November 2008
Originally built for private guided groups, there are 3 quiet campsites at Okonjima which offer an extremely affordable way of visiting the AfriCat welfare project. You need to be prepared with you own camping equipment but the sites offer a shared swimming pool, a fire pit, washing-up facilities with clean running water, bathroom facilities with hot running water and firewood to power your bush TV. Included in your stay is a guided tour of the AfriCat project.
This is a world away from the über-cool Bush Suite at Okonjima but with a growing number of British guests combining lodges and camping, it provides a well located site with interesting activities included in the price. You can read more here.
October 2008
Please note that all of the camps at Okonjima will be open throughout 2009 - there is no scheduled closure for maintenance in January or February. Main Camp's 6 Garden and 10 Mountain View rooms and Bush Camps 9 luxury rooms are ready and waiting.
If you have clients interested in a hands-on working holiday, then the new PAWS programme based on the Okonjima Reserve may be of interest. Run by ex-Okonjima Villa managers Clive and Roma Muccio-Johnson, PAWS offers visitors the chance to get involved in rehabilitating cheetah habitat which will be part of the larger wildlife reserve due to open in late 2009. This is not a luxury two day safari but offers its own rewards, you can learn more here - www.pawsnamibia.org.
September 2008
The Okonjima Team recently welcomed their first guests into Main Camp’s 10 new mountain view rooms, where the lion’s roar can still be heard from across the plains …
The new extension comprises ten rooms, an extension to the original Main Camp facilities, offering affordable comfort as well as the high standard of ‘big-cat’ activities in the true ‘Okonjima’ style.
Set approximately 15 - 20m apart, some distance from the dining-lapa (The Gathering Place) and entertainment area, the bush view rooms, each with verandah, overlook the natural Okonjima bush-veldt.
Once inside, hues of Africa meet the eye … the spacious bedroom – with a view and reading nook in modern ‘bush-veldt, greens & old-silver’ … the en-suite bathroom with twin basins and shower in ‘gun-metal grey and white’, complete the new experience.
Each room has a mini-fridge to store your own drinks, a roof-fan, a safe & alarm-system, a telephone to call reception if need be, and the sound of nature around you.
April 2008
AfriCat - Cycle of Life Expedition
After spending a hectic few days at The AfriCat Foundation making final preparations and tweaks and adjustments to their bicycles, the seven participants of the Cycle of Life Expedition set off on 16 April. The AfriCat Foundation, south of Otjiwarongo, was the starting point of their journey which will take them through Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania and end 200 kilometres north of Nairobi in Kenya in August of this year.
The Cycle of Life Expedition is raising funds for two UK-based charities, TUSK Trust, which supports wildlife conservation organisations across the African continent and Centrepoint which works to improve the lives of socially excluded, young homeless people in the UK. Prince William, as Patron of both charities, launched the 8000-kilometre bike ride across Africa at Clarence House at the end of March. TUSK Trust has provided enormous support to The AfriCat Foundation in its work with Namibian large carnivores.
March 2008
The Main Camp at Okonjima will be expanding its room capacity in 2008. The additional rooms will bring the total to 16 with 4 rooms available for accompanying guides. One of the new rooms will have wheelchair access. Work has started on the new rooms with completion due by August 2008.
Bush Camp is also adding one more room to its accommodation providing 9 doubles in total.