Nestled within Ongava Game Reserve, the Ongava Research Centre (or ORC) is at the forefront of conservation and ecological research in Namibia. As part of its ongoing evolution, ORC has sharpened its focus on dryland ecology and is empowering young Namibian scientists, ensuring that its work has a lasting impact on both research and researchers in Namibia. ORC’s research now falls under three primary themes:
Greater Etosha Carnivore Programme (GECP)
Co-led by ORC’s resident wildlife ecologist, Dr. Stéphanie Périquet-Pearce, this initiative brings together leading researchers from across the globe to study the carnivores of the Greater Etosha Landscape. Generally, the programme investigates various dimensions of carnivore ecology – whether bat-eared fox or lion. The GECP is driven by a large collective of both local and international partners, from the public and private sectors, and supports numerous postgraduate students. These partners include the Etosha Ecological Institute, Namibia’s Ministry of Environment and Tourism, the University of Georgia, the University of Namibia and the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research – and more.
ORC’s resident wildlife ecologist, Dr. Stéphanie Périquet-Pearce. Photo: Venture Media
Carbon Cycling in Drylands
Climate change is a pressing issue, and ORC is taking a leading role in understanding how Namibia’s drylands store and cycle carbon. Spearheaded by ORC Executive Director, Dr. Rolf Becker, this research involves collaborations with both local and international universities – these include the Namibia University of Science and Technology and the University of Edinburgh (among others). Their efforts range from measuring carbon sequestration in indigenous tree species to studying how soil microbes contribute to the landscape’s carbon cycle and tracking long-term vegetation changes using remote cameras. This umbrella programme is also growing in its capacity to support postgraduate student development.
Conservation for the Public Good
Conservation has implications beyond wildlife. Led by one of ORC’s resident researchers, Dr. Frowin Becker, this project explores Namibia’s constitutionally enshrined intersection between conservation and public welfare and tries to understand how the link between conservation the public good plays and could play out on privately owned farmland. With collaborators from the University of Leeds and the University of Namibia, this research takes an interdisciplinary approach, by drawing from the natural and social sciences to shed more light a lesser understood aspect of Namibia’s conservation complex.
And Beyond…
ORC is not just about science though; it’s about developing the next generation of ecologists. With a growing cohort of almost 20 postgraduate students (pursuing either Master’s or doctoral degrees), and most of them Namibian, ORC is not just helping build Namibia’s ecological knowledge base, but has become a space of growth and opportunity for the next generation of knowledge makers.
Five postgraduate students conducting field research at Ongava Game Reserve. Photo: Venture Media
ORC has also extended its support to the AfriCat Foundation in the Okonjima Nature Reserve, a partner member of Naturally Namibia. ORC and AfriCat’s strong collaboration includes a study on the impact of scent lures at camera trap sites, a bio-indicator project and genetic analysis of wildlife in the Okonjima Nature Resereve and cheetahs and leopards rescued from thoughout Namibia during AfriCat’s work with farmers on human wildlife conflict.
Beyond its flagship projects, ORC’s work also directly supports conservation efforts on Ongava Game Reserve, through camera-trap-based wildlife monitoring, black rhino diet studies and vegetation surveying – to name just a few.
Why This Matters for Travel Professionals
For travel professionals promoting Namibia as a destination, ORC’s work adds immense value to conservation-focused tourism. Visitors to Ongava Game Reserve don’t just witness incredible wildlife, they support cutting-edge research that safeguards these landscapes for the future. ORC’s commitment to sustainability ensures that Namibia remains a premier destination for eco-conscious travelers.
By sharing this story, you help travelers understand the deeper impact of their visit – one that extends beyond the safari and into the heart of conservation.
Photos: Venture Media