Onguma Safari Camps has officially opened its new Trails Camp, introducing seasonal guided walking safaris in a remote part of the 34 000-hectare reserve bordering Namibia’s Etosha National Park. The product is believed to be the first of its kind in the country’s big game territory.
Open between April and September, Onguma Trails Camp accommodates a maximum of eight guests in four en-suite canvas bell tents. It is located in a previously unused, rehabilitated part of the reserve with thicker vegetation and older trees, chosen specifically for its biodiversity and walking suitability.
Trails are led by Field Guides Association of Southern Africa-accredited guides and average between 6-10km daily, focusing on tracking, ecology and bush interpretation. Guests must be over the age of 16 and in good physical condition. There is no mobile signal or Wi-Fi at the camp but satellite communication is available in emergencies.
“This is the first trails camp operation in the country,” said Specialist Guide Alan McSmith who helped develop the concept. “The idea is to get out predominantly on foot, track the animals and probe deeper than you normally would.”
Onguma Trails Camp is a solar-powered, off-grid product. Facilities include composting toilets, bucket showers with hot water heated by donkey boilers, wood-fired hot tubs and shared meals under canvas in a stretch tent mess area. The camp can only be accessed via Onguma Forest Camp and offers scheduled transfers at 13h00 on specified trail dates.
Onguma operates five other camps in its private reserve, which has been converted from farmland into a wildlife sanctuary. In addition to walking safaris, the reserve offers photographic hides, sleepout experiences, bush dining and other activities in Etosha National Park.
