Zannier Omaanda

Rooms

The 15 huts stretch out along a walkway raised above the ground and lit at night. Not much separates the rooms apart from layout: the Two-Bedroom Huts are ideal for families; the One-Bedroom Huts perfect for couples. All are thatched in traditional Namibian Ovambo style, and well sealed. Rooms are definitely on the luxe scale but understatedly so - rounded corners, earthy tones, warm colours. Each is built using natural clay over sand sacks in keeping with ancestral methods. The polished floors curve up to blend into the walls, so it avoids you worrying about anything lurking in the corners.

You'll find African knick-knacks, antiques, carpets and, if it gets chilly at night, a cosy fireplace. You get bags of living space plus your own private viewing terrace for gazing out to the distant hills.

Other touches we liked included the dark bathroom taps, taupe bathrobes and ample wardrobe space. All rooms are well-equipped with top-notch gear, from torches and Nespresso machines to soundbars and fully integrated TVs. As for the beds, ours was wonderfully comfy, and not much help for those early morning game drives. In fact, our only niggle with these beautiful rooms was not having enough time to be in them.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Bathrobes
• Coffee / tea making
• Fireplace
• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• Minibar
• Safe box
• TV
• WiFi

Eating

Eating at Omaanda is a real delight. The gorgeous open air restaurant offers healthy, delicious and perfectly judged dishes served with great charm.

For breakfast they'll hit you with a zingy fresh health shot (maybe ginger, pineapple, kiwi or moranga) then a selection of plates to order, all served on rustic ceramic. Pastries, waffles and Milet Pati (a local semolina staple) are melt-in-your-mouth moorish.

Lunches are perfect for the midday heat. We had an outstanding set of Mezze dishes ranging from sesame tuna, guacamole, trout, lamb ball kefla, carrots in cumin and freshly made falafels and flatbread rotis.

Dinner is generally a 3-course affair with simple yet delicious starters (think roasted tomato soup with pesto and croutons) and a choice of fish, meat or vegetarian mains that change daily. Our filet of Orynx was the tenderest imaginable and its accompanying mushroom risotto was superb. But it was the "chocolate pie" that stole the show, a cross between a meringue and a brownie. Utterly outstanding.

Features include:

• All meals included
• Bar
• Restaurant
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Savannah sunrise and sunset game drives: as a young reserve they're finding the right balance of flora and fauna. You'll never get stuck in traffic but don't expect a 'Big 5' experience at every turn. You'll have to track and spot the bigger game but what we saw was awesome (from rhino to adorable meerkats and much in between). Sundowners were unforgettable
  
• Their partnership with N/a’an ku sê means conservation is at the heart of what they do. You'll have unforgettable experiences with trusted guides, such as walking with cheetahs (over 12s), feeding carnivores, and hearing all about their vital anti-poaching work
  
• Visit the animal sanctuary to get close to the most adorable creatures - many of them orphans
  
• Lounge by the best swimming pool in Namibia, read in the shade, or simply gaze out to the Savannah - all day long
  
• Take a pew in the picturesque gin shack for your nightly aperitif. It was the best G&T experience of our lives
  
• Luxuriate then exfoliate: the professional spa treatments will send you into a state of bliss

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Jeep safaris
• Plantlife / flora
• Safaris
• Walking safaris
• Walking tours
• Well being
• Wildlife

Kids

Children aged 6 and up are welcome here, though the grown-up ambience is better suited to older kids or teens. This will be a magical experience for kids of any age, who'll love the game drives and chances to get up close to amazing wildlife.

Best for:

Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

The Two-Bedroom huts have 2 kingsize/twin beds, each with an ensuite bathroom (shower and tub), and shared living area with fireplace.

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Omaanda is set on the 9,000-hectare private Zannier Reserve, on the Ondekaremba land east of Windhoek.

By Air:
Fly into Windhoek Hosea Kutako airport (international and domestic flights) or Windhoek Eros airport (domestic flights only). From the former it's a 30-minute drive to the lodge, from the latter it's 1 hour). Transfers are included to/from the international airport if you're staying on an All-Inclusive basis; if not, or if you wish to be collected from Eros airport, ask for a transfer or hire a car.

Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.