Ongava: Experience Africa in a unique manner

When Tourismus Namibia was invited to visit Ongava Game Reserve for a weekend, it was decided do so without research, thus equipping us only with what was generally known about “Ongava”. Our visit was thus experienced as tourists would, visiting a luxury lodge and getting to learn what this unique African experience is all about.

We stayed in Ongava-Lodge during the first night and moved to Ongava Tented Lodge the next day. But in between lay an experience, which turned a two-day visit into what seemed to be a long holiday. This was made possible by staff, which literally carries visitors on their hands, awarding a top-class service, which is rare!

Do not visit Ongava believing that you need to cater for anything “just in case”. Ongava has made it their mission to fulfil your every dream and it starts with your arrival (we arrived at noon), as a welcome committee is quick to offer you refreshments and gather your belongings, carrying them up the steep hill, which allows the thatched roof housing the lounge and dining area to overlook a water hole, which in our case had its own welcome committee in the form of some very fine Kudu and the rare and ever so beautiful Waterbuck, which Ongava has successfully introduced into this area.

From there on it remains your choice when to make use of what amenity and opportunity: You may choose to visit the adjoining Etosha Game Reserve on one of the open safari vehicles or take a ride on Ongava itself, which has just as much to offer, or you might want to join the Rhino tracking experience.

After lunch we had settled for a quick nap in our luxury accommodation, sporting a veranda overlooking the water hole a mere sixty metres away, while offering distinguished ablution block and even an open-air shower overlooking the water hole. Wildlife was constantly coming and going.

We opted for the Ongava game- and sun-downer drive. Apart from enjoying the huge accumulation of game, were astounded by the deep knowledge of our guide Kapona, who used to be part of the game lodge’s anti-poaching team before becoming a guide: “People study and they come here for a few weeks and even longer, thereafter thinking that they know these animals. I have lived with our game for many years and I know their habits and understand how they reason in their quest for survival.”

With the Otjiherero word “Ongava” referring to a Rhinoceros, the game lodge is home to a substantial number of Rhinos, both black and white. These animals are jealously guarded, but so are all of the animals. We were treated to a big pride of lions, which had hunted down a giraffe a few days before and were still feeding on this huge carcass.

Being winter we joined the rest of the visitors for a splendid three-course dinner, but in summer would have likely opted for a swim.

The next morning was spent on the back of safari vehicle visiting Etosha - what a unique experience, especially in the company of our trusted guide, Kapona. Returning to the lodge for lunch we opted to drive to Ongava Tented Lodge so as to experience that side of the coin too. Boy, were we surprised. The welcoming committee had to wait for us on account of another committee comprising of elephants, who would late during the day continue to come and go to the delight of all visitors, who absolutely enjoyed this unique close-to-nature experience, while once again being spoilt by the staff. This time we opted to stay home and were entertained by animals, which seemed to accept humans as part of their existence. Apart from a water hole being no more than 30 metres away from the lodge’s lounge area, some of the elephants came to within 10 metres of this area. Ongava Tented Lodge is an once-in-a-lifetime experience and the evening was rounded off by a perfect dinner and time spent at the communal fire place. By the way: You are not allowed to walk alone in this camp at night and very real measures have been put in place to assure that the animals ultimately keep their distance and you remain safe.

The families, who own and invested in Ongava have assumed a responsibility and are guided by their mantra: “We are the next generation.” They turned four unproductive cattle ranches in Northern Namibia into a prolific 30000-hectare private game reserve that is now a haven to large concentrations of wildlife, which are allowed to live and roam in natural surrounds and thereby they represent the next generation of conserved game.

Ongava takes eco-tourism to the next level with their current endeavour, turning the previous Andersson’s camp into a research station, which brings tourists, students and interested visitors in general together with scientists, who are involved in a wide range of studies regarding animal welfare in its natural surrounds, but also establishing paternity and lineage of the animals conserved. The completion of the turnaround from tourist camp to study centre allowing access to tourists is planned for 2019.