- Location: Onguma Nature Reserve, eastern Etosha boundary — reached via Onguma Forest Camp (meet 13:00 on day one)
- Property size: 4 en-suite glamping bell tents, maximum 8 guests
- From: NAD 13,240 per person sharing, all-inclusive (published 2027 rate; the camp is absent from the 2026 rate sheet — we confirm current-season pricing on enquiry)
- Season & ages: open April–September only; minimum age 16; reasonable fitness required (6–8 km walking per day)
- Best for: Travellers who want to experience the reserve on foot — the anti-vehicle safari
Onguma Trails Camp is the reserve’s walking-safari product: four glamping bell tents for a maximum of eight guests, a fixed two-night format (extendable to three), and days built around guided walks of six to eight kilometres through the 35,970-hectare reserve with guides trained under Alan McSmith. It runs April to September only, and it is deliberately disconnected — fully solar-powered, no Wi-Fi, no phone signal, an emergency radio in camp.
This is the Onguma stay for people who feel that a safari vehicle, however open, still has a windscreen in it.
Why stay at Onguma Trails Camp
- The reserve on foot. Six to eight kilometres a day (up to ten), tracks, dung, birds and big game read at ground level — bush skills are taught as you go.
- Eight guests, four tents. The smallest camp on the reserve, and the quietest by design.
- Honest off-grid. Solar power, hot bucket showers, wood-fired hot tubs, boma dinners and genuinely dark skies for stargazing.
- All of it included. The package covers walks, meals and drinks, sundowner drives on extended stays, bush breakfasts and the Forest Camp transfers.
Accommodation at Onguma Trails Camp
Four en-suite glamping bell tents with extra-length king or twin beds under mosquito nets, a private outdoor en-suite with hot bucket shower, and a private wood-fired hot tub. No third beds. The camp is reached via Onguma Forest Camp — guests meet there at 13:00 on day one and check out there at 11:00 on the last morning.
The walking format
Stays run as a fixed two-night trail (three on request): guided walks morning and afternoon, bush-skills sessions, bush breakfasts, boma dinners and stargazing, with sunrise or sundowner drives added on extended stays. Guests must be 16 or older and reasonably fit — the ground is uneven and the days genuinely active. Pack light: a 35-litre daypack, neutral colours and a raincoat are advised.
Onguma Trails Camp rates
| Basis | 1 Nov 2026 – 31 Oct 2027 |
|---|---|
| All-inclusive, per person sharing (min 2 nights) | NAD 13,240 |
| Conservation Levy, pp per night | NAD 350 (billed separately) |
The all-inclusive trail covers accommodation, all meals and drinks, guided walks and bush-skills sessions, sundowner drives on extended stays, stargazing, return Forest Camp transfers, VAT and levies. A note on the current season: Trails Camp does not appear on Onguma’s 2026 rack-rate sheet at all — the published figure above is from the official 2027 sheet, and we confirm the current season’s pricing directly with the reserve when you enquire.
Who Onguma Trails Camp suits
Fit, curious travellers — often on a second or third safari — who want the reserve at walking pace. It pairs naturally with two or three vehicle-based nights first: Forest Camp (the access point) or Tented Camp for the waterhole, then the trail. Etosha itself stays a vehicle experience — walking is on the private reserve only.
Getting to Onguma Trails Camp
Access is exclusively via Onguma Forest Camp, a short drive inside the reserve entrance 500 m from Von Lindequist Gate: meet at 13:00 on arrival day, check out at Forest Camp at 11:00. Self-drivers leave vehicles at Forest Camp; fly-in guests use the Mokuti or Onguma airstrips.
Frequently asked questions about Onguma Trails Camp
How fit do I need to be?
Comfortable walking 6–8 km a day on uneven bush terrain, occasionally up to 10 km, in morning and afternoon stages with long breaks. It is a walking holiday, not a trek — but it is not a vehicle safari with a stroll attached.
When does Trails Camp operate?
April to September only — the cooler, drier months when walking is safe and comfortable. The fixed format is two nights, extendable to three on request, minimum age 16.
Is there really no Wi-Fi?
Really none — no Wi-Fi and no phone signal; the camp keeps an emergency radio. Power is solar throughout, with charging points for camera batteries. Most guests report this as the feature, not the sacrifice.
Can I walk in Etosha itself?
No — walking inside Etosha National Park is not permitted for visitors. Trails Camp’s walks run on Onguma’s own 35,970-hectare private reserve, which shares the ecosystem; Etosha game drives can be built into the nights before or after the trail.
How far in advance should I book?
Four tents, a six-month season and a fixed format: for July–September dates, book 9–12 months out and build the rest of the itinerary around the trail dates.
Check availability at Onguma Trails Camp
We are an independent Namibian booking agent and confirm Onguma reservations directly with the reserve, at no extra cost to you. Send your dates below and we reply within one business day (Mon–Fri 8:00–17:00 CAT) with live availability and one clear recommendation.
Explore more
- The Onguma reserve: all camps compared
- Onguma Forest Camp — the access camp
- Onguma Tented Camp
- Staying inside vs outside Etosha
- Etosha gate times & entry fees
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