Ojiwarongo & Okonjima Hotels & Resorts

Track endangered rhinos and pangolins with the help of the AfriCat team and anti-poaching units at Okonjima. You’ll move quietly on foot, getting up close to rhinos as they graze or lie in the shade. At Okonjima, they are also lucky to have a population of ground pangolins, one of the four pangolin species living on the African continent.

It’s an incredible feeling being out in the bush near these magnificent rhinos, immersed in nature. You’ll get to ask the experts about the species and how they’re protected in this 22,000-hectare reserve.

Pangolins have become a hot topic over the last 15 years as the most highly-trafficked animal in the world. Along with the AfriCat Foundation, they conduct research for conservation purposes and share it with other pangolin projects worldwide.

Pangolin Tracking is a unique after-dark experience, taking you into the bush during the hours when these secretive animals are most active. Depending on the season, weather and operational conditions, you will head out with an AfriCat researcher or experienced guide to search for Ground Pangolins.

From September to May, tracking generally takes place between 22:00 and 06:00, while from June to August it usually takes place between 17:00 and 23:00. It is an amazing experience to walk through the bush after dark with a headlamp, searching for these fascinating, prehistoric-looking animals. If you are fortunate enough to locate a pangolin, you will observe it quietly and respectfully from a distance to avoid disturbing its natural behaviour.

Take game drives in Okonjima Nature Reserve to spot leopards and endangered species. Okonjima is also home to the AfriCat Foundation, which has been researching leopards here since the 1990s. Some of the leopards are fitted with tracking collars that allow them to protect and monitor the population while they roam freely within the reserve.

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 it's always a highlight when you catch a glimpse of one at Okonjima.

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. Expert guides will tell you all about the species you 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.

Go behind the scenes of wildlife conservation and discover the research shaping the future of the Okonjima Nature Reserve. This interactive 2.5–3-hour experience combines time at the AfriCat Information Centre with hands-on insights in the Reserve. Learn how AfriCat researchers monitor leopards and brown hyenas, explore tracking technologies such as VHF telemetry and GPS collars, discover how camera traps and EarthRanger reveal animal movements and behaviour, and even practise identifying individual leopards. A fascinating experience that brings conservation science to life and gives guests a deeper understanding of the research, technology and fieldwork behind wildlife protection at Okonjima.