Solitaire Country Lodge
Solitaire - Namibia
Solitaire is a small settlement in central Namibia, near the Namib-Naukluft National Park. It currently features the only petrol station, post office, and general dealer between the dunes at Sossusvlei, and the coast at Walvis Bay. Solitaire Country Lodge is situated in Solitaire, some 83kms from Sesriem, the entrance to Sossusvlei. It is also an ideal base to explore the Naukluft Mountains.
The area was named Solitaire by the wife of the original homesteader, Willem Christoffel van Coller, who purchased the farm in 1948. The name was chosen because solitaire can mean a single set diamond and solitude or loneliness. Combined, these two meanings create the definition of being unique, or a one-of-a-kind and a precious, but solitary place.
For most of the year Solitaire is the proverbial one horse town, but during the tourist season it becomes very busy, with visitors heading to the dunes from either Swakopmund or Windhoek passing through.
There is a restaurant and bar that serves set menu's for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Buffet style meals can be arranged for larger groups. There is a laundry service, Internet facility in the main office, secure parking and the lodge is wheelchair and child friendly.
This mystic little settlement, does justice to its name in more than one way. As a stopover on your tour of southwestern Namibia and on the way to Sossusvlei, it is a must. The general dealer store offers home home-baked bread, apple pie,drinks, fuel and a much-used tyre repair service. 'Moose McGregor', has received wide coverage for his shop's apple pie, which is listed in all the major tourism publications about Namibia!
There are 25 en-suite, fairly basic bedrooms, including 2 family rooms that sleep 5 people. Each room has two single beds/ double bed, with a fan and a tea/coffee station.. All of the rooms face the central courtyard, and there is a huge swimming pool in the centre of the yard.
There are a number of walking trails that start and finish at the lodge. A guide and a telescope can be booked for guests interested in a 'Stargazing' night walk. Scenic self-drives and spectacular sunsets can be taken from the top of the escarpment, through Spreetshoogte or Remhoogte pass.
Solitaire has an air-strip where transfers to and from the lodge can be organized.
Solitaire is known in The Netherlands because of the book of the same name, by Dutch author Ton van der Lee dealing with his experiences here.
- Activities at the Lodge
- Activities around Sossusvlei
- Drive to Sossusvlei
- Although Solitaire Country Lodge is fairly far from Sossusvlei it can still be used as a base to visit the dunes - you will need to set out fairly early though as the park gates at Sesriem are about an hours drive from Solitaire - and from there it is a further hours drive to the dunes
- Ballooning over Sossusvlei
- Drift over the dune fields at Sossusvlei and enjoy a champagne breakfast wherever the wind takes you
- Guided Hikes
- learn about the dune fields on an expertly guided walk
- Scenic Flights
- light aircraft regularly depart on scenic flights over Sossusvlei and its surroundings
Directions:
Situated in the small settlement of Solitaire - about 80km from Sossusvlei on the C14

Excellent food, too far to be the ideal base to visit Sossusvlei, good stop en-route to Swakopmund after night nearer the dunes