Ongava Tented Camp

Highlights

• Eight A-frame Meru-style canvas tents on raised decks, each with indoor and outdoor showers
• Day and night game drives on the 74,000-acre private Ongava Game Reserve in open 4x4 Land Cruisers, capped at six guests per vehicle for an outside seat each
• Half- and full-day excursions into Etosha National Park for big game around the pan's waterholes
• Both black and white rhino on the reserve, plus the largest population of endemic black-faced impala outside Etosha
• Floodlit waterhole at the main deck, a dedicated Photographers Hide and access to the Ongava Discovery Centre

You Should Know

• Guided nature walks require a minimum guest age of 16 and are seasonal, subject to the availability of a qualified walking guide
• Bookings with children aged 0 to 11 require the whole camp to be taken on an exclusive-use basis
• Children aged 16 and under must share accommodation with at least one adult; guests aged 17 and over pay adult rates
• No air-conditioning in tents; a 220V standing fan is provided, with hot water bottles and extra blankets in winter
• Self-drive guests can reach the camp by road but may not self-drive in the private concession

The Details

Location

The camp sits on the 74,000-acre private Ongava Game Reserve in northern Namibia, along the southern boundary of Etosha National Park, south of Okaukuejo. Ombika Gate is the closest access into Etosha, and the reserve acts as a buffer to the park.

Guests fly in to Ongava Airstrip followed by a 30-minute road transfer to camp. The A-frame Meru-style tents take their shape from Mount Meru in Tanzania, the 'mountain of shining light', and the main stone and thatched lounge looks out over a small floodlit waterhole.

Accommodation

The camp sleeps up to 18 guests across eight luxury canvas tents: seven twin-bedded tents with two three-quarter beds that convert to a double, and one family unit with two bedrooms each holding two three-quarter beds, a private bathroom and its own entrance, linked by a short curved walkway.

Each tent is set on a raised deck with double doors, an open-plan interior, en-suite flush toilet, vanity basin and both indoor and outdoor showers. Tents come with a mosquito net, writing desk, easy chair, luggage rack, tea and coffee station, electronic safe and a 220V standing fan, along with bathrobes, full bath amenities, insect repellent, an umbrella and a laundry bag. Power is supplied by solar, with plug points for charging and small appliances. Separate twin-bedded rooms with en-suite bathrooms are provided for visiting guides, pilots and tour leaders.

Dining

Meals are taken in the stone and thatched main area, which houses the bar, dining room and open deck with a campfire facing the floodlit waterhole. A typical day starts with a light grab-and-go breakfast of muesli, yogurt and fruit before the morning activity, followed by a hearty meal back in camp, afternoon tea, and dinner under the stars with a nightcap by the fire. During winter the main area is warmed by a gas heater and chenille blankets are laid out for dinner.

Wildlife and Activities

All activities run on a fully inclusive basis. Day and night game drives explore the Ongava Game Reserve in 10-seater open 4x4 Land Cruisers carrying a maximum of six guests, so everyone has an outside seat. Half- and full-day excursions head into Etosha National Park, where waterholes around the 1,930-square-mile pan draw elephant, lion, springbok, wildebeest, zebra, giraffe and gemsbok in the dry season.

On the reserve itself, guests look for lion, Hartmann's mountain zebra, red hartebeest, eland, giraffe and the endemic black-faced impala, with both black and white rhino present following successful reintroductions. Seasonal guided walks are offered for guests aged 16 and over, and a Sole Use Guide and Vehicle option can be added to the fully inclusive rate for private activities. Additional outings include the Ongava Discovery Centre, the Ongava Research Centre and the Photographers Hide. Birdlife runs to 340 species, including Kori Bustard, White-tailed Shrike, Hartlaub's Francolin, Rüppell's Parrot and Greater Kestrel.

Price Includes

• Accommodation in a twin-bedded luxury tent
• All meals
• Twice-daily scheduled camp activities, including day and night game drives and Etosha excursions
• Park fees
• Daily laundry, weather permitting
• Local drinks (excludes premium imported brands and champagne)
• Namibian VAT and Tourism levy