Huab Lodge & Bush Spa: A Private Reserve near Khorixas, Damaraland

Huab Lodge in Damaraland started in 1992 as an elephant conservation project. Today it welcomes guests from all over the world to spend a few nights in this private nature reserve in north-western Namibia. With only 8 spacious bungalows, guests are assured of an exclusive experience. The lodge is popular with self-drive travellers who want to experience nature where desert elephants roam and a wide variety of birds can be spotted.

What Makes Huab Lodge Different?

Huab Lodge is located within its own private nature reserve of 8000 hectares. It’s surrounded by untouched wilderness, with its own natural spring next to the main lodge area. The natural thermal spring bubbles up out of the ground at about 60 degrees Celsius but is maintained in the ‘bath’ at between 37 and 40 degrees. As one of the few spa lodges in Damaraland, Huab Lodge offers guests a Bush Spa where soothing massages and relaxing treatments are available in a small, nature-oriented wellness retreat. Guests are encouraged to relax around the pool or take a walk before or after breakfast.

Dinner is shared around a large communal table where delicious homemade food is served, and stories of the day are exchanged between guests and their hosts.

The Rooms at Huab Lodge

Comfortable and spacious accommodation is available at the stone and thatch bungalows. There are only 8 bungalows catering for a maximum of 16 guests. Each bungalow has a private en-suite bathroom with a walk-in shower offering views of the surrounding area. Twin basins with complimentary biodegradable soaps are available.

Each bungalow has a private patio with views over the river valley and surrounding hills. Beds offer extra length for added comfort with mosquito nets and a ceiling fan in each room. The bungalows are solar-powered and free wi-fi is available as well as a stocked mini-bar along with tea/coffee-making facilities. One bungalow has features for guests with limited mobility. Children of all ages are welcome at Huab Lodge, and bungalows can be converted to accommodate families.

There is also a luxurious double-storey self-catering villa with its own plunge pool available for guests who want that extra bit of privacy and exclusivity. See more Damaraland lodges and camps to compare accommodation options in the region.

The Huab-Ugab Elephant Herd

Huab Lodge sits within the territory of the Huab-Ugab group, one of several distinct desert-adapted elephant family herds found across Damaraland. Regular sightings along the Huab River and surrounding area are a highlight for many guests, with the elephants occasionally visible from the lodge itself.

A Note on Birdlife

Huab Lodge is a popular bird-watching lodge in Namibia. A total of 210 bird species have been identified in the area, including 9 of Namibia’s endemic desert bird species. Huab Lodge has a dedicated bird hide offering a quiet, concealed vantage point for birdwatching and photography. This includes the Hartlaub’s spurfowl, and Southern violet wood-hoopoe.

Location & Getting There

Huab Lodge near Khorixas is reached via the C35 and D2670, a well-maintained gravel road that passes through several farm gates along the way — part of the arrival experience for self-drive guests. The lodge is not a one-night stopover; guests are encouraged to allow several days to properly settle into the quiet and make the most of the reserve. A nearby landing strip caters for travellers who are on a fly-in safari.

• Swakopmund: 387km (about 4h45m drive).
• Etosha National Park – Andersson Gate: 247km (about 3 hours).
• Etosha National Park – Galton Gate: 154km (about 2 hours).
• Khorixas: 87.1km (1h20m).

Nearby Attractions

• Visit Twyfelfontein, Namibia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Twyfelfontein is home to one of Africa’s largest collections of rock engravings.
• See 260-million-year-old trees at the Petrified Forest – a national monument just past Khorixas.
• Discover more of Damaraland’s attractions including the Damara Living Museum, Organ Pipes and Burnt Mountain.

Activities and Experiences

• Desert Elephant Drives: this full day activity starts early and explores the ephemeral Huab & Aba-Huab Rivers in search of the Huab-Ugab herd of desert-adapted elephants. Kudu, Hartmann’s mountain zebra, and Oryx can also be seen.
• Scenic and/or sundowner drive: explore the nature reserve after breakfast in a game viewer vehicle or take a drive in the late afternoon and witness how beautiful Namibian sunsets are.
• Unique Rock art: the Damaraland region offers more rock art than any other region in Namibia. Old tools and shards can be seen.
• Stargazing: Huab Lodge is a great stargazing lodge in Namibia with no light pollution and a telescope available to view Jupiter’s moons, Saturn’s rings, and the Jewel Box in the Southern Cross.
• Bird-watching & Photography: Sit in a hide and take photos of birds you will not find easily anywhere else.
• Walking & Hiking: various walks are available ranging from short walks to longer hiking excursions.
• Bush spa treatments and thermal spring bathing.