Reviews of Okonjima Plains Camp

"This was a brilliant start to our holiday! During the drive up to the camp we saw lots of animals including baboon, zebra and warthogs and there was a family of warthogs living near the hotel!
We had a lovely spacious, clean room which overlooked the plain and the small balcony was great for observing the antelope and birds.

We did a leopard drive here, which was a great introduction to safari drives in Namibia. Our guide was excellent and we were successful in finding a leopard. We also saw lots of other animals and beautiful scenery.

Lovely dining area which looked out onto firepits and a watering hole.

There were also self guided walks which you could do from this hotel and we did the Giraffe Trail on the morning after we checked out which was amazing. Walking in the bush was a completely different experience to game drives and we saw several varieties of antelope and a tortoise at close range. The view over the plains was amazing and the walk was well marked along the way.

Our only wish was that we had time to stay here another night and do one of the other game drives (e.g tracking wild dogs) and another walk!" See all these reviews: 9n in Namibia

"The rooms were lovely. It was great to wake up and see springbok and warthogs.

After the wonderful wildlife experiences we had had elsewhere in Namibia we were rather sceptical about the game drive involving radio tracked leopards, however the area involved is large and beautiful and it was very exciting tracking the leopard. We got a good view of her but even more exciting was getting a good view of a brown hyena which wandered past our vehicle.

We had booked half board but arrived in time for lunch. Unfortunately there was not an option to have a light lunch and we were all charged N$120 for a lunch that was not much more that a wrap plus pudding.

The dining area is large and rather impersonal. The system for recording food and drinks ordered was chaotic. Our bills at the end of our meals were incorrect then our bill at check out did not reflect what we had signed after each meal. Although the lady on reception knew that we were keen to check out promptly, she said that she did not have the authority to change the bill and seemed reluctant to contact the manageress. Fortunately when she arrived she did sort it out however it meant that there was a considerable delay and left a bad feeling to finish with." See all these reviews: 12n in Namibia

"The only thing wrong with this place is that we didn't have a chance to make the most of all the possible activities available here.

We arrived late afternoon and had to leave early for the airport. This is another wonderful place. The chalet (no 3 with view) was spectacular. The design and furnishings were magnificent. One of the best rooms we have ever stayed in!

It had everything - a reading area, a desk, a huge shower, separate loo, double basins, two double beds, decking with comfortable chairs and a lounger and last but not least a great view of the reserve.

The public area, with shop, bar, places to sit and restaurant was also really well designed. We enjoyed the food and the service again was very good.

We intend to come back for longer!" See all these reviews: 14n in Namibia

"We arrived early . Room was ready . A commercial hotel welcome - no singing , lemonade or towels as at later lodges . Just sign here , and here , and here . Superb room close to the centre and car parked just outside .

Within 10 minutes we are sitting on a veranda day bed watching giraffe , ostrich , springbok , other antelopes , eagles through 600mm lens or binoculars . It was entralling . It was only our second day - we were easily impressed - but it is still a vivid memory ! A warthog family patrolling the long grass within a stones throw occupied us for an hour or two! Small birds everywhere including a pair building a nest just above our heads within the veranda roof .
Food was good - no choice except rare game - but service cool and erratic . Very few moths . Large outside terrace with fire pit good before and after dinner . Cheetah visit was superb ! You are so close - 2 metres - you can hear them purr . Cheetah visit was also a game drive and on our second day was great for close up zebra , antelope , ostrich and wildebeest ." See all these reviews: 13n in Namibia

"Our "standard room" was a really nice building with a great bathroom and huge view window in front of the two beds with a fantastic view over the plain. The main lodge is a really nice place to sit, relax and eat. The food was good, the service a bit quirky (due to language and inexperience, but not effort) though certainly acceptable. Our Safari guide was amazing. Lots of energy, excellent communication, he worked very hard for about an hour to track down a leopard with a radio collar. He drove through parts of the bush that I didn't think he could get in and out of but he did so expertly. We saw many leopards and cheetahs, some baboons and then also the usual game that is on your plate later in the evening. This is a very well managed camp and with regard to game the most viewing we had of the four we stayed at. Granted, having radio collars on helps them find the animals and it's not quite the same "wild" experience you get in a national park or some of the other reserves but we were very happy to see the animals non the less." See all these reviews: 7n in Namibia

"Staff are charming and the accommodation was super comfortable, large and airy. Would recommend two or three nights, depending on how fast you like to see things before moving on - there's a good pool area and you might want to relax a bit, especially if it is the first or last stop before Windhoek. We loved seeing the cats and in particular tracking and finding the leopards.
However we came away with a big question: does the 'business model' here actually work? We were told that they had lost 12 of 15 cheetahs last year, most of them to leopards. If this is the case, then clearly leopards and cheetahs can't and don't co-exist. So what is the point of attempting to rehabilitate cheetahs if they then become leopard food? We were told that it had proved difficult to relocate animals of either species and this really did lave us wondering if the whole thesis of the camp was badly founded - much as we loved it, we didn't feel like contributing extra money because it seemed to us that the rehabilitation work simply wasn't working. We were told that attempts had been made to neuter female leopards in order to reduce their estimated population of around 35 - but the male leopards had then killed the two neutered female, for reasons unclear. We heard that the next plan was to clear two thirds of the reserve in order to create a landscape more suitable for cheetahs - but we couldn't help wondering if this would work, and if it doesn't - what then?" See all these reviews: 13n in Namibia

"The rooms here were great. The facilities were good- lovely pool area and. nice area for eating.

The food was yummy. Tasty breakfast and afternoon tea in particular.

The cats were amazing- cheetah walk was something we won't forget and looking for leopards was also great. Guides very knowledgeable here." See all these reviews: 14n in Namibia

"We were in the Plains rooms which are outstanding. Every detail has been thought through.

Meals, reception and the bar are all in a huge building which deals well with the volume of throughput although some might find it a bit lacking in ambience. But, it's efficient and the staff are attentive and keen to please. That said it's going to be very busy in high season. The pool is good.

Looking at this from an East African safari point of view there's an awful lot of gates; it just doesn't feel very wild. But, on the hand, there was a higher bird and animal count than elsewhere, so it's swings and roundabouts.

Our driver (Peter) was modest and good and found (collared) leopard and cheetah on all our game drives, and did so discreetly through a headset rather than a crackling radio. But for all visitors there were only three cheetah 'in the wild' which produces a bit of viewing pressure.

Overall, Okonjiwa worked well. It's a good last stop before leaving to go home." See all these reviews: 16n in Namibia

"We had three enjoyable trips with a very good guide and saw a wide variety of birds and animals.

We saw leopards both with collars and wild and we saw three young cheetahs on a kill. Birds excellent.

Swimming pool the best of the trip." See all these reviews: 16n in Namibia

"We left Okonjima absolutely loving it! The property is stunning and you feel like you're entering Jurassic Park as you drive through all the gates.

The lodge itself had us very worried because the decor is very industrial and has an unwelcoming feeling after leaving lodges with beautiful African decor. Thankfully, the staff, the activities, and the rooms completely changed our initial impression. The service was impeccable here and every single staff member made us feel welcome. The guides even sit down with you during breakfast to chat, which was so nice to get to talk to them outside of a tour setting.

The rooms are lovely. We stayed in a standard room and were happy we did not upgrade because these are so beautiful! I couldn't imagine needing or wanting more! The tours were so much fun. We were worried that leopard & cheetah tracking would be boring/artificial feeling after our wonderful self-drive through Etosha, but were pleasantly surprised at what an adventure this was! The meals were also outstanding- the best we had on this trip.

Okonjima is a wonderful place to round out your journey!" See all these reviews: 11n in Namibia