Ongava Lodge was one of the highlights of our trip with an excellent game experience. We were welcomed and offered a delicious lunch and cold welcome drink (very welcome as it was the hottest day of our trip). The rooms were very luxurious, with aircon and baths and each with their own veranda. The active waterhole where we saw giraffe, zebra, eland, springbok, lion etc… was unbelievable and you could also watch the game coming to drink from the telescope on the main deck. You really don’t have to go on a game drive at Ongava as you can just relax with a drink and watch the game at the waterhole.
On the afternoon game drive we went rhino tracking and had an exhilarating time when we heard a lion roar behind us. When we returned to the vehicle we spotted him – not that far from where we were! We also saw 2 lions right next to the road when we returned to the lodge. At Ongava a guide with a rifle accompanies you when you retire for the evening as lions are spotted frequently near the camp. Ongava is one of the few private reserves where you have a good chance to see white and black rhino. A minimum of 2-night stay will be ideal, as they will do a second game drive into Etosha on the full day in camp.
