A room with a view
Along with good wine, cheese, and the founders of Natural Selection, some things get better with age – and Etosha Mountain Lodge is one of them. Located in the exclusive Etosha Heights Private Reserve on the southwest border of Etosha National Park, the lodge has been going strong for over 10 years and we were delighted to take the reins in 2018. At the lodge, you can expect nine, classically-Namibian chalets, all with 180-degree, camera-loving panoramas of the wilderness, a beautiful main ‘lapa’ area, and a cool swimming pool for the hot African days.

The activities certainly don’t disappoint either. Think morning and afternoon game drives in the private reserve, a former hunting concession and one which we are pleased to be rehabilitating into a photographic safari area. Go out in search of big cats and watch for signs of elephant on the horizon; watch all the action at the waterhole in front of camp; hop on a night drive with some of the best guides out there; and, of course, track endangered rhino, the icons of the area.

Why You’ll Love Etosha Mountain Lodge:
• Well-established, comfortable and classically Namibian in style, Etosha Mountain Lodge is the perfect place from which to discover the iconic wildlife of Etosha Heights.
• With only nine chalets, this is the perfect lodge for small groups and families to book privately for the most personal of safaris.
• Track endangered black and white rhino in an area that’s renowned for high populations of the elusive and majestic beasts.
• Have your cameras at the ready for throngs of antelope and trumpeting herds of ellies as you game drive through the reserve.
• Enjoy the peace and solitude that comes from staying in a private reserve, far from tourist crowds – and any other people for that matter!


The chalets at Etosha Mountain Lodge are all incredibly comfortable and spacious. The eight double and twin rooms all have ensuite bathrooms, indoor showers, and enormous bathtubs, perfect for sinking into after a busy day wildlife-watching. At the family room, there’s even a private plunge pool on the veranda to take advantage of.

At the centre of camp is a bright and breezy ‘lapa’ area and under the thatch, you’ll find the restaurant and bar as well of plenty of sitting areas, just waiting for a sundowner cocktail. There’s also a well-stocked wine cellar, a curio shop and a swimming pool. And no matter where you to choose to relax, the panoramas stretching ahead are magnificent; think dramatic skies, vast plains, and wildlife wandering to and fro, right in front of your eye.

Accommodation & Amenities
• 9 chalets: 8 twin/double and 1 family
• Ensuite bathrooms with indoor showers and bathtubs.
• Swimming pool.
• Wifi available: Unlimited WiFi is available for an N$50 donation to the reserve’s anti poaching program.
• Battery charging facilities: in the main area & in room.
• Credit card facilities available (Visa & MasterCard only).
• Complimentary laundry service.
• Child policy: we welcome children of all ages.
• Disabled access: please enquire with reservations.

Etosha Mountain Lodge is open year round, and although there is no bad time to go, each season brings its own quirks and charms – and sometimes a few challenges too! In the dry winter season of May to September, the abundant waterholes across the plains begin to dry up, and the grass slowly fades into dust. Water is scarce and animals congregate around the few remaining sources, making for some seriously awesome game viewing; simply park next to a waterhole, and wait for the action to come to you.

Unlike the majority of ‘safari’ Africa, rainfall in Etosha in scarce. When the drops do fall (likely to be in the summer months of October to April), the thunderstorms are short but dramatic. Gradually, fresh grass sprouts through the cracked, sun-scorched earth and the waterholes begin to fill. Whilst this is excellent news for the wildlife, it can make the animals slightly harder to spot as they spread out over a large area. We’re not afraid of a challenge at Natural Selection, however, and our expert guides know exactly where and when to find the animals, at all times of year. And when you do find them, the backdrop of glossy, green grass and fresh, rain-cleared air makes for fantastic sightings. It’s also worth noting that it can get a little hotter at this time of year, and game drives depart earlier in the morning, and later in the afternoon to avoid the searing heat of the day.


ETOSHA MOUNTAIN LODGE ACTIVITIES


• Enjoy early morning and late afternoon game drives in the privacy of Etosha Heights Private Reserve, and track elusive black and white rhino whilst keeping your eyes peeled for the big cats.
• Who says the action stops when darkness falls? Take a guide, add a powerful spotlight, and you’ve got the opportunity for an excellent night game drive.
• Bush meals and picnics can be arranged on request.


Landscape
Founded in 1999, Etosha Heights is one of the largest private reserves in Namibia, sharing a 65 kilometre border with the famous Etosha National Park. The reserve offers a robust 600 square-kilometres of unspoiled wildlife, landscapes, and tranquillity; truly a place to reconnect with nature and escape the modern stresses of life. The savannah is punctuated by pods of mopane woodland, thick, riverine forest and those iconic waterholes, attracting animals from far and wide.

Located within the private reserve, Etosha Mountain Lodge is perched on the side of an iconic dolomite hill. Close to the national park, the lodge still feels private and exclusive – and wait until you see those views.

Wildlife
On first glance at the vast, imposing desert-scapes of Etosha Heights, you might be forgiven for thinking that there wasn’t very much there at all. But (happily!), you would be wrong. Hop on a game drive, and you’ll find elephant crashing through the trees, and kudu and springbok scattered across the savannah, whilst the dainty herds of antelope are never far away. And of course, such a bounteous bevy of ungulates means predators, and there are lion, cheetah and even leopard lurking in the shadows and in the hills.

If there’s one animal that dominates memories at Etosha Heights, it’s the white rhino. The endangered giants amble between the private reserve and nearby Etosha National Park, ears twitching and tails flicking, and leaving unmistakable footprints in the dust. When darkness falls, head to the waterhole and watch them come to drink for a truly spine-tingling sighting.