There are two hotels in town, the Rio Monte (PO Box 3257; tel: 062 522572), and the Suidwes Hotel (PO Box 3300; tel: 062 522238). Both are in the centre of town, just to the east of the main road, and appear as if they rent their rooms by the hour or the night. Neither is recommended unless you're desperate, though both are very cheap. Better options are Reho Spa and Lake Oanob Resort:

Reho Spa

(21 bungalows, camping) P Bag 1025, Rehoboth; tel: 062 522774; fax: 062 522769; email: reservations@mweb.com.na; web: www.namibiawildliferesorts.com

Run by the NWR, this small restcamp is built around the town's hot-water springs. Although it's signposted from the B1, it's not quite as easy to find as you'd expect.

The simplest approach is to turn east off the B1 at the Echo/Total garage. Follow this to the end, then turn left; Reho Spa is on the left. There's a memorable indoor jacuzzi of thermal spring water the size of a swimming pool, as well as a large outdoor pool and some good bungalow accommodation. The place can be marvellously empty if you avoid the weekends and holidays. All the bungalows here have a fridge, cooker, washbasin, toilet, and bath or shower, and campsites are available.

Rates: N$200 for a 4-bed bungalow, N$220 for 5-bed, and N$280 for 6-bed,; luxury 4-bed bungalow N$325. Camping is N$90 per site, with powerpoint, up to four people, plus N$10 per additional person up to a maximum of eight.

Lake Oanob

West of Rehoboth is Lake Oanob, created by the construction of the highest dam in Namibia. Completed in 1990, it is also one of the country's newest dams. There is a display at the lookout point showing 'before' and 'after' photos of the dam's construction, as well as some of the technical drawings used. It's an amazing thought that such a small body of water as this has a catchment area of about 2,700km2.

To reach the dam, take the D1280 west of the B1, about 8km before Rehoboth, and follow this road for around 7km. There is a small entrance fee of N$10 per person.

Lake Oanob Resort

(10 rooms, 5 chalets, camping) PO Box 3381, Rehoboth; tel: 062 522370; fax: 062 524112; email: oanob@iafrica.com.na

Built to cater for the numerous city-dwellers who use the place as a weekend escape, Lake Oanob Resort has expanded in recent years, adding a small number of rooms and self-catering chalets overlooking the lake to the simple campsite here. En-suite rooms have rustic furnishings, and each has a small veranda – ideal for checking out the night sky – while the chalets are extremely well equipped for a longer stay. There's an outside bar/restaurant on site that is relaxed and friendly, albeit chilly in winter.

Fishing is available on the lake, and watersports enthusiasts are catered for with a range of facilities that include water-skiing, aqua-biking and kayaking. On land, there are short walking trails and bridle paths (horses available) around the lake. It's a pretty good place for birdwatching, too, with fish eagles and pelicans frequenting the area, and plans are under way to reintroduce game to the park, with springbok, blesbok and ostrich already in residence. As a short stop on the way south from Windhoek, this is well worth investigating.

Rates: single N$360, double N$450, family N$580, including breakfast; 2-bedroom chalet from N$500, 3-bedroom chalet from N$600. Camping N$100–160.