The Elegant Guest House

Windhoek: 1 Night

The capital of Namibia, Windhoek is set amongst green hills in the centre of the country. It is a relatively small city, and has a very relaxed feel to it, with little of the angst associated with the other major cities in Southern Africa.  It is also one of the cleanest cities in Southern Africa.

The city has a colonial legacy that is reflected in its many German eateries and shops, and also in the widespread use of the German language.

Windhoek has an interesting mix of historical architecture and modern buildings, many of which are worth a look, including the Alte Feste old fort, the 1896 Christuskirche Christ Church, and the more contemporary Supreme Court.

Just outside of Windhoek (25 km away) you will find the Daan Viljoen Nature Reserve, which is a pleasent place to spend a few hours if you want to get away from the city and into the bush. One of the great attractions here is that you can walk around the reserve, following the guided trails, as the reserve is only home to non-dangerous wildlife, including blue wildebeest, zebra, kudu, baboons, gemsbok, eland and springbok, plus over 200 species of birdlife.

The Elegant Guest House is located in a tranquil suburb close to restaurants and the city centre. The guest house consists of just 17 en-suite double rooms set against a backdrop of mature blue gum trees and a crystal clear pool. The rooms are light, stylish and imbued with contemporary, angular good looks.

Breakfast is a continental style buffet, served in the comfortable lounge and restaurant area.

During your time here, indulge in the contemporary flair and stylish surroundings, while the friendly staff will endeavor to make your stay as comfortable as possible and to provide you with personalised service. A fusion of Namibian chic with modern creature comforts has resulted in a truly unique Namibian guest house.

Ai-Aiba Lodge

The Erongo Mountains: 2 Nights

Ai Aiba Rock Painting Lodge is dramatically set against imposing granite boulders in the foothills of the magically beautiful Erongo Mountain range. Steeped in history these ancient rock formations are the eroded remains of a volcanic complex about 130 million years old. The lodge is set on the 200,000 hectare Erongo Mountain Nature Conservancy, a pristine wilderness area which is dedicated to the protection and preservation of the plant, reptile, mamal and bird life, as well as the wealth of cultural heritage, of the Erongo landscape.

Activities during your stay here include morning or afternoon nature drives to the Bushman rock art. Each drive takes about 3 hours as you travel through the scenic reserve with selected stops at sites to view and learn about Bushman rock art, which depict age‐old hunting rituals, human and animal life. The drives also include a stop for refreshments and snacks.

Walking the area surrounding the lodge is highly encouraged and is an excellent way to experience the beauty of the Erongo Mountains. The guides have been very well trained on the interesting fauna and flora of the area and are available to escort guests through the property. There are also self-guided walking trails which go past Rain Cloud Cave and Elephant Wall - both rock art sites.

San Living Museum Tours are a unique offering, which gives guests a further insight into the ways of the Bushmen.  These tours include a walk with a Bushman, learning about hunting, snaring, tracking, lighting fire and collecting bush food; or learning more about life in their village as you see how they make rope and jewellry, and understand the meanings behind their local dances and songs.

The main lodge has a high thatched roof restaurant and lounge, which have amazing panoramic views. The swimming pool is an oasis surrounded by tall palms and scenic vistas of magnificent rocky outcrops and bush savannah. There is also a floodlit waterhole.

Towering boulders form the backdrop to the 20 mountain facing chalets. Each tastefully furnished room has twin beds and air conditioning.  There are also Family Rooms with either an additional single bed or a double bunk bed.

In between activities, you can relax around the crystal clear swimming pool, or enjoy the amazing panoramic views from the restaurant and bar.

The lodge is 3.5 hours from Windhoek, making this an ideal start or end to any trip to Namibia.

Onguma Tented Camp

Etosha National Park: 2 Nights

In the local Herero language, Onguma means 'the place you don't want to leave.' With a stunning 'safari chic' styled main building, tented rooms providing private and exclusive accommodation, and an outstanding level of service and attention to detail, Onguma Tented Camp certainly lives up to its name.

The camp is located in the 34,000 hectare Onguma Game Reserve, on the eastern side of Etosha and bordering Fisher’s Pan. The reserve itself boasts over 30 different animal species. Plains game roam freely on the reserve and predators, although not easy to spot, are nevertheless common residents of the area. Lions are frequently seen and often heard. There is a healthy black rhino and leopard population and hyenas are also often seen.

More than 300 bird species can be viewed at Onguma, and the reserve also boasts the biggest breeding colony of white-backed vultures in Namibia. During the summer months Onguma becomes a bird-watchers paradise with thousands of species migrating to wetlands created by the seasonal rains and systems.

Your game drives will be done in the Etosha Park itself, however sunset drives on the Onguma concession are one of the highlights of a stay here.

When not out on a game drive, it is easy to spend a lazy afternoon relaxing on the sofas in the lounge, watching the animals go. And when things heat up, all that is required is a gentle stroll to the rim flow pool.

The camp has just 7 luxury tents, which all have an indoor and outdoor shower, and a view over an active waterhole.

Textures such as stone, suede, linen and steel create a setting throughout that is sleek and modern. Inspired by a photograph of an oryx on Etosha's Fisher's Pan, the interiors echo the colours of its natural surrounds. Grey, charcoal, black, white, and creams, together with a touch of muted or unexpectedly bright green, adds sophistication and earthiness to the atmosphere.

Etosha Heights Safarihoek Lodge

Etosha National Park: 2 Nights

Set just outside the south-western border of Etosha National Park, Etosha Heights Private Reserve offers enthralling landscapes, a huge variety of flora and fauna, and a wide range of thrilling activities. Vast savannah, rivers, forests, Mopani woodland, salt pans and dolomite hills spread themselves over the 60,000 hectare area.

Morning and afternoon game drives offer the chance to see kudu, lion and the elusive mountain zebra (in the hills) and sable, black-faced impala, giraffe, aardvark, elephant and many more animal species around the various waterholes which are dotted around the reserve. The game drives usually last between 2-3-hours.

Depending on the weather guests can also join a night drive on the reserve. On a night drive, you stand a chance to see some of the nocturnal species that roam the reserve. Guided walks are offered for the more adventurous. 

There is also a photographic hide that guests can walk to. Built on 2 levels, and looking onto a large, natural waterhole, the lower ground level is set up for serious photographers with a charging station, international adaptors, areas for gear storage and an eye level view of the action. The upper level is under thatch, also with a toilet, charging station, day beds, refrigerator, and a ledge for bean bag use and camera support. The hide is wheelchair accessible.

There are 13 rooms in total at Safarihoek Lodge.  The standard rooms are en-suite with a lovely wooden verandah to enjoy a morning coffee as the sun rises over the Eastern horizon. The luxury rooms are spacious, modern and refreshing and feature a small wooden verandah, allowing guests to enjoy the wildlife interactions and stunning panoramic landscape from the comfort of their room.. The luxury family unit has a main en-suite bedroom and en-suite children's room, separated by a small living room.

The main lodge has lounge area, inside and outside bar, dining room, boma, swimming pool and viewing deck.

Hobatere Lodge

Etosha National Park: 2 Nights

Hobatere Lodge is a photographic hotspot for wildlife lovers, nestled in beautiful surroundings on the banks of the Otjovasandu River. Situated on a 8,808 hectare concession area on the western border of Etosha National Park, the name Hobatere means 'Find me', and once you do, you will enjoy a warm welcome and personalised service throughout your stay here. The proximity of a waterhole ensures an exceptionally intimate experience with the wild creatures that frequent the area.

Early morning and night drives on the concession are two of the activities on offer. The concession is home to a wide selection of game, including elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, giraffe, eland and Hartmann's Zebra. On night drives, many nocturnal animals, such as aardvark, cape fox, bat-eared fox, aardwolf and genet are encountered. Bird-watching enthusiasts will also delight in the variety of species found in the concession.

If you want to explore further into the incredible Etosha Park itself but don’t feel like driving in your own car,  you can join a guided full day Etosha drive with one of the experienced guides. This gives you the opportunity to relax in an open game viewing vehicle and just absorb one of the most beautiful game Parks in Southern Africa through your camera lenses. The excursion starts early in the morning (between 06:00 and 07:00) and includes a picnic lunch to ensure that you make the most of your day in the Park. The vehicle takes a maximum of 9 guests.

12 rooms in total provide comfortable accommodation. Thatched roofs keep the well-appointed rooms cool and offer shade against the heat of the African savannah.

There is a swimming pool next to the main area with sun lounges for relaxing under the Namibian sun and washing away the dust after a day of game viewing. A spacious restaurant is complimented by a lounge, bar area and an outside veranda with seating allows for viewing the waterhole.

The Tree House offers the amazing experience of spending an evening and night completely alone in an exclusive wildlife area to feel in touch with nature and being surrounded by the African Bush. Watch the sunset and the animals at the waterhole from the privacy of the balcony, and take in the tranquility, silence and beauty of the surroundings.

Damaraland Camp

Damaraland: 2 Nights

Damaraland Camp is situated in the Huab River Valley in one of the best wilderness areas in Namibia, offering endless vistas across stark plains, ancient valleys and a stunning ochre-purple mountain backdrop. The star-gazing at night is superb, because of the crystal-clear skies.

Activities revolve around nature drives into the Huab River valley in search of the rare and endangered desert elephant, the last free-roaming elephants who have successfully adapted to living in the harsh desert conditions.

Guests can also enjoy guided nature walks, where gemsbok, springbok and kudu are often sighted, as well as many birds.

Damaraland is world-famous for its ancient rock art, and guests on stays of 3 nights or more can take a day drive to visit some of these remains and marvel at the artists of ages past.

Cultural activities can also be arranged, where guests can learn about the unique heritage of the local peoples, which include Nama-Damara, Herero, Owambo, and the displaced Riemvasmaakers of South Africa. This activity allows you to respectfully engage with these communities and it also includes a visit to the local Bergsig School.

The accommodation comprises of 9 large and extremely comfortable 'Meru-style' walk-in tents, each with their own private patio with stunning views of the valley. Each tent has its own en-suite bathroom, where the hot water is solar powered. There is also one Family Tent which sleeps up to 4 people in two adjacent rooms connected by a walkway.

The main area comprises of a lounge and bar area, and a dining area with a 'family' style table where all meals are served. An open campfire and outdoor dining 'boma' area are enjoyed during calm evenings.

There is also a natural rock swimming pool.

Okonjima Plains Camp

Okonjima Nature Reserve: 2 Nights

Situated halfway between Windhoek and the Etosha National Park, Okonjima is the home of the AfriCat Foundation.

Since being founded in 1991, AfriCat’s mission has been to make significant contributions to conservation, while trying to ensure the survival of Namibia’s predators in their natural habitat. It undertakes research, community support and environmental education projects, as well as conservation work to rehabilitate carnivores such as cheetah and hyena.

A highlight for anyone visiting Okonjima is to learn about their big-cat passion. Leopards roam freely and hunt within the 22,000 hectare reserve, and an opportunity to see them on game drives led by experienced guides is why guests travel continents to stay here. You may also spot other rare and endangered species such as rhino and pangolin. Guests can also get involved in collecting and collating data, and assisting with actual research being conducted by AfriCat.

Okonjima Plains Camp offers a choice of en-suite accommodation depending on your budget - choose from Garden Rooms, Standard Rooms or the spacious View Rooms.  The Standard and View Rooms also offer views across the Okonjima grassy plains, and also each have a verandah.

Guests can enjoy relaxing around the swimming pool, or sitting around the open fire in the evening before dinner is served in the pleasant dining area.  At the nocturnal hide, guests can view after-dinner nightlife, such as porcupine, honey badgers and caracal, amongst others.