• Hikes
  
• Bird watching
  
• Stars – constellations
  
• Photography
  
• Farm tours
  
• Predator research

The varied landscape at Okomitundu provides excellent hiking country.
Huge granite knolls are there to be climbed and explored, offering superb views. Sandy dry river beds which only carry water after heavy rainfall provide fascinating diversity.

The clearly marked hiking paths at Okomitundu show the numbers of the various types of tree and shrub. A list is available in the office which provides the numbers along with the botanical and local names for each one. If you wish to find out more, there is a wide range of books on Namibia’s flora and fauna in the library.

At Okomitundu there is no stray light at night to mar the view of the spectacular southern night sky. Here you can see well-known constellations such as the Southern Cross, the Orion, the Magellan Clouds and the Scorpion. The opportunity to see this unique natural spectacle every evening or in the morning before sunrise is something visitors should definitely not miss.

The morning and evening atmosphere in Namibia is highly distinctive – the otherwise craggy and harsh land glows in the soft light of the more oblique rays of sunlight, shadows highlight the contours of the mountains, certain bird species announce the end of the day and finally the sun sets in the most beautiful glow of colour. To experience this atmosphere is to sense a deep calm.

Because Okomitundu lies to the north of the Tropic of Capricorn, the sun sets much faster than in more moderate latitudes and half an hour after sunset it is already pitch dark. This should be taken into account when going for walks. Sunrise is equally dramatic and colourful. It really is worth planning the day so as to spend these outstanding moments outdoors and consciously experience them. Lost sleep can easily be caught up on with a siesta during the hottest period of the day.

 

“We are sitting in a bunker at a watering place, the sun is already leaning westwards. Some guinea fowl are drinking – they look up briefly and then go on drinking. Suddenly there is warning burr, the guinea fowl fly off noisily and somewhat cumbersomely to the nearest trees. We look closely at the shrubs around the watering place with our binoculars – ah ha, the stir was caused by a jackal who came forward a little too fast. A raucous cry goes up from the thorn bush next to the hide – we soon see two crimson-breasted shrike – about the size of blackbirds with shiny red breasts. They have white stripes on their wings. Various pigeons and lots of small brownish birds are at the water. On a bare branch sits a beautiful lilac-breasted roller with its dazzling plumage. Suddenly it dives in an elegant glide and returns to its perch with an insect still struggling in its beak. Just as it is almost too dark, a large flock of Namaqua sand grouse arrives. With our binoculars we can just seem them on the bank, drinking amid their quiet calls, many of them dipping their breast plumage in the water in a characteristic movement. The males have a special breast plumage which allows them to carry water for the chicks to the nesting places.


Feeling slightly stiff but fascinated by the diverse animal activity we have observed, we return to the farm in the dark, where we take a refreshing hot shower followed by dinner ...”