The rooms here are a mix of safari chic (think zebra rugs) and grandma decor (chintzy knick-knacks and floral prints); the eclectic blend of styles won't be to everyone's taste. But this is one of the cheaper options in the area and it's all very comfortable. Activities include Bushman walks, and cheetah and leopard feeding.

The Harnas Wildlife Foundation & Guest Farm is a rural development project that likens itself to Noah’s Ark. Here you can see wildlife close up, including rescued cheetahs, leopards and lions. A wide range of accommodation is available, including options for full board, and there are plenty of activities here to keep you amused for a couple of days – kids will love it.

Many of the animals here are caged and there's not much that's wild, but since most animals were either orphaned or injured, they would be unable to survive were it not for the foundation. Activities include an afternoon wander through the various enclosures (you'll join the feeding of the mongooses, play with baby cheetahs...), a morning game drive to watch as lions, leopards, cheetahs, African wild dogs and other species are fed, and a lion's-roar sundowner – quite an experience.

To get here, turn north on the C22 past Gobabis and continue for 45km, then drive east on the D1668 for another 45km (following the signs).

Some 26km into Namibia west of the Mamuno border post, and 85km east of Gobabis, Kalahari Bush Breaks is a lovely spot run by Elsabe and Ronnie who bring much warmth to the experience of chilling in the Kalahari. The eight rooms are warm and lovingly appointed, four with fabulous views out into the eternity of the Kalahari. There's a stunning swimming pool, good restaurant, and a campsite.

There are some excellent walks on the 50 sq km farm, some ancient rock engravings and you might see one of the free-roaming cheetahs if you're lucky on the 4WD trail.

In a remote corner of the Namibian Kalahari, just across the border from the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park shared between Botswana and South Africa, Kalahari Game Lodge has eight lovely chalets and an excellent camping area. Rooms have the whole "wood, linen and colourful throws thing" down pat, while there's a fine restaurant and bar, too. Scenic game drives, lion tracking and night drives are highlights here, and there's a self-guided 4WD trail.

Part of a 46 sq km farm, SanDüne Lodge has luxury Meru-style safari tents and comfortable standard rooms in the main lodge building. Although quite pricey by Namibian standards, they're a steal when compared with similar places in Botswana.

The East Gate Service Station & Rest Camp rises from the desert like a mirage, and is a decent enough place to crash if you’re not particularly fussy. The restaurant serves simple roadside fare such as burgers, but you'll appreciate it as it's the only place on either side of the border for a square meal.

This cosy guesthouse is located in a quiet, garden-like suburban setting and centred on a refreshing swimming pool surrounded by all manner of potted plants. Well-priced rooms pay tribute to the wilds of Namibia with ample animal prints, although the proliferation of zebra stripes in some rooms can start to do your head in after a while...

This big old stalwart is a great bastion of hospitality. The stone buildings with sweeping thatched roofs stay cool in summer and have plenty of room. The rooms are a little old-fashioned but large and comfortable, while the grounds are a green oasis in an otherwise dusty setting, it’s 2km north of town, opposite the D2110 turnoff.

This German cafe and bakery serves tasty breakfasts and lunches including toasties, bread rolls, sandwiches, salads, freshly made pies, a cold platter and game steaks, along with hot and cold drinks.

This appealing campsite has four sites with fine views out over the plains and mountains. Sites have hot and cold showers, toilets, fireplaces (firewood costs N$25 a bundle) and a tap. Hiking trails and excursions to nearby rock-art sites are highlights.

At the base of the Erongo foothills, this historic guest farm offers accommodation in the farmhouse, adjacent to a landscaped pool, a lapa (a circular area with a fire pit, used for socialising) and the well-maintained campsite. Ameib Gästehaus owns the concessions on Phillips Cave, and issues permits for the sight in addition to guided hikes and day tours.

The ‘Green Hill’ Ranch was established in 1864 as a Rhenish mission station.

This lovely spot by a (usually dry) riverbed has shady, well-tended campsites, as well as eclectic but extremely comfortable rooms with whitewashed walls and creative use of wood in the decor. Activities include day tours into the mountains and Bushman activities.

This highly acclaimed wilderness retreat combines spectacular mountain scenery, wildlife viewing, birdwatching and environmentally sensitive architecture to create one of Namibia’s most memorable lodges. Accommodation is in one of 10 tented bungalows, which are built on wooden stilts among towering granite pillars crawling with rock hyrax. The restaurant overlooks a water hole where you might see kudus or genets.

When you’re not lounging in front of the fireplace in the main lodge, you can take a guided walk (cost included in the full-board price) or a nature drive (N$485). Birders will enjoy the fact that rosy-faced lovebirds, Hartlaub's francolin and freckled nightjars are often seen in the area.

To get to the lodge, go to Omaruru, turn west on the D2315 (off the Karibib road 2km south of town) and continue for 10km.

This place is the town’s focal point for eating and drinking, and has rondavels (round huts) in the huge garden – they are simple concrete set-ups with small beds, clean linen and good bathrooms. The dining room may well be the only show in town in the evening for dinner. Fortunately, the standard of food is pretty good for a remote pub – there are German favourites plus local game dishes (mains N$80).

Offering a swag of accommodation, upmarket Kashana has luxury bungalows and spare but nicely furnished rooms set around a large shady courtyard. In the main building is a bar and restaurant. Also based here is a goldsmith and a shop selling herbal products.

The camping here is the best in town, with some great shady trees to pitch a tent under and excellent facilities including fireplaces and power outlets. You may just have the family dogs keeping you company as well. The rooms are tidy and comfortable, and surround a shady courtyard well set up for relaxing.

At the welcoming White Lady B&B, simple, well-kept rooms are a good size, and the small orderly campsite has some shady trees. Dinner is also available.

A fairly basic in-town choice that could serve as a base for visiting the Brandberg, this rest camp has fairly standard accommodation that won't win any style awards but is clean and ample for a night. The campsites lack any sense of being out in the Namibian wilds, but are otherwise fine.

Aside from hosting the dinosaur tracks, Otjihaenamparero Farm has a three-room guesthouse offering B&B; dinner can be organised for an additional cost (N$180). There’s also a small campground.

The Mt Etjo Safari Lodge, in the heart of the private Okonjati Game Reserve, provides access to a small set of dinosaur tracks, which are located on the edge of the appropriately named Dinosaur Campsite. Accommodation is either in the main safari lodge, an upmarket affair that benefits from the beauty of the surrounding nature, or in the expensive but entirely private campsite, a few kilometres down the road.

‘Mt Etjo’ means place of refuge, and refers to the nearby table mountain. It could also refer to the rescued lions and cheetahs that inhabit the farm – watching them being fed is one of the activities here. Other possibilities include rhino tracking and visits to a local school.

Mt Etjo's place in history was sealed in April 1989 when the Mt Etjo Peace Agreement was signed, ending the South-West African People’s Organisation’s (Swapo) liberation struggle and setting the stage for Namibian independence the following March.

The lodge is 35km from Kalkfeld via the D2414 and the D2483 – just follow the brightly painted signs.