Okonjima Nature Reserve & Plains Camp

Okonjima Nature Reserve

We are in Okonjima nature reserve, a family run lodge and conversation project. Once it was a cattle farm, now a 200 km2 nature reserve established in 1992. Through “AfriCat” focusing on the large carnivores; rescue, rehabilitation and release.

We are in the Plains Camp in the protected area. A bit like Jurassic Park, our little village is surrounded by fences to keep the large predators out! We all remember how that worked out in Jurassic Park ;-)

We leave the protected area tracking leopards. In front of the safari vehicle, our guide tracks the collared leopard with an antenna. Beep – beep – beep the sound get higher when we get closer to the animal. Why does it instantly remind me of Sigourney Weaver “Alien” from 1979?

Leopard tracking Okonjima 

At first, we see a beautiful young leopard in a tree. It decides to vanish into the bush.

Young leopard, Okonjima

Off into the bush

Then we track a large leopard in the bush. It´s difficult to find. Amazing how deep into the scrubs we get. No easy route out again. There she is. Just next to a large tree. Guarding her evening meal in the tree. We keep some distance; leopards are very protective when it comes to protecting their prey.

Leopard guarding prey, Okonjima

Danish tourist in the bush

Back in the Plains Camp again after an exciting game drive. Okonjima was just a stopover on our route to Mundulea (link), but it turned out to be a positive surprise. We were in the “standard rooms” rather than the “view rooms”. They were large and spotless clean, had all necessities and a fantastic view. Hard to imagine the view rooms can be much better! 

This is a place that receives many visitors – a bit “mass tourism” – but worth visiting.       

Sundowner Okonjima