- Info
- Images
- Video
- 360 Panoramas
- Rooms
- Facilities
- Activities and Services
- Restaurants
Not only is Okonjima a luxury lodge, but it is also home to The AfriCat Foundation, a non-profit organisation, committed to long-term conservation of Namibia's large carnivores, especially cheetahs and leopards. A visit to Okonjima will give you an opportunity to witness some of AfriCat's work. The NEW, Plains Camp design honours the Okonjima cattle-farming history. In the early 1920’s, Okonjima became a cattle farm and was bought by Val (VJ) & Rose Hanssen in 1970. They were well-established Brahman breeders and continued to farm cattle until the need for solutions to increasing livestock losses became pertinent and post-independence interest in Namibia as a tourist destination, escalated. In 1993, the herds of Brahman and Jersey cattle were sold, changing the face of Okonjima as well as that of Carnivore Conservation! STANDARD ROOMS: Each of the 14 Standard Rooms enjoy a view across the Okonjima grass plains! VIEW ROOMS: The 10 exclusive and spacious View Rooms, all have a view across the Okonjima grass plains! The OKONJIMA activities include tracking rehabilitated carnivores on foot; visiting the AfriCat Carnivore Care & Information Centre; tracking leopards from a game–viewing vehicle. OKONJIMA also offers a guided Bushman Trail. Birding and Game drives are offered on request and if guests stay longer than 2 days.
Barn Entrance
Pool area
View Room
Barn terrace by night
Barn terrace by day
Restaurant area
View across the Okonjima Plains
Curio Shop
Standard Room
14 Standard Rooms, with a view across the Okonjima plains. Each room has a small verandah, a wheel-chair friendly ramp and the rooms are set 15m - 20m apart. The rooms each have 2 double beds, a mini-fridge for own use, a coffee/tea station, 2 roof-fans, twin basins and a large shower, a safe for valuables and a telephone to contact reception.
10 View Rooms, upmarket, exclusive and spacious, with a view across the Okonjima plains. Each room has a large verandah, a wheel-chair friendly ramp and the rooms are set 25m - 75m apart. The rooms each have 2 double beds, a desk and comfortable reading chair, a large verandah, a mini-fridge for own use, a coffee/tea station, 2 roof-fans, twin basins and a large, twin shower, a safe for valuables and a telephone to contact reception. The new, exclusive View Rooms are more spacious than the Standard Rooms and are set further apart, providing more privacy.
Property Facilities
24-hour Security, Bar, Disability Services, Eco Friendly, Internet Access, Malaria Free, Mobile Connectivity, Pool, Restaurant, Secure Parking
Room Facilities
Disabled Rooms, En-Suite, Fan, Fridge, Lounge Area, Pure Cotton Linen, Safe, Shower, Tea / Coffee, Verandah
Services
Airport Shuttle, Credit Card, Laundry Service, Travel Desk
Leopards are frequently seen, giving visitors an opportunity to observe these magnificent predators that are ‘radio-tracked’ from our game-viewing vehicles. The leopards roam freely and catch their own prey within the 20 000ha / 200km2 rehabilitation nature reserves. These cats however, are notoriously people-shy and sightings are not guaranteed.
LEOPARD TRACKING
The Leopard ‘experience’ will take you out into the Okonjima Nature Reserve and will allow you to spend more time with our experienced guides and participate in the research data collection for our long-standing leopard project and newly introduced brown hyaena programme. Some of our adult leopards are radio collared which enables the guides to track them with a specialised telemetry device contributing to frequent viewing, giving visitors an opportunity to observe these magnificent predators in their natural habitat and experience the fascinating behaviour and interactions between these two species while they compete for food. Although this significantly increases the chance of an excellent sighting, it cannot ever be guaranteed as they are wild free-roaming predators.
Morning activities (seasonal times): Departure 06:00 / 06:30 AM; Return 09:30 / 10:00 AM.
Afternoon activities (seasonal times): Departure: 15:30 / 16:00 PM; Return 19:00 / 19:30 PM.
THE AfriCat FOUNDATION CARNIVORE CARE & INFORMATION CENTRE (ACCC)
During the visit to AfriCat, visitors will have the opportunity to spend some time at the Carnivore Care & Information Centre, which provides valuable insights into the Foundation's work.
The visit will include a short guided drive to the AfriCat Carnivore Care Centre, where visitors can meet some of the ambassador cheetahs. Our knowledgeable guides will answer questions, explain the Foundation's work with carnivores in Namibia, and help position the vehicle for that perfect photo opportunity.
Morning activities (seasonal times): Departure 06:00 / 06:30 AM; Return 09:30 / 10:00 AM.
Afternoon activities (seasonal times): Departure: 15:30 / 16:00 PM; Return 19:00 / 19:30 PM.
ENDANGERED SPECIES NATURE DRIVE
This game-drive allows more time to enjoy and understand the Okonjima Nature Reserve as a natural island bound ecosystem. As the private Nature Reserve was established primarily to conserve some of our more threatened mammal species, it provides an increased chance to encounter these relatively rare animals. This is once again assisted by the AfriCat Foundation’s research projects on the shy brown hyaena, bat-eared fox and rhino. There are more than 40 mammal species within the Okonjima Nature Reserve, both large and small as well as a good representation of the typical flora. At the discretion of your guide, there may be the chance to view some of these animals, large or small.
Morning activities (seasonal times): Departure 06:00 / 06:30 AM; Return 09:30 / 10:00 AM.
Afternoon activities (seasonal times): Departure: 15:30 / 16:00 PM; Return 19:00 / 19:30 PM.
GAME DRIVE:
Experienced guides will entertain you with their knowledge, sharing interesting and enlightening information about the history of the Okonjima Nature Reserve and the research gathered over the past 30 years of conservation on Okonjima. On this trail, no telemetry device is used to track any of the carnivores researched by the AfriCat Foundation. Wildlife is the focus of the drive. Visitors are offered insight as our guides attempt to foster a general appreciation of the natural habitat of the Nature Reserve.
Morning activities (seasonal times): Departure 06:00 / 06:30 AM; Return 09:30 / 10:00 AM.
Afternoon activities (seasonal times): Departure: 15:30 / 16:00 PM; Return 19:00 / 19:30 PM.
The Okonjima Plain Camp Barn & Restaurant
The Plains Camp Barn encompasses the reception area, curio shop, a restaurant and dining area. The veranda looks out onto the waterhole.
