Cape Cross is a modern lodge an hour’s drive north of Swakopmund on Namibia’s Atlantic Coast, set on a private beach just metres from the ocean. The area is named the Skeleton Coast because it is home to so many wrecks of ships that fell foul of the thick, coastal fog and the lodge is home to a museum that houses many items of beach-combed booty like whale bones and old bottles – the remnants of past settlers’ visits. There are 18 rooms and 2 suites here, all facing the sea and posing the dilemma of whether to go for a ground floor room with a balcony that opens directly onto the beach, or a first-floor one with better views. All of the communal areas have floor-to-ceiling windows which flood the rooms with light and reveal endless vistas of the ocean and surrounding wilderness. Back inside, the guest rooms are airy and elegant, with wooden floors, comfortable beds and small, seating areas facing the sea. The ensuite bathrooms are roomy and luxurious, with twin vanities, deep soaking tub and separate glass enclosed shower. The suites are slightly larger, with more living space and bigger balconies. There’s an excellent restaurant on site, also open to non-residents, which is open all day for breakfast, lunch, dinner and afternoon tea. Great selections of seafood, meat and game are available. The main attraction nearby is the massive colony of Cape Fur Seals just 2km away and the area is great for fishing. More unexpected are the large number of jackal and brown hyena that roam the land and the birdlife here is prolific.
