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Onguma Bush Camp
Onguma Bush Camp
Onguma Bush Camp
Onguma Bush Camp
Onguma Bush Camp

Reviews of Onguma Bush Camp

Wildlife sightings and reviews

84 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Onguma Bush Camp and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa

Wildlife sightings by our travellers
Starting in Jul-2018, 20 of our travellers have recorded their wildlife sightings at Onguma Bush Camp.
Lion

50% success

Leopard

12% success

Cheetah

19% success

Oryx

79% success

Giraffe

67% success

Wildebeest

67% success

Zebra

67% success

Elephant

50% success

Eland

44% success

Spotted Hyena

35% success

Sable antelope

33% success

Black Rhino

20% success

Roan antelope

19% success

White Rhino

19% success

Brown Hyena

14% success

Aardvark

0% success

Pangolin

0% success

Showing 21-30 of 84
Duration
Arrival date
Mr G
Alstonville

"Close base for Etosha visits"

1 night Arrived 29 Jul 2018
"Base for day trips to Eastern side of Etosha Park (none of which we did). Pleasant location, but with little wildlife near the lodge." See all these reviews: 17n in Namibia; 4n in Botswana; 3n in Zambia; 1n in South Africa
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good

Location:
Good
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Good
CathyO
Glasgow

"Nice accommodation and handy for etosha"

2 nights Arrived 6 Jul 2018
"Very little activity at the waterhole but a secluded and restful place to stay with friendly helpful staff and good food." See all these reviews: 15n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Good
Sightings Report

Oryx

1 sighting

Mr W & Ms W + kids
NL

"Good time at Onguma"

2 nights Arrived 5 Jul 2018
"We had a lovely room connected to the souvenir shop. The gardens are very nice and have a lot seed pods for the kids to collect.

The food was very good. Our son also really like the 'play room'.

Being outside the park is slightly inconvenient with small children as you have to cut your gamedrives at bit short to be at the lodge at a sensible time (for the kids)." See all these reviews: 18n in Namibia; 4n in South Africa
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Good
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Sightings Report

Black Rhino

1 sighting

Eland

2 sightings

Elephant

Multiple sightings

Giraffe

Multiple sightings

Lion

4 sightings

Oryx

Multiple sightings

Wildebeest

Multiple sightings

Zebra

Multiple sightings

Mr K
Maidstone

"Onguma Bush Camp"

1 night Arrived 21 Apr 2018
"One night only so took opportunity to relax, swim and watch the waterhole.

Excellent dinner and breakfast and good service and facilities" See all these reviews: 16n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good

Location:
Good
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Good
Mr & Mrs B
Colorado

"Mixed Feelings about Onguma "

2 nights Arrived 17 Feb 2018
"We spent 2 nights at the Onguma Bush Camp. The property is the closest to Etosha on the Eastern side. Be aware that the road into the Bush Camp is quite long and it can take 15 minutes from the entrance of Onguma to get to the actual camp, even though it is immediately next to the Etosha gate. The rooms are very nice and also air conditioned, which is unusual to find! If you get a waterhole view room, you will be outside the gate in the open/unfenced area. We were a bit disappointed that the 1st night they neglected to light the walkway lanterns in this area and we had to use our cell phones for light to find our room, when you are exposed to potential predators at night.The 2nd night they did remember to light these. We were able to wake up and enjoy the view of springbok and impala at the waterhole. The food was good and they were able to accommodate my vegetarian needs.

The negatives– compared to every other lodge we stayed at in Namibia, the service was just not very friendly or welcoming. I was first to say hello or good morning to most of the staff, unlike other lodges which overwhelm you with their friendliness and smiles. They did their jobs well and were attentive and efficient (for example, one waiter noticed that our table was wobbling and quickly came over and fixed it) but the "feel" was just not the best. The lodge/dinner area is beautiful but there is the sense that you are not really welcome to hang out there. At 9pm, it seemed the staff was eager to put out the candles and get everyone to bed. Guests should be encouraged to enjoy the bar and beautiful lodge!

The highlight of the lodge, which is the one reason Onguma gets 4 stars instead of 3, is their hide. As a photographer, the hide by the waterhole is an incredible experience. It is amazing to spend time there waiting to see which animals will approach the waterhole–we had a couple of incredible surprises! Getting those low-angle shots is a very special experience and a real asset." See all these reviews: 9n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Average
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Good
Mrs F & Mr N
Surrey

"More formal style camp"

2 nights Arrived 4 Oct 2017
"It was good to have non driving options - we did a bush walk and spent time in the excellent hide by a waterhole.

Service is more formal here and I am less comfortable with that but plus points were the enormous chalet and really good food and wine.

Dining area by a waterhole and a swimming pool here so quite relaxing after lots of driving in Etosha" See all these reviews: 13n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr R
Napier

"Onguma Bush Camp review"

1 night Arrived 13 Sep 2017
"Could have spent longer here. So close to Etosha ." See all these reviews: 23n in Namibia; 6n in Botswana
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr &a Mrs G
Ringwood

"Wonderful and relaxing setting"

2 nights Arrived 28 Jun 2017
"Great location just outside Etosha with its own small waterhole. The main area is built on a deck overlooking the waterhole with comfortable lounge seating in addition to the restaurant. A truly beautiful place to spend your time and watch the sun set. During the day we were able to relax around the pool which was adjacent to the waterhole. There was a game hide to view the animals at close quarters and in the evening before dinner we sat around the boma sharing experiences with other guests. There was also good wifi available.

The rondavels were a little on the small side but there was no reason to be in them other than to sleep so it wasn't uncomfortable. One evening there was no hot water as the gas heating system broke but this was repaired after a few hours.

The staff in the restaurant were fantastic and the chef the best. This food and its presentation was of five star standard.

The game drive and the safari walk we did in their own reserve was average. We wouldn't do the safari walk again as it was too 'tame' and not far enough to feel we had even stretched our legs. Compared to the vast Etosha the private reserve did feel quite small but since the camp is just outside the Etosha gates you really have the best of both.

We would stay here again without hesitation." See all these reviews: 17n in Namibia; 2n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Average
Rooms:
Average
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr K & Mrs S
NL

"Stunning luxury"

2 nights Arrived 20 May 2017
"This lodge offers stunning luxury in the middle of a private game reserve. It has a great location for exploring Etosha (opposite the main gate).

Maintenance, decoration, service and food and drink are all of the highest calibre. Some may even find the luxury a bit overwhelming.

Our sundowner guided drive through Onguma park was rather unproductive but our self-drive safari through Etosha the next day was highly enjoyable and revealed plenty of wildlife." See all these reviews: 12n in Namibia; 2n in Botswana
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mikel
USA

"Good place to stay"

2 nights Arrived 3 Apr 2017
"Of the four camps we stayed this was the least memorable. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it, but also nothing really stands out. The accommodations were good. The food was good. The service was mostly acceptable but at times painfully slow. It didn't feel as well run or managed as the others. I would certainly stay there again but would simply adjust my expectations accordingly.
A few giraffes came to the watering hole at sunset, but not much else (it wasn't the season). Also note that the camp is about a 15 minute drive on a fairly bumpy road from the park gate. It doesn't seem like much but when you spend all day driving in the park on bumpy roads were you're not even supposed to get out of the car to stretch your legs it really adds up." See all these reviews: 7n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average

Showing 21-30 of 84
94%
84 reviews of Onguma Bush Camp by travellers since August 2007
Overall rating by our travellers
62
18
4
0
0
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