Solitaire Roadhouse

Solitaire is a handful of buildings at the junction of the C14 and the C19, on the edge of the Namib-Naukluft National Park, and the Roadhouse is its hotel. Most self-drivers heading between Sossusvlei and the coast stop here anyway for fuel and something from the bakery, so staying the night is an easy add-on. It used to be Solitaire Lodge, and the Namibia Tourism Board directory still lists it as Solitaire Country Lodge. The owners have since renamed it Solitaire Roadhouse.

What to expect

There are 25 air-conditioned rooms set around a desert garden. Each has two double beds, an en-suite shower built for wheelchair access and a small outdoor seating area. Two family rooms add a pair of twin beds and sleep six. Breakfast and dinner are served at Cafe van der Lee, named after Ton van der Lee, the Dutch writer who once ran the place and wrote a book about it. There is a pool with thatched shade and an open-air bar for sunset.

Practical details

• Phone +264 63 293 619. Reservations +264 81 560 1400 or reservations@solitairenamibia.com.
• Walk-ins are accepted, but I would book ahead in the busy months.
• Wi-Fi covers the property.
• Fuel (petrol and diesel), tyre repairs, a general dealer with an ATM, and the bakery are all a short walk away.

Good to know

The owners say this is the only petrol stop between Sossusvlei and Swakopmund, so fill up here whichever way you are going. The settlement goes back to 1948, when Willem van Coller bought the land to farm karakul sheep. The small Dutch Reformed church, begun that year and finished in 1951, is still in use. Pilots can land at the private airstrip (FYSO) just past the campsite. The owners also run Solitaire Mountain Lodge, about 7 km away, and a campsite beside the Roadhouse.

Last updated 7 October 2026. Sources: Solitaire Namibia, Wikipedia, Namibia Tourism Board.