Ozondjou Trails: Our full report

Opened in September 2016 Ozondjou Trails is a tented camp, overlooking Namibia’s Ugab River. Ozondjou is derived from a Herero word meaning elephant, which is an apt name for a property located close to the Elephant Human Relations Aid (EHRA) base camp. Staying here not only affords a good chance of spotting the areas desert-adapted pachyderms but also benefits them by supporting both EHRA projects and local farmers.

As yet no one from Expert Africa has visited Ozondjou Trails, however we know the company which owns the camp well, and we are looking forward to visiting it soon.

Meanwhile, here’s what we know about the camp:

The main area focuses on the mess tent. Inside there is a lounge area and a large communal dining table where all meals are taken. Outside is an outside sitting area, with a firepit, overlooking the ephemeral Ugab River. This makes an excellent spot to soak in the wilderness in the day or perhaps enjoy a spot of star gazing of an evening.

Ozondjou Trails has six twin tents, each with an en-suite shower, wash basin and a flush toilet. The focus here in on the remote nature of the camp and the interactions with the wilderness that this affords. As such the rooms are perhaps not as luxurious as some of the other options in the larger Damaraland area.

The camp itself is proud of its green credentials, they tell us that it is built in such a way that it could be taken down or relocated at any time with no lasting effect on the environment. All power is solar generated and water is provided from a solar powered borehole.

A stay here is generally at least 2 nigths and included all your activities. These include a guided tour of a local farm, a visit to a village school, walks, sundowners, elephant drives and joining EHRA patrol. As well as the elephants gusts might expect to see plains game like zebra, kudu, oryx, springbok, ostrich and giraffe.

Our view

We are excited to see a new camp in a popular area. Ozondjou Trails promises to be a versatile tented camp in an interesting location and we have high hopes for it! We’ll post more details here when we have them, but meanwhile ask us for the latest information.

Geographics

Location: Damaraland, Namibia

Ideal length of stay: 2 nights

Directions: The camp is situated 4km off the C35 on the road between Uis and Khorixas. Self-drivers will leave their cars and take a short transfer to the camp.

Accessible by: Self-drive

Key personnel

Owner: Namibia Tracks and Trails

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Full Board

Food quality: Camping-style meals are prepared outdoors on open fire or gas.

Dining style: Group Meals

Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining

Cost of meal e.g. lunch: Included

Special interests

Cultural experiences: Many travellers visit Damaraland to seek out the area’s desert-adapted wildlife. Ozondjou Trails not only offers this opportunity but also gives an insight into the life of modern Namibians and the challenges they face of human–wildlife conflict.

See more ideas for Cultural experiences in Namibia

Children

Attitude towards children: No children under 16 years allowed in camp, due to free roaming elephants.

Property’s age restrictions: no children under 16 are allowed to stay here.

Infrastructure

Power supply: Solar Power

Communications: None

TV & radio: None

Water supply: Borehole

Sustainability

Inciting PEACE at the heart of the Namibian desert

Ozondjou Trails Camp is actively supporting Elephant Human Relations Aid (EHRA) in their efforts to raise awareness about the conflict between local communities and Namibia’s desert-adapted elephants, and their aim to create a more informed and peaceful form of cohabitation. Although wildlife preservation boosts the revenue generated by tourism, it is difficult to instil this feeling of acceptance among local people who have witnessed elephants compromise their homes and cattle. Profit from projects like Ozondjou Trails sponsor many of EHRA’s initiatives such as the PEACE mission (People and Elephants Amicably Co-Existing). This is a two-day seminar created to teach local people how to live without fear of elephants. Funding covers fuel costs for transporting locals to the seminars and those of printing materials such as instructive handouts, a certificate of attendance and brochures for self-drive tourists outlining important information about the region and safety tips to follow if they encounter elephants.

Donations from Ozondjou Trails Camp have also contributed to rebuilding classrooms in local schools, dormitories or building amenities such as toilets, libraries and a computer network with donated computers.
Guests are encouraged to engage in the project. They can join EHRA-trained guides for their daily patrol, searching for desert adapted elephants and studying their behaviour.

Health & safety

Malarial protection recommended: Yes

Dangerous animals: High Risk