Onjala Lodge is situated only 75 km from Windhoek and 45 km from Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport and is easily accessible by small car. Set against a mountainside, Onjala affords spectacular views of views of the valley below, where resident game roam the 1700 ha private nature reserve. Perched on the mountaintop is a second pool and viewing platform, affording panorama views and spectacular sunsets. After nightfall the star-studded sky can be explored with a good quality, stationary telescope.
Built in an unconventional architectural style, rough natural stone of the area was used to blend unobtrusively with its backdrop. The eleven duplex rooms in the main structure with large sliding glass doors and small lounges are comfortably furnished. The lower balcony overlooks the surrounding scenery and the second balcony on the upper level looks onto the central courtyard with small tropical garden, pool and waterfall.
Twin Beds, mountain view, Tea & Coffee Station, Table & Chair, Balcony to Sunrise side, Small French Balcony to sunset side upstairs, Safe.
2 x 3/4 beds, terrace with mountain / river view, Tea & Coffee Station, Table & Chair, Safe, small dressing rooms, huge shower bathroom.
2 x queensize beds,Dressing room, terrace with mountain/river view, Tea & Coffee Station, Mini Bar, Aircon, separate Guest Toilet, Living Room.
24-hour Security, Eco Friendly, Internet Access (Complimentary), Mobile Connectivity, Pool, Restaurant, Secure Parking, Spa
Air Conditioning, Fan, Fridge, Laundry Service (Available), Mini Bar, Mosquito Nets, Safe, Shower, Tea / Coffee, Verandah
Credit Card, Room Service
Every afternoon we have a guided tour in an open top 4×4 vehicle through the extensive grounds of Onjala. On the 1,700 hectare farm, you are likely to see giraffes, zebra, various antelopes, ostriches and warthogs. With luck you could even spot a well-camouflaged leopard.
In winter (April to August), we depart at 4:00 pm, in summer (September to March) at 5:00 pm. The departure point is at the car park, and the excursion takes 2 to 3 hours. By request, we can head off to a stunning sundowner spot, where you can relax with a drink of your choice, and enjoy a breathtaking view of the sun setting over the Namibian landscape.
Reservations for a game drive should be done timorously, as the available seats on the vehicle are limited to 12 persons. Please pack sunscreen, a thick jacket, and possibly a raincoat if any clouds are in sight.
The best way to enjoy the untouched nature of Onjala is by exploring it on foot at your leisure. You can hike anywhere on Onjala, as long and as far as you wish. The boundaries of the area are marked by a fence. For your safety please remain within the fence. To make it easier for you, we have created a variety of routes. With the help of our map you can compile your own route, and turn this beautiful experience into an individual one. The routes are marked with letters and numbers at the crossings, commensurate with the map. A free trail map is available at the front desk. You can, of course, also walk without using a map. We have a white, green and blue route. Just follow the appropriate color dots on the trail markers. The white route is round about 6 km long, the green 6 km and the blue route 14 km.
All trails start in front of the restaurant. There are signpost indicating the start of the trails. The trails run along both farm tracks and game paths, so please watch where you step, as there are plenty of smaller animals to be found on Onjala. Also please never climb over or cross the border fences. Getting lost here is almost impossible, as the lodge is clearly visible as a landmark from all areas of the farm. Walking here also affords you the opportunity of encountering wild animals up close. On the farm we have various antelope, baboons, ostriches, zebras, warthogs and giraffes, amongst others. They have enough space here and do not feel threatened, so you can generally approach them quite closely. However, please avoid any direct contact with the animals. This obviously includes scorpions and reptiles that may be hiding under rocks.
We recommend that you wear comfortable, ankle high shoes, a hat and sunglasses. Take sufficient drinking water with you. Additionally we encourage you to use some high protection sunscreen, as Namibia has a high UV index. For your own safety also please report to the front desk before you leave; and take your mobile phone with you. Most of the farm has mobile coverage, and in the event that you find yourself too tired to return, we can come and pick you up. Self-guided walking is free of charge.
To enjoy the unspoiled nature, several marked trails and a network of farm-roads allow you to explore the surroundings at leisure. With some luck and patience you might even see wildlife up-close. *Free of charge
Namibia is renowned for its clear and cloudless skies. Onjala has an extraordinary observatory.
Have you ever wondered of what the Milky Way consists and how it is formed? Why do stars sometimes twinkle or how far are the stars away from the earth? Then observe at Onjala under guidance double stars, star clusters and nebulae under the crystal clear sky of Africa with one of the world’s best telescopes – a ‘Zeiss refractor’.
Depending on the season, we show you the rings of the planet Saturn, the crescent shape of Venus or Jupiter with its banded clouds and its four major moons.
When the moon is seen in the evening sky you may watch the craters and mountains of the moon with an incredible clarity.
The event begins in the open. We show you how to find the directions, with the help of the constellation of the “Southern Cross”, on the southern hemisphere and how you then can be oriented in the night. We show you some of the typical constellations of the southern sky, and you’ll learn about distances in space. Finally, you get an insight into Greek mythology to the formation of the Milky Way compared to the mythology of the Namibian Bushmen. Followed by that you can then do some observation by the Onjala telescope inside the observatory dome.
Namibia’s highlands bustle with a colourful diversity of birdlife. On walks and at the lodge a variety of birds, such as the luminous crimson-breasted shrike or a majestic secretary bird can be observed. With some luck you could witness a Verreaux’s eagle-owl narrowing in on its prey or one of the
endangered Lapped-faced vultures circling the skies in search of its next meal.