Reviews of Okonjima Plains Camp
(95%) From 337 travellersThey do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa.
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Conservation view of big game
Our last stay. By this time we were needing something different and this was to an extent. Nice grounds and buildings. This time a (wild) male warthog was in the 'yard', sleeping off a good meal from the lawn; he later moved to the small lawn round the raised pool where my wife was surprised, unlike the warthog, to confront him at the top of the steps.
The game drives were into controlled areas. We apparently came within some 10 meters of the tagged leopard but he was hidden in the scrub out of view but others saw him in the open later in a different part. The 5 man-reared cheetahs were good to see at nil range, especially Portia jumping for the meat thrown to her. The rescue and release programmes for wild animals were interesting to learn about and the staff clearly highly caring for the animals' welfare.
We were encouraged to take unaccompanied safari walks but I chickened out and later was glad to have done so, learning that a cheetah had escaped that day (seen by some guests on a drive catching a young warthog but driven off it by its mother) and that a leopard was one of the visitors to the after dinner viewing at the water hole where the day's leftovers are put out.
Great for seeing leopards
Excellent experience to see the leopards so close (particularly the ones we tracked for hours). It was good to learn about their work with the cheetahs too.
When our guide was talking about the plans for the camp (expanding and introducing other big animals) we were a little concerned that they might loose focus on what makes Okonjima so special - their work with the Africat Foundation! Don't loose focus on the cats!!
Okonjima Main Camp review
We arrived at Okonjima and were met at the gate to the reserve and the security man seemed to be having some trouble locating our names as guests in the lodge! he then told us that we had been upgraded to the bush camp and that we were not in the main camp. We were delighted as we had tried to get into the bush camp but there was no availabity. We drove down and were greeted and shown to our room.
The lodge was lovely. It was quite dated in terms of decor compared to some of the luxury lodges that we had stayed in but was still very comfortable. we didn't really like the way that our time was spent on lots of differnt activities and that this was all prearranged. We felt that this was a little overwhelming after such a laid back experience. We only did 2 activities here which were very good as these were our last days in Namibia and we wanted to have some rest before our long trip back to Cornwall.
the food was excellent and the service was good. we asked for a packed breakfast on the last morning as we left early to get back to Windhoek to take our flight to SA to go back to the UK. they were great and packed us up with a feast!
Okonjima is a great place to stay to see what they are doing with the community and in terms of rescuing cheetahs and their work is excellent.
Okonjima Main Camp review
This was the beginning of our Namibia trip, the road that leads down to camp is very bumpy and long, however there was a lot of wildlife on the way, we saw a lot of warthogs, giraffe, spring bok and several birds, it took about half an hour, when we arrived we were greeted by June who was very helpful, she gave us a torch to take to our rooms and then shown to our rooms, which were spectacular.
Once we unpacked we were guided to a camp fire with nibbles and pre dinner drinks to arrange our itinary for that evening and the following day, we were greeted by Martin our guide who was very informative, after a lovely meal, we were taken to the hyde a short walk away 5mins at most, there we saw the porcipine being fed with the scraps from our meal (not a lot left though) we must have spent a good half an hour or more just watching them, it was amazing.
In the morning we were given an early morning call about 5ish and were given muffins and coffee, then Martin met us to take us to track the Leopards. Words cannot describe how wonderful it was to see a female leopard walking in front of our jeep, we followed her and were even able to see her take her kill up into a tree. In the afternoon we went out to see the Cheetas and were privallaged to see all nine males sitting on the road in front of us, we must have watched them for about 20mins and they walked around the jeep to look at us also, it was just incredible.
We were then given a full english breakfast in the garden area, which was most welcome, The food was excellent and service top class, the only down side was that they did not seem to cater for vegetarian and one of our party was a veggie, they seemed to think vegetarians ate either chicken or fish. However once informed they tried very hard to please.
Okonjima Main Camp review
What can we say - just about the best all round accommodation on the whole trip!
Superb setting, fantastic activities,stunning rooms, excellent food.
Cannot praise this establishment high enough with the wonderful work they do for the welfare of cats via the Africat Foundation being the icing on the cake.
Okonjima Main Camp review
Note; We were upgraded to the Bush Camp - we loved it. It is a very good example of what a really well run lodge should be like.
All the answer below refer to the Bush Camp, not Main Camp. We did visit Main Camp briefly. The general atmosphere was not as attractive as at te Bush Camp.
Disappointing Okonjima
Their fame has gone to their heads! The camp has been doubled in size with the addition of 10 very ugly looking rooms. From the outside they look like square concrete storage huts!
Inside they are spacious and modern. They are called View rooms but the view is of a buiding site. Everywhere there is building work and landscaping going on - whilst guests are trying to relax.
A very impersonal service - this and the Burning Shore were the only places where we weren't known by name. The only bright spot was hyena tracking with Jack - he was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. The other guide we had for leapard tracking and cheetahs was Arnold and he seemed to be going through the motions.
Expert Africa comments
We’re very sorry that these clients didn’t enjoy Okonjima – and have discussed the issues at length with the team from Okonjima.
Ten rooms were added to Okonjima Main Camp after the rains around April/May 2008. Currently the landscape around these is dry and scarred in parts, which has left these new rooms looking a bit ‘boxy’ from the outside. However, this should change as soon as the rain comes, when they expect the vegetation to burst into life, and ‘soften’ the look of everything – blending it into the rest of the lodge.
When we sent these comments to Okonjima, they were quite concerned. Roselea Hanssen, one of the Hanssen family who own and run Okonjima, assured us that no building work was going on whilst these clients were staying at the lodge. However, she apologised if the garden landscaping work that was happening disturbed them in any way.
The description of the guiding from Arnold as ‘going through the motions’ isn’t at all typical of the normal praise that we get from Okonjima’s visitors for its guides – but Roselea is looking into the circumstances of this for us.
Okonjima Main Camp review
Lived up to expectations. Very well organised, excellent guiding (succesful leopard tracking and very knowledgeable) and great atmosphere.
New bungalows are probably more modern than the garden rooms (no AC or fridge) and there is an ongoing plan of rennovations to the older parts of the lodge.
Well worth visiting for 1 night or 2. 2 are probably needed to take part in all the activities. Facilities include a pool and also self-guided walking trails which means you avoid the "cabin-fever" of some lodges.
Okonjima Main Camp Review
What a way to finish the trip. We knew this would be a highspot and were not disappointed. The work they are doing in conjunction with Africat is truly valuable.
Our guide there who took us to see the cheetah and on the second day the leopard was brilliant. He, along with his colleague did more than "go the extra mile" in search of the leopard. He asked us if we minded "extreme driving" We of course did not object and we had an incredible drive literally through, over, round trees, bushes, large holes in the ground that housed goodness knows what to be rewarded with very close up contact with a beautiful leopard. She literally walked calmly along the side of the vehicle and we were able to follow her for some time. A great experience and privilege.
Okonjima Main Camp review
We stayed in the new accommodation at the Main Camp. This was excellent and will be even better once the surroundings have matured.
Guided activities were also excellent and tailored to our photographic needs whilst recognising that I and some other group members had visited several times before.
It is important to stay for at least two nights to get the benefits of what Okionjima can offer.
