Ongava Lodge

Perched on the top of a small kopje (rocky outcrop), overlooking the plains below, Ongava Lodge was the original ‘luxury game lodge’ near Etosha. It stands on the private Ongava Game Reserve, which borders the southern side of Etosha National Park near the Andersson Gate, south of Okaukuejo.

Both black and white rhino have been successfully reintroduced onto the Ongava Reserve. Although the rhino species is becoming increasingly rare, there are some great sightings here. Birdwatching on the Ongava Reserve can also be very good, with ten out of Namibia’s 14 endemic species to be found here, including the bare-cheeked babbler, violet wood-hoopoe, Carp’s tit and red-necked falcon.

The hub of Ongava Lodge itself is the main lounge, bar and dining area, which has great views down to the waterhole below, and across to the unpronounceable Ondundozonanandana hill range. Meals are served either here or under the stars on the dining deck, where one evening, while enjoying a delicious dinner, we watched a white rhino come to drink at the floodlit waterhole. There is also a welcoming swimming pool.

Ongava Lodge has 14 large, stone-and-thatch chalets, all with a private wooden veranda, and most with great views across the plains below. Each stylish room has air conditioning and an overhead fan, 24-hour 220V electricity, tea- and coffee-making facilities and large mosquito nets around the beds.

Activities at Ongava Lodge, as at its sister lodges on the reserve – Little Ongava, Ongava Tented Camp, and Andersson’s Camp – focus firmly on game safaris. As well as guided 4WD game safaris in open 4WDs, Ongava Lodge offers guided walking safaris; also night game drives which are not possible for many properties in the Etosha area. Ongava also has a hide near the camp, which is good for photographers, but it is popular and visits need to be requested in advance.