Information
Otjimbondona means “the place where the small camelthorn trees grow” in the Herero language. Otjimbondona was bought by the Slaney family in 1922 to farm with sheep and cattle. Wilfried, and his wife Anita, took over the farm in 2008 as the third generation of cattle farming Slaneys.
The original farm house was built in 1923 by a well-known Italian mason. It consisted of just two rooms at the time and was built with locally sourced stone (klip). Wilfried’s father was born in one of the original rooms in 1928. The house was extended considerably in the following years, but was left unoccupied in later years and it deteriorated to such an extent that it could not be saved, except for the two original rooms.
Wilfried and Anita have been in the tourism business since 1991, offering fly-in safaris throughout Namibia and its neighbouring countries. They have always dreamt of building their own lodge and in October 2012 this dream was finally being turned into reality. The plans were drawn up by their son-in-law and the start of their exciting adventure (and accompanying stress) began shortly afterwards. With the help of Leon Dixon, a local builder and his team, the work was completed in October 2014 and the Slaneys are now proud to open their doors to guests to come and share in the joy and beauty of Otjimbondona.
Rooms
Unique Villas
There are four carefully decorated Villas spaced far apart for absolute privacy. Each has its own lounge with fire place for those cold winter nights, and a beautiful bedroom with an en suite bathroom.
The lounge includes a kitchenette with a Nespresso coffee machine, a kettle and a fridge that is stocked with drinks according to the guests wishes. The Villas are surrounded by large glass doors to provide you with unrivalled views and close proximity to nature. Step outside onto a deck, ideal for sunbathing and enjoy the plunge pool to cool down on a sultry Namibian summer’s day or a relaxing Jacuzzi massage. Even when you shower or soak in your bathtub, nature is right next to you.
Each villa has a “sala” with a lounger and hanging chair, perfect to unwind with a book, have an afternoon siesta or watch the rich wildlife around you. A romantic candle light dinner can be enjoyed on your deck or on the sala.
Two villas are east facing to enjoy the magnificent sunrise and two are west facing to soak in Namibia’s spectacular sunsets. There is a waterhole on each side, which offer plenty of game viewing or bird watching from the comfort of your deck or the sala.
Each Villa is beautifully decorated according to its own theme.
Facilities
Manor House
The Manor House is built on a red sand dune, boasting a 360° view, within a 3000 hectare Private Nature Reserve on the fringes of the Namibian Kalahari. The main building consists of a large lounge and dining area surrounded by glass doors which open onto the outside deck to enjoy the magnificent views. The crystal clear infinity pool offers you the perfect spot to cool down on a warm summer’s day.
In the adjacent kitchen, our Chef and her team lovingly prepare mouthwatering meals for our guests, using mainly locally sourced organic farm produce. The two original rooms, dating back to 1923, are now a cosy lounge with a variety of captivating books to browse through whilst enjoying a glass (or two) of fine South African or Namibian wine, and the other room is now the reception and stocks a small selection of locally sourced curios. The east wing of the main building has a sauna and a small gym overlooking magnificent Kalahari scenery. This area can also be transformed into a conference facility or a magical venue for intimate weddings or special occasions.
A platform for meals under a blue sky, a fire place to enjoy sundowners with Gin + Tonics and snacks around an open fire and the outside “boma” invites for grill evenings under the stars, all form part of the main area.
Activities
Game Drive
Nature Walks
Stargazing
Gym & Sauna
Visit to Arnhem Caves
Fat Biking
Scenic Flights
