Hobatere is an 8,000-ha community-owned concession managed by Journeys Namibia who run the wonderful Grootberg Lodge along the same lines and also manage the successful Fish River Lodge, so they’re no strangers to the business.
West of Etosha, Hobatere is the complete safari experience and the only complaint we’ve ever had about this place is that we didn’t book our clients in for long enough. The refurbished thatch chalets are not overly luxurious - there’s no air conditioning for example - but they remain secluded and spacious with comfy beds, an en suite bathroom (shower only, this is an eco-camp after all) and a private balcony.
The main building faces the waterhole about 200m away and you can spend all day watching elephants, lions, cheetah, leopard, giraffe, zebra and all manner of antelope; birding is still excellent of course as is the quality of the guiding.
The food is excellent the highlight being a three-course set menu dinner and the staff, who are all custodians of the conservancy, are friendly, keen to help and, with first-class training from Journeys Nam, pretty good at what they do.
12 thatched chalets (Rondavels (twin) and Bungalows with double, twin or triple configurations); en suite bathroom with hot shower, flushing toilets and wash basin; mosquito nets; tea/coffee with hot water flask; writing desk; deck overlooking the bush
Private Tree House: double bed; mosquito net; insect repellent; tea/coffee with hot water flask; raised balcony; en suite bathroom (downstairs)
Main building with dining area, bar and terrace all facing a busy waterhole; swimming pool; game viewing hide; fire pit; airstrip; curio shop
Game drives (morning, afternoon and evening); full-day guided Etosha safaris; bush boma dinners
The reserve has a rich diversity of wildlife including elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, eland, giraffe and Hartmann's zebra and many other species of plains game; night drives are particularly rewarding with nocturnal raptors and predators on the hunt. Waterholes, hides, guided nature walks, game drives and cultural interaction are some of the unmissable activities on offer at Hobatere Lodge.
