The Onkoshi Camp, the first lodge in the Etosha National Park to be built in independent Namibia, is due to become a reality this year. In the background of the dramatic Etosha Pan, currently filled to the brim with water, and surrounded by pristine Kalahari woodlands, the Minister of Environment and Tourism, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah officiated at the groundbreaking ceremony last week.

Elijah Ngurare, Secretary of the SWAPO Youth League, Klemens /Awarab, Chairperson of the NWR Board of Directors (standing), Tobie Aupindi, Managing Director of Namibia Wildlife Resorts and Kosmos Egumbo, Managing Director of Air Namibia, enjoying a bush dinner on the occasion of the groundbreaking ceremony for Onkoshi Camp, a new exclusive camp in the Etosha National Park.

In her keynote address, the minister highlighted that, as the fastest growing industry in Namibia, tourism is set to play a pivotal role in achieving the national goals of sustainable development and poverty alleviation, as set out in Vision 2030.
She highlighted the need to ensure that Namibia retains its reputation as a boutique tourism destination, offering facilities and experiences of the highest standards. She was happy that the Namibia Wildlife Resorts has embraced this philosophy wholeheartedly, and is moving towards eco-friendly lodges offering exclusive experiences in the protected areas of Namibia.
The first such development was the Sossus Dune Lodge in the Namib-Naukluft Park, launched in July last year. Such facilities will ensure that the value of the protected areas is greatly enhanced, as will Namibia as a tourism destination.
The Managing Director of the Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR), Aupindi Tobie Aupindi, explained that none of the existing three camps in Etosha offer visitors an opportunity to experience at close quarters the most significant feature of the park, namely the 4,500 km2 saline pan.
The Onkoshi Camp, built on the eastern edge of the pan on a secluded peninsula, will do exactly this, and with only 15 units, guests will be assured of a unique and relaxing experience.
The Etosha National Park, as well as other parks in Namibia, is underdeveloped for tourism and the NWR, as the shareholders’ tourism business arm, is committed to ensuring that the value of the parks is maximized through the strategic and sustainable development of tourism facilities.
The Onkoshi Camp will be an exclusive, low impact environmentally friendly semi-permanent, up-market lodge on elevated wooden decks, offering a maximum of 15 units (30 beds), with the associated restaurant, bar area and infinity pool overlooking the pan.
The NWR guides, in company vehicles, will bring in guests. No self-drives to the lodge will be permitted.