Reviews of Onguma The Fort
Wildlife sightings and reviews
41 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Onguma The Fort and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa
69% success
27% success
45% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
93% success
56% success
55% success
45% success
36% success
36% success
27% success
11% success
0% success
0% success
"Onguma Plains - The Fort"
The restaurant and viewing areas have been superbly planned with outstanding views and comfort. The innovative pool and the partly submerged bar tables and seats added to the overall atmosphere. The rooms are no less attractive and provide beautifully and imaginatively planned and furnished accommodation.
The staff were attentive without being intrusive and very competent, friendly and helpful. The food was excellent and the evening meal was memorable not just for the quality of the various courses, but also for the setting and ambience. At the end of the meal, we were treated to an excellent singing performance by the all male staff whose vocal skills would have put many professional choirs to shame.
Overall a wonderful stay in a wonderful place." See all these reviews: 17n in Namibia
"Onguma Plains Camp review"
We would have also prefered to have a little less fuss about getting to a from the rooms by use of golf carts. There was not the same apparent threat as at Ongava. This would have been a great place to sleep out again if they could ahve safety poles and wires on the balconies as at other Doro Nowas.
The staff were celarly highly trained and the food was good, but for us the best bit was the evening songs that we were treated to... fantastic!" See all these reviews: 19n in Namibia
"Opulent decadence"
As we could not have 2 nights at Etosha Lodge we went here. I preferred the Etosha [Ed: 'Aoba'] Lodge" See all these reviews: 18n in Namibia
"Over the top"
Most ridiculous of all is that they won't even allow you to walk to your room in the daytime, but insist on taking you in a little motorized cart. Supposedly this is to protect you from wildlife, but nowhere else was there this daytime restriction (and Etosha Aoba, 7km down the road, even allows you to walk back to your room unaccompanied at night)." See all these reviews: 17n in Namibia; 3n in Botswana
"Fantastic Fort Suite"
The Fort is close to the Western gates of Etosha National Park so also very conveniently located to get into the park in the morning and is not far from Mokuti airstrip where we landed. It overlooks a watering hole where springbok, kudu, zebras and waterhogs came to drink and which during the dry season probably sees other animals visit it as well.
The service we received from the waiters and management at Onguma was fantastic. We thought Albertus and Erasmus in particular were fantastic and they prepared a very romantic private dinner for us on our last night. Also Karen and Ryan the managers were efficient and helped us out with re-confirming flights etc. They were truly excellent.
The guides we had however, were probably the weakest of our trip. Things didn't start well as there was no one to meet us when we landed at the airstrip (at all other camps we had been met by a guide with cold drinks). Our guide was Nicholas for the game drives in both the Onguma Reserve and Etosha National Park. The sundowner game drive in Onguma was disappointing and not perfectly prepared, e.g. bottle openers not available to open bottles, holes in table cloth, our guide making private calls on his mobile during the game drive etc. In addition, our guide was accompanied on the game drive by an understudy who was learning to become a guide and we were quite surprised when Gerson, the understudy, also helped himself to the beers as part of the game drive while he was still "on duty".
Another area for improvement is the food, which on 2 out of 3 nights was not fantastic, but I think it depends on who is chef in the kitchen as on our final night, with a new chef, the food was markedly better. We also enjoyed the singing from the waiting staff and thought this was one of the highlights of our Onguma trip.
Overall, Onguma does some things really well such as the level of accommodation, fantastic waiters/service in the lodge, but there is room for improvement with the guides and also the food. If visiting the Etosha area again, we may be tempted to try out the Ongava private reserve next time as a couple that visited both Onguma and Ongava reported that the wildlife they saw at Ongava (lions, rhinos etc.) was also more diverse and more easily spotted there than at Onguma." See all these reviews: 9n in Namibia; 1n in South Africa
"Onguma Plains Camp review"
Our room enormous and stunningly designed in a north african style with a huge terrace which had an outdoor shower and bath. Two walls of the room were canvas and rolled up to open up the room to the terrace and the plains. The service here was exceptional, and the food was consistantly stunning, from breakfast through to a four course dinner - the chef is brilliant and also very friendly!!
On our second day we returned from our nature drive to find a dinner table for two set up on our terrace with candles lit and champagne on ice...the chef came over to our room to describe the menu to us and we were served a candlelit dinner on our terrace under the stars. The staff even came over to sing to us at the end of our meal! Simply a wonderful honeymoon memory...
The only negative feedback would be that at the entrance gate as we arrived the guard tried to persuade us to give a lift to two people into the reserve. We didn't really have room due to all our luggage and it made us feel a little uncomfortable. Not quite the luxury welcome we had expected!!" See all these reviews: 16n in Namibia
"Onguma Plains Camp review"
"Onguma Plains Camp review"
The camp features in one of the "100 great destination" guides - deservedly, as the ambience is fabulous. By the time we arrived we had been on the go for two weeks and had seen plenty of animals, so we gave the game drives a miss and chilled out all day around the pool, lazy but most enjoyable. Staff did everything possible to make our stay comfortable. Dinner was served in a leisurely and elegant fashion, and was very nicely presented although the overall quality did not quite match the standards to which it aspired.
As walkers we found the need to drive from rooms to main building irksome, but preferable to being supper for the local lions." See all these reviews: 14n in Namibia
"Onguma Plains Camp review"
Good staff, although some need a little more experience, but this does not take away from the fact that they are polite, friendly and welcoming. The menu is read to you, and it can be difficult to understand accents and this can cause confusion over what is to be served. Suggestion to manager that a printed menu along with being read the items was accepted, but we were told the owner disapproved, as it took away from a personal service. The service was personal, but being confused about the food was not very good.
Very relaxing place, we could easily have stayed longer. Really lovely to be able to open the side of the room to the sunset and use the outdoor shower." See all these reviews: 12n in Namibia
"Fabulous lodge"
Although we chose to drive ourselves around Etosha rather than take the organised trip, the guides were still very happy to give us tips on where to go. Because Onguma is so close to the gate we were able to get into Etosha as soon as the gate opened and we ended up being a lot luckier than those on the main trip (who left a lot later) and saw white rhino, two leopards as well as lots of lions all within two hours. We also did a night drive on Onguma's own reserve which was excellent - with a very informative and enthusiastic guide.
One small suggestion would be to have mosquito nets over the beds as we were innundated with moths as the netting at the side of the building had quite big gaps under it. The roof also leaked when we had rain but it didn't detract from the overall experience." See all these reviews: 14n in Namibia
Also, the roofs at the lodge have now been sealed so rain water can no long get through.
"Southern Africa Manager"
Holiday styles & special interests in Namibia
From birdwatching breaks to walking holidays, find great ideas for your trip in Namibia.
Other lodges in Etosha National Park
Alternative places to stay in this same area.
Okaukuejo Camp
Set within Etosha National Park, Okaukuejo Resort is a large camp with a productive, floodlit waterhole.
Halali Camp
The smallest of Etosha's erstwhile restcamps, overlooking its own floodlit waterhole, Halali has a superb location near the centre of Etosha Pan.
Mushara Bush Camp
The family-friendly Mushara Bush Camp offers great value and is an excellent base from which to explore Etosha National Park.
Ongava Lodge
With fantastic views over a private reserve bordering Etosha, the smart Ongava Lodge offers driving and walking safaris on the reserve, and guided drives in Etosha.
Ongava Tented Camp
Set around a waterhole on a private reserve, the small Ongava Tented Camp combines understated comfort with activities that include walks and night drives.
Onguma Tented Camp
Onguma Tented Camp is a lovely, little tented camp which centres around an attractive waterhole a short drive from the Von Lindequist Gate to eastern Etosha.
Dolomite Camp
Opened in 2011, Dolomite Camp allows visitors access to the far west side of Etosha National Park, which was previously off limits to most visitors.
Mushara Lodge
Close to the eastern entrance to Etosha, the comfortable Mushara Lodge is well-placed for exploring the park in your own vehicle or on a guided drive.
Namutoni Camp
Centred on an old fort, the government run Namutoni Camp is located just inside Etosha National Park, close to Fisher's Pan.
Onguma Bush Camp
For great wildlife viewing without breaking the bank, the affordable and understated luxury of Onguma Bush Camp could be perfect.
Hobatere Lodge
To the west of Etosha National Park, on the edge of Damaraland, Hobatere Lodge offers good game-viewing on its own reserve.
Mushara Outpost
Intimate and luxurious, Mushara Outpost is well-placed on a private reserve to explore nearby Etosha National Park on your own or on a guided drive.
Onguma Camp Kala
For a bird’s eye view across African bush, the stilted rooms at Onguma Camp Kala are truly special.
Safarihoek Lodge
At the heart of the private Etosha Heights Reserve, Safarihoek Lodge offers comfortable accommodation and excellent game-viewing.
Onguma Forest Camp
From its woodland setting on the Onguma Reserve, Forest Camp is within easy striking distance of Namibia’s flagship national park.
Taleni Etosha Village
Only 4km from Etosha's southern entrance, Taleni Etosha Village is an affordable base from which to explore the park.
Etosha Safari Lodge
A short drive from Etosha National Park's southern entrance, Etosha Safari Lodge is a convenient base from which to explore the park.
Little Ongava
The beautifully located and luxurious Little Ongava is a stunning place to stay in order to explore Etosha National Park and the private Ongava Reserve.
Etosha Safari Camp
Funky, low-key and very original, Etosha Safari Camp is well placed for visiting Etosha National Park on a self-drive or guided safari.
Andersson's at Ongava
With game drives on both its private reserve and in Etosha, Andersson's at Ongava also offers access to the Ongava Research Centre.
Mountain Lodge
In the heart of the private Etosha Heights Reserve, the family-friendly Mountain Lodge offers game drives and bush walks within an exclusive environment.
Mokuti Etosha Lodge
With 106 rooms, child-friendly Mokuti Etosha Lodge is more like a hotel than a lodge. Facilities to include a gym, spa, tennis courts and even a snake park.
Etosha Oberland Lodge
A short drive from Etosha National Park's southern entrance, Etosha Oberland Lodge is a very comfortable base from which to explore the park, with excellent food.
Vreugde Guest Farm
Vreugde Guest Farm is a delightful owner-run and working sheep farm where you can expect a warm welcome and charming hospitality.
Villa Mushara
Offering luxury on a peaceful private reserve close to Etosha, Villa Mushara is a great choice for honeymooners & those wishing to indulge themselves.
Etosha Garden Hotel
Safari in Etosha National Park Namibia, whilst based at the nearby Etosha Garden Lodge.
Etosha King Nehale
A short drive from the national park's northern entrance, Etosha King Nehale Lodge is an interesting and comfortable base from which to explore the park.
Safari House
The private Safari House on the Etosha Heights reserve is a great option families or friends travelling together.
Onkoshi Camp
Onkoshi Camp is owned and run by Namibia Wildlife Resorts. Built on elevated wooden platforms it overlooks Etosha Pan.
