Le Mirage, as its name suggests, rises like a fata morgana in the vast emptiness near Sossusvlei and exudes the atmosphere of Arabian Nights. The hotel is everything you can expect from a contemporary castle in the middle of the desert.

Fairytale of Arabian Nights

As you enter the reception area, it feels like you are in Marrakech. The tour of this exceptional hotel starts with graceful arches and a fountain where goldfish swim. The corridor first leads to the adjacent main building, where the hotel rooms are located. We step through one of the gates and immediately see a green oasis. The blue water of the pool sparkles and on the way to the restaurant, we come across a jacuzzi. Right next to it is the spa, where you can indulge in complete pampering. The building was built sixteen years ago as an optical illusion. The building feels like an Eastern castle. You can even book one of the tower rooms to sleep under the stars in the open air.

Green Fingers

If you stay at Le Mirage, you can enjoy the five-course dinners of chef Saymore Mutugandura in the restaurant. One of the chef’s secrets? The meat comes from the hotel’s own farm, and he cooks with ingredients from the hotel’s garden. “He has green fingers,” says assistant manager Jolin Plaatjies, who adds that growing vegetables in the desert is not easy, and it takes blood, sweat, and tears. “First, you have to pump up the water. If you irrigate here, the soil becomes clay. It’s too hard and dry to absorb water, so it has to be mixed with soil from another region.” Just when you think you’ve got everything under control, there’s another challenge. “A few weeks ago, we had a cricket storm,” Jolin says. “They ate everything in their path.”

Jolin runs the hotel with great pleasure. “It’s a great challenge,” she says. “I live on the property, so I run the hotel as if it were my home. Guests sometimes don’t realize what it takes to make their stay possible. You’re in the middle of the desert. The nearest store is 227 kilometers away, so we do the rest of the shopping on a weekly basis.”

Sossusvlei

What makes staying here so special? “You have to experience it for yourself,” she smiles. You can go quad biking in the desert and climb the dunes of Sossusvlei. The entrance gate in Sesriem is only twenty kilometers away. Jolin finds the hot air balloon ride above the impressive dunes unforgettable: “No words or photos do justice to the beauty of the experience. It’s indescribably beautiful. Truly a unique experience.”

Le Mirage Resort and Spa Review

Location: Located twenty kilometers from Sesriem, the entrance gate to Sossusvlei.
Service & Facilities: Excellent. The staff is very accommodating. Facilities are also great, with a lovely pool and a Jacuzzi providing relaxation. If you seek more adrenaline, you can climb one of the dunes in Sossusvlei, view the national park from a hot air balloon, or ride a quad.
Rooms: The rooms are warm and beautiful. The balcony overlooks the desert.
Accessibility for People with Disabilities: No.
Explanation: At Le Mirage, you experience a romantic fairytale in the middle of the desert. The food is delicious, the decor is warm, and the view is breathtaking.

Overnight stays at Le Mirage start at 230 euros per night. You can also book your stay as part of your tour of Namibia. Our stay is organized by About Africa Safaris.

Header Photo: Le Mirage Resort & Spa