Desert Homestead Lodge

The main building is a contemporary take on a stud farmer's manor house. Comfortable and airy, the open-plan guest areas contain a spacious lounge and cosy library, bar and dining room where a roaring fireplace keeps the desert chill at bay as you tuck into hearty, farm-to-table cooking. The wraparound veranda is where the magic happens – settle into one of the leather sofas with a local wine and watch the light play across those impossibly wide horizons. The swimming pools provide languid refreshment after a hot day's riding, surrounded by mini bomas where you can just chill.

Twenty-six thatched cottages dot the property, each conveying that quintessential African farmhouse charm with their whitewashed walls and dark wood furniture. The thatched chalets are tastefully decorated and feature double or twin beds, and an en-suite bathroom. Every one comes with its own private terrace where you can watch the sunrise paint the Totterkaum Mountains in shades of coral and gold. Aircon and water heaters run on solar energy, a part of the lodge's admirably green credentials.

Horse riding is the star of the show here, and rightly so. Guided rides are offered at sunrise and sunset, when you're likely to spot oryx, springbok, zebra, jackals and bat-eared foxes. For more experienced riders, multi-day expeditions where you camp under the stars are available. The lodge is just 30 minutes from Sesriem Gate for early morning Sossusvlei excursions. There's also hiking right from the lodge itself, quad biking for those seeking an adrenaline hit, and excellent birdwatching opportunities. Hot air balloon rides over the endless Namib will render you speechless.