Spot endangered species on an Okonjima game drive

Take game drives in Okonjima Nature Reserve to spot leopards and endangered species. The reserve sprawls over 22,000 hectares of mountains, plains and riverine thickets where a strong population of leopards thrives. They’re such elusive, stealthy animals that are difficult to find in places like Etosha, so we get lots of wows from guests when they catch a glimpse of one at Okonjima.

Okonjima is also home to the AfriCat Foundation, which has been researching leopards here since the 1990s. So, some of our leopards are fitted with tracking collars that allow us to protect and monitor the population while they roam freely within the reserve. Sightings aren’t guaranteed – the leopards might be sleeping in a thicket or guarding their kill up in a tree – but the tracking collars mean it’s a lot easier to spot them than on a traditional safari.

If you do find a leopard, about fifty per cent of the time you’ll see a brown hyena nearby hunting for food scraps. They’re another key species your guide will look out for, along with rhinos. There was a big python here recently that was fascinating to watch. Our expert guides will tell you all about the species we encounter and the challenges they face. There are plenty of nature trails to enjoy in the reserve too, as well as night drives where you can spot everything from bat-eared foxes to owls and aardwolves.