Frequently Asked
Questions

Activities vary by property and region, but Gondwana's lodges collectively offer one of the widest activity menus in Namibia. Across the portfolio, guests can expect guided nature drives at sunrise and sunset, guided walks and hikes (both led and self-guided with trail maps), nocturnal scorpion walks, stargazing, swimming pools, sundowner experiences, curio shops, and birdwatching. Water-based properties add boat cruises and fishing to the mix.

Some standout location-specific experiences include: black rhino tracking on foot and overnight sleep-outs in a tented camp in the Palmwag Concession area; electric fat-bike rides and guided dune walks at Kalahari Anib Lodge; guided night walks to observe nocturnal desert creatures and guided sunrise excursions to the highest dunes on Earth at Sossusvlei from Namib Desert Lodge; and boat trips on the Kwando River through Bwabwata National Park at Namushasha River Camping2Go, with opportunities to spot elephants, hippos, crocodiles, and over 400 bird species.

Not at every single property, but game drives are available at the majority of Gondwana's lodges — either offered directly by the lodge or accessible from its location. Etosha Safari Lodge offers guided game drives into Etosha National Park, with both half-day and full-day options, as well as a guided discovery walk through the mopane woods to learn about indigenous plants, birds, and wildlife. 

At Palmwag Lodge in Damaraland, guests can join guided morning or afternoon nature drives through the Palmwag Concession, which hosts rhino, desert elephants, and the largest predator population outside Etosha National Park. 

At lodges not adjacent to a national park or concession — such as canyon properties or coastal hotels — the focus shifts to guided hikes, scenic drives, and cultural excursions. Guests should confirm activity availability with the specific property when booking.

Yes. Guided excursions are a core part of the Gondwana experience at virtually every property, tailored to the surrounding landscape. At Namib Desert Lodge, guided excursions to Sossusvlei depart one hour before sunrise and include brunch, refreshments, and park entrance fees — pre-booking is essential. 

The Desert Grace offers guided Sossusvlei excursions, morning and afternoon nature drives, scorpion night walks, and self-guided walking trails of 3 km, 5 km, and 7 km.

Palmwag Lodge offers rhino tracking on foot, guided bush hikes, wildlife track and sign walks, and overnight bush sleep-outs — all led by experienced guides. 

Many activities can be pre-booked directly with the lodge or through the Gondwana Travel Centre when planning an itinerary.

Wi-Fi is available at most Gondwana lodges, though coverage and quality vary by property and location. The Desert Grace offers unlimited Wi-Fi as a standard amenity. At properties like Namib Desert Lodge and most Camping2Go units, Wi-Fi is available at the main lodge rather than in individual rooms or tents. This is a common pattern across the portfolio — connectivity is generally accessible in communal areas such as the restaurant and reception.

Travellers visiting remote wilderness properties should be prepared for limited signal. Given Namibia's vast, sparsely populated landscapes, some locations have mobile connectivity but minimal or no broadband. The trade-off, as many guests find, is an immersive experience that naturally encourages switching off.

Meal inclusions depend on the accommodation type. Many lodges include breakfast and dinner in the nightly rate; however, meal plans vary by property and are clearly indicated during the booking process and in the travel itinerary. 

At lodge properties, the standard offering is bed and breakfast (B&B), with dinner available at the on-site restaurant. At Etosha Safari Lodge, buffet breakfasts and dinners are served in the spacious dining room, with choices including venison and other local dishes. At Camping2Go and campsite properties, meals are excluded from the rate — breakfast and dinner are not included at Namib Desert Camping2Go, for example — but guests can access the adjacent lodge restaurant for meals. At the luxury end, properties like Namushasha River Villa include meals and activities in a fully inclusive package.

Yes, Gondwana makes provision for dietary needs across the portfolio. Most dietary requirements can be catered for, and it is advised that guests communicate any specific dietary requirements at the time of booking or as soon as possible thereafter, to ensure the lodge can prepare appropriately.

At exclusive properties, the service is even more personalised. At Desert Whisper, meals are pre-arranged to suit your dietary preferences as part of the bespoke hosting experience.

Given that some lodges are located in remote areas with limited access to specialty food supplies, advance notice is essential for more specific or complex dietary needs — such as gluten-free, vegan, or allergy-related requirements. Guests are encouraged to note requirements when booking directly at gondwana-collection.com or through the Gondwana Travel Centre.

Yes. Gondwana's Camping2Go concept is purpose-built for self-catering travellers who want the comfort of a permanent setup without the hassle of bringing their own equipment. Etosha Safari Camping2Go offers eight fully equipped self-catering tents, each with four beds, an en-suite bathroom with shower, and a shade-covered outdoor kitchen complete with a fridge, stove, sink, and all necessary cooking utensils and cutlery.

The Camping2Go concept is available at multiple destinations, including Etosha, the Namib Desert, the Kalahari, Hakusembe River, and the Zambezi Region. Camping2Go guests can also make use of the adjacent lodge's facilities — including the restaurant, swimming pools, and guided activities — making it a flexible hybrid between self-catering independence and lodge comfort.

For travellers preferring a fully self-contained private retreat, Desert Whisper in the Namib Desert features a fully equipped kitchen and bar, with a dedicated host managing everything from check-in to meal preparation.

Gondwana Collection Namibia has built one of Africa's most comprehensive sustainability programmes in the hospitality sector, structured around three pillars: planet, people, and partnerships. Across their properties, Gondwana has implemented robust energy management, water efficiency, waste management, and other sustainable practices to minimise their carbon footprint — complemented by an unwavering commitment to uplifting and empowering the communities in which they operate. 

On energy, 85% of Gondwana lodges have been equipped with solar panels, and six lodges operate 100% on solar energy. The company has set a target of sourcing 80% of lodge energy from solar, and tracks daily electricity consumption across all properties through a live, interactive monitoring platform. 

On waste, Gondwana has partnered with Rent-A-Drum for general waste recycling, BEE Biofuel Namibia for used cooking oil recycling, OilTech Namibia for used engine oil conversion into firelighters, and NamiGreen for electronic waste recycling. Single-use plastic items have been eliminated across all lodges. 

On food systems, Gondwana's Self-Sufficiency Centre at Kalahari Farmhouse near Stampriet supplies all properties with organic meat, and several lodges have on-site gardens — Damara Mopane Lodge's individual room gardens supply 80% of the lodge's produce, while Namib Desert Lodge and Canyon Lodge cultivate herbs, tomatoes, lettuce, and cabbage in netted tunnels. 

Recognition has followed: in 2022, seventeen Gondwana lodges received a five-flower rating from Eco Awards Namibia — the highest seal of quality awarded in the country — and Canyon Village won the Responsible Tourism Award, following Namib Desert Lodge's maximum score win in 2018.

Yes — Gondwana Collection holds Namibia's highest eco quality seal and is widely regarded as the country's benchmark for sustainable hospitality. All Gondwana Collection Namibia accommodations have signed the UNESCO Sustainable Travel Pledge. The properties have solar and water purification systems, separate and recycle waste, and actively seek to reduce the use of single-use plastic. The company also strives to support local businesses by purchasing local products and minimising transport distances to reduce its carbon footprint. 

Eco-friendly principles are embedded in construction too. The Desert Grace in the Namib Desert and Etosha King Nehale near Etosha National Park were built using a unique sandbag construction method — filled on-site using natural materials — which has remarkable sound and thermal insulation qualities and averts the carbon dioxide emissions associated with conventional cement production. 

In terms of agriculture, lodges have self-sufficiency gardens to cater for their basic fruit and vegetable needs, and an aquaponics tank at Zambezi Mubala Lodge provides herbs and lettuce on-site. 

Seven Gondwana properties have received the elusive "5 Green Flowers" award — based on excellent ratings across nature conservation, water, energy, and waste management — with evaluation conducted every three years.

Conservation is the founding reason Gondwana Collection exists. The company's initial conservation dream began in the early 1990s when a single farm was acquired near the Fish River Canyon to practice sustainable eco-tourism. That single farm has since expanded into the Gondwana Canyon Park, now encompassing 116,000 ha of protected area for ecosystem restoration. 

Today Gondwana stewards a vast conservation estate. The group manages around 7,400 km² of private conservation land, encompassing Gondwana Canyon Park (1,160 km²) in the south, Gondwana Kalahari Park, Gondwana Namib Park near Sossusvlei, and the Gondwana Sperrgebiet Rand Park near Aus. 

At the apex of these efforts is a landmark wildlife programme. Gondwana's conservation commitment culminated in the establishment of the world's largest privately-owned Black Rhino Sanctuary, a partnership between Gondwana Collection Namibia, ERP Namibia, and the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism — focused on habitat protection, anti-poaching innovation, and community involvement to secure the future of one of Africa's most endangered species. 

The Palmwag Concession area is bordered by the Skeleton Coast National Park and neighbouring conservancies, and is home to desert-adapted rhino, elephant, and lion populations, as well as prolific birdlife and over 100 lions, leopards, cheetahs, and hyenas — the largest carnivore populations outside Etosha National Park. 

Guests can participate directly: Gondwana's Adopt-a-Quiver Tree project in Gondwana Canyon Park re-introduces the indigenous Quiver tree — sacred to the San people but threatened by livestock farming and climate change — to strengthen dwindling populations and restore the Fish River Canyon landscape.

Community empowerment is one of Gondwana's three core sustainability pillars, operating through both its lodge network and a dedicated trust. The Gondwana Care Trust, founded in 2017, formalised decades of community investment efforts. It supports projects across Namibia with a goal of creating independence and empowering organisations to become self-sufficient, with funding sourced through lodge curio shops and The Narrative online store. 

The GCT is overseen by a board of trustees, audited annually, and directs donations towards social, educational, and environmental programmes. Beneficiaries are chosen through a rigorous application procedure and undergo continuous evaluation. Flagship programmes include the MealForTwo food support initiative and the Back-to-School Christmas Bag project, which aims to reach over 5,000 children. 

At lodge level, community partnership is built into the business model. Gondwana has expanded into communal areas in northern, north-eastern, and north-western Namibia through joint venture agreements with conservancies and traditional communities, ensuring fair distribution of financial returns and genuine co-ownership of lodge operations. 

The company recruits most of its lodge staff from the local communities surrounding each property and trains them in-house to work in the hospitality industry, with over 1,400 Namibians employed across the group. Conservation community projects extend to river protection: the Sikunga Fish Guards patrol the Zambezi River, capturing unauthorised fishermen in the Zambezi, Chobe, and Kwando river systems where fish stocks are under pressure from overfishing.

Gondwana has invested substantially in both areas, with measurable results.

Water: Since 2010, when the first wastewater treatment plant was installed at Namib Desert Lodge, 90% of Gondwana's lodges have followed suit. These systems collect all wastewater from guest rooms, laundries, and kitchens and run it through a multistage natural filtering process — enabling wastewater recycling that has helped reduce overall water consumption by more than half. Since 2020, water use per person per day has dropped from 901 to 588 litres. 

Rooms are fitted with water-efficient devices, and water-saving appliances are used throughout lodge kitchens and laundries. At Namib Desert Lodge, recycled water even helps to recharge the underground aquifer — restoring water to one of Namibia's driest ecosystems. 

Plastic: Gondwana has eliminated single-use plastic items across all lodges and is actively exploring alternative materials and solutions to further reduce its plastic footprint. Lodges are also encouraged to use their own garden produce rather than store-sourced produce, which typically arrives in plastic packaging. 

Cooking oil & waste streams: Between November 2024 and September 2025, Gondwana's lodges contributed 1,560 litres of used cooking oil to BEE Biofuel Namibia — kept out of the soil and water and transformed into clean energy and useful products. 

Waste management: In 2018, Gondwana and Rent-A-Drum launched the #ItsUp2Us campaign, aimed at ensuring only biodegradable waste ends up in landfills and raising environmental awareness among all Namibians. Quality food items that have not been used after service are donated to the Gondwana Care Trust for distribution to supported projects near each lodge.

Yes, children are warmly welcomed at every Gondwana property across Namibia. Children up to 5 years old stay free of charge at all Gondwana venues. Children between the ages of 6 and 13 are charged 50% of the standard B&B rate. Teenagers aged 14 and older are typically charged the full adult rate. The Namibia Safari. This pricing policy applies consistently across the entire portfolio, from lodge rooms and Camping2Go units to campsites. At Etosha Safari Lodge, highchairs and cots are available on site, reflecting the practical provisions that many properties make for younger guests. Families travelling with infants or toddlers are encouraged to request these items at booking.

Gondwana Collection. It's worth noting that some specific guided activities carry minimum age restrictions; for example, the Full Day Damaraland Nature Drive at Damara Mopane Lodge is not suitable for children under 12 years of age, and rhino tracking at Palmwag Lodge has a similar restriction. These apply to particular excursions rather than the lodge stays themselves, and staff at each property can advise on age-appropriate alternatives.

Yes, across the portfolio. Family room configurations vary by property but are available at the majority of Gondwana lodges, with several options for how families are accommodated.

Dedicated family rooms — purpose-built units with four or more beds — are available at a number of properties. Etosha Safari Lodge has 5 dedicated family rooms, each with 4 beds. The Desert Grace offers 4 family bungalows, each with a private plunge pool. The Delight Swakopmund has 10 family loft rooms with twin beds on both the lower and upper levels. 

Interleading rooms — two adjoining twin rooms connected by a shared door — are a common configuration at bush lodges where children benefit from proximity to parents but in a separate sleeping space. Damara Mopane Lodge has 5 sets of interleading twin rooms, plus 1 set of wheelchair-friendly interleading rooms. Canyon Roadhouse offers 3 sets of interleading twin rooms, configurable as family rooms on request. 

Family rooms with bunk beds are offered at Kalahari Anib Lodge, where family rooms include a twin bed and bunk beds suited for children under 12.

Families should specify their configuration preference — whether dedicated family room or interleading setup — at the time of booking to ensure availability.

Gondwana has made meaningful provisions for guests with limited mobility across a significant portion of its portfolio, though the level of accessibility does vary between properties given the diverse terrain of Namibia's wilderness locations.

Many lodges are listed as accessible for persons with limited mobility and offer at least one wheelchair-friendly room. Damara Mopane Lodge features two wheelchair-friendly interleading twin rooms and is noted as accessible for guests with restricted mobility. The Delight Swakopmund includes one dedicated wheelchair-friendly room among its 44 twin rooms, and is fully accessible for persons with limited mobility. Kalahari Anib Lodge offers a wheelchair family room in addition to standard family room options.

The Desert Grace is also listed as accessible for persons with limited mobility.

Guests with specific mobility requirements are strongly encouraged to contact Gondwana reservations directly before booking — on +264 61 427 200 or at info@gcnam.com — to confirm the precise accessibility features at their chosen property and discuss any needs around room layout, bathroom configuration, or vehicle transfers.

Yes, and several activities are specifically designed with families and younger guests in mind, rather than being simply adult activities that children can join.

The standout dedicated family experience is the Family Dune Drive at Kalahari Anib Lodge. This two-hour morning drive takes families into the red Kalahari dunes, where children are encouraged to play in the sand while the guide shares interesting facts about the flora and fauna of the area, over coffee and hot chocolate.

Across the portfolio more broadly, Morning Nature Drives are available at Kalahari Anib Lodge, Namib Desert Lodge, and The Desert Grace, giving families an accessible introduction to Namibia's wildlife with a knowledgeable guide. Game drives into Etosha National Park are a highlight for families at Etosha Safari Lodge and Etosha Safari Camp, where children can encounter lions, elephants, and giraffes from the safety of a game vehicle.

On the active side, electric fat-bike rides at Kalahari Anib Lodge are available guided or unguided and suit families wanting low-effort outdoor exploration. Self-guided walking trails with maps are offered at several lodges, including The Desert Grace and Namib Desert Lodge, giving families the freedom to explore at their own pace.

Swimming pools — cold water, outdoor — are a feature at nearly every Gondwana property and are reliably popular with children after a day in the sun. Kalahari Anib Lodge also has a dedicated playground with jungle gym on site. Gondwana's Camping2Go properties with their outdoor fire pits, braai areas, and open-air kitchens also tend to be a hit with children seeking a more adventurous, hands-on stay.