Little Ongava is a slice of five-star safari luxury within an intimate setting boasting incredible panoramic views of the private reserve it occupies. With just three suites, the lodge offers a very exclusive and private experience with easy access to the abundant wildlife, salt pans and safaris of Etosha National Park.
Awarded: Gold
Location
The lodge sits within the same 300km2 private reserve as its sister camp, Ongava Lodge on the southern boundary of Etosha National Park. Although close to Ongava Lodge, Little Ongava feels secluded, sitting on the crest of a hill with commanding views of the reserve. There’s a busy waterhole in front of camp where herds of plains game gather so wildlife viewing starts from the comfort of your accommodation.
Rooms
There are just three large and plush suites at the lodge so a stay here feels like a true hideaway. Beds draped in mosquito nets sit at the centre of the space with a lounge to the side boasting a fireplace, comfy armchairs and a minibar. Dressing rooms hide behind beds and glass doors in the lounge open out to a private deck and plunge pool. In the large en-suites you’ll find clawfoot bathtubs in front of floor-to-ceiling windows to bathe with a view of the reserve. There are also outdoor showers and daybeds.
Communal Areas
Find the main area by long wooden walkways that weave around the rocks and trees from the bedrooms. A large lounge is furnished with a stone fireplace, a bar and a library, opening out to a deck which overlooks the waterhole below. Guests can dine on the deck under the stars or inside. The lodge even has its own open-sided chapel which can be used for weddings.
Activities
Guests can take day and night game drives within the reserve or head into the park to explore its endless salt pans and huge herds of wildlife. There’s also a good chance of seeing both white and black rhino on the reserve which guests can track on foot for close encounters.
Fully inclusive
When to go
Find out when is best to visit
- Excellent
- Good
- Poor
WET SEASON – ‘EMERALD SEASON’
This is the peak of the wet season, yet days with rainfall are very spread out.
A beautiful season to visit as the landscape transforms into many shades of green. Great birding with migratory species present. This period also marks calving season with the birth of many young animals. Wildlife is however well spread out and the vegetation thick, making game viewing difficult.
Temperatures are pleasant, averaging 30°C/86°F midday, while the nights average 18°C/64°F.
Like the rest of Namibia, the Etosha has very distinct wet and dry seasons. The wet season occurs from November through to early May, during this time, thunderstorms infrequently occur, the rest of the year is dry. We would generally recommend visiting the park during the peak of the dry season; as the landscape dries up wildlife becomes more concentrated around the waterholes whilst at the same time thinner/ drier vegetation improves visibility. Having said this there is a lot to be said for the ‘emerald season’; beautiful green scenery, fantastic birding, and fewer tourists can make for a wonderful and unique experience.
WET SEASON – ‘EMERALD SEASON’
This is the peak of the wet season, yet days with rainfall are very spread out.
A beautiful season to visit as the landscape transforms into many shades of green. Great birding with migratory species present. This period also marks calving season with the birth of many young animals. Wildlife is however well spread out and the vegetation thick, making game viewing difficult.
Temperatures are pleasant, averaging 30°C/86°F midday, while the nights average 18°C/64°F.
Like the rest of Namibia, the Etosha has very distinct wet and dry seasons. The wet season occurs from November through to early May, during this time, thunderstorms infrequently occur, the rest of the year is dry. We would generally recommend visiting the park during the peak of the dry season; as the landscape dries up wildlife becomes more concentrated around the waterholes whilst at the same time thinner/ drier vegetation improves visibility. Having said this there is a lot to be said for the ‘emerald season’; beautiful green scenery, fantastic birding, and fewer tourists can make for a wonderful and unique experience.
WET SEASON – ‘EMERALD SEASON’
This is the peak of the wet season, yet days with rainfall are very spread out.
A beautiful season to visit as the landscape transforms into many shades of green. Great birding with migratory species present. This period also marks calving season with the birth of many young animals. Wildlife is however well spread out and the vegetation thick, making game viewing difficult.
Temperatures are pleasant, averaging 30°C/86°F midday, while the nights average 18°C/64°F.
Like the rest of Namibia, the Etosha has very distinct wet and dry seasons. The wet season occurs from November through to early May, during this time, thunderstorms infrequently occur, the rest of the year is dry. We would generally recommend visiting the park during the peak of the dry season; as the landscape dries up wildlife becomes more concentrated around the waterholes whilst at the same time thinner/ drier vegetation improves visibility. Having said this there is a lot to be said for the ‘emerald season’; beautiful green scenery, fantastic birding, and fewer tourists can make for a wonderful and unique experience.
DRY SEASON
A beautiful season to visit as the landscape transforms into many shades of green. Great birding with migratory species present. This period also marks calving season with the birth of many young animals. Wildlife is however well spread out and the vegetation thick, making game viewing difficult.
Temperatures are pleasant, averaging 30°C/86°F midday, while the nights average a chilly 16°C/61°F.
Like the rest of Namibia, the Etosha has very distinct wet and dry seasons. The wet season occurs from November through to early May, during this time, thunderstorms infrequently occur, the rest of the year is dry. We would generally recommend visiting the park during the peak of the dry season; as the landscape dries up wildlife becomes more concentrated around the waterholes whilst at the same time thinner/ drier vegetation improves visibility. Having said this there is a lot to be said for the ‘emerald season’; beautiful green scenery, fantastic birding, and fewer tourists can make for a wonderful and unique experience.
DRY SEASON
Clear skies and dry conditions dominate. This is the best safari period in Etoshia as the wildlife becomes more concentrated around the few remaining water holes. The thinning vegetation also makes it easy to spot game.
Midday temperatures are surprisingly cool, averaging around 25°C/73°F, while nice temperatures average a low of 10°C/50°F making warm clothes essential for those early morning activities!
Like the rest of Namibia, the Etosha has very distinct wet and dry seasons. The wet season occurs from November through to early May, during this time, thunderstorms infrequently occur, the rest of the year is dry. We would generally recommend visiting the park during the peak of the dry season; as the landscape dries up wildlife becomes more concentrated around the waterholes whilst at the same time thinner/ drier vegetation improves visibility. Having said this there is a lot to be said for the ‘emerald season’; beautiful green scenery, fantastic birding, and fewer tourists can make for a wonderful and unique experience.
DRY SEASON
Clear skies and dry conditions dominate. This is the best safari period in Etoshia as the wildlife becomes more concentrated around the few remaining water holes. The thinning vegetation also makes it easy to spot game.
Midday temperatures are surprisingly cool, averaging around 25°C/73°F, while nice temperatures average a low of 10°C/50°F making warm clothes essential for those early morning activities!
Like the rest of Namibia, the Etosha has very distinct wet and dry seasons. The wet season occurs from November through to early May, during this time, thunderstorms infrequently occur, the rest of the year is dry. We would generally recommend visiting the park during the peak of the dry season; as the landscape dries up wildlife becomes more concentrated around the waterholes whilst at the same time thinner/ drier vegetation improves visibility. Having said this there is a lot to be said for the ‘emerald season’; beautiful green scenery, fantastic birding, and fewer tourists can make for a wonderful and unique experience.
DRY SEASON
Clear skies and dry conditions dominate. This is the best safari period in Etoshia as the wildlife becomes more concentrated around the few remaining water holes. The thinning vegetation also makes it easy to spot game.
Midday temperatures are surprisingly cool, averaging around 25°C/73°F, while nice temperatures average a low of 10°C/50°F making warm clothes essential for those early morning activities!
Like the rest of Namibia, the Etosha has very distinct wet and dry seasons. The wet season occurs from November through to early May, during this time, thunderstorms infrequently occur, the rest of the year is dry. We would generally recommend visiting the park during the peak of the dry season; as the landscape dries up wildlife becomes more concentrated around the waterholes whilst at the same time thinner/ drier vegetation improves visibility. Having said this there is a lot to be said for the ‘emerald season’; beautiful green scenery, fantastic birding, and fewer tourists can make for a wonderful and unique experience.
DRY SEASON
Clear skies and dry conditions dominate. This is the best safari period in Etoshia as the wildlife becomes more concentrated around the few remaining water holes. The thinning vegetation also makes it easy to spot game.
Midday temperatures are surprisingly cool, averaging around 25°C/73°F, while nice temperatures average a low of 10°C/50°F making warm clothes essential for those early morning activities!
Like the rest of Namibia, the Etosha has very distinct wet and dry seasons. The wet season occurs from November through to early May, during this time, thunderstorms infrequently occur, the rest of the year is dry. We would generally recommend visiting the park during the peak of the dry season; as the landscape dries up wildlife becomes more concentrated around the waterholes whilst at the same time thinner/ drier vegetation improves visibility. Having said this there is a lot to be said for the ‘emerald season’; beautiful green scenery, fantastic birding, and fewer tourists can make for a wonderful and unique experience.
DRY SEASON
Game viewing can be fantastic during September and October; temperatures continue to rise before the start of the rains, with average midday temperatures 33°C/91°F, it is not uncommon for much warmer days than this, with temperatures occasionally over 40°C/104°F. Morning temperatures average a surprisingly chilly 16°C/61°F.
Like the rest of Namibia, the Etosha has very distinct wet and dry seasons. The wet season occurs from November through to early May, during this time, thunderstorms infrequently occur, the rest of the year is dry. We would generally recommend visiting the park during the peak of the dry season; as the landscape dries up wildlife becomes more concentrated around the waterholes whilst at the same time thinner/ drier vegetation improves visibility. Having said this there is a lot to be said for the ‘emerald season’; beautiful green scenery, fantastic birding, and fewer tourists can make for a wonderful and unique experience.
DRY SEASON
Game viewing can be fantastic during September and October; temperatures continue to rise before the start of the rains, with average midday temperatures 33°C/91°F, it is not uncommon for much warmer days than this, with temperatures occasionally over 40°C/104°F. Morning temperatures average a surprisingly chilly 16°C/61°F.
Like the rest of Namibia, the Etosha has very distinct wet and dry seasons. The wet season occurs from November through to early May, during this time, thunderstorms infrequently occur, the rest of the year is dry. We would generally recommend visiting the park during the peak of the dry season; as the landscape dries up wildlife becomes more concentrated around the waterholes whilst at the same time thinner/ drier vegetation improves visibility. Having said this there is a lot to be said for the ‘emerald season’; beautiful green scenery, fantastic birding, and fewer tourists can make for a wonderful and unique experience.
WET SEASON – ‘EMERALD SEASON’
The start of the wet season, with the occasional short sharp thunderstorm.
Temperatures are quite hot, averaging 33°C/91°F midday, it is not uncommon for much warmer days than this, with temperatures occasionally over 40°C/104°F. Morning temperatures are more pleasant with an average minimum of 18°C/64°F
Like the rest of Namibia, the Etosha has very distinct wet and dry seasons. The wet season occurs from November through to early May, during this time, thunderstorms infrequently occur, the rest of the year is dry. We would generally recommend visiting the park during the peak of the dry season; as the landscape dries up wildlife becomes more concentrated around the waterholes whilst at the same time thinner/ drier vegetation improves visibility. Having said this there is a lot to be said for the ‘emerald season’; beautiful green scenery, fantastic birding, and fewer tourists can make for a wonderful and unique experience.
WET SEASON – ‘EMERALD SEASON’
The start of the wet season, with the occasional short sharp thunderstorm.
Temperatures are quite hot, averaging 33°C/91°F midday, it is not uncommon for much warmer days than this, with temperatures occasionally over 40°C/104°F. Morning temperatures are more pleasant with an average minimum of 18°C/64°F
Like the rest of Namibia, the Etosha has very distinct wet and dry seasons. The wet season occurs from November through to early May, during this time, thunderstorms infrequently occur, the rest of the year is dry. We would generally recommend visiting the park during the peak of the dry season; as the landscape dries up wildlife becomes more concentrated around the waterholes whilst at the same time thinner/ drier vegetation improves visibility. Having said this there is a lot to be said for the ‘emerald season’; beautiful green scenery, fantastic birding, and fewer tourists can make for a wonderful and unique experience.