Reviews of Ongava Tented Camp
Wildlife sightings and reviews
162 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Ongava Tented Camp and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa
100% success
13% success
13% success
100% success
100% success
"Ongava Tented Camp review"
So many animals to be seen at our water hole.
Fantastic evening for our wedding anniversary - candle lit dinner on our terrace, fairy lights, elephant walking past us.
An unforgettable night!" See all these reviews: 15n in Namibia
Black Rhino
Multiple sightings
Eland
Multiple sightings
Elephant
Multiple sightings
Giraffe
Multiple sightings
Lion
Multiple sightings
Oryx
Multiple sightings
Spotted Hyena
Multiple sightings
White Rhino
1 sighting
Wildebeest
Multiple sightings
Zebra
Multiple sightings
"Ongava Tented Camp review"
Food was very good with excellent service. Our guide was Nico who was a good driver and had great knowledge.
The 5 drives we did were very varied never covering the same area.
We went into Etosha on one day, which though interesting, was not as interesting as the drives within Ongava." See all these reviews: 14n in Namibia
Black Rhino
Multiple sightings
Brown Hyena
1 sighting
Eland
Multiple sightings
Elephant
10 sightings
Giraffe
10 sightings
Lion
10 sightings
Oryx
10 sightings
White Rhino
8 sightings
Wildebeest
10 sightings
Zebra
10 sightings
"Ongava Tented Camp review"
Very friendly and helpful staff, nice tents and good food, excellent waterhole day and night.
Good guide (Perry). Saw three rhino at one sundowner, pride of lion and a mother and baby rhino on a drive.
At the waterhole we saw a solitary lioness, another mother and baby rhino, elephant.
On our last day we were the only people in the camp and they served our dinner on our veranda, all decked out with lights - made us feel very special." See all these reviews: 8n in Namibia; 4n in Zambia
Elephant
Multiple sightings
Giraffe
Multiple sightings
Lion
Multiple sightings
White Rhino
Multiple sightings
Zebra
Multiple sightings
"Ongava Tented Camp review"
I loved the fact that it's unfenced and in the middle of the wilderness, with animals coming to the waterhole day and night.
The staff were invariably friendly and attentive.
The guide for the drives was excellent, tracking and finding a wealth of animals and then adding information about them.
I also did a full-day drive through Etosha from here, which was fantastic." See all these reviews: 16n in Namibia
"Fabulous location for game watching"
Apart from listed sightings we saw many baboons, kudu, springbok, bush buck and black faced impala. The elephants we saw at the Anderson Camp water hole nearer the entrance gate. This camp seemed to offer more facilities and the Visitor Centre there was very interesting" See all these reviews: 22n in Namibia; 3n in South Africa; 2n in Zimbabwe
Black Rhino
1 sighting
Elephant
Multiple sightings
Giraffe
Multiple sightings
Lion
Multiple sightings
Oryx
Multiple sightings
Zebra
Multiple sightings
"Ongava Tented Camp review"
Black Rhino
1 sighting
Eland
2 sightings
Elephant
4 sightings
Giraffe
3 sightings
Lion
1 sighting
Oryx
2 sightings
Roan antelope
1 sighting
White Rhino
2 sightings
Wildebeest
2 sightings
Zebra
3 sightings
"Ongava Tented Camp review"
Tented accommodation was excellent.
Service and food were good.
The game drives were fantastic and our guide was excellent. Encountered black and white rhinos (the latter several times), pride of lions within the Ongava conservancy.
We spent a day in Etosha National Park seeing a good range of animals." See all these reviews: 10n in Namibia
Black Rhino
1 sighting
Eland
5 sightings
Elephant
5 sightings
Giraffe
5 sightings
Lion
3 sightings
Oryx
10 sightings
White Rhino
6 sightings
Wildebeest
6 sightings
Zebra
10 sightings
"Ongava Tented Camp review"
Ongave Tented Camp is the place to be if you want a great location for wildlife, excellent staff, delicious meals and a quick trip to Etosha!
The lodge and my accommodations were great. There is a watering hole right outside the tents and restaurant which is constantly visited by wildlife! If you have the time get a massage and facial! The esthetician was clearly very experienced, and it was a highlight of my trip!
The staff goes above and beyond to make you feel welcome and cater to you!
The food delicious. They set up a lovely birthday dinner for me on my deck with lanterns and sparkling lights! My guide Tuly made every activity fun! Very knowledgeable and a great tracker!
I didn't want to leave!" See all these reviews: 11n in Namibia
Black Rhino
5 sightings
Eland
1 sighting
Elephant
6 sightings
Giraffe
10 sightings
Lion
3 sightings
Oryx
10 sightings
Pangolin
1 sighting
Roan antelope
10 sightings
Sable antelope
Multiple sightings
White Rhino
2 sightings
Wildebeest
10 sightings
Zebra
10 sightings
"Ongava Tented Camp review"
Binnius, lovely and very informative guide; proximity of waterhole to camp, we had elephants drinking out of the swimming pool first thing in the morning; beautiful reserve where you can see the animals very close up; beautiful recently refurbished tented chalet, very comfortable bed; visit to research centre at Andersson’s - masses of information, incredible building, lovely shop; brunch at Andersson’s and a tour of their camp (beautifully redesigned main area & bar, wonderful spacious chalets built into the bush with added bonus of A/C- did ask to move there for our 4th night but they were full. Definitely staying there on next trip!)
Downsides:
our tented chalet was very hot in the afternoons (freestanding floor fan only) and there was no escape from the heat. But cooled right down at night so you did actually need the duvet. Orlando, acting manager and overly attentive and effusive (just quite annoying). Trip to Etosha not really needed except to see the pan. There was a long queue at Anderson Gate first thing in the morning, and then lots of vehicles crowded round some of the waterholes. Terrible gravel roads within the park. I enjoyed seeing Okaukeujo 30 years after my last visit, but with such a wonderful reserve at Ongava, a trip to Etosha was a bit unnecessary.
Brunch menu was the same at OTC and Andersson's at Ongava - but was much better presented at Andersson's. Their lodge just felt a bit superior in every way - it could be a Wilderness camp, just a bit more slick and sophisticated than OTC.
Pool was a bit dirty but not surprising if elephants come to drink in it! Not a complaint" See all these reviews: 20n in Namibia
Elephant
Multiple sightings
Giraffe
Multiple sightings
Lion
Multiple sightings
Oryx
Multiple sightings
White Rhino
Multiple sightings
Wildebeest
Multiple sightings
Zebra
Multiple sightings
"Ongava Tented Camp review"
They could have made a bit more of the services on offer which were mentioned briefly on entering but no real information as to how this would be arranged, how long it would take etc. as there already seemed to be plenty organised. We asked to go to the info centre which I had read about in the Brent guide but we really had to make it happen by talking with the other guests and negotiating with the guide who seemed quite put out that we were messing with his plans.
The Curios shop was high end and expensive. The staff were really great making all sorts of efforts to remember our names and our preferences ensuring we were well looked after.
Activity at the water hole was impressive with white and black rhino, lions and giraffe frequenting the area at dinner times and plenty water buck springbok and kudu during the day. We were there while they were conducting the reserves annual census which was fascinating. Elephant and rhino approaches were unexpected but rewarding and sensitively done by the guide. Being able to spend time watching a baby elephant was particularly lovely.
The day trip to Etosha was long and very touristy with lots of driving from one spot to another just to take a photo, the guide seemed rather bored at this point and it felt a long day and rather relentless. We then had to drive all the way through Etosha the next day and felt maybe a day to relax in Ongava with a massage, trip to info centre and curios shop with a lunch at another lodge in the reserve might've been better for us in hindsight.
We did choose to stay back from the final sundowner and hang at the pool instead.
The staff put on a lovely private meal on our terrace on the last evening for our honeymoon which was unexpected and perfect" See all these reviews: 10n in Namibia
Black Rhino
4 sightings
Brown Hyena
1 sighting
Cheetah
1 sighting
Elephant
3 sightings
Giraffe
8 sightings
Lion
3 sightings
Oryx
10 sightings
White Rhino
6 sightings
Wildebeest
10 sightings
Zebra
10 sightings
Holiday styles & special interests in Namibia
From birdwatching breaks to walking holidays, find great ideas for your trip in Namibia.
Other lodges in Etosha National Park
Alternative places to stay in this same area.
Okaukuejo Camp
Set within Etosha National Park, Okaukuejo Resort is a large camp with a productive, floodlit waterhole.
Halali Camp
The smallest of Etosha's erstwhile restcamps, overlooking its own floodlit waterhole, Halali has a superb location near the centre of Etosha Pan.
Mushara Bush Camp
The family-friendly Mushara Bush Camp offers great value and is an excellent base from which to explore Etosha National Park.
Ongava Lodge
With fantastic views over a private reserve bordering Etosha, the smart Ongava Lodge offers driving and walking safaris on the reserve, and guided drives in Etosha.
