'The Nest ', the highly original villa designed by the South African architect Porky Heffer , could not have any other backdrop than the 24,000 hectares of the Namib Tsaris nature reserve. Located between the Nubib and Zaris Mountains in the Namib Desert, the self-contained lodge emulates the large, rounded nests of the republican weavers, which can house hundreds of these Southern African birds at once.
Staying in this house is one of those experiences that goes directly on our bucket list, that list of trips that we all want to do before we die.
The reasons are many, and they begin with its highly original architecture, which It took five years to complete and three to build. . Thus, the building is made with materials typical of the area, such as reeds, and integrated into the environment even inside thanks to details such as the granite walls, treated to emulate the bark of the thorny acacias that populate the landscape. surrounding.
The walls of The Nest mimic the bark of trees in the area
But, in addition, the villa, with three rooms, has on its payroll a private butler, a renowned chef and one of the best naturalists in the country , which serves as a guide for those who want to know the fauna and flora of the area. The rental price also includes a helicopter transfer to the Sossusvlei salt flats , to enjoy from the sky the incredible views of the high red sand dunes that surround it, forming an extensive sea of sand. The set has been declared World Heritage.
Likewise, the company offers guests many other activities to get to know the landscape, such as safaris by car, on foot or by electric mountain bike, as well as balloon rides.
A UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT... AND VERY LIVE
The valley in which The Nest, a unique house in the world, is located is "a true oasis in the desert, with pools and waterfalls of seasonal natural water, which makes it a magnet for herds of animals that move through the area," they explain from the local safari company Ultimate Safaris. It is possible to spot them without disturbing them from a nearby, lighted waterhole, which "provides an exciting and varied view of desert wildlife, as well as being an incredible bird-watching spot."*
Unforgettable aerial view of Sossusvlei sand dunes at sunrise
The Namib Tsaris Conservancy, the area in which the property is located, is a private nature reserve founded by conservationist Swen Bachran in 2010, and serves as a natural "buffer" from the harsher desert conditions, as well as a refuge which vital for wildlife during the dry season.
Since its acquisition, the Bachran team has been working hard to reverse 60 years of inappropriate farming practices , including the removal of 89 kilometers of internal fences, the installation of watering holes for wildlife, the improvement of road networks, the rehabilitation of land and the reintroduction of the species that historically inhabited the area.
The result, according to Ultimate Safaris, is one of the most picturesque and ecologically sound tracts of land in the area, with a wide variety of animals including zebras, giraffes, oryx, hyenas, leopards, cheetahs, baboons... "It's known that zebras often join guests to enjoy a movie in the house's outdoor cinema . And surprisingly, the local troop of baboons have resorted to watching with interest rather than destroying out of curiosity," Heffer, the villa's creator, told the trade publication Dezeen. Doesn't that sound like the world's most amazing experience?