Just west of Omaruru, Erongo Wilderness Lodge perches amidst the rugged granite kopjies of the Erongo Mountains – within the area of an ancient volcanic crater. The lodge is a founder member of the 2,000km² Erongo Mountain Nature Conservancy, which brings together 30 private landowners in an effort to conserve this diverse area. The area is locally well-known for excellent birding, and there are rare and endemic species of flora and fauna here. There are also bushman rock paintings hidden in between the rocks all around this area.
Erongo Wilderness Lodge is a friendly, relaxed lodge which offers great views across the mountains with good walking and birding. Raised wooden walkways and natural stone steps connect the tented chalets to the main area which sit atop a separate hill. Here you will find the restaurant and lounge with a central fireplace and an outside deck from where you can watch animals come down to the floodlit waterhole below - on our last visit a couple of porcupines accompanied us for an evening tipple! There is also a birdbath right next to the restaurant where, whist eating brunch we could watched rosy-faced lovebirds, red-eyed bulbuls, black-throated canaries and white-tailed shrikes at some water as well as rock dassies and the endemic dassie rats vying for drinking space. There is also a small 'rock' pool and a sundowner deck where you can spend a relaxing afternoon after stretching your legs on the morning walk.
Erongo's 10 comfortable tented chalets have superb views and are built up on stilts. Each is tucked away between its own boulders offering seclusion and privacy.
Walking is certainly the best way to explore this beautiful area, possible either with the lodge's knowledgeable guides or on your own. You can opt to join guided morning walks, which vary in length from one to four hours, and evening sundowner walks to a good vantage point for your G & T, all of which are included. There are also several marked walking trails which you can explore on your own and at your own pace.
An optional afternoon nature drive is also available in an open 4 x 4 (not included). We took this when we last stayed in 2007, and saw a variety of small game – including steenbok, kudu, oryx, klipspringer, Hartmann's mountain zebra and warthog. This drive also includes a visit to Paula's Cave, where there is some interesting bushman rock art.
Ideal length of stay: 2 nights, or 3 nights for keen walkers. If you're not visiting Damaraland, then Erongo Wilderness Lodge makes a perfect stop between Swakopmund and Etosha; alternatively, stop here on your way between Etosha and Windhoek.
Central facilities: Erongo's main area is one large room built from stone and thatch, which is open on one side from the waist up. Within it are a central fireplace, dining area, small lounge and a 'mokoro' bar, all decorated with African basketwork and masks. There is a big leather sofa with matching chairs, and a small selection of books. You can relax inside or alternatively sit on the deck outside, enjoying great views of the surrounding mountain scenery, the birdbath and the waterhole below.
To the side of this main area is a small pool built amongst the rocks, with a partially-shaded grassy area and a few loungers. Above this is a thatched sundowner deck, complete with comfy chairs and a large table – the perfect spot for toasting spectacular sunsets.
There are a small collection of curios for sale in the main reception area.
Directions: The lodge is 15 kms from Omaruru. Erongo Wilderness is just south of the D2316; the turnoff to the lodge is 10km west of its junction with the C33. It's about 12-13km south-west of Omaruru.
Following the signs to Erongo Wilderness Lodge, you normally leave your car under an awning in a parking area. The lodge is above this area, perched on the boulders – and the team there will collect you in a 4x4 vehicle, to transfer you the remaining 800m to the lodge.
Accessible by: Self-drive
Key personnel
Owner: Independent / Owner Run
Staff: Camp/Lodge Managers: Brian and Adele
Food & drink
Usual board basis: Half Board
Food quality: In our experience, the standard of food at Erongo is excellent.
Before the early morning walks there is tea/coffee and rusks available. When we were on our walks, the guide chose a beautiful spot to stop where juices and snacks where offered to keep us going until we returned to the lodge for brunch.
The extensive brunch consisted of cereals, yogurts, fruit, homemade breads, cheese, cold meats, plus a choice of cooked options. You could have a choice of omelettes or pancakes with different fillings or a full cooked breakfast (eggs, bacon, tomatoes) – enough to satisfy even the hungriest of people after their exertions!
Tea/coffee and delicious homemade cake and other nibbles were served at around 3pm before we set out on the afternoon activities.
Dinner is a 4-course affair with a starter, salad, main course and pudding. When we last visited memorable dishes included baked camembert with red current sauce, beefsteak in brandy and cream sauce, pork in red wine, and a wonderful apple straddle and custard.
Meals are served at individual tables although, due the sociable nature of the place, some people chose to join tables to enable them to continue chatting.
Dining style: Inidividual Tables
Dining locations: Indoor Dining
Room service: No – food in tents attracts mice that can nibble through bags to get at it!
Drinks included: Tea and coffee are included, other drinks are not. The tap water is safe to drink.
Special interests
Birdwatching: The Erongo Mountains are great for keen birders. In and around the lodge many species are common ranging from small sunbirds through to Verreaux's Eagles. On our last visit, sightings included the red-billed and Hartlaub's francolin, rosy-faced lovebird, pale-winged starling, white-tailed shrike – and a lovely sighting of a freckled nightjar nesting.
- See more of our suggestions of the best places for Birdwatching
Walking: The exposed granite around Erongo forms large, rounded hills which are well-suited to hiking and gentle scrambling – so it's a great place to stretch your legs after time in a vehicle. The lodge offers a choice of walks, either accompanied by knowledgeable guides, or on your own along clearly marked walking trails (for which the lodge provides a detailed map).
- See more of our suggestions of the best places for Walking
Children
Attitude towards children: The lodge has a good attitude to children.
Age restrictions: None, although the nature of the tents – they are raised on stilts, with a rocky, fairly steep climb to get to them – means that parents need to keep a close eye on children at all times.
Activities: There are no special activities for children.
Equipment: Erongo Wilderness Lodge has one cot for infants.
Generally recommended for children: Yes, as long as they enjoy walking.
Central communications
Power supply: Mains Electricity
Communications: There is a central telephone and fax for office use. Mobile reception in some rooms only and in the restaurant. Due to nature of being in a valley and amongst boulders, reception is a little erratic here.
TV & radio: No
Health & safety
Malarial area: No
Medical care: First aid kit on site. The nearest doctor is in Omaruru (13km away). Medi-rescue available.
Dangerous animals: Low Risk
Security measures: There is an armed security guard here at night, who usually stays beside the cars.
Fire safety: Fire extinguisher outside each tent and in the restaurant/kitchen.
Extras
Disabled access: Not Possible
Laundry facilities: Laundry can be done at an extra charge; and is possible if you stay for 2 nights. Leave your washing on the bed in the morning, and it is returned that evening. The cost is moderate, and depends on the items.
Money: Electronic combination safes in each tent. Erongo doesn't offer a foreign exchange service.
Accepted payment: Payment is accepted in cash (N$ or Rand), Visa or Mastercard.
Erongo Wilderness Lodge review
Superb location and ideal for nature lovers and those enjoying walking.
The managers and staff were very friendly and helpful throughout our stay. The food was well presented and excellent quali...
A return visit to a great location.
We spent a night here in 2007 and knew that we wanted to come back for more.
A convenient and spectacular location with no faults to report.
twitchers paradise
lovely location with good escorted walks and marked trails (although did get lost once by ourselves on the dassie walk!)
it is a bird watchers heaven apparantly and it does make you feel the size o...
Useful links...
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Erongo Wilderness homepage A clear, crisp site which gives a good feel for the lodge and the activities there - although doesn't have as many pictures of the spectacular scenery as it might.
