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A FARM IN
AFRICA

Farm history

The farm ‘Okosongomingo’, on which the Waterberg Guest Farm is located, has been in the Schneider-Waterberg family since 1909. Your host, Harry Schneider-Waterberg, is a third generation German Namibian, carrying on the family tradition.

Over the century of its existence the farm Okosongomingo has seen various operational practices. Today it is still a fully operational cattle farm breeding Santa Gertrudis, a cattle breed originating from Texas and imported by Harry’s dad to Namibia in the late 60s, which has proven itself as hardy and extremely well adapted to Namibia’s dry climate. In the past the farm has also gained a reputation for its breeding of Arab horses.

The cattle ranch 'Okosongorningo'. has been in the Schneider-Waterberg family since 1909.

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A FARM IN
AFRICA

Farm history

About the Farm

The farm ‘Okosongomingo’, on which the Waterberg Guest Farm is located, has been in the Schneider-Waterberg family since 1909. Your host, Harry Schneider-Waterberg, is a third generation German Namibian, carrying on the family tradition.

Over the century of its existence the farm Okosongomingo has seen various operational practices. Today it is still a fully operational cattle farm breeding Santa Gertrudis, a cattle breed originating from Texas and imported by Harry’s dad to Namibia in the late 60s, which has proven itself as hardy and extremely well adapted to Namibia’s dry climate. In the past the farm has also gained a reputation for its breeding of Arab horses.

The cattle ranch 'Okosongorningo'. has been in the Schneider-Waterberg family since 1909.

A FARM IN AFRICA

Farm history

About the Farm

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The cattle ranch 'Okosongorningo'. has been in the Schneider-Waterberg family since 1909.

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The Schneider Horses

The “Schneiders” horses, a unique Arab mix breed was developed in the 1950s and 1960s by Harry’s father and became well-known in the endurance riding circles beyond Namibia’s borders. Not only did those horses win several local endurance races in the 1970s and 1980s but also competed internationally. However, during the severe drought of 1996 many breeding mares had to be sold and the breed struggled to recover for years after.

In 2016 Harry & Sonja, took the decision to use the remains of the original stud to rebuild the herd and to re-connect with the legacy of the Schneiders horses. Waterberg Guest Farm has since invested in stables, trainers and leopard friendly breeding programmes which protect young foals from predators until they are old and big enough to protect themselves. Today, you can see and possibly even ride some of these famous horses as part of the activities at Waterberg Guest Farm.

The “Schneiders” horses, a unique Arab mix breed was developed in the 1950s and 1960s by Harry’s father and became well-known in the endurance riding circles beyond Namibia’s borders.

Your host Harry Schneider-Waterberg with a heard of Santa Getrudis cattle.

Our Cattle

Originating from Texas, USA, Santa Gertrudis are bred to survive in arid areas. From the day they are born, the cattle stay in the bush veld all year round and feed solely on natural grass, complimented by seasonal salt licks. Besides being incredibly hardy and adaptable the Santa Gertrudis cattle also look very beautiful with their reddish-brown skin.

A threat to our meat production is the leopard which naturally roams our area in big numbers and has every right to be here as it came before cattle farming and horse breeding. That is why our cattle management is specifically focused on protecting calves from falling prey to leopard.

To prevent overgrazing and to maintain the environmental balance cattle and horses are regularly rotated between camps based on an utilize-and-rest principle. Some of these activities are still done on horseback like in the old days before Land Cruisers, the modern cowboy’s “horse”.

The Location

Waterberg Guest Farm is conveniently situated halfway between Namibia’s capital, Windhoek, and the world-famous Etosha National Park. It is an easy 3-hour-drive from and to Hosea Kutako International Airport on the fully tarred B 1, which makes Waterberg Guest Farm the perfect place for your first or last stop.

Here you can relax from your flight to set off on your tour around Namibia well-rested or you can let your experiences of your travels through Namibia sink in before going home. – Alternatively, Waterberg Guest Farm is also accessible by small plane. We have got a 1.400 metre compacted soil airstrip.

The farm is located in the exceptionally beautiful Waterberg area. It borders on world-known conservation areas like the Waterberg Plateau Park as well as the Cheetah Conservation Fund.

The farm Okosongomingo also forms the nucleus of the Waterberg Conservancy, a private conservation initiative comprising several neighbouring farms committed to the conservation of the indigenous flora, fauna and fragile ecosystems that are fast disappearing across Africa.

The Waterberg area is home to a wide variety of free-roaming Namibian wildlife - from the majestic leopard and the elegant cheetah to the wily jackal, herds of antelope such as eland, kudu and oryx, the graceful little steenbok, klipspringer and tiny dik-dik. Furthermore, it is officially considered a birding hotspot with a staggering 240 different bird species identified on Okosongomingo alone. The rich biodiversity makes the farm a wonderland for lovers of flora and fauna alike.

Our guests are looked after in a style reflecting the spectacular surroundings. Over the years we built 9 secluded bush-bungalows – situated between 160 and 400m from the main homestead – where you can soak up the atmosphere of the unspoilt African bush. Recently we have also created a self-catering 2-bedroom-“Villa” with 2 ensuite bathrooms, a lounge area and a fully equipped kitchen.

We recommend staying a minimum of two nights in order to take advantage of the various activities we offer.

Activities.
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Address

582 Farm Okosongomingo
Otjiwarongo District Namibia

Contact

Tel: +264812079746
Email: [email protected]