Ovita Wildlife Restcamp

Heiko took us on an afternoon drive around his 10,000-hectare game farm, which made our first day in Namibia unforgettable. There were eight of us, and we had all four rooms at Ovita.

The rooms have lovely patio views over the lake, though ours was a bit hot inside. They’re spacious, and the showers were new and very good. The setting is beautiful, especially at sunset, with plenty of antelopes and birds, including pink flamingos, as well as hippos. Heiko’s game drive was incredible. He knows so much about the wildlife, and you can tell he feels a close connection to the animals and plants on the farm. The meals were simple and tasty, and the wine was good and very reasonably priced. After several stays within two hours of Windhoek, Ovita Wildlife Restcamp was a real surprise. We’re hoping to come back and spend longer there when we’re in Namibia again. We live just a two-hour flight away in Cape Town, so that could be soon.

The camping spots were nice, and the free firewood was a bonus. The staff were friendly, and there’s Wi-Fi at reception. I didn’t enjoy the long-drop toilets, though. We came hoping to see wildlife but didn’t really see any. You can only walk on their roads, not drive on them, and the hippos were across the big dam, too far away to see properly. We weren’t allowed to drive closer.

The nature walk was great, with lots of animals, and the farm itself is amazing. The hosts are really lovely too. If you’re interested in learning about sustainable farming and ethical hunting, this is the place.