ABOUT

ONGAVA Research Centre

The Ongava Research Centre (ORC) is located on Ongava Game Reserve on the south-western edge of Namibia’s Etosha National Park (or just Etosha). As part of the Greater Etosha landscape, ORC is ideally placed to facilitate conservation and ecologically oriented research in a changing dryland environment. Having been called into life in 2005, ORC benefitted from a generous endowment in 2019, which led to a redefining transformation. This has resulted in substantial growth both on the ground and in Namibia’s research realm.

Part of our refurbishment has seen the addition of a small campus, which allows us to host and accommodate visiting researchers and students. One of the most significant developments has come in the form of a DNA laboratory, which is one of only a handful of its kind in Namibia. This allows us to independently conduct and host genetic studies. ORC has also significantly expanded its resident team. And with an increasingly diverse team, this is also expected to be reflected in the Centre’s research outputs. The institute now employs nearly a dozen permanent staff members, including local and international scientific expertise. To date, ORC’s affiliates have (co-)authored over 50 peer-reviewed publications, while also leading the publication of two books: The Atlas of Namibia, as well as the Conservation Status and Red List of the Terrestrial Carnivores of Namibia. Additionally, the Centre’s team and associates are the driving force behind the Namibian Journal of Environment.

Part of ORC’s mission is to cultivate local, regional and international collaborations, while playing an active role in the development of Namibian researchers. As a privately funded entity, we intend to further evolve into an independently run and intellectually accommodating institution.