Sometimes I long to escape the hustle and bustle of the big city and experience new adventures in nature. Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, offers many amenities, but sometimes you crave something else: peace, open spaces and wildlife encounters. For these special moments here is an insider tip: Okapuka Safari Lodge.
The lodge is about a 30-35 minutes’ drive from Windhoek. After a short and pleasant drive, the friendly team at Okapuka Safari Lodge greets you warmly. First on the agenda is lunch, which is a buffet on Sundays. The selection is great and leaves nothing to be desired. The service team is extremely attentive and make sure that we do not lack anything.
The atmosphere in the newly renovated lodge is impressive. It reopened at the beginning of April 2023 and is very stylishly decorated. While we enjoy our meal, the atmosphere is set to music by a saxophonist, which rounds off the ambience.
After lunch we can't wait to explore the lodge further. The terrace at Okapuka Safari Lodge is a wonderful place to relax, enjoy the tranquillity and soak up the warm sun. From here you also have a wonderful view of the green grass and the large camel thorn trees.
The second highlight of our day trip is the nature drive at sunset where we encounter and observe numerous animals.
We see impalas, a warthog family, wildebeest, baby crocodiles, elands, springboks and zebras.
We can also see ostriches with their cute chicks, oryx antelopes, sable antelopes, giraffes and even white rhinos with a calf.
It is fascinating to see these animals up close and experience them in their natural environment.
As sunset approaches, our guide finds the perfect spot to admire it going down. With a refreshing drink in hand, we enjoy the breathtaking sight of the sky shining in the most beautiful colours.
Looking back on our day trip, I can say that Okapuka Safari Lodge turned out to be a small oasis in the immediate vicinity of Windhoek. We never expected such a variety of wildlife so close to Namibia's capital! It was an exciting excursion that I can recommend to everyone.
The lodge also has modern rooms and is a perfect first stop for every Namibia tour because of its proximity to Namibia's international airport. Especially after a long flight, it is not advisable to drive long distances on the day of arrival. And if you want to experience a lot right from the start, Okapuka Safari Lodge is the perfect base.
Booking tips for your day trip if this has piqued your interest to visit Okapuka Safari Lodge, please know that day visitors are welcome. However, it is necessary to make a reservation one day in advance. For bookings during business hours, contact Direct Reservations at Gondwana Collection Namibia on +264 61 427 200 or email directres@gondwana-collection.com
Okapuka takes direct bookings on weekends only, reachable at +264 84 000 7400.
Author and photos: Nina Braun