The untouched countryside close to the Omboroko Mountains, appx. two and a half hours north of Windhoek, is especially charming. Endless savannah, bordered from afar by soft mountain ranges, red tinted earth and large termite hills. Shortly before you reach the small town of Otivarango, you leave the main road and enter an adventurous piece of sandy strip 24 kilometer in length. If it should happen to rain, this strip is only transitable with 4 wheel drive vehicles. On the way to Okonjima you encounter baboon crossing the track in front of your wagon. The directions are clearly marked and the visitor soon finds himself in the parched namibian countryside, gazing amazed at the opulant idyllic scenery. Blooming plants, lush grass and yard-high bamboo provide a sumptuous surprise in this countryside.

The lodge as well as the accomodations are furnished with very good taste. A major part of feeling welcome and at home in Okonjima, comes from the friendly personnel who practically read the guests´ wishes in their eyes. There is only room for 20 guests, which provides perfect prerequisites for the almost familiar atmosphere. Lise Hanssen, (31) born in Cape Town and Wayne Hanssen (36), raised in Okonjima, have made their home in this wonderful oasis. These two have taken the previous cattle ranch of Wayne´s  parents and turned it into this very special place for guests from all over the world. At first the visitors can´t stop being amazed. For example because the large african lynx who is lying on top of the book shelf is´nt a stuffed toy, but is only taking a siesta; because at noon, Ms. Piggy, the wharthog, is waiting for her food right in front of the guest tables and Elvis, the baboon, is taking his breakfast together with Wayne on the lawn in front of the lodge. Of course Elvis eats his porridge right proper sitting in a chair.

In the afternoon we experience the height of this animalistic interlude. At coffee/tea time, by the way with scrumptuous cake, Chinga, Chui and Ceasar the three grown cheetahs come out and lounge on the lawn in front of the lodge. The three beauties allow the guests to view them up close and are rewarded with meat and caresses. They are the favorite pets of Lise Hanssen. They arrived in Okonjima at a very young age as orphans or victims accidents and are, so to speak, tame. But the idyllic nature is not the most important feature in Okonjima. Behind the concept of the lodge is the work started by Lise and Wayne in 1992 when the “AfriCat Foundation” was founded. This foundation has proclaimed its major interest in helping the endagered cheetahs and leopards of Namibia. During the course of your visit, you have access to detailed information on the felines and can observe the animals at close quarters.

Interest contradictions
95% of the cheetahs and leopards in Namibia live in the area of 6000 farms. Only the remaining 5% are actually in wildlife preserves. There, problems are unavoidable when the interests of farmers with livestock and the needs of wildlife collide. The farmers are quick to take matters in their own hands and will shoot the hated robbers when the predatory felines inflict great damage on their livestock. But the problems of the farmers grow rapidly at this, at first glance radical, solution of killing the felines. Unclaimed territories tend to taken immediately by other felines. This is where the work of AfriCat beginns. In being able to deal with this problem sensibly, the foundation has won the farmers trust in dealing with the preservation of wild felines. The result being that these felines do not automatically just get killed, but that the farmers contact AfriCat for help and advice.

Lise tells me: “We immediately drive to the affected farm to assess the situation. We determine if the feline in question really is a problem cat. We anesthetize the animal in order to examine and mark it. We photograph the spotted coat since it is just as unique to every cat as the fingerprint is to a human.  If the feline is healthy and in good condition and has not slayn any livestock we release the cat immediately in order for her to reclaim her territory. Should the feline be in a bad condition, AfriCat will care for her until she can be released again. If we determine, that the feline is unable to live in freedom on her own, we keep her in a large, especially designed compound on Okonjima. “Problem animals” will not be released on farmland. Through thorough observation it is determined why a farmer is loosing livestock on his farm through wildcats. At that point the farmer becomes part of AfriCat and can rely on the foundation for help and advice at any time.”

Any resulting costs or charges are carried by the AfriCat Foundation.

Eventually, the farmers should learn methods from AfriCat to help them minimize losses through felines, besides striving to find new and cost-effective ways of protecting livestock. Other important aspects of the foundations work are education and research. The public, especially the younger generations, need to be informed on the meaning and usefullness of the felines. For this reason a newly built education center was opened in Okonjima. This education center, which is for the most part funded by the WSPA (World Society for the Protection of Animals) offeres the possibility of learning and dealing with the subjects of wildcat preservation and the owning of livestock, then in turn, of passing this valuable information on to farmers, children and the namibian public. AfriCat´s goal is to preserve the  habitat of these fascinating felines through skilled management and in turn to insure their continued existance.

The importance of this will impress every visitor, being able to observe these fascinating cats at close range and waiting with excitement under the overhang for longer periods of time in order to see the leopards. These impressions are unforgettable and worth the longest of journeys. Days like that end with a wonderful african sunset and “Sundowner” on top of the viewpoint mountain close to the farm. At only appx. 100 meters distance off to the side from us a group of baboon are busteling across the rocks. Their loud cries are echoing across the bush at our feet and are returned by their piers. Lise drives us back to the farm through the oncoming darkness with the Landrover, where in the meantime candles and torches were lit in order to provide a more pleasant atmosphere for the guests. After having been served a multi course dinner everyone passes review of the days experiences while sitting around a campfire and gazing up at the stars asking: Is it a dream?