Ongava Game Lodge
Etosha, Namibia
ONGAVA GAME LODGE - ETOSHA,
NAMIBIA
Ongava Game Reserve, a 70,000 acre
private reserve on the southern boundary of Namibia's Etosha National
Park, has three camps: Ongava Lodge,
Ongava Tented Camp and Little
Ongava, each
located in a different part of the reserve. Guests can choose the style
of accommodation
and
size of camp that suits
them
best.
The
camps are managed independently and each has its own full-time staff,
guides, managers and vehicles. All three camps have a similar activity
schedule. Ongava Tented Camp is situated more towards the center of the
game reserve, at the base of the foothills of the Ondundozonanandana
Range, meaning "mountain where the boy took the calves".
Etosha has great concentrations of game, especially in the dry winter
months, and there are wonderful views out onto the salt pans which dominate
the center of the park. Etosha's only drawback is that the accommodation
offered within the park is in the form of large, impersonal public rest
camps. Ongava offers an excellent alternative. Ongava Lodge is situated
on the private 66,000 hectare Ongava Game Reserve, which shares a
common border with Etosha. The lodge offers the full Etosha experience
while
providing great accommodation and service, as well as the opportunity
to take night drives and nature walks on the reserve, activities that
are not allowed within Etosha. Ongava Lodge is operated
by Wilderness Safaris.
Accommodation 
For images of Ongava Lodge, click Ongava
Images
Ongava Lodge has 12 chalets
which are attractively built out of brick and thatch close to the top of
a hill. Each chalet has an en-suite bathroom with flush toilet, bath, shower
and double hand basins. There is air conditioning in the rooms and overhead
fans. The rooms have glass fronted doors which lead out onto a private
covered verandah overlooking the bush. The main lounge, bar and dining
area are also under thatch with wonderful views across the plains and to
the floodlit waterhole below. Outdoor dining under the stars, whilst viewing
game drinking at the waterhole is something never to be forgotten. There
is also a swimming pool and a large curio shop, stocking a good selection
of African gifts and branded safari clothing. As the lodge is built close
to the top of a hill, there are several steps. If you can not climb steps,
we suggest you book into Ongava Tented Camp. An additional two luxury suites
were added during 2003.
Activities
Mornings are normally spent within
Etosha National Park, returning to Ongava in time for a well earned lunch.
After tea, guests head out onto the private reserve to enjoy more flora
and fauna. The option of tracking White Rhino on foot is available as
are night drives. Additional activities also include full day excursions
into Etosha National Park, taking along a picnic, subject to availability
of vehicles and also a visit to one of the hides on the property. Private
vehicles can be booked at an additional charge subject to availability
either prior to departure or directly with the Camp Manager.
Wildlife
Etosha National Park is Namibia's premier game viewing
destination. It is one of Africa's largest game parks, being nearly the
size of Switzerland.
Large herds of plains game concentrate around the waterhole's in the
dry season making for exciting game viewing. Species that can be seen
year
round include Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Giraffe, Zebra, Wildebeest,
Springbok, Oryx, Kudu and the diminutive Damara Dik-Dik. Birdlife is
also good with Ostrich and raptors in abundance. Local specials include
the Short-toed Rock Thrush, Hautlaub's Francolin, Rockrunner, Ruppell's
Parrot, Whitetailed Shrike and Chesnut Weaver. A highlight of Ongava
is that it is one of the few private game reserves in Southern Africa
where guests have a chance of seeing both Black and White Rhino. For
those who enjoy close wildlife encounters, tracking White Rhino on foot
with
an armed guide is a highlight not to be missed. Ongava Game reserve also
has a good population of Lion, Eland, Hartmann's Mountain Zebra, Black-faced
Impala and a number of other antelope species.
Etosha National Park
Etosha was first proclaimed
in 1907. The park originally stretched all the way to the Skeleton Coast
and, up to 1967, was the world's largest park. In 1967, the park's size
was slashed from nearly 10 million hectares to its current size of 2.7
million hectares (about the size of Switzerland). In the early 1990's a
group of Namibian, English, American and South African partners joined
together and bought 30,000 hectares of land on Etosha's southern boundary.
The aim of this venture was to create Namibia's finest private game reserve
and to create a buffer for Etosha along its southern boundary. Ongava (meaning
rhinoceros in Herero) was born, and a massive rehabilitation and restocking
program took place. White Rhino were introduced and over time Black Rhino
migrated onto the reserve. Many thousands of animals are now found on Ongava
including Elephant, Giraffe, Gemsbok (Oryx), Springbok, Red Hartebeest,
Eland, Wildebeest, Zebra and the rare Blackfaced Impala. Lion, Leopard
and Cheetah have also moved back onto the Ongava Reserve. Wilderness Safaris
manages Ongava Lodge and Ongava Tented camp for the owners.
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For
further information about the National Parks of Namibia, click Nam
Parks
For
History and General information about Namibia, click More
Namibia
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