Okonjima - all you need to know

PROPERTY TITLE:

OKONJIMA – home of the africat foundation

SPELLING:

• OKONJIMA

• The AfriCat Foundation OR AfriCAT Foundation.

• OKONJIMA is a ‘LODGE’ and NOT a ‘GUEST FARM’.

• Owned by WAYNE, DONNA & ROSALEA HANSSEN.

50 WORD DESCRIPTION:

OKONJIMA – home of AfriCat, a non-profit organisation, committed to long-term conservation of Namibia’s large carnivores.

AfriCat is the world’s largest Cheetah & Leopard rescue & release programme.

OKONJIMA hosts the exclusive Villa & Bush Suite, Bush Camp, Main Camp and the private Omboroko campsite.

Halfway between Windhoek and Etosha. (B1) TOTAL: 50 words

130 WORD DESCRIPTION:

OKONJIMA is the home of The AfriCat foundation, a non-profit organisation, committed to long-term conservation of Namibia’s large carnivores.

OKONJIMA hosts the grand, African VILLA, the select, private BUSH SUITE, the luxury BUSH CAMP, MAIN CAMP and the exclusive Omboroko Campsite.

OKONJIMA Lodge is situated halfway between Windhoek and Etosha National Park. B1.

Over 900 cats have been saved since 1993! 86% have been released back into the wild. The AfriCat Foundation is the world’s largest cheetah and leopard rescue and release programme.

The OKONJIMA activities include tracking rehabilitated cheetahs on foot, visiting the AfriCat Welfare Project, tracking leopards in the 4 500ha private nature park. OKONJIMA also offers a guided Bushman Trail. Birding and game drives are offered on request and if guests stay longer than 2 days. TOTAL: 130 words Back

OKONJIMA OFFERS:

• A budget, a luxury and an exclusive product, HEREBY WELCOMING GUESTS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE! Guests visit OKONJIMA to experience the AfriCat Foundation.

• 4 different activities during a 2 day programme.

• 5 different CAMPS / ACCOMMODATION FACILITIES:

o The Grand African House - The Villa

o The Exclusive Bush Suite

o The Luxury Bush Camp

o The Homestead – Main Camp

o The Private Campsite – The Omboroko

15 YEARS OF REMARKABLE WORK AT THE WORLD'S LARGEST CHEETAH AND LEOPARD RESCUE AND RELEASE PROJECT

The AfriCat Foundation, which was started in 1993, has become world RENOWNED for the work we do with Cheetahs and Leopards.

This small foundation HOSTS / FACILITATES / RUNS the world's largest Cheetah and Leopard rescue and release PROGRAMME.

Over 900 big cats have been saved since 1993 – 86% have been released back into the wild!

For more information about AfriCat visit our website

LOCATION BY ROAD OR AIR / PROPERTY SIZE:

OKONJIMA is half-way between Windhoek and Etosha National Park (2½ hours drive – B1)

To those coming from the south (B1): Take the gravel turn-off to the left, just after the sign “Otjiwarongo 50km”.

To those coming from the north (B1): Take the gravel turn-off to the right, just after the sign “Okahandja 130km”. This turn-off is approximately 48km south of Otjiwarongo, and is marked “Okonjima 24km”.

Excellent tar road from Windhoek (B1) – 2½ hours drive from Windhoek, 3 hours drive from the International Airport – Hosea Kutako. 3 – 4 hours drive to Etosha. 24km of gravel road once you turn off the B1.

Guests should call ahead to confirm road conditions during the summer months!

OKONJIMA is centrally located thereby being ideally suited as a base from which to organise various excursions to other locations.

Air Access: Private airstrip – 1,3km, 5min drive from Main Camp, 15min from Bush Camp, 20 min from Bush Suite, 25 - 30min from The Villa.

Co-ordinates: S 20º 51’ 59” E 16º 38’ 22”

Property Size: 22 000ha / 55 000 acres / 220 km² – OKONJIMA Lodge encompasses 4 different farms – Okonjima 6000ha, Ombujongwe 7500ha, Joumbira 4000ha & Marathon 4500ha.

The Tusk Trust Cheetah Rehabilitation Park: 4500ha (10 000 acres)

The 22 000ha Private Park will be complete mid to end 2009.

NB: PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THE FOLLOWING!

THIS INFORMATION IS IMPORTANT TO READ:

• OKONJIMA is in a Malaria-Free area.

• In order to be in time for the afternoon activities, a general guide for arrival times is before 15h00 (winter) and 16h00 (summer).

• Check-in from 12h00. Guests are respectfully requested not to arrive before 12h00 and to please vacate their rooms at Main & Bush Camp on the day of departure by 10h00 at the very latest! Villa and Suite guests should please vacate their rooms by 11h00. The only time an ‘exception’ can be made is when Okonjima is not expecting any new arrivals!

• Viewing of leopards is NOT guaranteed, and the leopards, as well as the cheetahs in the Tusk Trust Rehabilitation Area are radio-collared to allow for regular monitoring of their wellbeing and for research purposes!

• An increasing number of tourism lodges are holding cheetahs and other wild animals in captivity for entertainment purposes. More than 9 years ago OKONJIMA decided to set an example to discourage this activity by withdrawing cheetahs from appearing for guests on the lawn in front of the lodge.

• Children under the age of 12 years are not permitted at Bush Camp, Main Camp and the Omboroko Camp Sites.

• Children under the age of 12 years are permitted at the exclusive Villa and the private Bush Suite, but the guardians are expected to sign a special ‘children’s indemnity’ to make them aware of the dangers and rules concerning children. No ‘nanny service’ is available at either of the Camps.

• Electricity is available 24 hours (220 Volt). 2 & 3 prong adapters/outlets (South African format) are available in all tents/rooms/chalets/suites to charge cameras, laptops etc.

• Due to unforeseen power-cuts, especially during the rainy season, OKONJIMA has installed new generators at all Camps.

• Parking: All 4 lodges have under-roof parking for private vehicles. No allocated parking spaces at the Campsite.

• OKONJIMA is bordered by rivers, which are dry for most of the year. However your guests are advised to check on accessibility during the rainy season!

• Photographers are advised that the leopards and the rehabilitated cheetahs in the ‘Tusk Trust Cheetah Rehabilitation Area’ have been fitted with radio-collars for monitoring and research purposes. All cats that form part of the Welfare Project are NOT radio-collared.

• CELL Phones: Certain areas on OKONJIMA have cell-phone reception. Guests are respectfully requested to keep their cell-phones off at ALL times unless they are making a call or relaxing inside their private room. No cell-phones, IPods, MP3 players, disc-men etc are permitted, whilst on an activity! Back

PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT:

Water is a rare commodity in Namibia! Please inform your guests to not use unnecessary amounts of water!

• OKONJIMA is known for its excellent water quality and The Villa has been fitted with a water softener.

• The tap water in your guest’s room is safe to drink, however for people with a delicate constitution; we would recommend bottled water from the bar!

• Please advise your guests to use litter bins for their litter and cigarette ends.

• Please advise your guests to switch off lights, fans & air/heating facilities when leaving their room. All these commodities add to the carbon tracks each guest leaves behind. Back

PAYMENT CONDITIONS:

• Credit card payments can take a while to process, due to ‘bush’-telephone lines and slow connections. To ensure a swift departure - payments can be done the evening before departure or during brunch on their day of departure. Please ask your guests to be patient! Banks often require strict security checks!

• On credit card payments guests may be required to present the following information:

o Name of their local Bank, their mother’s maiden name, their street address, passport number and credit card. (Visa, Master, American Express or Diners as well as Traveller’s Cheques are all accepted) Guests are also welcome to add tips to their final credit card payment, stating how much they wish to spend on tips.

o OKONJIMA also accepts cash payments in the following currencies: US Dollars, Euros, British Pounds, and South African Rands. Back

SAFETY & SECURITY:

• All guests are asked to sign a ‘disclaimer of liability’ on check-in and this is a condition of all guests staying with us. If your client has any problems with this indemnity, they should please discuss it with the lodge manager, Tristan Boehme or the Hanssen Family.

• A basic first-aid kit is provided on every game vehicle, as well as at all base Camps.

• The closest private hospital to OKONJIMA is MediCity – located in Otjiwarongo, a 50 minute drive away or 15 minutes by air, for those guests who have a chartered aircraft parked at OKONJIMA’S airstrip.

• Emergency, paramedic assistance and air evacuation are covered by OKONJIMA’S Public Liability insurance

• OKONJIMA has a security check-point at the B1 turn-off, so that all incoming or out-going traffic is accounted for. The security guards are in radio and cell-phone contact with the lodge 24/7.

• All rooms are fitted with “panic buttons”. Alarms are monitored from a secure control room, which is also operational 24/7. At the moment a mobile security team patrol all 5 camps throughout the night.

• Future security: It would be detrimental to explain, in fine detail, the security arrangements of Okonjima. However, to allay any fears of client security in the future, Okonjima is installing an 85km, state of the art, electrified boundary, supported by a complex system of sophisticated infrared and daylight camera’s which will encompass the whole property and be alarmed and monitored 24/7

• The Camps on OKONJIMA are not fenced off from the surrounding bushveld, and everyone should be aware at all times that they are in a private reserve where predators and other wild animals roam freely. Guests are warned not to approach any animals unless accompanied by an OKONJIMA guide.

• Guests are advised not to roam freely around at night, unless accompanied by a member of the ‘Okonjima Family’. It is however, safe to walk to and from their room/chalet with a flash light/ torch. On request and if guests so require, someone will escort them back to their room or chalet after dark.

• We have first class fire-fighting apparatus, including our own fire engine. All rooms/chalets/suites are fitted with manual fire hydrants and portable fire-extinguishers. Back

RATES:

• See website for The Omboroko Campsite, Main Camp and Bush Camp’s rates.

• Contact OKONJIMA LODGE directly for The Villa and Bush Suite’s rates.

• Cancellation fees are applicable.

• Main Camp & Bush Camp offer a Full Board (FB) rate which includes all activities and all meals. Drinks and extras such as curios are not included.

• Main Camp & Bush Camp also offer a Half Board (HB) rate (Dinner, Bed and Breakfast), but all activities, lunch and drinks are excluded. Activities are available at an additional cost.

• The Villa, Bush Suite and The Omboroko Campsite offer ALL INCLUSIVE RATES ONLY.

• PAYMENT CONDITIONS: Pre-payment or otherwise agreed upon. Payment either via Bank Deposit or Credit Card Transaction. Back

WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU:

Your guests should ALWAYS bring a flash light / torch with them when visiting Africa!

A ‘headlight’ is always more convenient.

• Hat & sunglasses (polarized for those long, bright road trips)

• Sunscreen (SPF 45+)

• Re-hydrate and do not forget to remind your guests to drink as much water as possible. (Recommendation: at least 2 litres a day)

• During the winter months (mid May – mid Sept) do not forget to remind your guests to bring along warm clothing! Namibia can get very cold. (see SEASONS section)

• A basic first aid kit; including medication against diarrhoea, nausea, headaches, heat stroke, stomach cramps, broad-spectrum antibiotics, mosquito repellent, Nasal Vaseline thus preventing nosebleeds, antihistamine cream, aspi-venom for bites and stings, if possible, as well as sufficient prescription medication. Back

URGENT STATEMENT!

An increasing number of tourism lodges are holding cheetahs, leopards and other wild animals in captivity for entertainment purposes. OKONJIMA supports the conservation of wild animals IN THEIR NATURAL HABITAT and has set an example by withdrawing cheetahs from appearing on the lawn in front of the lodge.

The practice of catching cheetahs in the wild for captivity is causing a drain on the wild population. Revenue earned through showing these captive cheetahs at lodges rarely goes back into conservation practices. THE AFRICAT FOUNDATION has also had to take on a large number of unwanted cheetahs, when lodge owners or farmers decide that they are not worth keeping.

It is OKONJIMA’S long-term aim, to encourage viewing of large carnivores in the wild, rather than in a captive environment and cheetahs on the lawn are detrimental to this long-term approach.

Guests visiting OKONJIMA will still be visiting THE AFRICAT FOUNDATION and learning about large carnivores in the wild like cheetah, leopard and lion, but in a constructive manner. Back

SEASONS:

Either Main Camp OR Bush Camp - The Villa OR Bush Suite are closed during certain periods in December, January & February each year for maintenance and upgrading.

Please contact OKONJIMA to confirm closing dates.

WINTER: June to August: Early morning, evening and night-time temperatures can drop below freezing; temperatures of - 4ºC to - 6ºC have often been recorded. (The lowest temperature ever recorded on OKONJIMA was -18ºC). Please make sure that your guests bring along warm clothing such as jackets, (preferably down as well as a wind-breaker) a beanie, gloves, warm trousers and comfortable closed shoes or boots.

NO indoor heating is provided at any of the Camps.

For your guests comfort, Bush Camp and Main Camp provide gas heaters at meal times and water bottles are placed in the beds before they retire at night.

All open, game-viewing vehicles carry windproof blankets.

The Villa and Bush Suite each have a fire-place in the dining/lounge area and rooms are fitted with heating facilities.

If the wind does not blow - the days are beautiful, warm and sunny. The mornings and evenings can get very cold.

SUMMER: September to May: The day-time temperatures can be high during October, November, December and January! Rain is expected from January to April, but can start in December during a good year. [September can suddenly get cold] Temperatures vary from 20ºC up to approximately 38ºC.

OKONJIMA’S average rainfall is approximately 450mm. During the 2006 wet season OKONJIMA had a 1000mm of rain.

Please note that Namibia can get very wet during certain rainfall seasons, and the dry rivers beds can turn into raging water traps!

A large part of Namibia is arid and the air is very dry. Please ensure that your guests are advised to drink plenty of water every day! (Recommendation: at least 2 litres a day)

A hat, sunscreen (SPF 45+), loose, light, cotton clothing, sunglasses and re-hydrate, are also recommended.

It is advisable to participate in the activities on offer during the early morning hours or late afternoon. A ‘siesta’ is recommended between 12h00 – 15h00; the hottest part of the day! Back

NEED to know...

Okonjima is a family run business. Wayne, Donna and Rosalea Hanssen who co-own and live on the property, bought Okonjima from their parents in 1993 turning, what was then a cattle farm, into a 22 000ha private conservation project.