Rare Breed Sanctuary | Otjiwarongo

Information

Landmark: Rare Breed Sanctuary
City: Otjiwarongo
Country: Namibia
Continent: Africa

Rare Breed Sanctuary, Otjiwarongo, Namibia, Africa

The Rare Breed Sanctuary (also known as the Rare Species Game Sanctuary) is a specialized 4,000-hectare conservation zone located within the Okonjati Game Reserve (home of Mount Etjo Safari Lodge) in central Namibia.

Visual Characteristics

The sanctuary is a fenced, high-security area within the larger 36,000-hectare reserve. It consists of open savanna and dense thornbush thickets specifically managed to provide optimal grazing and protection for sensitive species. The landscape is characterized by red termite mounds and acacia trees, with dedicated waterholes designed to reduce competition between different species.

Location & Access Logistics

Access: Located approximately 225 km north of Windhoek and 90 km south of Otjiwarongo.

Entry: Access is restricted to guests of Mount Etjo Safari Lodge or those on specialized guided game drives. Private vehicles are not permitted inside the sanctuary.

Tours: "Rare Species" game drives are conducted in open safari vehicles led by experienced rangers who specialize in tracking the more elusive inhabitants of this zone.

Purpose & Conservation Model

The sanctuary was established by the Oelofse family to protect and breed species that are either endangered or highly susceptible to predation.

Predator Management: Large predators like lions are kept in a separate, massive region of the Okonjati reserve to minimize the loss of rare calves.

Genetic Integrity: The sanctuary prevents cross-breeding between subspecies. For example, Black-faced Impala are kept here to ensure they do not interbreed with common impala.

Endangered Breeding: It serves as a nursery and refuge for species that were historically decimated by hunting or habitat loss on commercial farms.

Key Species

The sanctuary hosts a high density of animals that are difficult to spot in larger public parks:

Roan and Sable Antelope: Large, majestic antelopes with distinct curved horns.

Black-faced Impala: An indigenous Namibian subspecies with a characteristic dark stripe on the face.

Red Lechwe: A water-loving antelope usually found in the wetlands of the Caprivi, thriving here in irrigated lake areas.

Nyala and Bushbuck: Reintroduced species that prefer the dense cover provided within the sanctuary.

Black Rhino: The reserve is a key custodian for the Namibian government’s black rhino breeding program.

Infrastructure & Amenities

Viewing Hides: Several ground-level hides are positioned near waterholes within the sanctuary for photography.

Guided Excursions: Tours typically last 3 hours and focus on the biology and conservation status of the "Rare Five" or "Rare Six" species.

Best Time to Visit

The dry winter months (May to September) are the most productive for viewing, as the rare antelopes are forced to frequent the managed waterholes. During the green summer months (January to March), tracking is more challenging but coincides with the lambing season for many of the resident species.

Facts & Legends

A specific technical fact: the sanctuary utilizes "disease-free" protocols for its buffalo and other ungulates to ensure they can eventually be used to restock other national parks and private reserves in Namibia. The founder, Jan Oelofse, pioneered the use of capture techniques specifically to relocate these fragile populations without the high stress-mortality rates common in the 1960s and 70s.