Reviews of Ongava Lodge
(87%) From 56 travellersThey do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa.
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Ongava Lodge review
Excellent rooms and general facilities, and helpful and friendly staff. Very good and productive outings as well.
Tremendous outlook from the rooms and common areas. Lovely views of the waterhole below the bar area and fascinating sightings of rhino there.
Sadly unable to keep screen between room and balcony open at night but this was totally justified but lions walking between the rooms during the night!
Only the minimal issue of the 'corporate' feel of a contract-run operation prevented the whole stay from being classed as excellent.
Ongava Lodge review
For some reason we felt quite pressurised here. As soon as we arrived it felt like we had hardly paused for breath and we were being booked on trips.
In the end we went to the hide (which I had to ask for rather than it being offered) and we were really glad that we did as this was the only place we saw lions. We also saw them again at night outside of the room which was a great experience. We also saw 5 rhino at the water hole during and after supper.
Mixed feelings about this site
On one hand this place was excellent with good facilities and activities but on the other hand I felt they saw us as a source of money to fleece us if possible. Our game drive was with 10 of us crushed into a small 4x4 and with a driver who seemed inexperienced. I was very cramped in the middle row and when we stopped to see anything the guide revved up the engine and reversed often removing any view I had and scaring the animals or birds away. He would not listen to comments.
On the other side of the coin that night the water hole suddenly was visited by lions and then 5 rhinoceroses. A fantastic period followed but as we were watching all our food was removed and they stopped serving.
The accomodation and site was excellent.
Rhinos at the waterhole
The location, overlooking a waterhole frequented by rhinos (we saw several in the evening, plus lions) is excellent. However, the upper row of rooms (which is where we were) does not have a view of the waterhole, and are significantly less attractive for that reason.
Our afternoon game drive was not very productive, though we did see a small group of lions. Two lions actually walked right along the path between the upper and lower rows of cabins the night we were there!
We only spent one night here. I would advise at least two, with the full day spent exploring the west/central parts of Etosha.
Ongava Lodge review
I loved Mowani, but Ongava was equally good in a different way - our bungalow with twin sinks overlooking the waterholes were stunning - the bungalow was really spacious and comfortable. Everything was good including the food and service.
The game drives and tracking were excellent - everything was included in our package which was great, and we had nothing to pay at the end of three very memorable days, both in Etosha and in their own reserve. We also expewrienced the first rain of the season - a spactacular thunderstorm lasting several hours - wow it was a great light show as it happened in the evening.
Tracking rhinos on foot was fun, and Etosha was spectacular - what more can I say!!! other than the staff were great too - everyone was so pleasant.
Ongava Lodge review
We loved Ongava. It was a perfect base for exploring Etosha and being on a private game reserve offered us further fantastic and different game viewing opportunities in addition to Etosha.
The waterhole below the restaurant provided constant entertainment. The rooms were fantastic - spacious and recently renovated. However, unfortunately and very sadly 600 Rand went missing from our safe during our stay therefore we have given it an overall good r
ating, though without the theft it merits "excellent".
very nice to be there
Excellent. Just a greater flexibility of the guide for the evening activity would be appreciated : 4 girafes coming to the waterhall present a good opportunity as all the participants ( 6 people) indicate him. The guide didn't change the circuit he has in his mind...and we we missed any game.
A dialog between the guide and us would be appreciate in order to "negociate" the drive we want. In fact we didn't have chance with the game and may be - if we encountered an exciting game, I woulldn't write my remark.
Ongava Tented Camp review
Even better than Little Kulala. Our guide, Henook?, could not do too much for us.
The rooms were just about everything you could wish for.
High class lodge in good game area
A sister lodge to the Tented Camp, this one built on the side of a hill giving nice views into the distance; the water hole is further down the the hill and a little distant but in full view of the lodge inc. dining platform. The bedrooms were large and well appointed (loo had a door!) with a good verandah - kudu passed close by this on their way to the water hole.
A lion was roaring in the night, perhaps no more than 100 meters away and three were sitting beside the track we went along on the morning game drive; this was into Etosha particularly looking for elephant which we did not see (but did come across a herd at a water hole the next day when self-driving through the park).
Again an escort with rifle was required to reach the bedroom at night. Upmarket lodge with good game drive possibilities, slightly impersonal.
Ongava Lodge review
Staff tool us t see the lions nearby even though we hadn't booked an excursion which was very kind of them. Could not fault this place at all! 110%.
Worth warning clients in advance about the need to be escorted to and from rooms at darkness as this was not explained when we were there.
We have always believed that acting responsibly is the only way to approach tourism and we're one of
the few companies to hold AITO's original coveted 5-star status for responsible tourism. It's a lead
that others are now following.
