Read 5 traveller reviews of Mundulea Reserve

Mundulea Nature Reserve is owned and run by Bruno Nebe who, although not widely known, is one of the best guides in Africa. His intimate knowledge of Namibia's flora and fauna is mixed with an almost implausibly detailed understanding of geology, geography, archaeology and a wide spectrum of Namibia's political and economic issues. Yet all this expertise is carried very lightly by his relaxed, unpretentious guiding style. It's earned Bruno a loyal following of repeat visitors and, in the 10 years since we started working with him, much praise from our travellers – including a significant number of families.

Mundulea Nature Reserve, is a private 120km² nature reserve in the Otavi Mountains. This beautiful Karstveld landscape has rugged hills, steep gorges and a vast network of caves and underground lakes. It is some of the most fertile land in Namibia, with huge spreading trees and a particularly rich biodiversity. Bruno and his wife Kate started rehabilitating the reserve some seven years ago – and they now work with a few hand-picked guides (we know them all personally) who share their passion for understanding the wilderness.

The bush camp at Mundulea was completely redesigned during 2008: it now has four large, tented rooms, each with a private en-suite bathroom and spacious stoop. The accommodation is private and distinct, connected to the main dining area by a series of wooded pathways. Great care has been taken to create a camp which blends attractively into the surrounding bush, which is peaceful, quiet, and close to an intriguing waterhole. Notably good meals are cooked for you on a open fire and are eaten outdoors at one of the most stunning wooden dining tables you are likely to see!

Come to Mundulea for a varied three- or four-day walking trail with an excellent guide. There's absolutely no set route – it depends on what you want to see, and what you find. These aren't route-marches; you'll go at your own pace with time to explore the landscapes and observe the wildlife – large and small. There are over 260 species of birds here and it's one of the best places to see eland, Africa's largest antelope, and its smallest, the dik dik. You'll also find many of Namibia's more common antelope, as well as giraffe, zebra, bat-eared foxes, leopard, cheetah and hyena.

In addition, Mundulea is quietly pursuing its commitment to "restoration ecology" by becoming a centre for the protection of rare, indigenous species (such as black rhino, tsessebe and the black-faced impala) – and the conservation of Namibia's unique biodiversity. So call us for the latest on Mundulea – and come for at least three nights.

The guides' enthusiasm and depth of knowledge makes this a real highlight of any Namibian trip.

Lodge overview

Lodge type: Safari

Season: Open Year Round

Ideal length of stay: It's certainly worth spending a minimum of 3 nights here - it'd be a waste to come for less.

Geographics

Location: Central Highlands, Namibia

Accessible by: Self-drive or Fly-and-Transfer

Key personnel

Owner: Independent / Owner Run

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Full Board

Dining style: Group Meals

Dining locations: Outdoor Dining

Room service: No

Special interests

Family holidays: With two young children themselves, Mundulea's owners – Bruno and Kate – are naturally family-friendly, and this pervades the whole ethos of the place. The guiding here is some of the best in Africa: it's both educational and informative, and just as suitable for a curious 8-year-old as it is for the parents. So Mundulea is great for families who are curious, inquisitive, and at least a little energetic – as a stay at Mundulea is really all about exploring the area on foot. - See more of our suggestions of the best places for family holidays in Namibia

Birdwatching: One of Mundulea's great attractions is the excellent and highly experienced guiding, including some first-class birding. The environment here is varied, from Kopjies to open plains, and so there's a good variety of birds to be seen here, including plenty of raptors. - See more of our suggestions of the best places for birdwatching in Namibia

Walking safaris: A stay at Mundulea Nature Reserve is really all about exploring the area on foot with one of the very best wildlife guides in the business. The walking need not be fast, but will usually be full of discussions and observations on the area's flora and fauna. There's plenty of game here, including populations of unusual species like black rhino, black-faced impala, and high numbers of eland – but a trip here is all about understanding the environment, from the rocks and soil, to the plants, insects and big game. - See more of our suggestions of the best places for walking safaris in Namibia

Wildlife safaris: Mundulea has much more wildlife than a typical Namibian guest farm – including large herds of eland and a recently re-introduced black rhino, giraffe and black-faced impala. It's the centre for interesting research into Namibia's endemic subspecies; if you're interesting and inquisitive, you can expect to learn an immense amount about wildlife here. - See more of our suggestions of the best places for wildlife safaris in Namibia

Children

Generally recommended for children: Yes - as although care needs to be taken and children need to be constantly supervised by their parents - the small groups mean that activities can usually be tailored around the children's needs.

Central communications

Power supply: None

Health & safety

Malarial area: Yes

Dangerous animals: High Risk

Extras

Disabled access: Not Possible

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