ONGUMA TENTED CAMP
Yet another place that we did not want to leave! Onguma Tented Camp is situated on the same reserve as Onguma The Fort and is the epitome of safari chic. With only seven tents in the camp, privacy is the order of the day. The tents have electricity and are equipped with a few extras like hairdryers and mosquito nets. We hardly notice that we are actually staying in tents.
A herd of impalas at the waterhole forms our welcoming committee. The lodge’s interior is a combination of earthy textures and natural tones of grey, charcoal, black, white and cream. A touch of bright green adds a modern feel to it. The surrounding nature lends itself to a long lazy afternoon spent on the sofas in the lounge, watching the animals go about their daily routine.
When the day heats up, we stroll to the rim-flow pool where we settle down with an ice-cold drink in hand. Two makalani palm trees, characteristic of the north, adorn the waterhole that can be seen from all corners of the camp. Being me, I feel like I need some exercise, so I move back to my patio and grab a good book that I have been meaning to read for weeks. Daily exercise. Tick. Then quickly freshening up in the outside shower and off for dinner.
While we dine in elegance, zebras, warthogs and a variety of birds arrive for their aperitif at the waterhole only 60 metres away. After dinner, we move even closer to the waterhole to sit at the campfire, sip on a nightcap and share stories with other travellers. And, as it happens, all the other travellers are American and it is the 4th of July, so we toast their Independence Day together. It was a good day, and it becomes even better when three honey badgers make their appearance right at the campfire – a rare and exciting encounter.
With all the under-canvas romance that makes me fall in love with Namibia all over again, I did not even notice that there is free Wi-Fi in the main area. A day without technology is a day well lived. We sleep with our “door” open to make sure we do not miss out on any waterhole action.