Nestled beneath the Omboroko Mountains on the 200km² Okonjima Nature Reserve, home to the AfriCat Foundation — and one of the best places on Earth to see wild leopard.
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Overview
Where Leopard Research Began
Okonjima Bush Camp sits at the heart of a reserve built entirely around the survival of Namibia’s big cats — and the odds of seeing a wild leopard here are among the best in Africa.
Bought by the Hanssen family in 1993 and turned from cattle farm into conservation project, Okonjima is now home to the AfriCat Foundation, which has rescued more than a thousand big cats since its founding and released the majority back into the wild. The 200km² Okonjima Nature Reserve at the foot of the Omboroko Mountains has been the site of three decades of leopard research, giving guides an intimate understanding of the resident cats and their movements. Bush Camp's ten thatched, African-style chalets — earthy clay walls, khaki canvas, thatched roofs — sit a minimum of 80 metres apart around a central waterhole, roughly halfway between Windhoek and Etosha.
10
African-Style Chalets
200km²
Private Reserve
30+
Years of Leopard Research
1000+
Big Cats Rescued by AfriCat
Chalets
Clay Walls, Canvas and Thatch
Ten chalets, each roughly 105m² and at least 80 metres from its neighbour, built in a traditional African style with a private, 180-degree bushveld view.
Chalet — Bushveld Vista
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Rollaway canvas wallsThe front of each chalet is glass and canvas, rolled up to open the room fully to the bush or lowered with gauze screens for the night.
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Private, spaced-out sitingChalets sit a minimum of 80 metres apart, giving every guest a private, uninterrupted stretch of bushveld.
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Stone birdbath and deckEach chalet has its own stone birdbath out front and a deck for watching warthog and hornbill wander past.
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Secluded poolA shared swimming pool sits surrounded by garden away from the chalets — a cool retreat between the day's activities.
Experiences
Tracking Namibia’s Cats
Activities at Okonjima centre on the reserve’s research programme — using radio-collar tracking to bring guests close to leopard, and occasionally rhino, on game drives.
Signature
Leopard Tracking
Join guides using VHF telemetry to track collared leopard through the reserve — sightings are close to guaranteed over a two-night stay.
Conservation
AfriCat Carnivore Centre
Visit the Carnivore Care & Information Centre to learn about the rescue, rehabilitation and research work underway on site.
On Foot
Guided Bush Walks
Walks through acacia thornveld focus on tracks, birdlife and the reserve’s smaller, easily-missed residents.
Birding
Bird Watching
The Omboroko foothills and riverine thickets support a rich variety of bushveld and raptor species.
Nocturnal
While You Were Sleeping
AfriCat's camera-trap network reveals the reserve's hidden nightlife — brown hyena, pangolin and more, shared with guests.
Game Drive
Waterhole Sundowners
Evening drives end at a scenic viewpoint over the reserve, sundowner in hand, as the Omboroko Mountains catch the last light.
Dining
Fireside, Under Thatch
A camelthorn, pod-shaped lapa houses reception, curio shop, lounge and dining room — all meals included, cooked with a distinct African flavour.
01The thatched dining room, indoors or out
02Breakfast in the bush, weather permitting
03The lounge, with indoor and outdoor fireplaces
04The pool deck, for a light lunch
05A sundowner platter at the viewpoint
Dinner — Fireside Under Thatch
Location
Between Windhoek and Etosha
Okonjima sits 48km south of Otjiwarongo, in the malaria-free heart of central Namibia — a natural stopover between the capital and Etosha National Park.
The reserve turns west off the main B1 highway, 24km down a gravel road to camp — a popular overnight break on the Windhoek–Etosha route.
Okonjima is entirely malaria-free, making it a comfortable stop for families or travellers avoiding antimalarial medication.
AfriCat's rescue-and-release work has returned the majority of the 1,000-plus cats it has treated back to the wild since 1993.
A private airstrip on the reserve makes Okonjima a popular stop on fly-in safari itineraries between Windhoek and Etosha.
Fly
Light aircraft from Windhoek's Eros Airport land at Okonjima's own airstrip in around 45 minutes.
Drive
A tarred road from Windhoek takes roughly 2.5 hours, turning off the B1 highway 50km south of Otjiwarongo.
Arrive
Check-in from 12:00, checkout by 10:00 — lunch is included for guests arriving on their first day.
Bonus Night
Stay 3, Pay 2
Book two nights at Okonjima Bush Camp and receive a third free on selected 2026 dates.