Solitaire Namibia: Apple Pie and Cheetahs in the Desert

Can you think of two better things to find in the desert than cheetahs and apple pie?

I can’t! Especially in an out-of-the-way spot like this. If you’re at all with this southwest African desert country, then the remoteness of the charming and historic Solitaire Namibia won’t surprise you.

This tiny town offers the only glimmer of civilization within 144 km. And of course, civilization is a bit of a subjective term. You won’t find theatre or shopping malls here, or a wide selection of restaurants.

What you will find is the perfect place to stop, stretch your legs. You can also pick up whatever you need to carry on with your journey through Namibia.

Small in size but big on conveniences, you can count on Solitaire for great road food, cold drinks, and repairs for that tire you blew a ways back.

There are even a couple of places to stay if you fall in love with the place. Or just need a break from driving.

Read on to find out more about this iconic little settlement.

Solitaire, Namibia: Where Is It?

Solitaire is about 153 km, or 95 miles from the Namibian coast, as the crow flies. But if you’re driving, you’ll find it 144 km northeast of Sossusvlei.

It’s a bit farther to Walvis Bay, at 232 km (144 miles), and farther still to Windhoek, at 252 km (157 miles).

All you really need to know is, fill up with gas before you hit the road for Solitaire.

And fill up before you leave. Wherever you’re headed.

The town is located where 2 main highways cross, so it gets its fair share of traffic. The C14 and the C19 will both bring you to Solitaire.

It’s also just south of the Tropic of Capricorn, on the edge of the Namib-Naukluft National Park. At 49,768 km² (19,216 miles²), this Park is the largest game park in Africa and hosts a myriad of adventurous ways to explore the world’s oldest desert.

Some of the more popular ones include hiking, hot air ballooning and quad biking. Suffice it to say, it’s a popular area for visitors to Namibia.

Solitaire town began in 1948, when the land that it’s on was bought as a private sheep farm. The buyer, a man named Willem Van Coller, was responsible for putting in the first gas pump, as well as building the first shop. That shop is still in use today.

Solitaire has been open to the public since 1949, when the shop began to act as a regional post office. Before too long, a chapel was added to the growing settlement.

The little chapel building is still a main player in town activities. As well as its regular Dutch-Reformed services, it hosts health clinics and elections, and also acts as a community hall.

These days you can even fly into Solitaire. You’ll find a packed-sand airstrip, popular with charter operators and private pilots. However, if you’d like to land in Solitaire, you’ll need to make advance arrangements for your AVGas.

Despite the dry and desolate appearance of the Solitaire area, it’s actually considered only semi-arid. It is no stranger to drought, though. Even so, the acres surrounding the town, collectively making up the Solitaire Land Trust, are home to a variety of wildlife.

You might see kudus and oryx, and of course Hartmann’s mountain zebras. If you’re lucky you might even see a couple of adorable yet evilly mischievous-looking bat-eared foxes.

The Solitaire Land Trust

Solitaire Namibia sits at the heart of the 45,000-acre Solitaire Land Trust. The goal of the trust is to rehabilitate and restore the habitat of wildlife migration corridors throughout this area.

The town of Solitaire itself funds these efforts. Every purchase made in the town businesses contributes to habitat conservation.

So have that second piece of apple pie, and load up with a few souvenirs from the gift shop.

Solitaire Services

First and most important things first – the bakery. Moose McGregor’s is THE place for the famous Solitaire Namibia apple pie – it doesn’t get better than this. Add a great cup of coffee and some fresh bread, and you won’t want to leave.

You can have lunch here, too, but I suggest dessert first – to make sure you have room.

The gas station has ice cream! As well as filling up the car, you can pick up snacks and cold drinks to get you through the next few hours’ drive to your next stop.

There’s also a gift shop nearby with a unique and interesting selection and a small general store. The Cafe van der Lee has a good selection of lunch and dinner options, plus wines and cold beer.

In addition, Solitaire has an auto shop for small repairs. More importantly, they repair tires. It’s reassuring to know that there’s someplace out here in the middle of the desert that can fix your tire if you should get a flat.

Solitaire Tip: If you’re looking forward to seeing what Solitaire has, and you have a choice when it comes to your arrival time in Solitaire, the earlier the better. Tour buses stop in at different times throughout the day, and your wait times will be affected. The town gets rolling at 4 am, so it’s hard to be too early!

Solitaire Accommodations

There are a few choices if you’d like to stay awhile around Solitaire.

Solitaire Lodge:

This basic but very comfortable accommodation has air conditioning and a lovely pool and garden area. Activities include hiking and mountain biking trails, and of course wildlife viewing.

You can choose between a cafe and a restaurant for your meals; the bar has cold beer on tap. There’s even WiFi in some of the public areas, and laundry facilities.

If you’d rather commune with nature while you sleep, you might opt for the Lodge’s campsites.

You may get the opportunity to take a ride out to a viewpoint for a sundowner in the desert. The sun seems to hit differently in the desert, making for sunsets that could be the highlight of your stay.

Solitaire Desert Farm

The Farm is a more upscale option about 7 km outside town. They offer just about everything you might need for your stay – 2 pools, an outdoor bar and a restaurant.

Laundry facilities are available, as is a dry cleaning service. WiFi is available but can be patchy, as with many remote places the world over.

Activities are similar to the lodge, with hiking and biking trails and wildlife drives. The Farm may also offer sundowners. If they do, go. It’s a tradition in Africa for a reason.

There are other lodges and campgrounds around, but you’ll have to drive a bit to reach any of them. If the above don’t tickle your fancy, have a look at these other options.

Solitaire Namibia Map

What to Do In Solitaire Namibia and Area

In addition to the hiking, biking, and wildlife viewing mentioned with the accommodations above, there are a few other activities to keep you moving around Solitaire.

• One of the most notable is the Namib Carnivore Conservation Centre. The Centre is a refuge for cheetahs who aren’t yet able to be released into the wild.
  
  You’ll have the chance to observe these cheetahs up close. Don’t expect dramatic prey hunting or chase scenes. Just as in the wild, the big cats tend to spend daylight hours sleeping under a tree.
  
  What you can expect is a fantastic chance to see these beautiful animals, and learn about them from their passionate caregivers. In addition, the entry fee goes toward the Centre’s conservation efforts.

• You might also want to wander through the town and check out the assortment of interesting vintage cars scattered around. You’ll find similar cars in various places around southern Namibia.

• A little further afield is Kuiseb Canyon. You can explore the area where two German geologists hid to escape imprisonment during WWII.
  
  They remained hidden in the desert for two years. One of those men, Henno Martin, later recounted the ordeal in the book The Sheltering Desert.
  
  The canyon is largely uninhabited. But, if you happen to wander into the valley near the north river bank, you might run into one of the few Topnaar Khoikhoi villages in the area.

• A hot air balloon ride over the Namib Desert is an incredible experience. In Solitaire you’ll get the chance to find out just how incredible at Samawati Hot Air Ballooning. Visit their website to check it out.

• While you’re in this isolated spot, take advantage of the lack of light pollution and gaze up at the stars. With its sparse urban settings and low population contributing to its darkest dark, Namibia has some of the best stargazing around.