Traveling While Plant Based and Gluten-Free in Namibia: Part Two

The next place we stayed was called Halali Resort, also in Etosha National Park. This place only had a few guests, and it was pretty run down. Like everywhere else, Covid-19 took a huge toll on tourism, and travelers were only starting to increase. A lot of places we stayed were deserted.

Another stop right outside Etosha National Park, Onguma Tented Camp, was our favorite accommodation of the whole trip. We stayed in their tented camp area. It’s glamping at its best. This wasn’t a fenced area, so the animals were free to roam. There was a watering hole near our tent where we saw wildebeest, oryx, springbok, and lots of different birds throughout the day. Zebras, giraffes, and lions occasionally drank there, but we didn’t see any.

HOWEVER! One night, we woke up to the sound of a freaking lion. It was a very low and intense growl, and it didn’t sound far away. Luanne and I shot straight up in bed, our hearts beating quickly. We looked at each other, and both whispered, “Lion.” We laid back down and heard it again. This time it sounded even closer.

I had never been so aware of the material that stood between me and outside. If that lion was hungry, it could have easily gotten into our tent and had us as a snack. I didn’t sleep well for the rest of the night, and I fully understood why guests weren’t allowed to leave their tent after dark, not even to sit on the porch.

Click on the number 5 below to get to the next page.