Babson House is located at the Cheetah Conservation Fund's (CCF) Field Research Centre outside Otjiwarongo en-route to Waterberg Plateau National Park. Previously visitors to the research centre could only attend on a daily basis, but there is now the opportunity to stay overnight in a very comfortable luxury converted farmhouse. The CCF is one of Namibia's leading organization in the fight for cheetah conservation and rehabilitation back into the wild. The main attraction at Babson House, is Chewbaaka, a 15 year old cheetah.

Otjiwarongo is strategically placed for travellers to venture further north-east onto Palmwag and the search for desert-adapted elephants and visits to Himba villages. Other notable destinations in the region include Waterberg Plateau itself and Namibia's number one tourist attraction, Etosha National Park.

Cheetah mainly feed on small to medium-sized antelope such as impala, springbok, steenbok and duiker. Male groups will go after larger species such as kudu and waterbuck. It is a well-known fact that the cheetah is the fastest land mammal capable of reaching speeds of up to 100km/hr. Their sudden burst of speed leaves them exhausted though, with a recovery period required before it can begin to devour its prey. The physical strength of a cheetah is less than other predators and they are often robbed of prey by lion, leopard, African wild dog and both spotted and brown hyena.

This leads them onto game and livestock ranches, with the inevitable and well-documented conflict and confrontation with farmers, who have a right to protect their livelihood. Farmers now work in close consultation with the CCF and are now killing less. Cheetah are also a target for poaching and are often taken illegally as 'exotic pets'. Understanding of the cheetah is greater due to the efforts of the CCF, but they are still an endangered species.

The highlight at Babson House is its close proximity to Chewbaaka's pen, the CCF's ambassador. Guests can relax in the living room on deep leather couches with a drink from the house bar. Breakfast items are available including cereals, rolls and eggs made to order. Lunch is served on the verandah and dinner at the dining room table, beneath their 'unique wildlife decorated chandelier'.

There are 3 luxury rooms. They are all en-suite with fans, mosquito nets, tea/coffee station and an in-room safe are standard.

Accommodation in Namibia

Cheetahs

Get up close and personal with a cheetah during your stay at the Cheetah Conservation Fund’s Babson House, with activities tailored to the guests’ preferences and length of stay. Watch cheetahs run like the wind during a ‘Cheetah Run’ or view them in their natural habitat on CCF’s Cheetah Drive or Bellebeno Safari, both offering excellent photo and video opportunities. Enjoy a private safari through CCF’s own ‘Little Serengeti’, a picturesque open plain featuring large herds of hartebeest, oryx, springbok, warthog, and jackals and don’t miss out on the ‘Cheetah Exclusive’, a unique personal encounter with one of CCF’s ambassador cheetahs and one of the Centre’s conservation scientist or meet CCF’s Founder and Executive Director Dr. Laurie Marker.  If you want to experience these magnificent animals and learn what is being done to conserve them, this is the place to be. Please visit www.cheetah.org for news and information about the Cheetah Conservation Fund.

Directions:

Babson House 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).