Ongava Tented Camp

Ongava, meaning 'rhinoceros' in Herero, is a 30,000-hectare private game reserve on the southern boundary of Etosha National Park.

The entrance is just metres from the Okaukuejo/Anderson Gate. Ongava Reserve has been restored by Wilderness Safaris and has a high concentration of animals including, giraffe, gemsbok (oryx), red hartebeest, eland, wildebeest, zebra and the rare blackfaced impala. Lion, leopard and cheetah seek their prey on Ongava. White rhino were introduced and black rhino migrated onto the reserve. Local 'specials' include the short-toed rockthrush, Hartlaub's francolin, rockrunner, Rüppell's parrot, white-tailed shrike and chesnut weaver.

Three small, luxurious lodges offer the full Etosha experience with the addition of night drives and the chance to track game on foot in the reserve, activities that are not allowed or offered within the national park.

Ongava Tented Camp is an intimate, tented camp in the centre of the reserve, at the base of the foothills of the Ondundozonanandana Range.

Accommodation

The camp has eight tastefully furnished, traditional, East African tents with double doors, allowing for uninterrupted views of the surrounding bush. Some also look onto a waterhole in front of the camp. The ensuite bathroom is under thatch, with open-air private shower. The camp now offers family accommodation, allowing children over 8 to have a separate bedroom in the same unit as their parents.

Facilities

The bar and dining area is constructed of rock and thatch. The floodlit waterhole at the front of the camp is much frequented and guests can enjoy excellent game viewing from the verandah and swimming pool, or while enjoying drinks and dinner around the open-air fireplace.

Activities

Guests normally spend the morning in Etosha National Park and return to Ongava Tented Camp for lunch. After tea, guests head out onto the private reserve for an evening game drive and return to dine under the clear night skies. For those who seek close encounters with wildlife, Ongava offers the opportunity to track white rhino on foot (accompanied by an armed guide). Other options include full-day trips into Etosha, walks, and visiting one of the hides on the reserve.