Our Habitas Namibia

The growing Habitas hotel brand is a global one, and their first safari lodge, Habitas Namibia, is something of a break from the traditions of the genre — less formal, less structured, and ideally more focused on communal living and human connection than the classic safari-lodge experience. The game reserve it calls home is a work in progress, but its game drives are complemented by other activities that highlight Namibia’s various cultures as well as the land itself — and the wellness program, which includes yoga and meditation alongside typical spa treatments, benefits enormously from the stillness of the landscape.

Its rooms are all actually freestanding structures, set on a hillside, overlooking the vast expanse of the savanna through floor-to-ceiling windows. Each one features its own private deck for a more direct view, and even the bathrooms look out over the landscape. There’s plenty of privacy to be had en suite if you want it — but the Habitas ethos is about bringing people together. To that end there’s a restaurant serving upscale Namibian fare and a selection of South African wines, and group excursions and activities are plentiful — though it’s always an option to book a solo spa treatment or simply lounge by the pool.