Namibia’s untamed Wildlife - Safari Highlights (Self-Drive): Windhoek – Naukluft Mountains – Swakopmund – Damaraland – Etosha – Onguma – Okonjima – Windhoek

During the two and half hours drive you will visit our baboons, caracals, lions, cheetahs, wild dogs and leopards. Watch them being fed by our experienced guides while they explain how these carnivores came to live on this reserve. Followed by a scenic drive with a good chance of spotting some of the other wildlife. This is not just a great way to learn about these amazing animals and how they behave in the wild, it is also a great up close photo opportunity.

A superb introduction to conservation and the work we do here at N/a'an ku sê.

(Pre-bookings Necessary)

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This academy is a joint venture between the N/a’an ku sê Foundation and the Nyae Nyae Conservancy. It aims to serve as a reciprocal training venture where visiting San groups from the Nyae Nyae Conservancy stay at N/a’an ku sê to display their cultural heritage and skills to visitors.

Take the opportunity to visit the San Bushmen in their traditional village and witness their ancient culture and traditions first hand. The San will show you plants they use for medicinal purposes, how they make fire and set traps, tell you how they hunt and regale you with stories, song and dance.

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Take a walk with our habituated caracal and our guides. During this walk you will get to see how these animals behave in the wild, stalking birds and small mammals as they regain their natural instincts and hone their hunting skills. You will also experience the serenity of the Namibian veld and no doubt be accompanied by a wide variety of bird species.

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Follow in Marlice’s footsteps and get an intimate view of the workings of a wildlife reserve and sanctuary. On this in-depth activity you will gain insight into the real N/a’an ku sê world and the inner workings of sanctuary life and the myriad of animal species currently being cared for. Enter the riveting world of research carried out at N/a’an ku sê, and gain intimate knowledge into the field of human-carnivore conflict mitigation. Become smitten with our gorgeous sanctuary orphans and bond with the baby baboons (there’s nothing like it). Become fully immersed in Marlice’s magical world!

(Pre-bookings Necessary)

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Experience the wonders of our wildlife from a saddle! There’s nothing quite like it. A two hour

horse ride through the bush will give intermediate and advanced riders the unique chance to

observe our wild game closer than ever before – and you may even be lucky enough to ride

amongst our gorgeous giraffe family. Our experienced coordinator will provide you with all of

the necessary safety equipment and will guide you on a fabulous afternoon.

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Meet our playful primates and experience the joys of monkey fun on a not-to-be-missed baboon walk. All of our baboons came to N/a’an ku sê either after losing their mums (Namibia’s Chacma baboons are tragically persecuted on an almost daily basis), or having been rescued from situations of abuse. Our baboon buddies adore the interaction and bounding through the bush on their daily walks. Why not join in and get to know firsthand just how incredible these animals are?

Take the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to enter N/a’an ku sê’s very own “Meerkat Manor”, and spend a magical two hours witnessing the delightful antics of the bushveldt’s most beloved residents. Meerkats are early risers, emerging from their dens from approximately 6.15AM. Hence you will be met at the main lodge building and then it’s off to enter a madcap meerkat world on N/a’an ku sê’s picturesque reserve. *Please note that even though we always do our utmost to ensure significant meerkat sightings, the animal kingdom plays by its own rules, thus sightings cannot be guaranteed.

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Habituated cheetahs have lost their fear of humans – a fear that is crucial in elevating their survival chances in the wild. For this reason, some of the magnificent spotted sprinters at N/a’an ku sê need to remain in captivity, having come to the sanctuary from various conflict situations at very young ages, requiring dedicated care to ensure their survival. At N/a’an ku sê we fully nurture and encourage their natural behaviour, captivity resembling the life of their wild counterparts as closely as possible. Enjoy time with our habituated big cats, in the hands of an experienced and knowledgeable guide. Simply not to be missed!

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Our experienced guides will take you with our well-equipped open game drive vehicles around the

pristine 9,000-hectare reserve, showcasing some of the most incredible wildlife in Africa! Early drives at

sunrise are ideal to observe the Namibian plains waking up, while evening drives reveal the elusive

beauty of the nocturnal savannah. An experience that you will never forget…

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The Zannier Reserve by N/a’an ku sê is home to the Shiloh Wildlife Sanctuary, a valuable center aiming for caring rhinos or elephants that have been injured or orphaned in poaching incidents. Enter this wildlife animal clinic managed by the N/a’an ku sê Foundation and discover the incredible work of passionate vets who are rescuing and taking care of endangered animals.

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Put your hat on, pull up those sleeves and jump on the back of the bakkie. We are going to

feed the rhinos! Get on the back of the bakkie and drive to the shed, load your own lucerne

bail, about 6-8 bails will be loaded & continue to the feeding spot. Watch while feeding take

place, about 11-13 rhinos will be fed at once.

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Guests set out early in the morning with a guide and tracker to the neighbouring farms in search of the elephants which roam freely in the conservancy. Sightings cannot be guaranteed. These elephants are known to migrate up to 200 km in search of water, but herds can often be spotted along the dry riverbeds. They are not a separate species of African elephant but due to their frugal diet can appear leaner and taller than their cousins in habitats with more abundant vegetation, and they have bigger feet.

A picnic lunch is served in the cooling shade of a shepherd tree.?You can expect to return to the lodge early in the afternoon, enriched by the unique beauty of Damaraland and possibly the privilege of having spotted one of Namibia’s Big Five.

Departure: Early morning, varies according to sunrise. Please enquire at reception for applicable departure time. | Duration: half-day | Return around 15h00 | Minimum 2 guests per excursion – maximum 9 per vehicle | 50% discount for children under 12 years.

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Once listed as critically endangered, black rhino populations in Namibia have increased dramatically thanks to a conservation partnership between local communities and eco-tourism efforts. Our Grootberg Conservancy has been recognised by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism as a rhino custodian, and huge endeavours to protect this highly poached species continue.

This excursion is a combination of walking and driving amidst the cliffs and the volcanic basalt ridges of the Damaraland Region. At lunchtime we stop near the springs and enjoy refreshments. This almost full-day activity of driving on bumpy roads and walking in rocky terrain is not for the faint-hearted. Rhino sightings are not guaranteed.?

Departure: Early morning, varies according to sunrise. Please enquire at reception for applicable departure time. | Duration: ¾ day | Minimum 2 guests per excursion – maximum 8 per vehicle | Not for children under the age of 16.

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The lodge offers scenic drives on top of the Etendeka Plateau with the possibility of seeing a variety of wildlife population of zebras, antelope, jackal and occasionally leopard and lion. Springbok, Kudu and Oryx are a permanent fixture and even the nervous and shy klipspringers are sometimes seen leaping from ledge to ledge on the steep cliffs of the mountain. • Departure time from the lodge: 07:00. • Duration is +/- 3 hours. • Afternoon departure 16h00 (summer) or 15h00 (winter) after coffee & tea and home baked cake. • Minimum 2 guests per excursion - Max 9 per vehicle. • Children under 12 are discounted at 50% of adult rate.

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The guided walk can be arranged either in the morning after a scrumptious breakfast on the veranda of the restaurant, or in the afternoon after enjoying our delicious cakes with tea or coffee. Highlights of the walk include an introduction to the local flora and the medicinal use of specific plants while admiring the amazing rock formations of the Etendeka Mountains, which were formed 180 million years ago when the supercontinent of Gondwana broke up.

Departure: Between 08h30 and 09h00 for the morning walk | Afternoon walk at 16h30 in summer and 15h30 in winter after tea | Duration: about 2 hours | Minimum 2 guests – maximum 9 guests per guide | Not for children under the age of 12.

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Guests will be guided through conservancy farms in the surroundings, visiting several authentic Damara homesteads. This tour is an exclusive opportunity to spend time with their hosts and gain insight into their origins, cultures, traditions and their approach to human-wildlife conflict as part of farming in harsh desert conditions.

The tour also includes a visit to the #Khoadi //Hoas Conservancy office to meet the staff and to understand the role of the conservancy in preserving the natural resources of the area, as well as the positive impacts and benefits that the conservancy enjoys as a direct result of owning Grootberg Lodge.

The Cultural Tour starts after an early breakfast.

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The Dream Cruiser is Onguma's newest and most unique under the stars sleep-out experience.

Arriving in time to enjoy sundowners and take a tour of your overnight accommodation, this sleep out in the wilderness of the reserve is on our custom built Land Cruiser, featuring a full bathroom on the lower deck and a bedroom with lounge area on the upper deck.

A night on the Dream Cruiser calls for al fresco picnic-style dining is delivered by our chef for you to enjoy as the evening turns to night and the stars dance in all their glory.
A ranger is on call via a two-way radio, so make the most of this time and relax in the safety and complete comfort of this unique space.

After a good night's rest, you can enjoy morning tea/coffee with homemade rusks before being collected for breakfast at the lodge.

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Onguma's fabulous new water-level hide affords guests a great opportunity to calmly sit and enjoy nature unobserved. Amateur and professional photographers alike love the angles and light from this equipped hide.

There is a small ablution facility nearby, benches from which to view the surroundings and lots of windows and vantage points for creative camera angles.

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Onguma Nature Reserve consists of 34 000 hectares of Namibian wilderness & is home to numerous plains game, more than 300 bird species ​and even 4 of the Big 5. ​The Reserve boasts over thirty different animal species. Plains game roam freely on the Reserve and predators although not always easy to spot, are nevertheless common residents of the area. Lions and Cheetahs are frequently seen and often heard. There is a healthy black rhino and leopard population and hyenas are also often seen and heard.

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Etosha is a 22 750km² wildlife sanctuary in Namibia – one of Africa’s most stable and accessible countries. Etosha, meaning ‘place of dry water’, and refers to a flat calcrete depression (or pan) of about 5 000km². The ‘Pan’ (overlooked by the Onguma Reserve) provides a great, parched, silver-white backdrop of shimmering mirages to an area of semi-arid savannah grassland and thorn scrub. The pan itself contains water only after very good rains and sometimes for only a few days each year, but is enough to stimulate the growth of a blue-green algae which lures thousands of flamingos.

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Africa takes on a new perspective when you experience it on foot as the first explorers did. A bush walk is a unique physical, mental and spiritual adventure through nature. Experience the sights, smells and sounds of the Namibian bush by conducting an early morning leisurely walk accompanied by one of our experienced armed rangers.

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​Johan, our resident therapist, is a professional massage therapist with over 15 years experience, having lived and worked at renowned Wellness Centres in Asia and Africa. His passion for and dedication to massage therapy originated in the East, where he was trained and educated by the best teachers in their respective fields. Having the opportunity to spend considerable time with monks in Thailand, has also led him to incorporate focused awareness into his massage therapies. He has also upskilled three ladies from Onguma and they too are available and receiving great reviews!

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Namibia can offer a truly memorable and interactive experience in the wilderness for families travelling with children by offering children's accommodation, specially designed game drives for children, activities and meals.

Onguma Nature Reserve welcomes children to explore and experience the uniqueness of the untamed African bush with its many wild animals both the big and small!

At Onguma Bush Camp there has always been an emphasis on family and the Lodge encourages families. The staff go out of their way to make sure the young ones have the time of their lives and the parents get their own satisfying safari experience. The bushveld of Onguma is a wild wonderland, a child's dream come true, and the Lodge delights in being able to share her secrets with the next generation.

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Our Leopard ‘experience’ will take you out into the Okonjima Nature Reserve and will allow you to spend more time with our experienced guides and participate in the research data collection for our long-standing leopard project. Some of our adult Leopard are radio collared which enables the guides to track them with a specialised telemetry device contributing to frequent viewing, giving visitors an opportunity to observe these magnificent predators in their natural habitat.

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Leopard Tracking Credit: Crew 10

AfriCat Credit: AfriCat - Karen Codling

Leopard Tracking Credit: Crew 10

Leopard Tracking Credit: Pie Production

RHINO TRACKING on foot: (Specialized Activity) - subject to weather and availability.
On this trail, no telemetry device is used to track the rhino, the guide and guests are joined by our dedicated Okonjima anti-poaching team who have spent many hours, getting to know each individual, dedicating their time towards the fight for the conservation of the rhino in the Okonjima Nature Reserve. This activity can only be booked directly at the Lodge.

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Rhino Tracking Credit: Crew 10

Rhino Tracking Credit: Crew 10

Rhino Tracking Credit: Jandre Germishuizen

Rhino Tracking Credit: Crew 10

BROWN HYAENA TRACKING
This Hyaena ‘experience’ offers more time to appreciate and understand the Okonjima Nature Reserve as a balanced ecosystem, with a focus on the ‘secretly social’ and rare brown hyaena. Since the private nature reserve was primarily established for the conservation of some of our more vulnerable mammal species, it offers an improved opportunity to encounter these relatively rare animals.

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Brown Hyaena Tracking Credit: Freda Bauer

Brown Hyaena Tracking Credit: Freda Bauer

Brown Hyaena Tracking Credit: Freda Bauer

Brown Hyaena Tracking Credit: Crew 10

PANGOLIN TRACKING on foot: (Specialized Activity) – exclusive for guests staying 2 nights
The choice of going with the researcher or guide, will be determined by circumstances, weather and operations. Sightings are not guaranteed, as this complex, vulnerable species needs a gentle and respectful approach. Tracking on foot will be done in silence and maintaining a discreet distance. The Pangolin tracking is a specialized night/day (seasonal) activity. During the summer months this activity tends to take place between 10pm and 6am and during the winter months from 5pm to 11pm. As this would be the most active period of the day for these mostly nocturnal animals. You will join a guide and tracker on a walking trail in the dark within the 20 000ha Okonjima Nature Reserve. We limit participation to a max of 6 people per pangolin tracking. This gives the client insight into this secret life of the very endangered Ground Pangolin. A flashlight and walking shoes are compulsory. This activity is reserved for guests that are staying for a minimum of 2 nights with us.

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Pangolin Tracking Credit: Crew 10

Pangolin Tracking Credit: Crew 10

Pangolin Tracking Credit: Freda Bauer

GAME DRIVE
Experienced guides will entertain you with their knowledge, sharing interesting and enlightening information about the history of the Okonjima Nature Reserve and the research gathered over the past 30 years of conservation on Okonjima. On this trail, no telemetry device is used to track any of the carnivores researched by the AfriCat Foundation. Wildlife is the focus of the drive. Visitors are offered insight as our guides attempt to foster a general appreciation of the natural habitat of the Nature Reserve.
Morning activities (seasonal times): Departure 06:00 / 06:30 AM; Return 09:30 / 10:00 AM.
Afternoon activities (seasonal times): Departure: 15:30 / 16:00 PM; Return 19:00 / 19:30 PM.

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Okonjima Game & Nature Drive Credit: Crew 10

Okonjima Game & Nature Drive Credit: Crew 10

Okonjima Game & Nature Drive Credit: Pie Production

Guests are invited on a nocturnal game drive, led by our knowledgeable guides. This evening drive in the Okonjima Nature Reserve allows guests a chance to spot the many nocturnal game species they wouldn’t normally see during the day. After the sun has set and the temperatures have dropped, the African bush comes to life once again:bat-eared foxes roam about, aardwolf on the hunt for insects, owls observe their surroundings from a height. All Okonjima guests are welcome to join a nocturnal drive. The Nocturnal Game can only be booked directly at the Lodge.

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Night Drive Credit: Okonjima

Night Drive Credit: Okonjima

Night Drive Credit: Crew 10

Night Drive Credit: Crew 10

Into AfriCat – behind the Science will present the current research and conservation work of the AfriCat Foundation. This experience will complement all existing Okonjima activities, offering guests a deeper understanding of the purpose, methods, and importance of AfriCat’s conservation research within the Okonjima Nature Reserve.

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Into Africat Credit: Crew 10

Into Africat Credit: Okonjima

Into Africat Credit: Freda Bauer

Into Africat Credit: Okonjima

Self-guided walking trails for those guests who want to spend some time alone in the solitude of the Okonjima 2000ha wilderness area. Maps available at reception desk.

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Nature Trails Credit: Okonjima

Nature Trails Credit: Freda Bauer

Nature Trails Credit: Pie Production

Nature Trails Credit: Pie Production