Spring showers bring May flowers, as the saying goes and we have found the ultimate outdoor desert shower for the month of May. This week, with spring in full bloom, we went overseas to find a watery oasis in the middle of the desert.

At the Sossusvlei Desert Lodge in Namibia the rooms are luxury accommodations inside tents so the experience is “roughing it” on the outside with comfort on the inside.  The outdoor shower offers views of the oldest desert in the world. Organic amenities add to the natural fresh-air feeling of the shower. The African Grass bath products are produced in South Africa using local herbs and minerals.

Complimentary pocket telescopes found in the rooms should be kept by the shower so oryx, springbok, jackal or hyenas can be viewed clearly if they happen to wander by. The telescopes also come out at night. Stars play a leading role at this lodge where not only can visitors shower under the stars but there is an on-site astronomer to assist with stargazing. Everything about this retreat encourages travelers to enjoy Namibia’s unique panorama, even the skylight over the bed.

Namibia was a German colony so it is fitting that one of the highlights of Sossusvlei Lodge is relaxing in the Acacia Beer Garden by the pool.  We can’t decide what’s more enticing, showering outdoors before relaxing at the pool, or showering outdoors after relaxing at the pool.  Tough choice.

Don’t Miss Last Week’s Luxe Lavs Spotlight on the Post Ranch Inn and discover the World’s Most Spectacular and Surprising Hotel Bathrooms.

By Angela Fairhurst and Natalie Compagno for PeterGreenberg.com