Ever felt a little wistful of those intrepid adventurers who go off on expeditions – sleeping wild under the stars – or in a tent on the roof of their landy?

Well, Onguma in Namibia makes this dream a reality! They have custom built a “Dream Cruiser” with a romantic upper deck featuring a beautiful four-poster bed and lounge deck – with a full bathroom downstairs complete with shower, flush toilet and basin. Perfect for a little star gazing.

Couples are usually dropped off at a beautiful spot overlooking a waterhole in the Onguma Nature Reserve, bordering Etosha just before sunset to enjoy sundowners on the upper deck. The chef delivers a decadent picnic dinner to linger over as darkness slowly falls. The comfy bed, beautifully draped in nets, must surely be the perfect spot to watch for shooting stars and admire the endless Milky Way thanks to no light pollution … surrounded by the thrilling night sounds of the bush. There is hot coffee and homemade rusks and biscuits to look forward to in the morning as the sun rises – before returning to whichever of the five Onguma lodges they are staying at, for a hearty Onguma-style breakfast.

To allay any concerns, there is an canopy over the bed in case the weather changes – and a ranger is on call via a two-way radio should anyone lose their nerve in the night – but this is an incredibly special and romantic way to be completely alone in the Namibian wilderness!

The Dream Cruiser is a real bucket list experience – and will combine perfectly with a stay at the new high-end Onguma Camp Kala which opens in November 2022. With its architecture inspired by the termite mounds so common in the surrounding area, the whole camp raised on stilts – and is set to ‘elevate’ the benchmark for safari excellence in Etosha – in more ways than one!

Exclusivity is guaranteed as Camp Kala has only four Guest Suites – each with its own plunge pool, wood-fired hot tub and private “sala” with daybed. The camp’s photographic hide will be a real drawcard for photographers – offering water -level views over a floodlit waterhole with a natural spring that attracts wildlife from miles around.

The camp will see the talents of Nicholas Plewman Architects and Fox Browne Creative interiors combine – both renowned for their work on some of Africa’s most iconic, ecologically responsible lodges. The camp will blend seamlessly into its landscape and incorporate sustainable resources wherever possible – including recycled glass crushed and blended into the camp’s building sand. Onguma is also actively involved in rhino conservation, has its own anti-poaching unit and employs over 180 local, previously unemployed members of the community (80% of which are women) at their Oshivelo Farm to help alleviate food poverty.

Rates will start from N$13,000-00 (about £660) per person sharing per night on an All-Inclusive basis. No children under 12 are permitted unless the camp is booked for exclusive use. Camp Kala normally sleeps eight – but can accommodate 12 when booked for exclusive use. Guests can fly-in directly to Onguma’s private airfield – or self-drive (5 ½ hours) from Windhoek.

For more information visit here