Simplicity rules this camp on the banks of the tree-lined Omatako River (an ephemeral river, so it is usually a dry, sandy riverbed) in Osire, Namibia. No one’s trying to wow you with luxury around every corner at Osonjiva. The aim is to delight you with beautifully presented furnishings and features, and an environment in which you can relax, unwind, meet new people and likely get sightings of wildlife you’ve never laid eyes on before.
It’s all located 100km south of the Waterberg, in the Osonjiva Private Game Reserve, home to enough plant, bird and animal life to give you plenty of photos and memories to take away with you.
The accommodation has a tent-like appearance from the outside, with broad poles supporting the structure of the room’s canvas walls and roof, which has an overhanging canopy at the front providing precious shade for your patio, so you can sit and take it all in, in comfort.
Large glass doors connect the outside to the interior which is dominated by your bed - either a kingsize or two singles. Close to your bed/s will be a desk and chair, ideal for firing off photos to jealous friends and family back home via your laptop – yes, there’s wi-fi here too. The whole space is air conditioned with curtains you can pull across the windows during those times you want some privacy (or respite from the sun).
When the time comes to freshen up, the shower in the bathroom awaits, along with a WC and twin wash basins.
Raised wooden walkways link the various features of the camp to each other, and all roads (or pathways) lead to the main area where you’ll find a pool, restaurant, terrace and The Island Bar.
Foodwise, breakfast is a big thing in camp, and you can choose from a Continental or Full English/Irish options, depending on your appetite. You can choose to eat inside undercover, or a little more exposed out on the terrace.
The outdoor swimming pool and sun deck benefits from natural shade provided by trees and the man-made canopies, so you can find a shady part to relax and dry off on a daybed. There’s also a boma, enclosed by a fence formed of tree branches with a fire pit at its heart, around which guests can socialise in the evenings.
Shape the activities to suit your interests. Giraffe and zebra seem to be the most prevalent wildlife that guests see during early morning and afternoon game drives out into the Reserve. Sightings of predators have been reported, so too encounters with antelope, bat-eared fox and a wide range of bird species. We believe that pangolins have been spotted in the area too, but that’s a much more rare occurrence. Hopefully, you’ll get lucky.
As well as trips aboard a 4x4, you can head out from camp on foot to view nature from even closer range. The team lets guests tailor activities to suit their interests. So, for instance, you could focus on spotting specific kinds of wildlife, or concentrate on focusing and framing during a photography expedition led by an expert who will likely help you maximise the quality of the shots you capture, so you have crystal clear and colourful memories of your safari to cherish.
And how about joining a group visiting a local Herero community nearby for a look at how they live and the chance to browse and buy the crafts they create?
"A dream come true"
We had the most amazing family holiday, everything worked so perfectly, the arrangements and accommodation was spectacular!
"Unforgettable trip to Namibia – Thank you Namibia Tours & Safaris!"
We are a group of four from Romania and spent 3 unforgettable weeks in Namibia. We can't recommend them enough, and for any future travels in Namibia or other parts of Africa, we will definitely use their services again.
"We had a great experience"
From the time we put the key in the ignition till we boarded the plane in Windhoek nothing went wrong.
"Unforgettable bird photography trip in Namibia"
It was a fantastic experience, everything was very well organised, went smooth and according to expectations. It was our first self drive in Africa and it was a great, unforgettable time.
