Perhaps the most charming option in the wildlife packed 30,000 hectare Ongava Reserve, the Tented Camp is ideal for those hankering after a classic safari camp feel with a touch of rustic luxury. Far less solid and conspicuous than the Lodge and Little Ongava, guests feel close to the animals that often pass through camp. Creating this wild, slightly edgy feel is quite some achievement in what is effectively a well-managed, fenced private reserve, but this is largely because there is so much game in Ongava, blissfully unaware that they are within an enclosed area. There is a degree of comfort with humans and vehicles that means the animals will often let you get very close on game drives and walks, which is especially thrilling when you get to track white rhino on foot.
The water hole next to camp attracts huge volumes of wildlife, with plains game such as kudu, oryx, wildebeest, and hartebeest attracting a strong predator presence. All of this can be watched from the swimming pool and the open sided thatched central lodge, where there is a bar, dining room and deck with a campfire. Accommodation is in eight Meru style tents, with wooden floors, colourful furnishings, en-suite facilities and a private deck looking out to the reserve. Although not the most luxurious accommodation in Ongava, the Tented Camp certainly feels the most authentic.