Sossusvlei Lodge – in search of nothing

As a young adult in Australia I worked for ecologists. They’d visited Namibia and as I sorted through their slides one day, I vividly remember Sossusvlei and being mesmerized by its pure nothingness. The sight of such vastness imbued me with peace.

Although none of my life choices since then were made with that image in mind, it’s ironic that a great many years later, the very country that holds claim to its beauty, is where I reside.

I’ve been to Sossusvlei many times and it’s a personal preference to always stay at Sossusvlei Lodge. For me, the layout there is simply ideal, especially if the kids join.

Windhoek, despite not being a mega-metropolis, can still be overwhelming. I have an innate desire for silence, often. There are times I think Tom Hanks in Castaway didn’t have it so bad. I mean he had Wilson, right?

Sossusvlei fulfills my desperate need to constantly re-evaluate. Resetting the circuit breakers, as my partner puts it, is essential. And if you haven’t been to Sossusvlei Lodge for a while, you’re in for a treat. They embarked on some extensive renovations that were completed in July this year.

The main focus was upgrading the rooms, however, be sure to check out their newly laid out bar – it's awesome. They also added a stunning rooftop terrace above the bar that allows for views over that exotic nothingness I adore. No more tramping up those horrid stairs in the tower!

While the rooms still have that tented look on the exterior, they've modernized them internally and utilized the space to a much better ratio than previously. And if you’re after something more extravagant, they’ve built a private suite with its own splash pool.

Naturally, finding peace is always a bonus if I find food at the same time. It can be rather exhausting as you can well imagine, doing nothing. It's true, try it some time. It can work up an exceptional appetite.

I was vegetarian for 15 years (pity me if you must) and in turn, I adore my salads – any shape, colour, texture – I’ll gobble them all. And Sossusvlei Lodge has an extensive buffet of salads, soups and starters. They’re a serious contender for overdosing on my visual senses, to be honest.

However, the main contender for me is admittedly the meat. Yes, once I tasted it again, there was no going back. Sounds ominous, I know. I’ve come to appreciate the bold flavours and I’ll even ignore the dessert buffet if it means I’ll fit in another slither of kudu or eland or perhaps warthog or, hold on, maybe wildebeest . . .

Don’t discourage yourself that Sossusvlei Lodge is far; it isn’t. The journey there is half the adventure. Although some grains of sand may move, the desert isn’t going anywhere. Slow down and enjoy from beginning, middle, to end. Find solace in nothingness – perhaps food too. There’s conceptual peace in that combination.