Koha Guesthouse

The site’s well placed for easy access to the rest of the country. It’s roughly midway between the cities of Keetmanshoop and Windhoek (two hours 10 minutes’ drive to the former, and two hours 40 minutes to the latter); a station serving the TransNamib trainline, which connects the two, is 10 minutes from base in Mariental. There’s more to Mariental than just the station, too: a handful of restaurants should see guests well-fed, shops will keep fridges well-stocked for barbecue nights, and a local butcher is a must-visit for biltong and dry wors. Further afield, make the trip to Maltahöhe (an hour and five minutes) to visit Oahera Centre, which promotes the Nama culture and its tongue-click-filled language. Sign up for donkey cart rides and guided hikes at the centre, spend some time browsing in the African art shop, or sample local eats at the restaurant. Lucky enough to be travelling on even further, or happy to take longer drives? It’s two hours from base to the faux-medieval Duwisib Castle and the Neuras Wine and Wildlife Estate, and four hours to the Namib desert’s famed Sossuvlei and Deadvlei.