Reviews of Okonjima Bush Camp
(97%) From 208 travellersThey do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa.
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Excellent cheetah and leopard tracking
The home of Africat is one of the best places to see the big cats and we were not disappointed.
Brilliant guide Martin made sure we got to see the cats up close and we even walked to within fifteen metres of two cheetahs. Truly memorable experience.
Once again we were upgraded this time to the Bush camp as the Plains Camp was full. Excellent large chalet with massive windows overlooking the plain and a separate Rondavel where you could sit during the day with a glass or too and watch he wildlife.
We went on several safaris and saw cheetah and leopard plus impala, warthogs, and kudu.After leaving Ongava we drove through Otjiwarongo which is a great place to stock up. Lots of petrol stations and supermarkets. We thought Okonjima would be less luxurious after Ongava but we were not disappointed. Great staff, lovely food, and brilliant guide make this a place you should not miss.Don't miss the afternoon tea just before you go out tracking.
Wish we would have stayed two nights!
We thought this was just a stop over on our way to the airport but it was actually really great.
Rooms were excellent. Very big and isolated from each other. Every room had a mini water hole outside and massive windows to watch the animals. Also had a separate hut with cosy sofas exposed to the outdoors to relax in.
Plenty of excursions offered but we only got to partake in two as stayed just one night. Would have like to have done some of the walks and extra excursions. Service excellent and food great (massive breakfast omelette was great and Kudu wrap for lunch great). Slightly smaller camp so more intimate and great central setting.
Okonjima Bush Camp - another fantastic place
This was the last leg of our trip. We had enjoyed every single place we had stayed and we certainly weren't disappointed with Okonjima. Another beautifully designed lodge with great staff and good food.
We were impressed with our massive room with a private view from the bed. We also had a separate 'viewing' room, equipped with 2 chaises longues, a fridge, tea, coffee and biscuits, and overlooking a tiny waterhole, with plenty of birdlife to keep us entertained.
We were lucky enough to see leopard and it was really interesting to learn about all the conservation work that goes on here. I would have liked to have seen the wild dogs, but understand they had been moved earlier on in the year, which can't be helped. An excuse for another trip!
A great way to end the trip
Enjoyed the conservation effort and seeing all the cats.
Read more about the whole safariOkonjima Bush Camp review
A luxury camp to enjoy at the beginning or end of your trip if you feel like spoiling yourself and taking a couple of easy days.
The camp is easy to get to, spacious, with luxurious rooms. The food is excellent and the staff are warm hearted and professional. The fenced nature of the Reserve makes it very different indeed to Ongava, but it does allow you to see cheetahs and leopards at close quarters. We thoroughly enjoyed the cheetah tracking on foot with our guide Jonas, who was very reassuring at times when my wife was somewhat nervous!
The leopard tracking in a vehicle was also incredible, where we witnessed a leopard consuming a warthog, with a hyena trying to get involved rather nervously. These are sights of nature in the raw and amazing to witness, but one couldn’t describe them as a pleasure to witness!
More of a luxury holiday location in the Bush rather than a wilderness feel but still an absolute pleasure.
Close contact with wildlife
A very different experience from the desert camps owned by Wilderness. The setting and the large numbers of birds and other wildlife make this a worthwhile camp to stay in. I particularly liked having a small waterhole outside my room, along with the attached "hide" and a supply of birdseed which enhanced the viewing experience.
Getting close to cheetahs and leopards was an excellent experience, albeit not easily brought about by the guide. This was the only camp, however, where my single traveller status felt like a slight handicap - eating alone, for example, without being asked if I would prefer to have company, as in Serra Cafema, and spending much of the last game drive (following a female leopard) unable to hear the guide or see what was happening. This was partly a result of the greater numbers of visitors, but also the different style of this camp.
Okonjima & The AfriCat Foundation.
We thoroughly enjoyed our two nights at Okonjima and our reservation included full board and all activities. We found Okonjima Bush Camp to have a very informal, relaxed feel and we enjoyed this atmosphere a lot, and attributed it to having being developed and remaining in the same family who are clearly very passionate, and we felt this was evident in the comfortable surroundings and warm welcome and ease of the staff.
The focus of this Reserve is obviously the care and rehabilitation of cheetahs and leopards some of whom are radio collared. We feel that it is vital to the enjoyment and understanding of the ethos behind this reserve to take the time to fully understand the programme and visit the AfiCat foundation. Additionally we felt that our visit was directly going back into helping the environment, local area and people.
We were fascinated in the way that the radio is programmed in order to track the animals and to witness on one of our drives that despite the signal being very strong, when an animal does not wish to be found then it will simply not be found. This was obviously the other side of tracking and we had been fortunate the previous afternoon and evening to spend time watching a leopard and her cubs happily relaxing and playing, and then again relaxing in a dry sand riverbed as we were driving out of the reserve.
Our guide whose name escapes me as I am writing had apparently worked at the reserve for some seven years+ but had recently left but had returned temporarily to cover the busy period. This meant that he was obviously very knowledgable and over various rides, some with other guests and some just the two of us, we learnt a lot about the area, the background and the history of the reserve and saw a lot of wildlife. He was clearly very passionate and this came across during our time together.
Had a fantastic time looking for and eventually finding Pooh the hyena. We also enjoyed the views of the plains and overall terrain of the reserve, and it was interesting for us to also see efforts to grow their own produce.
The night time hide was quiet for wildlife but a few animals did appear but since you have to drive to and from there the guide that took us seemed reluctant to spend too much time there, which differed from Ongava where since you walked and were independent you could spend as long as you wished. We did not use the swimming pool however it was nicely located around a grassy area with covered seating and am sure is a nice place to relax should you have additional time.
Our room with zipped tent flaps was great, very comfortable, spacious with the addition of a side open rondavel with great loungers, fridge, tea coffee and refreshments and a jar of bird food and a small waterhole. We loved this space and could have happily extended our stay just to sit longer, relax and watch the birds and wildlife wandering by.
The dining and communal areas were very welcoming and relaxed and set around a grassy waterhole. Afternoon refreshment and snack were lovely, and both dinner and breakfast with eggs cooked to order were great and served by happy knowledgable staff. Wine and bar options were also very satisfactory. There is a large gift shop in the lobby with a good selection of AfriCat related items and more traditional African gifts.
We felt that there were many positives here and the right balance of space, staff and guides and have very fond memories of our stay. Excellent job by all involved in this Reserve.
Okonjima Bush Camp
Great location but a little contrived. It was nice to see leopard and cheetah but felt a little bit like it was cheating as they were so easy to find with the collars. We walked right up to 2 cheetahs - almost felt like they were tame. If you want to see these beautiful creatures then it is a great option but if you want the feeling of seeing them in the wild then maybe give it a miss.
Read more about the whole safariBRILLIANT!!
Great place!
Arrived round 3.30pm - and did not realise lunch was included in our package - as well as an afternoon leopard tracking session. However, staff were great and quickly packed us up on our own for a private guided tour with Michael - before we even checked in! great trip - saw 4 leopards incl 2 cubs.
accommodation fantastic - the separate viewing chalet for each room - with bird seed to chuck out the window, blankets, comfy chairs, t/ coffee and homemade biscuits - was great. We had warthogs and deer things come right up and could even tickle the warthogs back!
Evening night ride was also excellent - saw nothing in the hide, but guide went off looking and we found 4 porcupine including 2 baby ones, plus a whole host of other beasties. Checked in late - in the dark...
next day - early walk for cheetahs - and found 4, easy time through lunch and went hyena hunting in the pm - saw none - so switched to leopards again - and saw a couple more. Sundowners with the baboons. Great room, great guide, great staff - a highlight!
Great drives in the bush
We loved this camp and would definitely love to re visit. The guides were very knowledgeable.
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