Wolwedans: Subtle changes, big impact

Space is a luxury and at Wolwedans one finds it in abundance. Recent changes to the Dune Camp and Dunes Lodge are making the most of this space and the spectacular scenery it holds. At Dune Camp, new, larger tents are being erected, while at Dunes Lodge the changes at first appear subtler, but they are all designed to add to the comfort and satisfaction of the guests.

From the outside the chalets at the Dunes Lodge reflect few changes. They still appear to float above the sand, limiting their impact on the natural environment while heightening the experience of being one with this extraordinary landscape. The building structures also remain the same, using a combination of wood and canvas blinds, but now the blinds zip open to allow easier access to the desert beyond.

Inside the rooms have new furniture, but nothing trendy or overdone. In keeping with a classic safari theme, a four-poster bed with mosquito netting and crisp linens from anin, a Namibian company that produces exquisite handmade linens, anchors the bedroom area. It is the perfect platform on a platform from which guests can relax and soak in the views.

Landscape around Wolwedans

In scale and in comfort, the greatest change at Dunes Lodge has been the doubling of the size of the bathroom. Canvas, wood, copper piping and white fixtures add to the classic safari sensibility. Below a window with a picture-perfect view are double basins and foldaway mirrors. Showers with solar-heated water are good for washing away desert sand, but reminders are in place that water is a precious and limited resource in the desert and must be used wisely.

Dunes Lodge has several reception areas where guests can mingle or slip away to a quiet corner to relax on their own. Another deck is being added to this mix. When the weather is warm, which it often is in the desert, guests can leave the fire and retreat to the new deck where the only light vying for their attention will come from the stars and the moon. Catch a shooting star or marvel at the Milky Way – there is no greater show on earth.

Wisely, the changes at Wolwedans enhance the sense of comfort and connection to the outdoors, but they don’t try to compete with nature’s dramatic beauty. They allow you to be a part of it, even while you sleep.

This text was originally published in the Travel News Namibia August/ September 2009 edition.