Okahirongo Elephant Lodge
Accommodation in Kaokoland - Namibia
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!
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.
The Okahirongo Elephant Lodge consists of:- 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.
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
Epupa Falls Lodge A tented camp on the banks of the Kunene River close to Epupa Falls and Himba settlements
Fort Sesfontein
On the border between Kaokoland and Damaraland this fort was built at the same time as the fort of Namutoni in Etosha
Kapika Waterfall Lodge
On a hill above the Kunene river, the lodge has tremendous views of the surrounding area and looks towards the Epupa Falls
Kunene River Lodge
An excellent 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
Ohakane Lodge
One of the oldest lodges in the Kaokoland area, from here guest can visit Himba villages and other areas of interest in Kaokoland
Okahirongo Elephant Lodge
Near the tiny settlement of Puros, this luxury lodge offers you the ability to search for the desert adapted elephants
Okahirongo River Camp
On a hillside overlooking the Kunene River this small intimate camp offers accommodation for a maximum of 14 people.
Opuwo Country Lodge
This is one of the newer lodges in Opuwo - it has beautiful views over Kaokoland -a real desert oasis
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