumbed to sleep immediately: days at Little Kulala can be busy. Other than driving to the dunes, of which the morning one sets off well before sunrise, the lodge can organize balloon flights, and take guests for game drives, nature walks, or sunset drives… In motion from dawn to dusk—but this is how we like our traveling to be.

in our opinion

Little Kulala is a dreamlike place, where contemporary design is woven into the fabric of the Namibian desert landscape.

Luxurious, organic, tranquil, and remote… this is a place in a league of its own—well deserving the Travel+Style Editor’s Pick badge.

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What we love

• Design of the lodge—both architecture and interiors by the South African designer Laurie Owen. The extensive use of glass invites the desert in;
• The dramatic setting at the mouth of the Sossusvlei corridor, with direct access (via a private gate) to the National Park. The lodge is set up on a vast rocky desert—cottages look great against the earthy colors;
• “Skybed” on the roof of the villa. Sleeping under the stars is just magical!
• Scenic sundowner drives: we went high up some rocky mountains for this and had champagne to the most amazing view;
• Very good size of the rooms, with beautiful interiors and good (“Earth” brand) cosmetics in the bathroom;
• Excellent food and lovely diner setting, by the pool lit-up with candles or on the dunes;
• Wine cellar dug out beneath the lodge;
• Nice touch: we got presented with metal water flasks, Wilderness-branded. Everybody likes presents—especially useful ones;
• Fantastic guides!

What you should know

• Little Kulala is expensive, but it’s on an all-inclusive basis;
• No TV in the rooms. There is Wi-fi, though a bit unreliable. But then, who needs all this? (We didn’t);
• Drives are in closed-up Land Rovers. It limits the views somewhat, but proves to be a good thing when leaving the camp before sunrise. Nights in the desert can be very cold!
• We recommend rooms closer to the lodge building—it gets windy and hot, so you’ll want the walk via the winding rocky path as short as possible. The lodge is not really suitable for disabled guests;
• Plunge pools are just that: plunge. Small, and in the shade… the water was rather cold;
• Children are welcome, but the environment isn't very child-friendly, and this beautifully designed lodge is dotted with easily breakable designy things!