Okonjima Luxury Bush Camp

The camp consists of eight thatched chalets and one junior suite. There is ample space between each chalet so that each guest has their privacy and there is also a camelthorn pod-shaped lapa that encompasses the reception area, curio shop, a cosy lounge area with inside and outside fireplaces, dining area that looks out onto the waterhole and a restaurant. Other features include a secluded private swimming pool, complimentary Wi-Fi, phone reception and private parking.

There are just eight luxury chalets in total at the private reserve, each with thatched roofs and styled to fit their surroundings. Large glass panels and canvas windows can be completely opened for unobstructed views of the savannah, offering a truly magical African bush experience. Each chalet has a semi-detached lounge area complete with features such as a minibar, tea and coffee station alongside ample space to unwind. Two queen sized beds are provided as are leather chairs and a working desk with a telephone. Wi-Fi is provided in addition to reasonable cell phone reception and undercover private parking. Should guests wish to feed the birds, there is also a bird bath and a bird-feeding container at the chalet along with an open-air Sala.

There is one junior suite available at the luxury bush camp which boasts two queen sized beds and is complete with an en-suite. This suite also offers a fireplace and bathtub for the ultimate cosy experience during the winter nights. During the summer months, the outdoor shower offers the perfect chance to cool off and relax. Other features include Wi-Fi, cell phone reception, undercover private parking and wheelchair accessibility. The spectacular views available allow guests to combine romance, relaxation and wonder as they marvel at the epitome of beauty and wilderness this luxury suite provides.

Food and drink are provided in your stay at Okonjima Luxury Bush Camp. Half-board basis provides breakfast/brunch, dinner and drinks. Fully inclusive will offers guests all meals, drinks, coffee/tea and fruit throughout the day. There is also a wine list available to guests. Some of the activities offer food during the long hours such as game drives provide afternoon tea and cake and an early coffee and muffin.

Game drives give guests a once in a lifetime opportunity to get up-close and personal to a vast array of magnificent creatures that they would otherwise not have the pleasure of being able to witness. The reserve has animals roaming freely across the grounds and can include the company of cheetahs, hyenas and pangolins. An experienced guide will accompany you on the ride, imparting their expertise and wisdom throughout the experience whilst always ensuring your safety. Nocturnal drives are also available at the reserve, taking guests exploring once the sun has set and the temperature has dropped to see the African bush come to life in a whole new way.

Guided bush walks are an even more intimate way for visitors to get up-close and personal to Namibia’s wildlife and its protected species. A professional guide will lead the way and educate guests on the stunning surroundings. Over 250 bird species have been spotted at Okonjima, making it a bird lovers paradise to explore with a number of nature trails on hand to provide guests the opportunity for many an adventure.

The Okonjima Luxury Bush Camp is situated within a nature reserve that is home to the AfriCat Foundation as well as many research projects that aid in protecting endangered species in Namibia. Animals are tracked and carefully watched in their habitats to ensure they can continue to sustain themselves. Guests are welcome and actively encouraged to learn all about this vital work during their stay in this stunning protected area.

Guests can spend a week or two surrounded by nature focusing on their fitness, in both groups and personal packages. Founder and former resident on Okinjima, Danny Groves, is a fitness and boxing coach and accompanied by two leading UK fitness professionals, has created a carefully executed programme to help improve wellbeing. This includes a focus on nutrition, strength training and sports massages. There is an outdoor gym at the property and mountain bikes are also available for exploring the grounds on.

The property has been built sustainably with the natural surrounding environment in mind. The property and its chalets and suites have all been constructed to blend in with the natural environment and are built using indigenous materials. The interiors each have designs that incorporate African culture. Earthy, ochre walls and khaki-green canvas are prevalent as well as thatched roofs.

The main research project at the reserve investigates the interspecific and intraspecific relationship between different carnivorous species within the enclosed conservation area. Just some of the remarkable animals being studied here include cheetahs, leopards and brown hyenas. The interaction between the animals in the reserve is monitored and studied with the aid of GPS collard and camera traps, helping the researches to assess the extent of predation and size of territories for individual animals. The study also provides valuable information on the success of carnivore rehabilitation in the reserve.

The Leopard Density Project is an in-depth assessment of the leopard population in the Okonjima Nature Reserve via the use of remote camera traps that provide researchers a detailed insight into the demography as well as special distribution patterns of these stunning creatures. A long-term monitoring pattern has been introduced and has been running since 2015, with constant updates being recorded. The wildlife is also protected within the nature reserve using a number of methods. The reserve spans over 200km squared so that they can still roam freely and the area is fully surrounded by electrified predator-proof perimeter fencing.

Based in Okonjima Private Nature Reserve, this centre was founded in the early nineties and registered as a non-profit organisation in August 1993. The foundation has grown significantly over the years and has identified the need to include education and collaboration with researchers, conservationists and scientists through the research of species-specific ecology. Working closely with the farming community also allows for studies to be conducted that provide valuable information on large carnivores and their long-term conservation in Namibia.

The ‘Rescue and Release Programme’ focuses on feeding, caring and providing a home for a number of animals that currently cannot be released into the wild. They are provided with expert care by the outstanding team at AfriCat. Research is conducted throughout the rehabilitation process, with the information that has been gathered allowing vets to gain valuable insights into the health of these creatures in the wild. Ethical animal welfare is at the heart of everything this foundation does, ensuring that they can stay wild or be rehabilitated and kept safe if unable to return to their natural habitat.

The population of brown hyenas within the Okonjima Nature Reserve is being managed appropriately to ensure that they sustain themselves healthily for their ultimate survival. Launched in 2018 as a comprehensive scheme to observe the brown hyenas, the study collects data, analyses the information and makes recommendations on how to take action to preserve the population.

Many of the Pangolin species are classified as vulnerable by the international Union for Conservation of Nature, and four out of eight of these species occur in the African continent. These creatures are predominately nocturnal, making them difficult to study and monitor, especially in areas with a high concentration of predators. These creatures are incredibly vital to the natural ecosystem, consuming around 70 million ants and termites a year. Research has revealed that nearly $600 million per year can be saved in crop loss due to the service of pangolins consuming ants and termites. Their natural behaviour also causes them to turn the soil as they burrow and feed, aerating the soil and increasing plant germination.

However, these animals are being trafficked illegally and exploited due to being seen as a delicacy in some countries. In 2014, Pangolins were categorised as the most trafficked animal worldwide, which is why their protection and observation in their natural habitat is so crucial. They are also at risk of electrocution due to electrified fencing, which is why ONR has raised the wiring throughout the reserve so that they are unharmed. AfriCat has launched the AfriCat Pangolin Project that studies all detail of life for the ground pangolin in Namibia. This will help to understand their natural patterns, population dynamics, prey selectivity and overall ecology of the creatures to create conservation guidelines to better protect them.

The Aardvark Research Project aims to establish the potential impact of climate change on free-ranging aardvarks at the Okonjima Nature Reserve. Previous research has highlighted that these creatures are vulnerable to climate change, their patterns changing due to summer droughts and their body temperatures lowering during metabolically challenging periods.

Aardvarks have specialised anatomy which enables them to feed on underground prey such as ants and termites. The loss of aardvarks can be detrimental to their ecosystems due to the loss of benefits of their naturally helpful burrowing behaviours. They are considered to be a keystone species due to how they impact their communities and ecosystems. With the use of VHF tags, aardvarks across the reserve can be tracked to establish their home range sized and burrow locations. The camera traps allow them to be monitored and give researchers far more insight into the potential impact of climate change on these creatures.