News Archive 2006
December 06
New online image gallery. There is a new image gallery on the Okonjima website illustrating some of the wildlife that guests may see on the property. Martin Harvey’s images are stunning and can be viewed by clicking here.
November 06
Athena killed by a territorial leopard. Athena was killed by one of the territorial male leopards (Mafana) this morning moments before the guests arrived there. 4 guests radio-tracked Athen this morning on foot with their OKONJIMA Guide, Meldin - hoping to find her hunting, or on a kill. Instead they sadly found a dead cheetah. The leopard was still in the area and was spotted by Meldin, strolling off. He had bit her in the chest and the stomach, which most probably meant he did not stalk her, but must have been chasing her and both were running when he finally caught her.
Athena had been released into the TUSK Trust reserve in October 2005 along with 4 of her siblings who were all orphaned at 6 months of age. Orphaned at such an early age, these cats have missed out on all that they should have learnt from their mother while growing up – not only hunting skills and techniques but the essential “life-skills” needed to survive in the wild. These cheetahs can now only learn these “life-skills” by way of experience; lessons often being hard and unfortunately, sometimes fatal. Knowing which other predators to avoid and when to back off and relinquish hard-earned prey are just two of the lessons they have had to learn so far during their rehabilitation.
September 06
The latest on AfriCat's dogs. Although Okonjima is best known for its work with cheetah and leopard, an unexpected request for help in 2005 saw the AfriCat Foundation offer protection to a group of orphaned wild dogs. There is little doubt that the Cape Hunting Dog is one of Namibia’s (and Africa’s) most endangered large carnivores, this is the story so far:
The AfriCat Foundation at Okonjima Lodge in Namibia has recently relocated their 5 Cape Hunting Dogs into a larger encampment near the AfriCat Clinic where they have been raised since rescue. This is wonderful news for all guests visiting the Welfare Project who for the first time will have the opportunity to view these magnificent creatures close-up.
The puppies were found buried in an abandoned warthog hole on a farm where their mother and the rest of their family were killed by the local farmers due to them preying on local livestock. There were originally seven pups handed over to AfriCat (by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism) but due to illness, two didn’t survive. The remaining five were successfully hand-reared by painstakingly feeding them every two hours according to their weight.
BBC1 captured the rescue of the 7 wild dogs on their popular Animal Park – Wild in Africa series, but due to their lack of immunity, no visitors or photographers were allowed close to the pups. Initially the pups were kept in Dave and Carla’s home so as to have them properly supervised, but being wild dogs, they showed keen interest in tearing up and breaking whatever they could find. Subsequently, they were moved over to the AfriCat Clinic and set up home in a cheetah relocation crate until they eventually outgrew that and moved into what they thought was the great outdoors, a humble fenced area outside the clinic.
Due to several donations made by guests at Okonjima Lodge, Dave at AfriCat was able to build a double fenced area of just over one acre in size and to the dog’s great delight, he added a waterhole with a small, but entertaining fountain built within a rock feature. Having a double fence is necessary as wild dogs are susceptible to other canine diseases such as rabies, distemper and the parvo-virus carried by other members of the dog family such as jackals and bat-eared foxes.
The new encampment area introduced the dogs to a larger world than they had ever imagined and when first released, it was clear that they were very excited about their new home. They celebrated noisily as they darted around, experiencing life in the savannah and all it has to offer with its wonderful landscape, long grass, acacia trees and two massive termite mounds which quickly became the centre of their territory. Upon discovering the water hole, the dogs didn’t so much investigate as invade by plunging in without hesitation and played in the water for hours before each found himself a nice quiet place to have an afternoon siesta and enjoy the African sun.
The Future... Once further donations have been made specifically for the wild dogs, they will be moved again to a proposed area of approximately 5 ha which will become their temporary home until they can be relocated and rehabilitated in Okonjima’s private 22 000 ha Game Park. The territory will provide them with a massive protected area in which to hunt and become part of the larger programme at Okonjima.
June 06
NEW! Luxury Bush Suite. Okonjima is proud to announce the arrival of the luxury Bush Suite which has been built to the same exacting standards as the Villa. The Suite has 2 separate, private, en-suite bedrooms under a magnificent thatched roof, which together can accommodate a family or a group of 4.
The living space comprises a spacious lounge, a dining area under thatch or outside under natural shade and an open, wood-burning fireplace. A wide veranda overlooks the uniquely designed 13 metre pool. As with the Villa, all meals are cooked by the your private chef and game drives are taken in the Suite’s private Land Rover.
A Stroke of Goodwill. For one week in June, the Villa at Okonjima hosted a group of international wildlife artists keen to study some of the most naturally beautiful models on the planet, I won’t mention catwalks…Established Australian artist Pete Marshall ran the course and amongst the students were two local artists who were the winners of a nationwide talent competition. Dennis Shinyaama and Silke Berens had the chance to both improve their life study technique and enjoy the tranquil luxury of Okonjima’s new Villa. Whilst AfriCat is more used to visiting scientists and tourists, Pete Marshall has spent a lifetime introducing the public to the natural world and raising awareness for its fragility through her exhibitions.
May 06
Dr Mark Jago. The AfriCat Foundation is pleased to announce that Dr Mark Jago has officially taken the reins as Executive Director. Carla Conradie is now the Director of Welfare. The cats are extremely pleased to have an experienced veterinary surgeon on call day and night. The initial results of the Cheetah thermo-regulation study being undertaken by theUniversity of Witwatersrand will be released on 23rd May. If you are scientifically curious, let me know and I will supply full details of the project.
Renovations at Bush Camp. Bush Camp has undergone a spring clean in the wake of the best rainy season on record. Work included repainting over the water marks at the main area (left by flooding), all eight rooms received new linen, down duvets and pillows. The outside lights were repainted and the curio shop has been restocked for the busy months ahead. The team have worked like Trojans to keep roads open and rental cars from becoming submersibles, everyone is looking forward to a long dry winter!
Street Children meet Okonjima's cats. Okonjima recently played host to a group of children from the government run After School Centre. These children are from disadvantaged homes that are unable to feed them or are homeless and reliant on the initiative for shelter. They spent two days learning about AfriCat, general conservation and for most this was their first introduction to cheetah, leopard and lion. The children were understandably impressed by AfriCat’s resident predators and it was a great opportunity for Okonjima’s guides to make the experience a memorable and positive one. Most of the children come from poor rural communities which have traditionally been at the heart of Namibia’s conservation issues.
February 06
Images for download. The Okonjima website has a new selection of high resolution images for all camps. These can be accessed through the agents link.
AfriCat welcomes new Director Dr Mark Jago (MA, Vet Mb, MRCVS) is a UK trained veterinary surgeon who has been living and working in Namibia for the last 14 years and together with his wife, Doctor Laura Brandt will be moving to Africat towards the middle of 2006. He will be taking over the role of director of AfriCat, while Dr Brandt will be starting a new wing which we are currently describing as "sustainable living" - the people component of conservation. Dr Jago has been a partner in the Otjiwarongo veterinary practice since arriving in Namibia and has been providing the veterinary care to all of Africat’s wildlife.
Death of a Legend. When glimpsed with a dramatic backdrop of Namibian rock, glowing red in the setting sun, Tyson was an immediate icon. A magnificent leopard with a truly impressive physique who provided many of Okonjima’s visitors with an unforgettable wildlife experience. He spent almost three-quarters of his life at Okonjima, arriving in 1991 and placed in a holding area from which he promptly escaped. Tyson wasn't seen again for the next two years when all of a sudden he came out of hiding - whether he had remained on Okonjima during this time or returned from elsewhere is unknown. In January 2001 he was radio-collared and released into the 10 000acre game park. Although frequently monitored, he chose to stay out of the limelight and largely preferred his own company.
His face was known to thousands from the numerous brochures and logos he appeared on and his fundraising efforts helped hundreds of big cats through the work of the AfriCat Foundation. In September 2004, a mortality signal from his collar led staff to him for the very last time and at 20 years of age the life of a legend had come to an end, but fond memories of Tyson will remain forever. He will be remembered for the beautiful predator that he was.
January 06
NEW! The Villa at Okonjima. The first of Okonjima’s two new private villas has just opened. 10 km’s from Main Camp, overlooking a natural pan and suitably isolated, Joumbira Villa can accommodate groups of up to eight adults and five children in two separate suites and two en-suite rooms in the main house. A private chef, guide and game drive vehicle ensure that families and small groups of friends can set their own pace and experience Namibia’s most unique wildlife experience in a home from home.