Location
Aus is between the Fish River Canyon and Soussesvlei, with Desert Horse looking over the Namib and nestled in the rocky hills.
Klein-Aus Vista, Desert Horse Inn, offers a good base for visiting the wild horses in Aus that the area is famous for, or exploring the eerie ghost town at Kolmanskop. It also works well for breaking the journey between Fish River Canyon to Sossusvlei.
Hike through the barren rock outcrops in this starkly beautiful landscape, where ostriches run into the distance and klipspringers leap delicately from boulders.
Witness the slow but destructive power of desert sands as they reclaim the ghostly abandoned diamond town of Kolmanskop, only a short drive away.
Feel the adrenaline as you rush down the desert slopes from Desert Horse Inn on a mountain bike.
The rocks glow in the setting sun as you watch the light fade from the panoramic deck at the Inn.
Desert Horse inn, the sister property to Eagles Nest on the same reserve, offers beautiful scenery with a mixture of mountain and desert landscapes. Due to its location, a stay here is often used as an overnight to break the long drive between Fish River Canyon and Sossusvlei. For those who have a few days in the area the lodge has several marked trails for hiking, mountain biking and they can also arrange horse riding. The main attraction however is its proximity to Kolmanskop. Once a thriving diamond mining town, Kolmanskop was abandoned in 1954 and is now a photographers dream. The combination of harsh desert conditions and weather, has left the once wealthy town engulfed by sand with some buildings barely even visible.
Desert Horse Inn has 30 rooms and are reminiscent of an old farm house. Each room is ensuite and equipped with air conditioning, fridge, safe and tea and coffee making facilities. There is wifi reception at the main restaurant but not in the rooms and phone signal is sporadic. Meals are served in the main restaurant and guest and welcome to relax around the main swimming pool, the perfect respite after a long day on the road.
When to visit
Aus is between the Fish River Canyon and Soussesvlei, with Desert Horse looking over the Namib and nestled in the rocky hills.