Wayne Hanssen and sisters Donna and Rosalea have built up a major tourism establishment. But tourism was never their dream. In fact, it is only now, after many years of building and learning and growing that the siblings can give the dream a name. Although the story of Okonjima is in essence that of the AfriCat Foundation, of rescuing and rehabilitating predators, cheetah in particular, the real dream is one of returning the Okonjima property to the ecosystem it once was before man interfered.

"Welfare may be seen by many as just a bunny-hugging affair! Yes, it gives orphaned animals a home, but to us it also contributes to the bigger picture. 83 per cent of all cheetah and leopard picked up by us have been released back into the wild. There's a difference between housing orphaned animals in camps for life and what AfriCat does. The healthy orphaned cheetahs are given an opportunity to go through a rehabilitation programme, and where possible are relocated to game parks. Those, which remain tame, are not released into the wild, but are kept at AfriCat on Okonjima.

"For us, our welfare programme is our contact with the farmers who care! When we go to collect the cats on their farms, we are able to provide farmers with carnivore information that gives them an understanding of the predator's importance in the ecosystem - education through welfare therefore," explains Donna.

Okonjima was originally bought by the children's father, Valdemar James Hanssen (VJ for short) because of its reliable under-ground water supply and excellent rainfall. Having been forced to sell their farm in the Windhoek Khomas Region (south east of Windhoek) because of persistent drought, water was the Hanssen's main consideration and the Brahman cattle were transported to their new home by train. Unfortunately, in spite of the water, the quality of the grass on Okonjima was poor because of a phosphate deficiency and the cattle breeding suffered. This problem was rectified and the calving percentages increased. Then came the next downfall. Leopards were feeding on the cattle, causing annual losses of 20 to 30 calves.

But the losses didn't become less. Wayne soon realized that he needed to know more about these cats if he wanted to solve the problem, so he started studying their behavior. He discovered that every time a leopard was removed, all of which potentially catch calves until the dominant one takes control and kicks the other out. So better the devil you know than all the others you don't.

"I soon realized that it would be better to work with nature than against it. This required a complete paradigm shift. Moreover, having observed these animals from so close by, I'd fallen in love with them anyway. And it had become so obvious that nature treats you a lot better if you become part of it and work with it instead of trying to manipulate it to suit your own selfish way."

Then in 1986, Dennis Rundle started Namib Wilderness Safaris and needed a stop-over for guests en-route to the Etosha National Park. Rose Edith Hanssen, the children's mother, had a vast knowledge of Namibian fauna and flora - a passion she passed on to her children. The tourists lodging in the old farmhouse at the time appreciated her insights as well as her farm cooking, and soon two bungalows were built in the garden. Okonjima became a regular safari stop-over.

"Then mom died (1992). We were devastated. She was the one with the passion for animals and plants and birds. It was her energy that had been driving everything. Dad was tired and disillusioned, which took its toll on the cattle farming." Donna remembers the early days when Wayne decided to experiment with his leopard research as and activity for tourists. Not even considering safety regulations back then, tourists went along and sat on rock ledges to witness the leopard baiting that Wayne was doing. Says Wayne, "It then dawned on us that you could have people come to your farm, enjoy and appreciate an experience, and then take away nothing but photographs."

In 1989 Val attended an auction where he bought a caged cheetah cub for N$100. They named the cheetah Chinga, and she was free to roam around the garden and in the veld. Combined with leopard viewing, Okonjima soon became known for its involvement with these predators. Farmers started to approach the Hanssens to collect cheetah and leopard caught in traps on their farms. The logistics of handling these "rescued" cats became problematical, and the need for proper conservation and rehabilitation became a pressing issue. This also implied a major education process that required continuous research.

Thus The AfriCat Foundation, run by Carla Conradie (arrived on Okonjima in July 1997) and Dave Houghton (arrived on Okonjima in 1995), was born as a legitimate foundation that could justify proper fundraising to finance a project of such magnitude. Hunting and cattle farming were abandoned and the conservation of cheetah and leopard through tourism became the answer to the big dream of predator rehabilitation and habitat conservation. As finances became available, the lodge was developed and today it has ten double rooms at the Main Camp and eight private "bush" chalets at the recently built Luxury Bush Camp.

In correlation with the entire Hanssen philosophy of balance, the success of Okonjima lies also in the symbiosis of conservation and tourism. The AfriCat Foundation might well be the major tourist attraction, but the family's dedication to ensure the best service, food and entertainment to tourists is fundamental to the overall success. The one is not possible without the other.

"We have sacrificed a great deal in the process of making the dream of Okonjima come true. I guess it's because of this dream that we were able to dedicate our lives to it. We're all involved, still staying in the same house, working every day to keep it up, to perfect it. But we can see when tourists from other parts in the world come to Okonjima - they are inspired to contribute to this cause, to help us conserve what they have lost - the natural habitat; clean air, open space. nature in its true form, the way it was before man interfered. And behind all of this is some realisation of man's purpose on earth."

There are still many plans for Okonjima. But only one purpose: restoring the balance.

(Travel News 2004)