Okonjima Plains Camp is situated halfway between Windhoek and Etosha National Park. The lodge is home to The AfriCat Foundation, a non-profit organization, committed to the long-term conservation of Namibia's large carnivores, notably cheetahs and leopards. The more secluded and luxurious Okonjima Bush Camp, The Bush Suite, and The Villa, are all affiliated to the main camp.
The main camp is in the original Hanssen family farmhouse, rebuilt as a lodge in 1992. Visitors are asked to note the the Plains Camp is closed during certain periods in December and January, for maintenance and upgrading.
They were awarded 'Namibia's Leading Safari' in the prestigious World Travel Awards, a title voted for by tourism industry professionals, and is considered to be the 'Oscars' of the travel world. The honour was in recognition for the successful combination of a world class safari lodge, with aworld famous conservation program. A visit to Okonjima, gives it's visitors the opportunity to witness some of AfriCat's work.
The main building has a nearby Lapa (The Gathering Place), a curio-shop, secluded swimming-pool and reception area. Meals commence with a pre-activity early morning snack, consisting of tea, coffee and muffins. Brunch is served between 09h00 and 10h30, (after the morning trail) and consists of maize porridge, muesli and other breakfast cereals, fruit, yoghurt, salami, cheeses and bread, followed by eggs, sausage and bacon. Fresh fruit, as well as hot and cold refreshments, are available throughout the day. Coffee, tea and cake are served in the afternoon, and a 3 course dinner is served between 19h00 and 20h00. Lunch packs can be arranged for an onward journey.
Accommodation is in either Garden, Standard or View Rooms:
Garden Rooms: 6 double, en-suite Garden Rooms are set close together and overlook a lush garden and open-fire entertainment area. Each room has a double and a ¾ bed, a roof-fan and private, lockable safe.
Standard Rooms: The 14 Standard Rooms have fantastic views over the natural Okonjima bush-veld and 4 of them can be combined to form family rooms/units. With privacy in mind they have been set some 15-20m apart and are a reasonable distance from the Lapa and entertainment area. Each room has it's own verandah and wheelchair friendly ramp. The spacious bedrooms have 2 double beds, a mini-fridge, tea/coffee station, 2 roof fans, a safe and a telephone.
View Rooms: 10 spacious well-appointed view rooms afford grassy plains vistas with en-suite bathroom with twin basins and large shower, 2 double beds, mini-fridge, roof fans, tea/coffee station, in-room safe, desk/reading chair, a large verandah, wheelchair friendly ramp and a telephone. All rooms are between 25m-75 apart and 2 of the rooms can be combined to from a double/family unit.
Activities commence at 15h00 in the winter, and 16h00 in the summer. The leopard can be viewed frequently here, (but not guaranteed) from a hide or radio-tracked from a game viewing vehicle. The cheetah project offers a valuable insight into the welfare work of the AfriCat foundation.
There are over 250 species of bird life to be found around the property, including Namibian endemics such as carps black tit, Hartlaub's francolin, and the Damara rock runner. With the abundance of animal and birdlife and spectacular scenery, Okonjima is a photographer's dream.
The Bushman Trail offers it's participants the chance to experience a day in the life of a Bushman.
The easy walking trail is highlighted with information along the way, about learning about the art of making traditional artefact's, and how the San adapt and survived in such an unforgiving wilderness environment.
Other guided and self-guided walking trails of up to 8km, are available for those who prefer to spend some time in the solitude of the Okonjima Wilderness.
Children of all ages are welcome at Okonjima Plains Camp. Parents/guardians please note there are restrictions applied regarding activities, depending on the age of the child and the activity.
Okonjima Lodge now offers two rates - 1 is inclusive of activities and the other without, we suggest booking at least one of your nights on the full board and activities rate as the activities are the main reason for staying at Okonjima. Activities commence 15h00 (winter) and 16h00 (summer) so please arrive before this if you want to join the afternoon activity.
Cheetahs: Visit the Africat Project area and meet some of the cheetah or accompany our guides as they monitor the progress of the cheetahs in the Tusk Rehabilitation camp. Okonjima is home to over forty cheetahs, many of whom were separated from their mothers before they learnt how to survive on their own. The Rehabilitation Camp will give these cheetahs an opportunity to learn survival skills such as hunting in a closely monitored environment. Successful cheetahs will be relocated to parks and game farms.
Cheetah Tracking on Foot: Cheetahs within the rehabilitation are radio tracked on foot, sightings of the cats is not guaranteed. Leopards - Wild leopards are fed every night and guests can observe these secretive predators from the safety of a hide. Okonjima is also the site of a leopard monitoring project with the resident leopard collared and tracked to determine the number of leopard in the area, their movements and activities. This information will be used to better understand leopard found on Namibian farmland and reduce the conflict between leopards and farmers.
Bushman Trail: Catch a glimpse of a day in the life of a bushman. Learn how the bushman made rope, fire and traps and lived in harmony with nature.
Mountain Walk: For the energetic, early-riser, we offer a guided mountain walk which includes identification of animal spoor, information on the local people and spectacular views.
Bird Watching: Over 300 bird species have been identified at Okonjima. Two spacious hides are within walking distance of the lodge and we now offer a hide situated at a recently established vulture restaurant a short drive from the lodge.
Walks and Trails: A variety of walks ranging in difficulty from easy to quite strenuous are available. The sundowner walk is usually done in the evening after the cheetah activity and is a favourite with many of our guests.
Night Hide: Ever wondered what those noises are at night. Guests can choose after dinner to visit a hide and observe nocturnal animals such as honey badger and porcupine as they go about their business.
A small, private safari lodge north of Otjiwarongo.
Lodging located on the property used by the Heetah Conservation Fund, this is an excellent option if you want to learn about cheetah conservation.
Mid-sized hotel in Otjiwarongo offering both lodge & hotel style accommodation. All the usual facilities including a pool, air-conditioned rooms and a restaurant.
Situated to the north of the Waterberg Plateau (which is unusual as most lodges are toward the south) this highly recommenced lodge offers spacious comfortable rooms and plenty of activities.
One of the oldest lodges in Namibia, Mount Etjo has seen several historic events including the signing of an agreement pivotal to Namibia gaining independence. Still offers good quality accommodation and game drives.
A private two bed room suite, comes complete with own swimming pool, lounge and kitchen. Private chef and meals can be arranged or guests can visit Bush Camp.
Without a doubt one of the best lodges in Namibia, add leopard and cheetah viewing to stunning accommodation and well prepared meals and this place is a complete winner.
Large private complex, includes all modern luxuries. Enjoyed by international movie stars and corporate moguls - but available to any group wanting to stay!
A variety of accommodation options - ranging from large self-catering villas to double rooms. Just a few kilometers south of Otjiwarongo.
Small 8 room guest farm with an emphasis on conserving the natural eco-systems
The NWR run camp situated on the slopes of the plateau. Fairly standard and slightly overpriced accommodation, the old police station which has been converted to a restaurant is a scenic (if not taste) highlight.
Excellent choice for walking and visiting the highlights of the area
On the same property aw the Waterberg Wilderness Lodge but situated higher up the mountain offering excellent views.
These are honest reviews, both good and bad, from our travellers who visited this property.
Friendly staff, wonderful view rooms in main camp, excellent dinner. The best lodge during my travel!
A very good place to be, especially in the park area. The safari trips were excellent, and well organised
Amazing stay - with leopard and cheetah tracking. Very nice rooms at plains camp. Good food for all meals.
Brilliant experience - Ranger De Fries ensured we saw leopard and on one occasion her reunion with her cub
very nice, infrastructure (room and main structure) and welcome; the guide \'s enthusiasm was involving!
The staff in the camp are excitedly friendly. That was last night of this trip which made our while trip perfectly.
Again everything excellent plus, apart from disappointing evening set meal. The game drives, with Previous, brilliant.
Unique. The room with panoramic window was the best I have ever stayed in. The games drives of course are the real highlight.
Confusion over what the kids can and cannot do. In the end it was fine, we could go see the cheetahs, just staying in the car.
Really fantasic place and a great start to the holiday. Less intimate than other places we stayed at but a great place to Safari
The new view rooms are very nice. The food at the lodge was just ok. However for the price, we did not feel it was worth the cost.
Tracking cheetahs and leopards is an experience I'll never forget. The highlight of the holiday. The accommodation is outstanding too.
This was ok unless doing the activities and for people coming down to Etosha to Windhoek I would suggest somewhere closer, but nice lodge.
Great place, our kids loved it. The view rooms were very spacious and we could watch wildlife from our beds. The leopard tracking was great.
A great place to end our holiday. Awesome accommodation, service and food. Another great excursion to view the cheetahs and the sunset drive.
We were upgraded to the Bush Camp for free. Absolutely amazing experience. Truly recommendable, we'd go there again for sure. Adopted a kitten
It was absolutely fantastic both the view room and the all organization (Africat foundation program). The tourist guide are really well prepared.
Fantastic place - especially since we were upgraded from Garden rooms to their very luxurious View rooms! Cheetah tracking was absolutely amazing.
Great facility. Room View was superb. Friendly staff and food was good. We enjoyed the cheetah trekking and we also did the leopard drive/sundowner.
Do not recommend. Very poor service. Guests are herded around and told what to do. Activities not very interesting and some guides very ineffective.
FANTASTIC PLACE, STAFF VERY VERY KIND, THEY GAVE US UPGARDE CHALET INSTEAD OF ROOM, EVERYTHING WAS SPECIAL THE FOOD AT THE RESTAURANT WAS VERY VERY TASTY.
Great lodge, very welcoming. We were upgraded again to a huge and beautiful room. The food was delicious and the overall atmosphere of the lodge very warm.
A very beutiful place! I adore it! The room are magnificents, the lodge very hospitable and the guides of excursions prepared. The best place of my holiday!
okonjima is probably overpriced for what you really get but the opportunity to see the leopards is worthwhile. It`s a bit `stuffy` but I sort of expected that
This is an incredibly impressive outfit. The staff are very well trained and friendly. The game guide was excellent. Accommodation is excellent as is the food.
Amazing - one of the highlights of our trip! Everyone should go here! Cheetah and leopard activities in the dawn and dusk were brilliant and highly recommended.
Amazing lodge! All the staff was great and the activities offered amazing. We really liked visiting the Africat foundation and learning about everything they do.
This was absolutely fantastic. All members of the group have said that they would definitely go back here. Rooms, food, staff, safaris - all absolutely brilliant.
Fantastic. When we arrived at the gate we had been upgraded to Bush camp. Probably the the best accommodation on tour. The cheetah tracking was amazing. Worth it.
Nice rooms and good buffet breakfast Dinner need to have more variety In general I would recommend to all hotels, menus with more food variety rather than antelope
This is exquisite place. Staff is very professional and so kind. Plenty of activities is available. Food is perfect. Definitely one of the best place of our trip!!!
This was an amazing place to stay, wow, what a real treat. The accomodations were nothing short of spectacular. The views, food and ambiance all wonderful. EXCELLENT!!!!!
Fantastic close up experience with big cats - very good customer service, sending forgotten boots back to UK for me. Lovely tranquil rooms - very good vegetarian food as well!
What fun! The cheetah and leopard tracking were wonderful, and the cabins were spacious and comfortable. Food in the barn was also great. I was sorry that we have to leave after one day.
Wonderful. It was fairly quiet and am not sure what it would be like in the busy season. The Canadian lad Daniel (?) who took us cheetah tracking was excellent. Food, service, all excellent.
Excellent facilities and services, except that, as vegetarians, the fish that we were served for dinner was almost inedible. However, our complaint was handled sympathetically and with apologies.
This lodge was really well organised and the guides were great. The rooms were big, well appointed and well serviced. They made surprised us with a special dinner and champagne for as it was our honeymoon.
Wonderful stop with excellent attention to our needs, good food, fine service and an excellent drive to see leopards. When I became ill, they were very helpful at arranging a visit to a doctor in the town we were headed toward.
So lucky to be upgraded here to the Bush camp which was absolutely fabulous, just a wonderful place to end our holiday. Drives and walks with guides were excellent, delicious food and whole place beautifully designed and furnished.
We were upgraded from a Garden Room to a Standard Room. Very spacious and comfortable. We were surprised to be charged extra for the afternoon activity at high cost, as previously staying 4 years with Okonjima we did not get charged
Gideon was an excellent guide. Food was brilliant & wine was good. Night drive definitely worth doing as was night hide visit Rooms had stunning views over plains with game roaming. Good sightings of wild dogs, leopards and cheetahs.
The view rooms have amazing panorama windows. Also the only chance we had on our trip to see cheetahs and leopards, and we found both on the tracking activities. Definitly a unique experience to stand 2-3m away from a Cheetah in the bush!
Very friendly, saw both cheetah and leopard as well as seeing porcupine and honeybadger at the hide. Drives were very well done, food was very good and nice selection of wines. The original rooms, one of which we had, are a little tired but still very pleasant.
Really good service, people kind, food was all right but we had an old room and we were really disappointed about it, we were expected a brand new one like on the picture. But to have it, you have to ask for a view room! And when we ask to change, it was full...
the staff and service was excellent, the guide we had very knowledgeable and I was totally spoilt for my birthday, we really enjoyed being in the garden rooms as almost felt as though we were at home and so were pleased we hadn't been up graded to the standard rooms.
We were upgraded to a view room , another place we wished to have stayed longer. Excellent staff, game drivers who knew what photographers wanted and the accomodation and dining room was breathtaking. Our own resident warthog family and a lone Impala on the door step.
It's a nice place. The staff is very friendly, the food is great. And you have a guarantee to see cheetah and leopard. But it is just too expensive. And there is no advantage in booking the Full Board - booking half board and paying the activities in the lodges comes to the same price.
The Okonjima Lodge turning is 50km south of Otjiwarongo on the main B1 road. The lodge is a further 24km along this road, follow the signs
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