Just a half hour drive from Windhoek's tiny international airport, this 10-room luxury lodge couldn't feel further from civilisation. The setting is stunning: expansive bush plains stretching out to distant mountains, all framed under extraordinary skies. Traditional yet dreamy huts naturally blend into the epic surroundings, with hand-thatched roofs, private terraces and soaking tubs which look out over breathless panoramas. It's a wildly romantic affair.
French hotelier Arnaud Zannier created this place following a chance encounter with Angelina Jolie in Cambodia. The actress suggested he purchase this 9,000-hectare reserve and join forces with the remarkable N/a’an ku sê Conservation Foundation. A beautiful partnership was born. Yet Omaanda isn’t just a place for game drives. The foundation’s work can be witnessed through inspirational excursions, from walking with cheetahs, visiting the animal sanctuary or learning the ways of the local San bushmen.
In the heat of the day, we watched wild game saunter by a waterhole from the comfort of Omaanda’s sensational infinity pool. Service was impeccable, the cuisine perfectly judged and, if you need more, the small spa will take you closer to heaven. We stayed just 2 days at the end of our trip but wished it could have been 2 weeks.
Highs
- The astounding location. It's easy to get here yet still feels utterly remote. (We met families who 'flew and flopped' for a week.)
- Beautifully designed yet authentic and captures a 'sense of place'
- The best swimming pool in Namibia, with warm water, showstopping views and a gin bar at one end
- Delicious food that's perfectly judged - we loved the super fresh mezze-style lunches
- Omaanda's connection with the neighbouring N/a’an ku sê Foundation means there are lots of incredible wildlife and cultural experiences on offer
Lows
- Not cheap. Still, when you consider what's included, plus the stunning setting and service, it gives excellent value
- If you don't lift a finger, you might struggle to take enough exercise to burn off the calories
- This is a recently created private reserve, so don't expect drives to be teaming with game (you won't tick off the 'Big 5' at every turn), it's more of an animal sanctuary, but we relished everything we saw, from rhino to meerkats.
Best time to go
June to July are the driest months with the biggest drop in temperature at night, while Jan to March has the highest rainfall - but it never rains for long and average daily temperatures always range from 20-35C. You'll be very unlucky to miss a day because of rain. We visited in February - it was stunning and we didn't see a drop.
Our top tips
Try and stay for as long as possible. Even without the excursions, we thought Omaanda was the perfect "fly-and-flop". Don't miss the unique experiences on offer, especially the neighbouring Shiloh animal sanctuary. It's unforgettable.
- Safari Lodge
- 10 huts (for 2-4)
- Full-board or All-inclusive stays
- 6-12 year olds welcome
- Open all year
- Heated Pool
- Spa
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Concierge Service
Rooms
The 10 huts stretch out along a walkway raised above the ground and lit at night. Not much separates the rooms apart from layout: the Two-Bedroom Huts are ideal for families; the One-Bedroom Huts perfect for couples. All are thatched in traditional Namibian Ovamba style, and well sealed. Rooms are definitely on the luxe scale but understatedly so - rounded corners, earthy tones, warm colours. Each is built using natural clay over sand sacks in keeping with ancestral methods. The polished floors curve up to blend into the walls, so it avoids you worrying about anything lurking in the corners.
You'll find African knick-knacks, antiques, carpets, and if it gets chilly at night, there's a cosy fireplace. You get bags of living space plus your own private viewing terrace for gazing out to the distant hills.
Other touches we liked included the dark bathroom taps, taupe bathrobes and ample wardrobe space. All rooms are well-equipped with top gear, from torches and Nespresso machines to soundbars and fully integrated TVs. As for the beds, ours was wonderfully comfy, and not much help for those early morning game drives. In fact, our only niggle with these beautiful rooms was not having enough time to be in them.
Features include:
- Air conditioning
- Minibar/fridge
- WiFi
Eating
Eating at Omaanda is a real delight. The gorgeous open air restaurant offers healthy, delicious and perfectly judged dishes served with great charm.
For breakfast they'll hit you with a zingy fresh health shot (maybe ginger, pineapple, kiwi or moranga) then a selection of plates to order, all served on rustic ceramic. Pastries, waffles and Milet Pati (a local semolina staple) are melt-in-your-mouth moorish.
Lunches are perfect for the midday heat. We had an outstanding set of Mezze dishes ranging from sesame tuna, guacamole, trout, lamb ball kefla, carrots in cumin and freshly made falafels and flatbread rotis.
Dinner is generally a 3-course affair with simple yet delicious starters (think roasted tomato soup with pesto and croutons) and a choice of fish, meat or vegetarian mains that change daily. Our filet of Orynx was the tenderest imaginable and its accompanying mushroom risotto was superb. But it was the "chocolate pie" that stole the show, a cross between a meringue and a brownie. Utterly outstanding.
Features include:
- Minibar/fridge
- Restaurant
Activities
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Wildlife
Kids
Children aged 6 and up are welcome here, though the grown-up ambience is better suited to older kids or teens. This will be a magical experience for kids of any age, who'll love the game drives and chances to get up close to amazing wildlife.
Best for:
Teens (over 12)
Family friendly accommodation:
The Two-Bedroom huts have 2 kingsize/twin beds, each with an ensuite bathroom (shower and tub), and shared living area with fireplace.
Families Should Know:
Most on-foot activities such as tracking are not suitable for children under 16.
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Omaanda is set on the 9,000-hectare private Zannier Reserve, on the Ondekaremba land east of Windhoek.
By Air:
Fly into Windhoek Hosea Kutako airport (international and domestic flights) or Windhoek Eros airport (domestic flights only). From the former it's a 30-minute drive to the lodge, from the latter it's 1 hour). Transfers are included to/from the international airport if you're staying on an All-Inclusive basis; if not, or if you wish to be collected from Eros airport, ask for a transfer or hire a car.
Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.
Airports:
- Windhoek Hosea Kutako 31.0 km WDH
- Windhoek Eros 51.0 km ERS
Other:
- Beach 400.0 km
- Shops 40.0 km
- Restaurant 40.0 km