Okahirongo Elephant Lodge is situated in the Kunene Region, 55km from the coast and around 200km south of the Kunene River. The lodge itself stands on the banks of the ephemeral Hoarusib River, near the tiny town of Puros, in the Puros Conservancy. It is one of Namibia's most remote destinations and is a no-risk malaria destination. It can be reached in a 4x4 vehicle or on a 2hr15min flight from Windhoek. This is the place in the where desert elephants, black rhinos, giraffes and lions live in a desert environment!
Okahirongo Elephant Lodge pride themselves on the relationship between them and local Himba tribes. In particular their involvement with numerous school projects embellishes the standards of education for Himba children in Puros. Hospitality training for staff and water deliveries to remote villages are also of great importance, highlighting the lodge's determination to lower local unemployment therefore improving the overall standard of living of the Himba.
The lodge has a spectacular wraparound view. Spend your days lazing around the pool, reading a book in the cool comfort of the library, relaxing in one of the 2 open air lounges, or having a body massage.
A domed entrance gives access to the open-air buildings, which are linked by wooden walkways, all joining onto a central area with a rustic deck and infinity pool.
The cottages are decorated in a rich and sensuous fusion of ochre, honey and sand colours, whilst each one has its own unique style and atmosphere. Ethnic and locally carved furnishing adds to the romance and excitement of the pervading African ambiance.
Chalets: 7 luxurious, terracotta chalets overlook the immediate stunning wilderness. En-suite bathrooms with bath tub and a view, indoor and outdoor showers, private gazebo with day bed are standard. Mosquito netting is fitted to your double bed.
Presidential Suite: The same luxurious furnishings, views and facilities as the chalets with the addition of 2 double rooms combined with an open lounge. Suites are ideal for either 2 or 4 guests.
The cuisine is a delicious fusion of Italian and African cooking. Dinner is served by candlelight in one of the two dining rooms or under starry Namibian skies in a traditional boma around a fire. Most of the fresh produce comes from the lodge's organic garden and everyday they bake fresh bread and muffins.
Springbok, gemsbok and ostrich can be viewed, whilst Namibian desert adapted elephants traverse the dry riverbed on their way to fresh water springs.
Many guests at Okahirongo Elephant Lodge prefer to spend their days surrounded by the silence of the desert. This is an ideal place to connect with the vast spaces of Namibia.
Activities include morning, afternoon and night game/nature drives and sunrise and sunset drives. There are also bird watching and hiking trails in and around the Hoarusib Valley and surrounding mountains. Highlights of Okahirongo Elephant Lodge include tracking the rare desert-adapted elephants or visiting a nearby Himba village. Guests gain an invaluable insight into the hardy lifestyle and culture of these semi-nomadic desert-dwelling people.
Tracking desert-adapted elephants: A unique and exciting opportunity to search for free roaming desert-adapted elephants. These magnificent creatures can go for several days without drinking and they survive by eating damp vegetation growing in ephemeral riverbeds.
Desert Lion Project: Learn about local communities who share their land with desert-adapted lions. As lions prey on domestic livestock they risk being shot by farmers, themselves out to protect their livelihood.
Game drives: Safaris at sunrise and sunset offer the chance to see desert-adapted elephants. Black rhinos, giraffes and lions also live in this desert environment. The scenery is magnificent and photographic opportunities abound.
Cultural visit: This excursion is to visit Namibia's last traditionally existing tribal group in a nearby Himba village. They breed cattle and goats, milked by the women who also carry water and build homes. The men handle all the legal trials and political tasks.
Hiking: Trek amongst the enormous clay castles of the dry riverbed of the Hoarusib River.
Night drives: The most productive way to see some of the more unusual nocturnal species of the area.
A tented camp on the banks of the Kunene River close to Epupa Falls and Himba settlements.
A rustic option but closest situated to Epupa Falls, this site previously only provided campsites, but recently added rooms on stilts overlooking the river and falls.
AMONGST THE MOUNTAINS AND SAND DUNES OF REMOTE NORTH-WESTERN NAMIBIA IS HOANIB VALLEY CAMP, A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN THE GIRAFFE CONSERVATION FUND AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES
An excellent base from which to explore the Kaokoland area.
A great lodge in a remote location on the banks of the Kunene River, for those interesting in birding, relaxing or river rafting this lodge is an absolute must. Undoubtedly one of our favourite out of the way lodges.
On a hillside overlooking the Kunene River this small intimate camp offers accommodation for a maximum of 14 people.
Welcome to Kaokoland, a true wilderness that is home to the Himba, one of the world’s last semi-nomadic cultures. Despite the harshness of the arid surrounds and the isolation of the area, this truly is the land of milk and honey. An off-the-beaten track experience! Beyond a gorgeous campsite overlooking the Kunene River, this camp offers guests comfortable tented chalets, all en suite. Each chalet is equipped with a watercooler to keep the heat at bay, as well as a terrace for relaxing while the river waters meander past. Omarunga offers a sunset excursion to a lovely look out point, where the Epupa-Falls can be appreciated in their full majesty. As well as visits of local Himba villages, and for he more adventurous, a river rafting trip.
These are honest reviews, both good and bad, from our travellers who visited this property.
Fabulous, a beautiful place, with high standards for Namibia, we met great people, and we had a great time at the River camp.
We spent 3 nights in this enchanting place, the minimum time to justify the long and difficult drive to reach it unless you fly there.. For this reason there were nearly no other guests. We recommend the desert adapted elephants tracking up-river, 4 to 6 hours along the river bed. Excellent food.
To reach the lodge overland a 4x4 is required - from the settlement of Sesfontein (about 100km north of Palmwag and 120km south of the town of Opuwo) turn west onto the D3707 track. Follow this for around 210km until you reach the settlement of Puros - the lodge is well signed a few kilometres past Puros
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