Ongava Tented Camp

The unfenced Ongava Tented Camp is a small camp nestled in mopane woodland at the foot of a small hill on the private 300km2 Ongava Reserve. The reserve borders Etosha National Park on the south side near Andersson’s Gate and is an ideal base for exploring the park.

There are just 10 Large, Meru-style tents at Ongava Tented Camp, some with views over a waterhole. Each of the tents is raised up on a wooden deck and entered through wooden double doors from a large veranda with directors’ chairs. Inside, they’re comfortably furnished with a central bed, a comfortable sofa and an old-fashioned chair and desk. A dividing wall behind the bed conceals a cupboard, luggage rack and laundry basket.

Ongava Tented Camp’s stone-and-thatch main area consists of a bar and lounge, and an adjoining dining room with one large table for informal communal dining. In the lounge area is a small selection of books, as well as a photo album showing previous game sightings. Outside, offering great views of the much-frequented waterhole, is a refreshing swimming pool and a veranda. Directors’ chairs are arranged in a circle around a firepit – perfect for pre- and post-dinner drinks – and another row of chairs faces the waterhole.

All activities are included at Ongava Tented Camp, and consist of guided walks including the chance to track white rhino on foot (only during the dry season), game drives on the reserve, birding and spending time in hides. They also offer night drives in the summer when the vegetation is thinner. Ongava is one of relatively few private game reserves in southern Africa where you have a real chance to see both black and white rhino. Of course, there are also half- and full-day game drives in open 4×4 vehicles into Etosha National Park, as well as sundowner drives on the reserve.