Onguma The Fort

Onguma Fort, Onguma Reserve, Etosha, Namibia - Explore & Book

"The Onguma Reserve encompasses a vast 20,000 hectare slice of bushveld, which nudges up to Etosha's easternmost border. When given the brief of creating a flagship lodge for the reserve, Namibian designer Heidrun Diekmann eschewed traditional safari style and instead looked to Morocco and India for her inspiration. The result of her derring-do is as stunning as it is innovative.The Fort (also known as 'Onguma Plains'), and its 13 suites which fan out to either side, rise kasbah-like above the plain that stretches out towards the flat expanses of Fischer's Pan. Rough stone walls, earthy colour washes, spare interiors and an open frontage with a massive sweep of planked deck were all conceived to make the unforgettable vista, and Onguma's jaw-dropping sunsets, the main protagonists. And at night, when the reflection of a hundred lamps dance in the courtyard pools and the Milky Way seems close enough to reach out and touch, you can live your very own chapter of Arabian Nights - albeit in southern Africa. Highs The physical setting is heart-achingly beautiful Eye-catching interiors: angular furniture and twists of lime green, scarlet and pinks in fabrics and cushionsFantastic foodThis place is romantic with a capital 'R' and perfect for crooners, swooners and honeymoonersYou'll see plenty of buck at The Fort's water hole in dry season: if you're lucky you may see rhino or big catsWater has been masterfully incorporated into The Fort's design, as both an aural and visual element Lows There were times when we'd have opted to cut the background chill music in favour of the sounds of the bushMorning game drives into the Etosha Park aren't usually included in the price of your stay (but drives within the Onguma Reserve are)Tarif only includes 1 game drive a day; if you want to do a second one, you'll have to pay extraThe Onguma Reserve is a 5.5 hour drive from Windhoek, albeit through fabulous scenery, or a 1.5 hour flight in a light aircraft" - Guy Hunter Watts