Written by Lena Melcher

Following our stint in central Etosha National Park, it was time to head east. We chose to leave Etosha Safari Lodge after an early-morning guided game drive and self-drove through the park until we made it to the final stop on our epic Namibian odyssey: Onguma The Fort.

Location

Located in Onguma Private Game Reserve, just outside the eastern entrance gate of Etosha National Park, Onguma The Fort is one of 4 luxury lodges positioned in the heart of this private reserve. However, The Fort is unlike any other lodge in Namibia. In fact, it more resembles a Moroccan castle than a safari lodge, filled with North African ceramics, luxurious metals and dark woods.

Upon arrival, we were welcomed with refreshments and given a short tour of the property. The main area has a distinct design influence, complete with antique carved doors and artsy water features. The lounge inside The Fort offers comfortable seating, while another posterior lounge has views of the camp's waterhole (frequently visited by warthogs and springbok!). There’s a small plunge pool outside, as well as a sitting area submerged in another shallow pool. And here’s the best part: both are serviced by the outside bar! The open-sided dining area delivers breakfasts and restaurant-style dinners. The top of the tower has a cushioned seating area with spectacular views – another great spot to enjoy a sundowner.

The unique design of The Fort and the attention to detail makes this a safari destination like no other.

Activities

The lodge’s experiences are very wildlife-centric. Although you can self-drive into Etosha National Park, it's wise to take advantage of the lodge's guided morning and evening drives through the Onguma Private Game Reserve. We only stayed for 2 nights, and after coming from a game drive at Etosha Safari Lodge and making our way through Etosha National Park to Onguma, a sundowner game drive was the perfect way to unwind. The guide brought lots of drinks and snacks along, and after driving around looking for wildlife, we stopped in the middle of nowhere where he unpacked a table and created a delicious charcuterie board of cheeses, grapes and crackers. We sipped on G&Ts, watched the sunset, and listened to some lovely stories from our guide about the private game reserve and its inhabitants.

The Onkolo Hide

On our way back to the lodge we passed Onkolo Hide – a manmade hide in front of a waterhole, where you can position your camera for pictures or just watch the wildlife. While we never went into the hide, our guide showed it to us from the safari vehicle. He explained that there is enough space to chill on beanbags as well as a little kitchen, so they can prepare snacks and drinks for guests.

Rooms

Accommodation at The Fort consists of 13 rooms; 11 suites, 1 honeymoon suite and the Sultan Suite, which is situated inside the main tower. The other suites are spaced about 50m apart from each other on either side of the main fort. They all have air-conditioning, a minibar and a spacious en-suite bathroom with an indoor and outdoor shower, as well as wooden decks with impressive views toward the pan, where we got to see lots of animals from our private viewing point. The Sultan Suite is substantially larger and comes with a TV, stone fireplace and a deep bathtub. The decor is impeccably executed.

I was a big fan of the supply of liquors and tonics in our rooms. The first thing we did after dropping our bags was to mix up a refreshing cocktail and indulge in the view from our private terrace. Interestingly enough, the rooms also have a wide range of excellent drawing utensils and high-quality paper. There’s even a yoga mat provided in your room! These extras tend to make the experience so much more special for me. I really loved the attention to detail.

Wi-Fi

The Wi-Fi connection is strong and available throughout the lodge, including the rooms.

Food

The food was varied and imaginative, featuring authentic Namibian cuisine mixed with European influences and subtle North African flavours. There were options suitable for vegetarians and vegans too, with lots of dairy alternatives available! For dinner, I started with an avocado and mango salad and the main dish was a crispy vegan spring roll with aubergine and carrot puree on the side. For breakfast, they made fresh coffee and eggs how we liked it. I had mine scrambled with mushrooms and tomato and had my coffee with oat milk!

Sustainability

Onguma is famed for its wide-ranging conservation and sustainability efforts. The largest aspect of these efforts is taken up by their rhino conservation and anti-poaching initiatives. As it is, rhino poaching activity has been steadily on the rise in Namibia over the last few years. As a result. Onguma was able to implement a well-trained, fully equipped Anti-Poaching Unit that patrols the 34.000 ha reserve day and night.

The Fort also supports the Oshivelo Farming initiative – a local sustainability project founded to create jobs on a large scale for the local Oshivelo community. The fresh vegetables grown there are used by the accommodation’s catering. In just 6 years, the project has uplifted the local community and improved their livelihood. Other than that, the wine and beer stocked at the lodge are all locally sourced.

My highlights

• Staying in the private conservancy just outside Etosha National Park allowed for excellent private wildlife experiences.

• Having a superb breakfast overlooking a waterhole with lots of animals coming to drink.

• The lodge offering spa treatments and massages from the comfort of our rooms.

Is it for you?

The Fort is all about personal service, excellent food, and luxury. Coupled with its proximity to Etosha and spectacular wildlife viewing in Onguma Private Game Reserve, I can’t recommend The Fort enough.

In 3 words: Stylish, safari, luxury