Was at Ongava for two nights recently with my family, and thoroughly enjoyed it. The setting is magnificent, and the rooms extremely comfortable. We all loved the choice of showering inside or outside! The view from the terrace, where you take meals, is beautiful. I found the staff very friendly and our guide was knowledgable. In the Ongava reserve, which unlike Etosha itself is quiet and free of large numbers of vehicles, we saw lions and four White rhino, plus many other species. The guided tour into the Etosha reserve itself was pricey, and could easily have been done In our own vehicle, but again the guide was excellent. Others have commented on the food. This is not haute cuisine, but perfectly good and plenty of it. This is a luxury lodge in a very quiet and beautiful location - I recommend it.

This is a good lodge, in excellent position over (an albeit man-made) waterhole with spacious chalets.

But it's not the excellent game lodge it could be. Road access is poor but the first impression delights....what it really lacks is any ambiance whatsoever. You won't get the luxury 'feel' you'll experience in similarly priced spots. Food is ok but not memorable in any way. It's over-staffed and the team 'hover' about to help. It's invasive rather than good service and the staff will always remind you of how much service they've been..in an effort for tips. The lodge only offers a sunset drive in it's our reserve...and to be frank; it was lame and dull in comparison to neighbouring Etosha. If you only stay a night you'll miss out...but I wouldn't recommend staying for longer when so many Etosha options are prevalent.

I'm painting a very negative picture but have focussed on what let's it down. The rooms are great! showers are awesome. Zebra (and the occasional lion) will wander about your private cabin, each with very well appointed inside/outside features.

It's good...but shop around.

What a wonderful and priveleged way to visit a very popular National Park (Etosha) in Namibia. Ongava is a private concession which borders the southern borders of Etosha. It is managed by the highly respected Wilderness Safaris and harbors three very different accommodation choices. I stayed at the main Ongava Game Lodge (but I visited all three). The lodge was beautifully sited on a hill overlooking the vast wilderness and providing spectacular views! Due to being built on a small mountain, this is not a good choice for anyone not able to manage steps easily (you could choose the other two properties here). The main lodge overlooks an active waterhole that is lit at night. Meals were wonderful and the staff was friendly and attentive. Rooms were stone cottages, well spaced and provided spacious and thoughtful accommodation. I wished for more time just to luxuriate in my own private space. Game drives and walks take place in the private Ongava concession as well as excursions to the park. Loved having both the private access and the park at hand.

Views are amazing, wildlife was wonderful to watch and the guides make the trip very memorable in a positive way. However, the food is in great need of improvement to include choices and time constraints. The rooms are in need of improvements and many areas could be far cleaner with a little attention to detail. Don't get me wrong, it is nice but for the expense, the food should be far better and the place should be spotless.