Ultimate Safaris introduce Onduli Enclave, its brand-new venture in the heart of the Namibian wilderness. After almost two years of planning and a year of building, Onduli Enclave will be Namibia’s most exclusive and luxurious villa experience. A privately serviced and stand-alone villa near Onduli Ridge in Damaraland, open year-round, this outstanding safari retreat has been created in line with Ultimate Safaris’ commitment to investment in community and conservation projects to help preserve some of the most fragile wild places on earth. Onduli Enclave is named after the resident giraffe of the area and epitomises mindful environmental integration and consideration, allowing guests to relish being at one with nature, while enjoying the ambience of Namibia’s most exceptional and lavish villa experience.
Built high up against a south-facing granite outcrop affording magnificent views of the Brandberg, Namibia’s highest mountain to the south, Onduli Enclave surveys the panorama of the dispersed cathedral-like granite inselbergs to the southeast, and the Doros Crater to the west. 100% solar powered, the three fully climate-controlled suites have super-king-sized beds that can be rolled out onto your private deck for a blissful night under a billion stars. Each suite also has a sleeper couch to accommodate a child, and there is a lounge/children’s room between two of the suites that is available for larger families.
A private lounge, dining room, and interactive open-plan kitchen make up the common area, along with numerous outside areas for sitting and relaxing. World-class meals prepared by a private chef and served by a private butler combine with the unrivalled activities offered by a private guide to provide a genuinely unforgettable stay of superlative quality. The beautifully sublime structure blends effortlessly into the natural surroundings.
The villa exudes refinement and meticulous attention to detail, from private sun decks with individual wood-fired hot tubs and shaded outside seating areas at each of the three suites, double inside and outside rain showers, private pool, pizza boma area where special dining experiences unwind around a fire circle, and plenty of places to relax and laze, all connected by floating wooden decks.
Onduli Enclave blends into its surroundings perfectly, maximising the sweeping views of this most extraordinary landscape, and every space becomes a viewpoint whether from the bed, the desk, or the bathroom. Frameless glass stacking doors can be opened completely, blurring the lines between the indoors and nature, or closed to take account of personal preference or local weather conditions.
Experiences
Extended stays are recommended to get the full benefit of time spent at Onduli Enclave and to explore one of Namibia’s most remarkable and amazingly diverse areas. An exhilarating and enriching experience can include nature drives and walks as well as excursions to track unique desert wildlife. Twyfelfontein World Heritage site is within reach of an afternoon Solar E-Bike ride, and there is the option to ‘roll’ your bed out to spend the night under a blanket of a billion stars. Trail Treats will surprise you along the way while Journey Magicians ensure each moment spent at the Onduli Enclave is as perfect as possible.
On offer: Desert-Adapted elephant activity to track members of only two populations of desert-adapted elephants in the world; Desert-Adapted black rhino activity among the world’s only population of free-roaming black rhino (for visits of three nights or more); Desert-Adapted Giraffe activity to track, locate and monitor giraffe in the area; Star Beds, to sleep outdoors under the deep dark skies and a billion stars; E-biking, to explore the area with a biking guide and perhaps head out on a Giraffe Conservation Activity; Rock Art View to learn about the art of a bygone era; Nature Drives, to explore by vehicle, learning about the complexities of a fascinating eco-system; Nature Walks, by foot, learning about the smaller factors that have an impact on nature; Treats Trail full of surprises in a magnificent landscape.
Camp sustainability
Sustainability forms the foundation of each of Ultimate Safaris’ properties, and its Eco Awards ratings are a testimony to this core value. At Onduli Enclave all power is produced by solar energy, and because water is in short supply all used water runs through a sophisticated reclamation plant. It is then used to water gardens in the staff village so there is no waste. Solid waste is sorted on-site according to recycling guidelines and driven out on the same transport that brings in operational supplies before being disposed of at recycling plants in Namibia’s capital, Windhoek. The villa was also designed and built so that if in future it must be removed this can be done quickly and efficiently to ensure the site is returned to its original pristine condition.
The pioneering approach of Ultimate Safaris has already been recognised by Onduli Ridge which was awarded the coveted PURE Awards 2023 in the Creativity category. Now Onduli Enclave is destined to elevate the portfolio of the multiple award-winning conservation group into further world-leading successes.
Area
Onduli Enclave is located on a private concession in the Doro! Nawas Conservancy is in the heart of Damaraland and a mere 30 minutes away from the UNESCO World Heritage site of Twyfelfontein. The landscape embraces rugged folded hills, plains, and wooded river valleys in a largely semi-desert and sparse savannah. Boasting some of the most magnificent views of Namibia’s highest mountains, Onduli Enclave is within striking distance of geological attractions such as the Burnt Mountain and Organ Pipes. Named after the Doros Crater, Doro! Nawas means ‘the place where the rhinos roam’ in the Khoekhoegowab language, and the area is home to desert-adapted black rhino, elephant, giraffe, and general plains game and predators such as cheetah, leopard, lion, and spotted and brown hyena.
At a glance
- An exclusive-use villa with three glass-fronted super-king-size suites
- Private guide, chef, and butler
- Fully inclusive stays including all premium drinks
- Minimum four guests / Maximum 10 guests (maximum 6 adults)
- Minimum two-night stays (three nights recommended)
- Open year-round
- Minibars along with an ice cream and sorbet freezer, in-suite local craft gin bar, and an artisan coffee and tea station
- Fully climate-controlled suites
- Large bathrooms with double inside and outside showers
- Suites with private decks boasting wood-fired hot tubs, sun loungers, and shaded sitting area
- Interleading lounge/children’s room between two of the suites
- Star beds
- Private swimming pool and sun deck
- Artisan tea and coffee
- Crafted pizza evenings
- Spacious private lounge, dining room, interactive open plan kitchen, campfire circle and pizza boma
- Children very welcome
- 100% solar powered
- 100% water reclamation
- Waterhole for wildlife viewing
- Use of the Swarovski binoculars provided in each suite
- Wi-Fi throughout the venue
The article Brand new from Ultimate Safaris-Onduli Enclave: Namibia’s new benchmark in luxury first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.
