Okonjima Lodge

The Okonjima Nature Reserve, a huge protected area set amongst the rugged commercial farmlands of central Namibia, comprises a diversified ecosystem representative of both the larger and small mammals of Namibia, as well as most of the country’s endemic birds.

Okonjima is equally famed for frequent leopard, brown hyaena and pangolin sightings on its safaris, as well as The Africat Foundation. Since being founded in 1991, AfriCat’s mission has been to make significant contributions to conservation, while trying to ensure the survival of Namibia’s predators in their natural habitat. It undertakes research and environmental education projects.

From the luxurious Villa to well-appointed Campsites, you’ll find your perfect accommodation at Okonjima. Choose from the Grand African Villa, Bush Suite, Luxury Bush Chalets, Plains Camp Lodge, or the Omboroko Campsite.

Plains Camp honours the Hanssen’s family cattle-farming heritage with its three-tier accommodation facility of 10 spacious View Rooms, 14 spacious Standard Rooms and six affordable Garden Rooms. It is family-friendly and wheelchair accessible.

The Okonjima African Villa is situated in a secluded wilderness area, 10km from the Plains Camp, overlooking a natural waterhole that’s ideal for wildlife photography and bird watching. The Okonjima Villa is the only lodge situated inside the 20 000-ha private, nature reserve. This safari-chic, thatched villa has two en-suite, luxury bedrooms in the main house and two separate private, luxury mini suites, which together can accommodate up to eight adults and four children.

The Private Bush Suite is situated in the open Acacia thornveld within the secluded wilderness area of the Okonjima valley with a backdrop of the sandstone Omboroko Mountains. It is approximately 3.5km from the Plains Camp and 500m from the Bush Camp. Located on the edge of a natural waterhole, its two separate, luxury, en-suite bedrooms under a double-volume thatched roof can accommodate a family or a group of four travellers.

The elegant Luxury Bush Camp is situated within the 2 000-ha enclosed wilderness area of Okonjima Nature Reserve, only 2.5 km from the Okonjima Plains Camp. Eight thatched, African-style chalets, a junior suite and three en-suite safari tents.

Camping in Okonjima Nature Reserve epitomises the African safari experience. The four, partially equipped, private campsites share a swimming pool at the foot of the Omboroko Mountains and are located in the 2 000-ha non-rehabilitation area. All four sites boast spectacular sundowner viewpoints.

The Okonjima Nature Reserve sprawls over 200 square kilometres of undulating plains, mountainous outcrops, and riverine thickets, and it is here that leopard, the most adaptable of all the wild cats, thrive. The Reserve’s predator research programme has spanned three decades, and its findings have provided great insight to leopard behavioural patterns as well as offered an upbeat prognosis for a sustainable future for the species in today’s Africa.

Game drives and guided bush walks offer visitors an intimate, up-close perspective of Namibia’s wildlife and, especially, its most protected species. The Okonjima Nature Reserve is home to and runs research projects on rare and endangered species, big and small.

Your small group or family can visit the Carnivore Care Centre, track leopards and cheetahs, learn about the indigenous people during the Bushman trail, and grow attuned to the sights, sounds and ways of Namibia’s grassy plains.