- Location: Onguma Nature Reserve, eastern Etosha boundary; 10–20 minutes inside the reserve gate, which sits 500 m from Von Lindequist Gate
- Property size: 11 rooms (4 Heritage bungalows, 3 Bush Suites, 3 Explorer bungalows, 1 Honeymoon bungalow)
- From: NAD 3,040 per person sharing, dinner-bed-&-breakfast (Heritage Bungalow)
- Mandatory levy: Rhino Conservation Levy NAD 275 per person per night, billed separately
- Best for: couples and small families who want a quiet riverbed camp with its own waterhole deck
Onguma Forest Camp strings eleven bungalows along the dry Omuramba Owambo riverbed on the Onguma Nature Reserve, a 35,970-hectare private reserve against Etosha’s eastern boundary. The reserve entrance is 500 m from Von Lindequist Gate, with the camp 10 to 20 minutes further in.
Where its sister Bush Camp is built for family bustle, Forest Camp trades on quiet. Eleven rooms in riverbed woodland, a veranda and raised viewing deck over an impressive waterhole, and not much else to do except watch what walks in. That is the point.
Why stay at Onguma Forest Camp
- Small and calm. With 11 rooms it is roughly half the size of Bush Camp, so meals, the pool and the waterhole deck rarely feel busy.
- A waterhole you watch from a proper deck. The bar, lounge and dining area open onto a veranda and viewing deck directly in front of the water.
- Riverbed setting. The dry Omuramba Owambo funnels game past the camp, and the tree cover gives it a shaded, green character unusual for eastern Etosha.
- Flexible rooms. Bush Suites take optional extra day beds, with published triple and quad rates that bring the per-person price down for families.
Accommodation at Onguma Forest Camp
Four twin-bedded Heritage Bungalows open the ladder at NAD 3,040 per person sharing. Three Bush Suites come next; each is twin-bedded with optional additional day beds, so it can sleep three or four, and the per-person rate drops as you add people.
Three Explorer Bungalows add space and position, and the single Honeymoon Bungalow is the camp’s best room. Every bungalow has a private terrace with seating, an en-suite shower, minibar, document safe, air-conditioning with heat and cool functions, tea and coffee facilities and large mosquito nets.
The camp also has a swimming pool, a small safari shop and free Wi-Fi for guests.
The riverbed and the waterhole deck
Camp life centres on the guest area facing the waterhole. You have breakfast, drinks and dinner within sight of the water, and the raised deck gives a clean line for photographers without leaving camp. In the dry season, from roughly May to October, the riverbed and waterhole do the game-drive’s work for you; keep binoculars at the table.
Activities from Onguma Forest Camp
All Onguma activities are bookable from Forest Camp on top of the DBB rate, and every activity includes beverages. The four-hour guided Etosha game drive costs NAD 1,750 per person. Reserve-based options include the three-hour sunrise drive and sundowner drive at NAD 890 per person each, and the mid-morning session in the Onkolo Hide at NAD 650 per person (minimum age 7, minimum two guests).
Interpretive nature walks cost NAD 890 per person for guests aged 16 and over, and the Young Explorers walk for children is NAD 420. Private game drives run at NAD 9,700 per vehicle for four hours. Self-drivers can also enter Etosha through Von Lindequist Gate in their own car.
Onguma Forest Camp rates (2026)
| Room type | Season (1 Nov 2025 – 31 Oct 2026) | Rate per person sharing, DBB |
|---|---|---|
| Heritage Bungalow (4 rooms) | All year | NAD 3,040 (child 3–11: NAD 1,520; single supplement NAD 1,060) |
| Bush Suite, double (3 suites) | All year | NAD 3,420 (triple NAD 3,200 pp; quad NAD 2,990 pp; child 3–11: NAD 1,710; single supplement NAD 1,380) |
| Explorer Bungalow (3 rooms) | All year | NAD 3,860 (child 3–11: NAD 1,930; single supplement NAD 1,380) |
| Honeymoon Bungalow (1 room) | All year | NAD 4,050 (child 3–11: NAD 2,025; single supplement NAD 1,380) |
Rates are per person sharing on a dinner-bed-&-breakfast basis and include VAT, the social development levy and the NTB tourism levy. The mandatory Rhino Conservation Levy of NAD 275 per person per night is billed separately, including for children. Three-night DBB packages are also published, from NAD 7,992 per person in a Heritage Bungalow.
Published 2026 rack rates from the lodge’s official rate sheet. We confirm live availability and any specials when you enquire.
Who Onguma Forest Camp suits
Couples who want the eastern-Etosha location without Fort-level spend, and photographers who value deck time over drive time. The Honeymoon Bungalow makes it a sensible lower-cost honeymoon pick too.
Families are welcome. The camp is mostly fenced, children under 3 stay free and ages 3 to 11 pay half rate, with the quad-configured Bush Suites the best-value family rooms. Supervision is still required at all times, and children under 7 cannot join scheduled game drives, so parents of toddlers usually find Bush Camp the easier fit.
Getting to Onguma Forest Camp
Drive north from Windhoek on tar via Otjiwarongo and Tsumeb to Etosha’s eastern entrance. The Onguma reserve gate is 500 m from Von Lindequist Gate; the camp lies 10 to 20 minutes inside on reserve roads. Flying in, use the Onguma or Mokuti airstrips; transfers to the camp are included.
Frequently asked questions about Onguma Forest Camp
How does Forest Camp differ from Bush Camp?
Forest Camp is smaller (11 rooms against 18), quieter, and set in riverbed woodland rather than open bush. Bush Camp is slightly cheaper at entry, more geared to children and has massage rooms. Both are mostly fenced and share the same activity menu.
Can children stay at Onguma Forest Camp?
Yes. Under-3s stay free, ages 3 to 11 pay half the adult rate, and the camp is mostly fenced with adult supervision required. Children under 7 may not join scheduled game drives unless you book a private vehicle.
Is dinner included in the rate?
Yes. Rates are dinner-bed-&-breakfast: accommodation, breakfast and dinner, plus airstrip transfers and taxes. Lunch, drinks, activities and the NAD 275 nightly conservation levy are extra.
How far in advance should I book?
With only 11 rooms, dry-season dates (June to October) go early; nine to twelve months ahead is realistic for July and August. Green-season dates are far easier at short notice.
Does a Forest Camp stay work for self-drivers?
Very well. Spend your days in Etosha through the nearby gate, or hand a day to the lodge guides for the NAD 1,750 Etosha drive, then finish with a sundowner drive on the reserve, something the national park cannot offer.
Check availability at Onguma Forest Camp
We are an independent Namibian booking agent and confirm Onguma stays directly with the lodge, at its published rates. Send the form below and we reply within 24 hours (Mon–Fri 8:00–17:00 CAT) with live availability and one clear recommendation for your dates.