Okatumba Wildlife Research | Namibia

About Okatumba Wildlife Research

Okatumba Wildlife Research conducts fundamental applied research on the habitat, "farmland" especially regarding complex ecological patterns and human influence on wildlife populations. OWR was founded in November 1997 and has been registered as an Association not for gain (Section 21 Companies Act) since March 1998. The research base is situated on the farm the farm of N/a'an ku sê, one hours drive easterly of the capital Windhoek. Our studies cover an area of 1000 km² with a main focus on the 40 km² farmland of N/a'an ku sê.

N/a´an ku sê Wildlife Sanctuary

Seat of the Okatumba Wildlife Research is the N/a'an ku sê Lodge & Wildlife Sanctuary, about 35 km eastern of the provincial capital Windhoek. The examination area extends from Windhoek up to the international airport and reaches about 1000 km². The heartland of about 40 km² is the farm of N/a'an ku sê.

Aims and objectives

The vast majority of research projects and conservation programmes in Namibia embark in the support of national parks and communal areas. That is the reason for Okatumba Wildlife Research working on commercial farmland. Our main objective is to ensure the long-term viability of wildlife on areas which are used for intensive livestock farming. Freehold conservancies are supported in their endeavours to sustain manageable wildlife populations and their associated habitat. Our project aims are:

Kudu in the bush

Study area

to establish applied research and biomonitoring programmes
to find suitable means to monitor processes which threaten biological diversity
to make data available for environmental planning and management purposes
to strengthen the capacity of conservancies in wildlife management to suggest a format for a sustainable wildlife management plan and to test adaptive management strategies on a pilot basis
to improve co-operation among all stakeholders and networking through continuous dialogue in meetings and fora
to assist conservancies in the development of tourism potential and product marketing, paying particular attention to income earning opportunities for local people