Exploring Africa’s extremes on a luxury safari through Namibia and Botswana

I have never been to Mars, but I imagine this is what it would look like. It’s been a long, at times arduous journey but after a somewhat terrifying one-hour flight in a cramped four-seater propeller plane, I have arrived at a private airstrip surrounded by nothing except sand and craggy, granite mountains. We are on the eastern edge of the Namib Desert. It very much lives up to its name that in the local Nama language means “an area where there is nothing”. One of the world’s oldest, dating back at least 55 million years, the Namib is fabled for its towering sand dunes that stretch west all the way to the wild Atlantic coast.

Encased entirely in glass, each 893 sq ft villa has an expansive living room, fireplace, indoor and outdoor showers and a generous private pool. No matter where you stand – bathroom included – you can bask in unobstructed desert vistas.

Luxury amenities aside, it’s the small, thoughtful details that stand out. A special hatch allows the butler to make discreet deliveries without my ever having to open the door. I can mix my own cocktails at the bespoke in-room bar stocked with every spirit imaginable plus freshly made snacks. There are also watercolours, paintbrushes and crayons for when I am feeling artistic, and a retractable roof ideal for stargazing.

As with traditional safaris, most activities take place in the early morning and late afternoon. There’s a huge variety on offer, ranging from outdoor bush breakfasts complete with table service and shakshuka cooked on a charcoal grill, to romantic sundowners on the dunes. Then you have the adventures – hot air ballooning, helicopter rides, ATV excursions, guided hikes and visits to ancient caves decorated with paintings by the San people, considered the oldest collection of indigenous groups in Africa.

High on everyone’s list is a visit to Namib-Naukluft National Park, which features some of the world’s largest and oldest sand dunes, including the tallest in the area, Big Daddy, at over 325 metres (1,066ft) high. Those with iron will and buns of steel can choose to climb its steep ridges. The sand seems to slide away underneath your every step, making the trek feel almost futile.