02 NIGHTS 03 DAYS BIG CATS OF NAMIBIA FLY-IN

Upon arrival you will be assisted onto your charter flight from Windhoek to the Otjiwarongo area. Okonjima - West of the Waterberg Plateau, the vast plains are occasionally broken by the remnants of ancient Sandstone outcrops, which once covered large areas of northern Namibia. Nestled among the Omboroko Mountains lies Okonjima – a Herero name meaning Place of the Baboons. This is much more than just a lodge. Okonjima is also home to The Africat Foundation. Okonjima, home of The AfriCat Foundation, was established as a small 'guest farm' in 1986. For many years, Val (VJ) & Rose Hanssen had been avid cattle farmers until the need for solutions to increasing livestock losses and post-independence interest in Namibia as a tourist destination, changed the face of Okonjima, as well as that of Carnivore Conservation. With the family still at the helm (now the next generation), Okonjima now encompasses a dedicated team and a variety of accommodation facilities, offering you, our guest, a truly Namibian stay… Established in 1993, The AfriCat Foundation started off as a sanctuary for Cheetah and Leopard rescued from irate, livestock farmers. Today, AfriCat is dedicated to the protection and long-term conservation of all large carnivores in Namibia and has since become renowned for much-needed; “Environmental Education, Carnivore Research, Rescue, Release & Rehabilitation programmes, and Carnivore Welfare, Human Wild-life Conflict Mitigation and Community Support projects - throughout the whole of Namibia”. The AfriCat Foundation is based on the farm Okonjima (central Namibia) and the farm Kaross (northwest Namibia). This mutually beneficial relationship allows for interested visitors to experience, first hand, the works of The Project, gaining valuable insight into carnivore conservation and, at the same time, creating the platform for donating much-needed funds to The Project and its Programmes. In order to be in time for the afternoon activities, a general guide for arrival times is before 15h00 (winter) and 16h00 (summer).

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. Lion - Okonjima has three tame lions - Matata, Tambo and Tessie. Born in captivity, the lions have become part of the Okonjima family and the pride has three lion and five human members. The lions can usually be seen most mornings before trails leave the lodge 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. Alternative Luxury Accommodation Option – Okonjima Bush Camp Okonjima Bush Camp offers an alternative to the ever popular Okonjima Plains Camp. The Bush Camp is situated on a wilderness area approximately 3km from the main camp. The Bush Camp consists of eight luxury thatched African Chalets. Guests at both Okonjima Main Lodge and Okonjima Bush Camp can experience the work done by the Africat Foundation. For complete privacy the chalets at Okonjima Bush Camp are situated a minimum of 80 meters apart. The chalets are a combination of earthy ochre walls, and khaki green canvas, under a thatched roof. With half the chalet made from canvas the entire front of the chalet can be rolled up at night allowing the cool breeze and sounds of the Namibian bush into the bungalow. The less adventurous can securely close the sides and sleep safely in the knowledge that the outside world is where it belongs..... outside!

After a scrumptious breakfast and check-out, your charter flight back to Windhoek takes off to Windhoek, for your onward travel arrangements.