Babson house @ cheetah conservation fund

Babson House is located at the Cheetah Conservation Fund's (CCF) Field Research Centre outside Otjiwarongo. Namibia has the largest population of cheetah remaining in the wild and the CCF is one of the world's leading organization in the fight for cheetah conservation and rehabilitation back into the wild. Tour the centre, watch cheetah feeding and the 'Cheetah Run' during the day and then stay overnight in a very comfortable luxury converted farmhouse.

Otjiwarongo is strategically placed for travellers to venture further north-east onto Palmwag and the search for desert-adapted elephants and visits to Himba villages. Other notable destinations in the region include Waterberg Plateau National Park and Namibia's number one tourist attraction, Etosha National Park.

Babson House is reminiscent of colonial style African lodges from a by-gone era. Guests can relax in the living room on deep leather couches, enjoy a drink from the house bar and enjoy welcoming atmosphere of the converted farm house. A private chef prepares meals, with lunch often served on the private veranda while dinner is taken in the more formal surrounding of the dining room. The highlight at Babson House is its close proximity to some of the CCF's 'ambassadors' who live nearby and can be seen from the veranda.

There are only 3 luxury rooms. They are all en-suite with fans, mosquito nets, tea/coffee station and an in-room safe as standard.

Cheetah mainly feed on small to medium-sized antelope such as impala, springbok, steenbok and duiker. Male groups will go after larger species such as kudu and waterbuck. It is a well-known fact that the cheetah is the fastest land mammal capable of reaching speeds of up to 100km/hr. Their sudden burst of speed leaves them exhausted though, with a recovery period required before it can begin to devour its prey. The physical strength of a cheetah is less than other predators and they are often robbed of prey by lion, leopard, African wild dog and both spotted and brown hyena.

This leads them onto game and livestock ranches, with the inevitable and well-documented conflict and confrontation with farmers, who have a right to protect their livelihood. Farmers now work in close consultation with the CCF and are now killing less. Cheetah are also a target for poaching and are often taken illegally as 'exotic pets'. Understanding of the cheetah is greater due to the efforts of the CCF, but they are still an endangered species.