KuanguKuangu

A never-to-be-forgotten escape from the world: a self-catering hideaway for 2 in a remote corner of the lunar Naukluft mountains

If your romantic idyll involves leaving the mundane far behind in favour of the wild, the beautiful and the remote, then this hidden retreat should be top of your African wishlist. Kuangukuangu - it comes from the Ovambo word for Milky Way - was born of a Frenchman's love for the amazing landscapes of the region where the Namib desert runs up to meet the Naukluft mountains. He chose an isolated corner of remote farmland, then crafted a wood and stone cabin in such a way that it seems born of the savannah which surrounds it to all sides. And thanks to the cabin's all-glass frontage, you also feel wedded to this hauntingly beautiful terrain.

This is a place for retreat, contemplation and star-gazing. The cabin is eco in the purest sense: solar powered, with a simple rocket boiler, bathroom open to the elements and spare decoration which makes what's outside rather than inside the lead player. And if self-catering isn't your thing, you can eat at the neighbouring Barchan Dunes lodge, where great food and fascinating conversation are guaranteed.

Highs

• Watching dawn over the savannah is a sight you'll never forget
• Staying here is a back-to-nature experience in the very purest sense
• There are no less than 4000 hectares of the Barchan Dune estate waiting to be explored on foot or by 4x4
• Willem and Hannetjie, owners of the neighbouring lodge, are the kindest of hosts with a deep understanding of the country and its people

Lows

• You could go for days without seeing another human being, although you should see plenty of buck as well as the occasional warthog, fox or jackal
• You'll need to bring in your own supplies unless you opt to have meals at the Barchan Dunes lodge
• Remember that it can get very hot here during the summer months (December through to mid February in Namibia)