Within a luxurious resort on the outskirts of Etosha National Park

Prepare the scene

The famous Etosha salt pan in Namibia has long captured the attention of nature enthusiasts, who are drawn to this region in the country's northwest because of its astounding densities of species. Great herds of elephant, zebra, springbok, oryx, kudu and eland congregate around waterholes during the dry season (May to December) in this area, where the flat, arid land seems to go on forever. It makes for a fantastic game-viewing spectacle.

Onguma Camp Kala

Every day offers the opportunity to watch the life-and-death drama of untamed Africa due to the abundance of animals, which provides lions with abundant hunting areas. The animals disperse during the rainy season (December to March) when many give birth, males fight for supremacy, and migrating birds return. The rains also offer dramatic light to the skies and bursts of color to the landscape, making it a photographer's dream come true. The salt pan, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a part of Africa's biggest national park, Etosha, which is about the size of Slovenia. Onguma Private Nature Reserve, a property with five lodges, one of which is the ultra-exclusive Camp Kala, is located on its eastern border.

Onguma Camp Kala

The background

34,000-hectare Onguma is a privately owned natural reserve. It attracts tourists who wish to explore the nearby Etosha National Park and spend time in the reserve, which is home to thriving populations of antelope, lion, elephant, leopard, cheetah, and black rhino. Two camping areas and five lodges are available at Onguma to suit different preferences and budgets, from the understated (but extremely comfortable) Onguma Bush Camp to the opulent The Fort, where Will Smith resided while filming the National Geographic documentary Welcome To Earth.

Onguma Camp Kala

The Camp Kala resort, which debuted in November 2022, is by far the most opulent one on the grounds. With just four rooms that surround a bustling waterhole, it enjoys exclusivity. Animals are attracted to the water throughout the day (and night), so it is possible to have a safari experience without ever leaving the comfort of the lodge. Camp Kala visitors have the reserve to themselves on their morning game drives while guests at Onguma's other lodges enter Etosha National Park before dawn.

Onguma Camp Kala bedroom

The rooms

The entrance to Camp Kala isn't too flashy on purpose, and when you walk into the thatched reception area, you'll see both beautiful interiors and a stunning view. The waterhole, which was designed by Nick Plewman Architects and contains interiors by Fox Browne Creative, is the center of attention at the resort. To maximize this view, the suites, open-plan dining and bar rooms, and the wooden decks around them were all created. The interiors are layered with earthy textures and neutral hues, which are countered by accents of deep grey, black, white, and polished bronze, to create rooms that are both opulent and serenely refined.

In the Onguma Camp Kala bathroom

There are just four suites at Camp Kala, and they are accessed through an elevated boardwalk. There are two suites on either side of the dining/bar/reception area. Each apartment has a wall covered in glass doors that open to a spacious deck in front of the waterhole. There are sun loungers, a café table, a king-size daybed that is covered, a log-fired hot tub, a cold plunge pool, and other amenities in this secluded outdoor area, which is a great place to view wildlife and take Instagram-worthy photos.

The suites have an open layout. The lounge includes a well-stocked personal bar, and the coffee table a collection of painted tree stumps holds binoculars and literature about wildlife, which is a smart and pertinent touch. The king-size bed in the middle of the suite is surrounded by long curtains and has a cooling system that allows for a cozy airflow. A double vanity surrounds a dramatic porcupine-quill-framed mirror; geometric motifs on the glass-and-steel shower wall lend urban style; and a huge bath is strategically situated near the glass doors.

Onguma Camp Kala's bar

Food and beverage

Just as local foods are used in the menus to evoke a feeling of location, so is the eating ritual. People often eat their dinners outside on the deck, where a fire pit crackles into the African night.

You won't go hungry while on safari here because all meals are multi-course affairs, and the lodge runs on an "open pantry" basis. If you get hungry between sunrise coffee (with snacks), brunch, lunch, afternoon tea, sunset drinks (with snacks), and a four-course dinner, you can always find something delectable to nibble on.

In addition to handcrafted pastries, smoked salmon, "African breakfast pans" (spicy baby tomatoes, bacon, mushroom, farm eggs, cheese, and chakalaka veggie stew), and gluten-free zucchini potato rosti, the breakfast menus also include sparkling wine and freshly squeezed juices. The typical lunch menu consists of cold meats, cheeses, salads, and pieces of bread, while the supper menu features amazing sorbets and entrees like game fillet, Namibian beef, and mushroom ragyu.

Onguma Camp Kala

A spa

The spa and gym, which both have glass walls that look out into the forest, weren't yet open when this review was done. The little gym has a rowing machine, stationary cycle, treadmill, and a full complement of weights. A variety of massages and facials are available on the spa menu.

Onguma Camp Kala

In the neighborhood

There's nearly always something coming down to drink at Camp Kala's private waterhole, including elephants, lions, warthogs, eland, giraffes, and jackals. Below the lodge's bar, facing over the waterhole is a ground-level observation hide. There are many opportunities to leave the lodge and explore the area, despite the temptation to sit back and wait for wildlife to come to you. At Onguma, the days are organized by two guided drives one in the early morning and one in the late afternoon or early evening and visitors can choose to enter Etosha National Park or stay on the exclusive reserve. A ranger-led educational bush walk is another option, and visitors may reserve the private picture hide at a different waterhole. Spending the night on the Dream Cruiser, a specially adapted Land Cruiser that has been skillfully furnished with a bathroom "downstairs" and a gorgeous rooftop bedroom, is a unique experience. After being given a delectable picnic meal and being dropped off at a waterhole, the car will be left there while you spend the night alone. If you need to contact a ranger, you will have a two-way radio. It's thrilling and gorgeously crazy.

Onguma Camp Kala's treatment area

The service

Every suite has a butler, who serves meals, plans activities, and is available at all times should guests need anything, and who serves as their main point of contact throughout their stay. Camp Kala's twice-daily wildlife drives with a Namibian guide add depth to the experience. A bush hike or time spent in a picture hide are further options. The friendly staff makes guests feel at home in this luxurious and small camp (limit eight guests; 12 if the entire site is reserved privately).

Onguma Camp Kala's dining room

For families

If the lodge is rented exclusively, under-12s can stay.

Residences in Onguma Camp Kala 

Eco effort

A conservation fee is levied on visitors; this fee is used solely for the reserve's black rhino population's security and protection. In addition to providing veggies to the reserve's hotels, a farming project employs more than 180 locals and sells 400 tons of vegetables to the Namibian market each month. Plastic that does enter the lodge is recycled because there are no single-use plastics at Camp Kala. Glass scrap from the other lodges was crushed and utilized in Camp Kala's construction.

At Onguma Camp Kala, the restroom

Accessibility for people who have mobility issues

The lodge has several steps to negotiate, and the restrooms are not accessible to wheelchair users. The location of this lodge is ideal since there is an almost continual stream of animals at the waterhole, so you could spend the whole day at Camp Kala and still have your private safari. However, getting in and out of the game-viewing vehicle may be difficult for the less mobile.

Address: 14002, Tsumeb, Namibia, Onguma Camp Kala, Onguma Private Game Reserve

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