An Onguma Love Story: Romance, Roots and Safari Magic in Namibia

Published 4th February 2026

February is the month of love, and there are few places where romance feels as natural and unforced as it does at Onguma Safari Camps, on the eastern edge of Etosha National Park. Here, love stories don’t feel staged or rushed. They unfold slowly – much like the bush itself.

When I sat down with Elizabeth and Samuel, it became clear that theirs is not just a love story at Onguma. It is a love story of Onguma – shaped by the land, the people, and a shared life spent in one of Namibia’s most iconic wilderness areas.

Onguma: More Than a Safari Destination

Before we even talk about romance, it’s important to understand what Onguma is. This is not a lodge group built overnight. Onguma is a private nature reserve bordering Etosha National Park, home to a collection of safari camps and lodges – including Forest Camp, Bush Camp, Tented Camp, The Fort, and Tamboti Campsite – each offering a different way to experience the bush.

For Elizabeth, though, Onguma has never been a destination.

“Onguma is actually my home,” she says, smiling.

Her connection runs deep. Her grandmother was born here. Her mother was born here too. Long before Onguma became known for its safari experiences, this land was already part of her family’s story. Elizabeth herself was born nearby at Namutoni in Etosha, and by the age of three she had returned to Onguma with her mother, who worked here for many years.

School took her away for a while – first to Okaukuejo Primary School inside Etosha, then further afield – but Onguma remained a constant in her life. In 2003, she returned and began working at what was then known as Etosha Aoba Lodge, now Onguma Forest Camp.

“I started as a service lady,” she says. “Waitress, laundry, housekeeping – whatever needed doing.”

Over time, that willingness to learn saw her grow into front-of-house roles, then assistant manager, and today, manager of Forest Camp, with more than 22 years at Onguma.

A Love Story Rooted in the Bush

Samuel’s path to Onguma – and back to Elizabeth – followed a slightly different path.

“We started dating while we were still at school,” he says. “We were high school sweethearts.”

Like many real-life love stories, theirs paused, restarted, and found its way back at the right time. In 2003, they renewed their relationship. Five years later, in 2008, Samuel joined Onguma as a guide, drawn by both the work and the woman who already called this place home.

Life at the lodge quickly became about more than jobs. They lived on-site with their young children, balancing game drives, guest experiences, and family life in the bush.

“I had a little garden behind our room,” Samuel remembers. “Between game drives, I worked on it, made it beautiful.”

Their careers evolved together. Samuel moved from guiding into management, eventually working across almost every Onguma camp – from Bush Camp and Tamboti to The Fort and Onguma Tented Camp. Today, he serves as Activities Manager, a role that allows him to stay close to his first passion: guiding and helping guests connect more deeply with the bush.

Elisabeth continued her own journey into leadership, eventually taking on the role of manager at Forest Camp. Together, they have now been a couple for more than two decades, married for 15 years, and are raising four children – two daughters studying in Oshakati in northern Namibia, and two sons, one already an adult and the youngest still growing up with the bush as his playground.

Why Onguma Is Perfect for a Romantic Safari Getaway

Spending time with Elisabeth and Samuel offers a quiet insight into why Onguma works so well for couples.

Romance here isn’t neatly packaged or performed. It happens in the spaces in between.

“At Onguma, there are so many different ways to experience the bush,” Samuel explains. “If you’ve done game drives, you can go on a guided walk. If you’ve walked, you can spend time in the hide. You slow down.”

That’s what makes Onguma such a natural choice for couples, honeymooners and those celebrating milestones together.

It’s found in simple moments:

Sitting side by side in the lodge hides, watching wildlife arrive in their own time
Walking together on guided bush walks, learning the smaller details of the landscape
Sharing sundowners as Etosha’s vast skies turn gold and pink
Lantern-lit dinners under the stars, without a sense of being rushed
Quiet evenings on private decks, outdoor baths and fires flickering as night settles in

Each camp offers a different atmosphere – from the rustic elegance of Forest Camp to the dramatic architecture of The Fort – allowing couples to find a space that suits their pace and personality.

Romance with Depth and Meaning

What sets Onguma apart as a romantic safari destination in Namibia is not just its setting, but its sense of continuity and care. Many staff members, like Elizabeth and Samuel, have grown with Onguma over decades. Guests feel that authenticity immediately.

“Elizabeth is Onguma,” Samuel says, half-joking.

But there’s truth in it. Onguma is shaped by people whose lives are intertwined with this land – people who don’t simply host guests but share a place that matters deeply to them. Stories like Elizabeth and Samuel’s are part of a wider series exploring the people who shape Onguma from within.

For couples visiting in February – or any time of year – that sense of belonging adds something intangible to the experience. You’re not just escaping together. You’re stepping into a story that has been unfolding for generations.

Love That Stays

As the sun drops and the bush eases into evening, it’s easy to understand why so many love stories pass through Onguma – both those that arrive as guests, and those that quietly grow behind the scenes.

In the month of love, Onguma reminds us that the strongest romances are not rushed. They are built over time, shaped by shared experiences, patience, and place.

At Onguma Safari Camps, love doesn’t come and go. It stays.