Climate Action on the Ground: Preparing for Drought at Okonjima
Written by Heather U.J. Nependa, Research Ecologist and Science Communications Officer at the AfriCat Foundation and Okonjima Nature Reserve, with input from Wayne Hanssen, owner of Okonjima Nature Reserve.
Namibia’s rainfall: a landscape shaped by scarcity
In 2019, Okonjima Nature Reserve received approximately 134 millimetres of rain, less than a third of its average annual rainfall of around 450 millimetres. That year went down as the driest year in Namibia in 90 years. Natural grazing became inadequate, and for the first time, we had to provide supplementary feed for wildlife. The animals most at risk, however, were the ones we could not feed. Temminck’s ground pangolin (Smutsia temminckii) listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, and the aardvark (Orycteropus afer) depend on ants and termites, and the AfriCat Foundation recorded several losses. The drought exposed a vulnerability in our usual approach to wildlife management and changed how we prepare for future dry seasons.
“In all of our years at Okonjima, over 50 years now, 2019 was the first time we gave supplementary feeding to our wild animals,” says Wayne Hanssen, owner of Okonjima Nature Reserve.
Drought is not new to Namibia, but it now occurs against a background of human-driven climate change. Rising temperatures increase evaporation and can intensify the effects of inadequate rainfall, placing further pressure on already limited water resources. Prolonged dry periods can reduce grazing, alter vegetation, limit food availability for wildlife and leave soils more vulnerable to degradation. For us, these pressures raise a practical question: how do you prepare for conditions you cannot control while protecting the animals and habitats that depend on the land? Our current approach is taking shape through lessons learned during recent droughts, habitat conservation and long-term environmental monitoring, supported by AfriCat Foundation’s research into the species living on the Reserve.
Namibia’s 2026/27 drought outlook and what it means locally
Namibia’s 2026/27 seasonal outlook has raised concerns about hotter and drier-than-normal conditions, with El Niño expected to influence regional weather patterns. These forecasts indicate an increased risk of drought, although conditions can vary considerably across the country and a seasonal outlook cannot predict precisely how much rain will fall at Okonjima.
The outlook reinforces the importance of preparation particularly in light of ongoing climate change. Namibia’s climate policy framework includes the National Policy on Climate Change, adopted in 2011, and its commitments under the Paris Agreement. Its national climate plans address both reducing greenhouse gas emissions and strengthening resilience to climate impacts.
For us, climate adaptation means preparing for environmental conditions that may place additional pressure on wildlife and the habitats they depend on. This involves maintaining contingency supplies, monitoring water availability, assessing wildlife populations and managing vegetation in response to changing conditions. International Day of Climate Action, observed on 24 October, provides an opportunity to consider how these efforts translate into practical decisions.
Okonjima’s 2019 drought: when the usual approach was no longer enough
When severe drought returned in 2024, we knew 2019 had not been a one-off, and that we needed to plan ahead rather than react. Wildlife had generally been able to sustain itself on the natural food available within the Reserve, and supplementary feeding had never been necessary. When rainfall failed and natural forage became inadequate, that approach had to change. The resulting shortage of grazing placed additional pressure on herbivores.
“We realised that we’ve got to prepare for it, we can’t say it’s consistently getting dry, but it certainly is becoming more erratic, so we need to stay prepared,” says Wayne Hanssen
We have since made provision for substantial reserves of lucerne and grass, intended to provide emergency feed for up to 18 months if natural forage becomes insufficient. These supplies are a contingency rather than a replacement for natural grazing. Their purpose is to give us additional options if prolonged dry conditions leave wildlife without adequate food. Planning ahead matters because intervention may become more difficult once animals are already experiencing severe nutritional stress.
Having supplies available before a crisis develops gives management more time to assess conditions and determine whether supplementary feeding is necessary. However, not every species can benefit from this approach. Herbivores may receive supplementary feed when grazing becomes inadequate, but animals that depend on wild prey require a different response. For these species, understanding how drought affects the wider ecosystem becomes particularly important.
Pangolin and aardvarks in drought: when food becomes harder to find
AfriCat Foundation’s monitoring recorded the loss of at least 15 pangolin during the severe drought conditions of 2019, alongside multiple aardvark mortalities. Juvenile animals are of particular concern because they have fewer reserves to draw on when food becomes scarce. Although drought may be an important contributing pressure, the cause of death in each individual cannot necessarily be established without further evidence.
Both species depend heavily on ants and termites, whose activity is affected by soil moisture, temperature and vegetation. When conditions turn hot and dry, the insects move deeper into the soil to reach moisture, which makes them harder for pangolin and aardvark to locate or reach. Okonjima guide, Gideon Lisara says: “I remember seeing aardvark in 2019 emerge earlier and earlier during the day to forage. Most of the individuals we saw looked emaciated, with their vertebrae jutting out.”
These observations reveal a less visible consequence of drought. Its effects can travel through the ecosystem, from changes in soil moisture and insect activity to the survival of mammals that depend on those insects. This is where research becomes part of climate adaptation. AfriCat’s pangolin work helps build a more detailed picture of how these animals use the landscape and respond to changing conditions. Research cannot prevent a dry season, and it does not yet provide a simple intervention for every drought-related risk. It can, however, help identify which animals may be most vulnerable, improve the evidence available to managers and guide future decisions.
Okonjima Nature Reserve as a wildlife refuge in a changing climate
Okonjima gives rare and threatened species a protected refuge in a landscape that is otherwise largely farmland. As a protected area within a wider working landscape, Okonjima provides habitat for wildlife, including rare and threatened species that may have fewer opportunities to persist in surrounding farmland. Maintaining suitable habitat gives these animals space to feed, move and carry out their natural behaviours, even as environmental conditions become more challenging.
This makes habitat conservation an important part of climate resilience. We cannot insulate wildlife from drought, and protected boundaries do not remove the pressures of a changing climate. But maintaining habitat, monitoring vulnerable species and adapting management as conditions change can help reduce additional stresses. For animals already facing habitat loss or other threats, that refuge can be especially important.
Conservation requires more than keeping animals alive through a difficult season; it also requires maintaining the landscapes and ecological processes that allow populations to persist over time.
Game counts, groundwater and bush thinning at Okonjima
We base drought decisions on game counts, decades of rainfall records and continuous groundwater monitoring. Our recent game counts will help us assess wildlife populations and inform decisions about stocking rates, or the number of animals the available habitat can sustain without placing excessive pressure on its resources. We also maintain rainfall records spanning several decades and consistently monitor groundwater levels. These records help us understand changes in water availability over time and provide useful context when assessing conditions ahead of a dry season. Wayne says: “When the rainfall is below 300millimeters, we know it will be a bad year. Current groundwater levels are encouraging, but continued monitoring remains essential.”
Vegetation management is another part of our approach. In parts of Namibia, bush encroachment has increased the density of woody plants, altering habitat structure and reducing grazing productivity in some areas. At Okonjima, we use bush thinning in selected areas to manage encroaching Senegalia mellifera (blackthorn acacia) and Dichrostachys cinerea (sickle-bush). The aim is to improve habitat conditions, with outcomes assessed through changes in the landscape rather than assumed from the removal of vegetation alone. Wayne believes “There may also be implications for carbon storage.” A recent study found that grassland soils can store substantial amounts of carbon in their root systems and organic matter, but the balance between grass and woody vegetation varies between ecosystems.
Solar-powered boreholes: reducing our own footprint
“All of our boreholes are now solar-powered, replacing grid or generator pumping, and we feed surplus electricity back into the grid,” says Wayne. Where solar power replaces more carbon-intensive electricity or fuel, it reduces the emissions from pumping water, and it is part of a longer-term effort to increase our energy self-sufficiency. That will take years and bring trade-offs, such as battery cost, lifespan and disposal.
Solar reduces our operational emissions, while groundwater monitoring, emergency fodder and habitat management help us prepare for environmental pressures. The two are separate jobs. Namibia contributes only around 0.03% of global greenhouse gas emissions and is classified as a net carbon sink, yet it remains committed to mitigation alongside adaptation.
Drought preparation at Okonjima: planning for what we cannot control
Drought preparation at Okonjima is an ongoing process of observation, research and adjustment. Our rainfall records, groundwater monitoring, game counts, vegetation management and emergency fodder reserves each contribute information or resources that can help us respond when conditions become difficult. AfriCat’s research adds to this work by improving our understanding of wildlife and the ecological pressures affecting it. We cannot determine when the next drought will arrive, or how severe it will be. We can, however, use what we have learned from previous dry periods to make informed decisions and prepare for a range of possible conditions.
Climate action at the scale of a wildlife reserve is reflected in the decisions made before a crisis arrives: the water levels recorded, the wildlife monitored, the habitat managed and the resources kept in reserve. By continuing to learn from experience and adapt our management as evidence develops, we aim to give the wildlife and habitats in our care the best possible chance of persisting through the dry seasons ahead.
Tourism at Okonjima funds our conservation work and supports AfriCat’s research. For visitors who want to understand this work at first hand, our Into AfriCat: Behind the Science experience offers an opportunity to learn more about the research and conservation taking place at Okonjima.
Namibia is expected to experience rising temperatures and declining average annual rainfall. Higher temperatures increase evaporation and can intensify water stress, placing pressure on groundwater, vegetation, grazing and wildlife. These changes could make existing drought risks more severe.
El Niño is a natural climate phenomenon involving warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. It influences atmospheric circulation and can affect rainfall patterns in southern Africa, increasing the risk of below-average rainfall in parts of the region. However, its effects vary, and an El Niño event does not guarantee drought in Namibia.
Seasonal forecasts can indicate an increased risk of below-average rainfall, but they cannot predict with certainty how much rain a particular area will receive. El Niño may influence the coming rainy season, making it important to monitor forecasts and prepare for the possibility of another dry period.
Drought can reduce water availability, grass biomass and the abundance of prey. Herbivores may struggle to find sufficient grazing, while specialist species such as Temminck’s ground pangolins and aardvarks can be affected when ants and termites become harder to find. The consequences vary according to each species’ diet, behaviour and habitat.
Protected areas conserve habitat for wildlife, including rare and threatened species that may have fewer opportunities to persist in surrounding farmland. Maintaining functioning ecosystems helps wildlife access food, shelter and space. Although protected areas cannot prevent drought, conserving habitat can support biodiversity and help inform decisions about managing climate-related pressures.
Conservation organisations can monitor rainfall, groundwater, vegetation and wildlife condition to identify emerging pressures. They can also plan for supplementary feeding where necessary, protect important habitat and use research to guide management decisions. At Okonjima, these measures help prepare for difficult seasons before conditions become critical, although no intervention can eliminate drought risk.
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