Meet Loide - Ambassador of care and service at Little Ongava

"Mwalalapo!” says Loide Natanael, her smile as bright and warm as the Namibian sun. As she welcomes guests to Little Ongava, where she is a senior host, her Oshiwambo word of greeting erases every barrier of language and culture.

For those who travel from afar to enjoy the luxury and seclusion of life in the wild, Little Ongava is a place to call home, a bushveld sanctuary that weaves a spell of belonging in heart and soul.

"There is no place we would rather be," writes one guest, at the end of their third stay at the lodge, with its hilltop villas offering a sweeping panorama across the untamed plains. "So magical and caring, and the most special and wonderful people."

Another writes of the heart-stirring thrill of hearing the roar of a lion in the distance. "We came for the wildlife," they note, "and stayed for the love."

For Loide, such comments in the guestbook are affirmations to be treasured, reminding her of her own journey to answer the call of the career she loves. Loide grew up in the Omusati region of northern Namibia, far from any wildlife reserve.

"When I first came to Ongava, I was afraid," she recalls. "I had never seen elephants or lions from so close. But slowly I got used to it, and now I can't imagine living anywhere else."

As a child, Loide dreamed of becoming a nurse, inspired by her aunt, a doctor. Instead, she worked her way into another profession where care and service are equally paramount. Hospitality.

In Grootfontein, a major railway hub and agricultural city in the northeast of the country, Loide served as a waiter in a guest house that hosted no more than 25 people at a time.

There she learned the essentials of the craft: the art of a warm welcome, the importance of listening closely, and the value of understanding and responding to a guest's needs with genuine empathy.

When a position opened at Ongava Lodge, she applied and was accepted. A quick learner with an engaging personality, she quickly distinguished herself at the main camp. Within little more than a year, she was promoted to junior host.

Today, at Little Ongava, with three villas accommodating a maximum of six guests, Loide's role is more intimate but no less demanding.

"At first I thought it would be boring," she laughs. "I was used to serving 30 or more guests at once, and suddenly, there were only six. But then I realised, this is luxury. This is privacy. And being chosen to work here made me proud."

Perched on a rocky ridge, Little Ongava feels as though it has grown naturally from the hillside. Each villa opens onto a private deck and infinity pool, offering uninterrupted views across the reserve.

Inside, cool stone and warm timber frame a space designed for comfort, with mosquito-netted beds, fireplaces for cool nights, and thoughtful touches that make the wild feel like home.

Guests can dine together in the lodge's main area, or retreat to their decks for quiet meals in solitude. For many visitors, the combination of wilderness and comfort is transformative.

"We will carry you in our hearts," as one guest wrote. Another describes Little Ongava simply as "a little paradise we will never forget."

Part of Loide's role as a host is knowing when to be present, and when to step aside.

"Privacy is very important," she explains. "We are here to make everything smooth and memorable, but also to let guests feel they are alone in the wild."

It's a delicate balance she has mastered over the years.

"The service has been unparalleled and we felt very comfortable," wrote a recent guest. "We truly felt your dedication and pride in what you do, and making us feel part of the Ongava family."

At Little Ongava, where service is deeply personal, the little things count for a lot. Guests might spend an afternoon floating in their infinity pools, sharing stories by the fire, or sitting on their private decks watching elephants at the nearby waterhole.

For Loide, these small-scale luxuries are what make the lodge unforgettable.

"It is so peaceful," she says. "Guests don't expect this level of privacy in the bush. When I show them around, I can see their excitement."

Connectivity is there if needed, with Wi-Fi in the villas and lounge, but the deepest connections are forged with the landscape: hearing the call of nightjars, watching the sunset scatter gold across the plains, or seeing a rhino emerge from the bush at dusk.

Although she never trained formally as a guide, Loide has gained a wealth of knowledge from her years in the bush.

She delights in answering guests' questions about wildlife and never tires of her favourite animal, the elephant. "If a day passes without seeing one, I feel unhappy," she says. "Elephants are my friends."

A typical day for Loide begins before dawn, often with wake-up calls to her guests eager to join a morning safari. Breakfast service flows into housekeeping and preparations for the day ahead. While guests are out exploring, Loide ensures everything in the lodge is flawless, from the sparkle of the glassware to the calm order of the dining room.

Lunch, sundowners, and dinner fill the afternoon and evening, and only after the last guest has retired to their villa does she finally have a chance to unwind. Even then, she turns her mind to bettering herself, studying office administration and management to broaden her skills.

The days may be long, but they are rewarding.

"I enjoy chatting to guests and making them happy," says Loide. "I always tell myself, no matter the circumstance, you must be strong and calm. At the end of the day, if the guest is happy, then I am happy too."

And when those long, lingering days finally come to an end, and her guests must return to their homes far across the ocean, Loide is there too, waiting to bid them farewell with a greeting in her mother tongue.

"Otwemutegelela mugaluke natanango," she says with a smile. "We will be waiting for you to come back again one day."

And many of Little Ongava's guests do, and when they ask for Loide by name, that is her deepest joy, a reminder that she has found her calling in the wild beauty of the place she is happy to call home.