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.

Head out into the 22,000-hectare Okonjima Nature Reserve with an expert guide to discover its diverse wildlife and learn more about the conservation and research taking place here. Okonjima is particularly renowned for its leopard population and is one of the best places in Namibia to encounter these famously elusive predators.

The AfriCat Foundation has been studying and monitoring leopards at Okonjima for decades. Some individuals are fitted with tracking collars, allowing researchers to gather valuable information about their movements, territories and behaviour while they roam freely throughout the reserve. The collars also make it considerably easier for guides to locate these elusive cats, increasing the chances of a memorable leopard encounter. However, Okonjima remains a natural wilderness environment, so sightings can never be guaranteed.

The reserve stretches across mountains, open plains and riverine habitats, providing a home for an impressive variety of wildlife. Alongside leopards, you may encounter brown hyenas, rhinos, giraffes, oryx, zebra and numerous other species.

Expert guides bring each sighting to life with insights into animal behaviour, ecology and the ongoing conservation work at Okonjima. Beyond game drives, guests can experience Leopard Tracking, Pangolin Tracking, Brown Hyena Tracking, Rhino Tracking on Foot, Guided and Unguided Nature Walks, as well as Into AfriCat – Behind the Science for a deeper understanding of the research behind conservation at Okonjima.

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.