---
type: "Article"
title: "On safari in Namibia’s Ongava Nature Reserve: from snarky elephants to adorable lion cubs"
description: "The luxurious Ongava Lodge sits elevated on a small hill. The view from there of the wild animals at the waterhole is endlessly fascinating."
resource: "https://travelmemo.com/namibia/ongava-lodge-safari"
author: "Katja Birrer"
publisher: "Travelmemo"
photo_count: 23
tags: ["Lodge", "Nature", "Safari", "Namibia"]
entities:
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/namibia"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/lodge"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/nature-tourism"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/safari"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/wildlife-tourism"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/culinary-tourism"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/experience-travel"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/landscape"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/restaurant"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/wildlife-viewing"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/author/katja-birrer"
generated: { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/katja-birrer", at: 2026-07-04T14:13:07+00:00 }
verified:
  - { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer", at: 2021-12-21T21:08:48+00:00 }
sources:
  - id: photos
    resource: ongava-lodge-safari.md#photos
    title: "Original photography by Katja Birrer"
    author: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/katja-birrer"
timestamp: 2026-07-04T14:13:07+00:00
---

# On safari in Namibia’s Ongava Nature Reserve: from snarky elephants to adorable lion cubs

> Ongava Private Game Reserve is one of Namibia's largest private reserves, bordering Etosha National Park, where guests encounter lions, elephants, rhinos, giraffes and more across 70,000 acres. The luxury Ongava Lodge serves as a base for game drives and waterhole wildlife watching.

## Destination
Ongava Private Game Reserve, southern Namibia, bordering Anderson Gate — the southern entrance to Etosha National Park.

## What to see
- **Waterhole at Ongava Lodge** — Visible from the veranda and lodge rooms; elephants, antelopes, rhinos and large flocks of birds all visit throughout the day.
- **The Hide** — A manmade blind near the waterhole reached via a fenced path, offering close-up views of wildlife including rhinos with young.
- **Lions and cubs** — Lionesses with nursing cubs were spotted resting in the reserve; guide tracked the cubs by their calls.
- **Elephants** — Bull elephants encountered both on game drives and at the waterhole, including a mock charge incident.
- **Giraffes** — Spotted within the first few hundred metres of the game drive.
- **White and black rhinos** — Visited the waterhole in the evenings with their young; also encountered on a dedicated rhino safari.

## What to do
- **Game drive in a Land Cruiser** — Guided drives through the reserve with expert trackers; wildlife encountered includes elephants, lions, giraffes and antelopes.
- **Sundowner in the bush** — A traditional gin and tonic at sunset while watching wildlife, including lionesses, move across the landscape.
- **Wildlife watching at the waterhole** — From the lodge veranda or the concealed Hide blind, guests observe the full drama of animals drinking and competing at the waterhole.

## Good to know
Ongava Lodge has 14 African-style thatched-roof chalets plus a main building with restaurant, lounge, bar and fireplace. The reserve covers more than 70,000 acres and is considered one of the largest and best private game reserves in Namibia.

## Photos

```yaml
photos:
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/ongava-private-game-reserve-safari-54.jpg"
    caption: "Elefanten kurz vor dem Angriff..."
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/ongava-private-game-reserve-safari-12.jpg"
    caption: "Elefantenbulle mit lauter Drohgebärde. Wir machen uns besser aus dem Staub...."
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/ongava-private-game-reserve-safari-15.jpg"
    caption: "Gähnende Löwin"
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/ongava-private-game-reserve-safari-16.jpg"
    caption: "Ach, ist das hell hier!"
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/ongava-private-game-reserve-safari-31.jpg"
    caption: "Löwenmutter mit ihren Jungen"
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/ongava-private-game-reserve-safari-29.jpg"
    caption: "Löwinnen mit Jungen"
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/ongava-private-game-reserve-safari-56.jpg"
    caption: "Walter erklärt Pascalis, wie er Katjas Glas am Lippenstift erkennt. Spurensuche einmal anders..."
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/ongava-private-game-reserve-safari-57.jpg"
    caption: "Katja und Pascalis sind bereit für den Sonnenuntergang"
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/ongava-private-game-reserve-safari-21.jpg"
    caption: "Sonnenuntergang im Ongava Safarireservat"
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/ongava-private-game-reserve-safari-25.jpg"
    caption: "Der Himmel verfärbt sich langsam..."
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/ongava-private-game-reserve-safari-26.jpg"
    caption: ".. dann ziehen zwei Löwinnen vorbei..."
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/ongava-private-game-reserve-safari-24.jpg"
    caption: "... und legen sich hin (rechts unten), bevor es..."
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/ongava-private-game-reserve-safari-27.jpg"
    caption: "Sunset during a safari"
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/ongava-private-game-reserve-safari-60.jpg"
    caption: "Bungalow der Ongava Lodge"
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/ongava-private-game-reserve-safari-10.jpg"
    caption: "Badezimmer mit Aussicht["
    credit: "Walter Schärer"
```