Experience Ongava’s wonderous wildlife

When you stay at Ongava, you’ll meet the wonderous wildlife that lives on our private game reserve. With over 30,000 hectares of protected land, we provide a haven for iconic African animals including lions, elephants, giraffes and antelopes. We’re also proud to have rare and endangered species thrive here, from rhinos to the black-faced impala. With fewer guests and safari vehicles than in neighbouring Etosha National Park, your wildlife encounters here are much more private, like an authentic African safari.

Although game drives are a highlight at Ongava, you don’t even need to leave camp to get some animal action. Both Ongava Lodge and Anderssons at Ongava have teeming waterholes busy with wildlife all day long, especially in the mornings and evenings. At Anderssons, the rhinos come like clockwork in the evenings around 7.30-8 pm, while lions often visit the Ongava Lodge waterhole.

We also have 24-hour photographic hides at each lodge, positioned so you’re at eye level with the animals – you’ll see leopards, impalas, elephants – you name it. We run a live feed from the waterhole to each guest room, so you can keep an eye on what’s going on; if an animal appears that you’ve been desperate to see, head down to the hide via a protected walkway from the lodge. Don’t miss a visit to the Ongava Research Centre at Anderssons too, where you can learn about our conservation work and even meet our scientists and rhino security staff.

For a different safari experience, book an optional nature walk with a guide. They’ll take you on a walk around the property, pointing out animal tracks and dens, insects and plants, the things you usually miss in a vehicle. Our guides are trained to approach animals on foot too, getting up close to elephants and rhinos is a thrilling yet humbling experience. You’re in lion country – you don’t often get the chance to be on foot in this wild environment.