A private Namibian sanctuary founded in 1975, anchored by the historic Mount Etjo and devoted to hippo conservation.
Okonjati Game Reserve
Okonjati Game Reserve is a privately managed protected area of roughly 360 square kilometers in central Namibia, situated within the Otjozondjupa region. Established in 1975 by Jan Oelofse, the reserve has long positioned itself around the conservation of hippopotamuses, while also providing habitat for elephants, more than twenty antelope species, lions, leopards, cheetahs, and rhinoceroses, along with a rich bird community of several hundred species.
The reserve lies within a landscape defined by the Etjo and Klein-Etjo mountains, with Mount Etjo functioning as one of its most prominent landmarks. The area gained wider historical significance when Mount Etjo hosted peace negotiations for Namibian independence in 1989, giving the surrounding wilderness an identity that extends beyond wildlife conservation into the country's modern political history.
Okonjati is privately run and operates alongside a tourism presence centered on the Mount Etjo Safari Lodge. Within its boundaries, fossilized dinosaur tracks can also be visited, adding a paleontological dimension to a reserve otherwise known for its mammal and birdlife. This blend of active conservation, historical memory, and accessible lodge-based tourism gives the reserve a distinct character among Namibia's private protected areas.
