Sustainability at Onguma
Written by Daryll Williams
At 400 square kilometres, Onguma Game Reserve is a substantial yet private safari reserve bordering the Fischer's Pan area on the eastern side of Etosha National Park. This reserve includes magnificent terrain, with areas of mature acacia forest and mopane scrub and the occasional patch of open grassland. Not to mention the abundance of wildlife! Think black rhino, lions, giraffe, zebra, cheetah, and many more…
The best thing about the reserve is that it has a relatively low guest density, there being just 5 small camps here, all under the same ownership. The Onguma portfolio includes The Fort, Tented Camp, Tree Top, Bush Camp and Etosha Aoba. At all of them, you can expect stylish interiors, top-tier hospitality and premier game viewing, with most properties built around waterholes.
Sustainability as philosophy
While meeting the needs of every guest, Onguma Safari Camps also serves its host community and natural environment through projects that develop the local community and protect the surrounding wildlife population.
The anti-poaching unit
Poaching is the biggest threat Africa’s wildlife currently faces, primarily due to the high value of rhino horn, ivory and other animal products, making focused conservation efforts a necessity. Rhino poaching activity in Namibia has increased dramatically over the years. And while Onguma hasn’t seen much activity during this period, poaching continues to be an ever-present threat to the reserve’s wildlife.
Paired with the increase in sophisticated methods used to poach rhino and other wildlife, Onguma reacted with radical initiatives to combat the crisis. As a result, a well-trained, fully equipped Anti-Poaching Unit came to be, patrolling the 34.000 ha private nature reserve day and night.
Oshivelo farming initiative
Onguma allows residents of the area to economically benefit from operations based on the reserve itself. As such, the Oshivelo farming initiative was born. This 500 ha vegetable farm produces carrots year round, beetroot, onions, tomatoes, bell peppers, cabbage, maize, butternut and broccoli as well as papayas. The vegetables are then sold monthly into the Namibian market. Clients range from major supermarket groups like Woolworths, Spar, Checkers and Food Lovers Market, to the informal traders through an outlet at Oshivelo. The initiative manages to employ 180 local people on a permanent basis of which 80% are women. Up to 100 additional people are employed seasonally.
Green at heart
If you are looking for a certified sustainable travel experience in Namibia, any one of the Onguma’s accommodation options will do. With the 5 properties distributed across the area, you’re bound to find something that caters to your needs and manages to exceed your expectations, time and time again…
Want to see for yourself? Just head over to Viatu to enquire.
