Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The town was officially founded in 1906 with the arrival of the narrow-gauge railway
from Swakopmund to the mines at Otavi and Tsumeb. An old locomotive still rests in
town, proudly marking this historical legacy.
Sights
Locomotive No 41
At the train station stands Locomotive No 41, which was manufactured in 1912 by the
Henschel company of Kassel (Germany), and then brought all the way to Namibia to haul
ore between the Tsumeb mines and the port at Swakopmund. It was retired from service in
1960 when the 0.6m narrow gauge was replaced with the wider 1.067m gauge.
TRAIN
Crocodile Ranch
(cnr Zingel & Hospital Sts; admission N$25; 9am-5pm Mon-Fri, to 3pm Sat & Sun)
Otjiwarongo is home to Namibia's first crocodile ranch. This ranch produces crocodile
skins for export, and you can do a worthwhile tour of the crocs. There's a shop which has
mainly wooden carvings with some jewellery and metalwork, though not much in the way
of croc-skin products. The restaurant has a fullblown menu for breakfast and lunch; try
any number of croc delicacies such as a croc wrap or kebabs.
CROCODILE FARM
Sleeping
Okonjima Lodge $$$
( 687032;
www.okonjima.com
;
s/d with half board from N$1500/2300)
Okonjima
Lodge, 'the Place of Baboons', is home to the AfriCat Foundation, which sponsors a chee-
tah and leopard rehabilitation centre as well as a sanctuary for orphaned or problem lions,
cheetahs and other cats. Guests are able to participate in cheetah- and leopard-tracking
(including on foot) expeditions, in addition to more relaxing activities, including hiking,
bird-watching and wildlife drives. Accommodation is in a variety of chalets, luxury tents
and rooms with private bathrooms, scattered throughout the reserve. To reach Okonjima,
turn west onto the D2515, 49km south of Otjiwarongo; follow this road for 15km and then
turn left onto the farm road for the last 10km.
LODGE
Bush Pillow $$
GUESTHOUSE
