The town of Otjiwarongo, a Herero word meaning "a good place", is an important centre for cattle ranching.
It is situated about 250 km north of Windhoek, on a slope amid undulating plains. There are many guest farms and lodges in the Otjiwarongo district, information on which can be gained
-from the Omaue Information Office in St George's Street. An interesting feature in the town is the Otjiwarongo Crocodile Ranch, where crocodiles are bred.
Otjiwarongo has a twin
town, Dundas, in Canada. Town officials have been sent from Dundas to Otjiwarongo on several occasions to determine ways in which the Namibian town can be assisted in developing its
tourism potential. A tourism committee was appointed to identify areas for development, such as the establishment of a museum. Other areas of interest pinpoint- ed for expansion are
the Walvisklip/ Aloe Garden, historical buildings, walking trails for birdwatchers at several dams, the existing art school and attractions in the surroundings of Otjiwarongo, such as
dinosaur tracks and the Cheetah Conservation Fund.
There is plenty of accommodation in and around Otjiwarongo, such as the extensive Mount Etjo Safari Lodge and Otjiwa Game Ranch,
both popular overnight stops with proven track records, and Okonjima, home of the AfriCat Foundation, which offers 10 en-suite double rooms at the main camp and eight African chalets
at the Bush Camp. Camp Dinosaur, south of Otjiwarongo and accessible from the road to Mount Etjo Safari Lodge, is equipped for self-caterers and offers 10 camping sites. Dinosaur
tracks can be viewed about I 000 m (half an hour's walk) from a point that can be reached from the camp by vehicle. |
