Visiting CCF Namibia
and the Waterberg Plateau

The Waterberg Plateau

50 kilometres from Otjiwarongo, hidden in the heart of Namibia, the Waterberg Plateau rises 300 metres from the plains, providing a natural haven for wildlife. Several land owners have formed a group to protect this unspoiled and magical region. Each ranch offers a variety of activities for the visitor, from safari game drives and wilderness trails, to cheetah viewing and visits to local Herero villages. Or you can simply relax and enjoy a cocktail, watching a classic African sunset.

This timeless region is an ideal 'stepping stone' between Windhoek and Etosha National Park, the wilderness of Kaokofeld, tiger fishing on the Okavango River, or the spectacular dunes of the coast. But beware, the Waterberg has a mystical quality – you may never want to leave!

Visiting CCF Namibia

CCF's focus is on research, conservation and education. An extensive modern Visitor and Education Centre encourages visitors to learn about cheetahs, their habitat and issues of conservation, with an opportunity to see resident non-releasable cheetahs, acting as 'cheetah ambassadors' for the species.

A stop over at CCF makes a very worthwhile, enjoyable and informative visit for the tourist. The large modern Education Centre houses a museum that provides visitors and students the opportunity to learn more about the behaviour and biology of the cheetah, and the Namibian ecosystem that supports Africa's most endangered cat species.

The excellent graphics and interactive displays in the centre bring the visitor through the history of the cheetah from pre-history to modern times, and explain how their range and numbers have diminished. Other exhibits show where the cheetah fits into the cat species family tree, how the cheetah differs from the 36 other cat species, how the cheetah is adapted for a high speed sprint and its specialised hunting techniques, and finally, the cheetah's life-cycle from cub to adult. A life-size 'playtree' shows the importance of these trees in a cheetah's territory.

Continuing through the Education Centre, the visitor can learn about other aspects of conservation and the work of CCF: for example, how the cheetah lives within an ecosystem together with prey, and how farmers can live with cheetahs on their land by using non-lethal predator control methods, a prime example being the use of Kangal Anatolian Livestock Guarding Dogs from Turkey. CCF has been promoting the use of these dogs since 1994, breeding and donating them to Namibian farmers to guard their flocks.

Finally, a Future Room highlights the need for continued research so that humans and nature can live together.

The Research Centre houses a veterinary clinic, laboratory and main offices.

The Visitor's Centre has a large meeting room, gift shop, verandah and the predator preyground' outside is a learning area for school groups and children of all ages. Enjoy the view of the Waterberg Plateau from the verandah, and relax in the landscaped courtyard with native gardens and an attractive sculpture of a cheetah.

General Information

• CCF is open daily, all year round, from 9am-5pm.
• Reservations are not required for standard day tours.
• Staff are available to show visitors around the Centre and answer questions.
• Visitors can observe cheetahs being fed (M-F around 2 p.m. and Sat. at noon – call 067-306 225 to confirm feeding times).
• Cool drinks and beautiful cheetah gifts are available at CCF's Gift Shop.
• Bring your own picnic lunch and enjoy it, or simply relax, in our veranda overlooking the magnificent Waterberg Plateau.

As a not-for-profit Trust, CCF funds its research and education activities entirely from donations, therefore, a minimum donation of N$80.50 per person is expected for your standard visit. (N=Namibian dollars) Note: This will be waived, or discounted from other special activities, for any donors who have given over £150 to CCF within a year (one discount per donor - please contact info@cheetah.org prior to booking and before your visit).

Special Activities

Watch cheetahs run, take a cheetah safari, or even meet Chewbaaka, our Cheetah Ambassador. These and other amazing activities can be booked through nuevas ideas, CCF's EcoTourism agent in Namibia (contact information below).

Please contact info@cheetah.org if you are a >£150 donor prior to booking your special activities through nuevas ideas. For information, rates and bookings on all special activities offered by CCF, please download the online brochure by clicking here (PDF, 27K).

Location

CCF is situated 44Km from Otjiwarongo on the D2440 (drive north on the B1 towards Tsumeb or Otavi; as you leave Otjiwarongo there is a brown sign to CCF; take this road right and follow it to CCF; it takes about 45 minutes driving from Otjiwarongo). We are about 3.5 hours drive from Windhoek; we are also 3.5 hours from the Namutoni gate and 2.5 hours from Okakuejo gate in Etosha.

Latitude: 20 28' 46.8" S
Longitude: 17 03' 03.0" E

Lodging

Limited overnight accommodation on site is now available at the luxurious and spacious Babson House. For details on Babson House, please click here.

In addition, please consider staying at one of the excellent farms and lodges nearby that can be booked through CCF Namibia's EcoTourism agent:

nuevas ideas
CC Box 80859
Windhoek
Namibia
Tel.: +264-61-253542
Fax.: +264-61-259247
nuevas-ideas@mweb.com.na

Click on the links below to download information on accommodation near CCF Namibia:

All Accommodation near CCF (PDF, 411K)
Rates (valid until the end of October 2008) (PDF, 9.5K)

Below are links to some of the lodges/hotels/guest farms in our area:

• Aloegrove Safari Lodge
• African Wilderness Trails & REST
• Bush Pillow
• C'est Si Bon Hotel
• Frans Indongo Lodge
• Otjibamba Country Lodge
• Waterberg Game Farms

Information on Namibia

Visit the official Namibia Tourism Board site for all kinds of general information on Namibia

Also visit the Namibia Travel Online site, the most up-to-date of all tourism websites in Namibia

For a comprehensive look at Namibia you might like to visit: https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/wa.html