Located 30 kilometers north of Windhoek, afoot the Otihavera Mountains, Okapuka Ranch is one of the most popular game lodges in Namibia.
The gently rolling plains and bush land savannah in this property is home to a large variety of birds and mammals – herds of antelope roaming in the bush, zebras and giraffes pounding their hooves on the soil, rhinos hiding in the dense grass, crocodiles floating in its blue waters, and lions roaring to proclaim that they are the kings of all beasts.
Okapuka offers a multitude of activities to guests and visitors alike. Long-term guests can stay in comfort and style at one of their thatched-roof cottages scattered inconspicuously around the property, almost invisible as their architectural design attempts to blend in the natural environment. Day visitors can partake in a wide choice of activities – game drive, lion-feeding, mountain drives, and sunset drive.
The entrance leads guests directly to the original farmhouse, a spacious structure with a huge thatched dome built in 1917 and now repurposed into a restaurant bar. The Hyena Lounge and Bar is carved from the wood of the camelthorn tree and located along the edge of the thatched roof. The Park Restaurant is separated from the lounge by a water and rock cascade feature with wooden animal carvings. In one corner is a small diorama depicting a desert with a stuffed hyena, rocks, and skulls and antlers of antelopes scattered about.
Outside is a nice garden with a koi pond, desert trees and shrubs, and rock formations.
There, we were welcomed by the staff and presented cocktail drinks. As we sipped our morning pick-me-upper, we explored the garden and we were happily surprised to find some warthogs doing their morning run. I tried to approach a baby one, but he was afraid of me and kept moving away, so I just watched them frolic from a distance.
Soon, our guide called our attention. Our game drive was about to begin, so we were asked to proceed to the yard where the safari vehicles were parked. Our party filled up three vehicles, all camouflaged with zebra stripes and giraffe spots. We were reminded to remain seated and keep quiet during the ride, to never get off the vehicle, and to strictly follow our ranger’s instructions at all times.
With signs around the property that said, “Lions and Crocodiles on Premises: Enter at Your Own Risk” and “Please Slow Down: Wildlife Crossing,” we were bent on following all the rules. We drove around the property for about an hour and a half. We spotted some wildlife and learned about the ranch’s operations in-between the animal sightings. Lucky for me, there were no crocodiles seen that day. I would have freaked out!
Next, we were led to the enclosure where the lions are kept. There is a stone wall with a long, but narrow open viewing window at eye-level when you are sitting on the provided bench, and another one with the same type of open window, but placed higher up, so you could see from there while standing up. Behind the safety of those walls, we got a good view of a couple of lions being fed slabs of raw meat.
The huge male lion, with its distinct hairy tuft around its head, sat on his belly only a few feet away from us, but was too busy munching on his meal to be bothered by his audience. A few feet behind him was the female lion, patiently waiting.
Our ranger said that the females always wait for the males to finish feeding before they eat their leftovers, and that in the wild, it is the females that do the majority of the hunting for prey. I felt bad for the lioness, but I guess, this is their nature. In the lions’ world, there is an eating hierarchy among the pride – the males eat first, then the females that were involved in the hunt, then the other females, then the cubs. This ritual ensures that they recognize the leadership of the pride. After both cats had their fill, we left them and drove back to the train for the rest of our journey.
Photo Credit:
okapuka-ranch.com
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