We are delighted to share some exciting developments: AfriCat and Okonjima are launching two new experiences, and with them comes a refreshed AfriCat brand identity and a renewed commitment to conservation science.
New Experiences in the Okonjima Nature Reserve
1. Brown Hyaena Tracking
Embark on a rare and immersive journey into the heart of the Okonjima Nature Reserve to track and learn about the secretive brown hyaena. This experience brings you face-to-face (in a safe and respectful way) with one of Namibia’s most elusive carnivores, offering deeper insight into its ecology and behaviour.
2. Into AfriCat – Behind the Science (from 01 July 2026)
As of 1 January 2026, the iconic AfriCat Carnivore Care Centre (ACCC) experience will be retired, and Day Centre visits will end on 1 December 2025. After decades of providing a window into rescued and rehabilitated big cats, we are evolving. The last cheetah, lion, and leopard in our ambassador programme will be retiring from tourism, marking the closure of this chapter.
In their place, we proudly introduce Into AfriCat – Behind the Science, a 2.5–3-hour guided tour that pulls back the curtain on AfriCat’s conservation research and on-the-ground science efforts. The official launch of the Into AfriCat activity, together with our newly updated information centre, is scheduled for 01 July 2026.
Highlights include:
- Visiting the interactive AfriCat Information Centre to explore our mission, research methods, and conservation goals
- Understanding how we humanely capture and track wild leopards and brown hyenas for monitoring
- Learning about the evolution and application of tracking technology, from VHF collars to advanced tags
- Practicing wildlife tracking with VHF telemetry and exploring live data via the EarthRanger platform (such as territory ranges, movement patterns, and interactions)
- Seeing how camera traps work and reviewing recent wildlife captures
- Trying your hand at species identification and even individual leopard recognition for those who want to go deeper
- Exploring the family lineages of leopards in Okonjima and studying their social structures
- Delving into key research findings on ecosystem dynamics and predator ecology within the Reserve
This experience complements our existing Okonjima activities and opens up a new way to understand, appreciate, and support predator conservation.
Tracking in the Okonjima Nature Reserve: Science and skill in action.
A Rich Legacy: The Story of AfriCat
We wouldn’t be where we are today without remembering where we began. The AfriCat Foundation was born out of a very personal story – a family farm, a conflict between livestock and predators, and a determination to find a better way. The Hanssen family, who owns Okonjima, suffered heavy losses of calves to big cats. Rather than responding with persecution, they sought understanding.
AfriCat was founded in 1991 and officially registered as a non-profit in 1993.
The very name “AfriCat” means “a free cat.” Early on, the foundation focused on human–wildlife conflict mitigation, education, and the rescuing, releasing, and rehabilitating of predators. Over time, the rescue, release, and rehabilitation programme grew, as did the need for a permanent home for some of these animals – giving rise to what became the AfriCat Carnivore Care Centre.
Team AfriCat: Dedicated conservationists protecting wildlife with passion and care.
Through the years, AfriCat evolved. While it developed into a welfare organisation, it now emphasises conservation research, particularly focusing on how enclosed reserves like Okonjima can play a critical role in protecting wildlife.
Situated in the approximately 220 km² Okonjima Nature Reserve, the AfriCat Foundation runs long-term research projects including leopard and brown hyena monitoring, as well as studies on endangered species such as the pangolin.
This work is deeply connected to Okonjima Lodge: tourism and conservation go hand in hand. Guests who stay at Okonjima help fund AfriCat’s research, while guides help collect data and share conservation stories.
A Fresh Look for AfriCat
In addition to these exciting new activities, we’re thrilled to announce that AfriCat has a brand-new logo and a redesigned website. AfriCat needed a modern identity that honoured its heritage but reflected its new, ecosystem-based approach to conservation.
A familiar face with deeper meaning: the leopard head remains – a visual tribute to AfriCat’s 30+ years of leopard research and the enduring partnership with Okonjima.
Beneath the leopard lies a symbolic foundation: stylised tracks representing multiple animal groups and ecosystem elements. These tracks are not species-specific but conceptual – representing the interconnectedness of all wildlife.
Thank You for Being Part of Our Journey
Your support has made all of this possible. With Into AfriCat – Behind the Science and Brown Hyaena Tracking, we invite our guests to go deeper, learn more, and connect more meaningfully with the work that lies at the heart of our mission.
As previously communicated, Okonjima has begun renovations and upgrades at the lodges, and we look forward to sharing progress and exciting updates with you as they unfold.
Photography:
Marcel Gerson, Crew10